Spinach Malabar

Traditional spinach grows well in cool weather, but tends to turn bitter once the summer arrives. Malabar spinach makes a great substitute as it loves hot, humid weather and can be used just like traditional spinach. 

Malabar spinach is a quick-growing vine with dark green leaves that resemble spinach and have a mild, peppery flavour. 

Harvest your Malabar spinach once the leaves are a usable size, but avoid picking them if the plant has started flowering; they will be bitter. 

Malabar spinach grows best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil that is consistently moist. Dry soils can promote flowering, which will turn the foliage bitter. This is a vining plant and requires support (trellis, fence, stake, etc.) to grow.