Malabar / Ceylong Spinach (Basella alba) NEW

Description: Malabar / Ceylong Spinach (Basella alba) is a vigorous, heat-loving climbing leafy green well suited to Australian subtropical and tropical gardens. Despite its name, it is not a true spinach, but produces thick, glossy green leaves and tender stems that can be harvested throughout the warmer months. The leaves have a mild, slightly earthy flavour and become pleasantly succulent when cooked, making them excellent in stir-fries, curries, soups and fresh dishes. In a permaculture system, Malabar spinach is particularly valuable as a productive vertical crop, using trellises, fences or other structures to produce substantial amounts of food from a small footprint. Its dense foliage also provides useful ground shade and biomass, while its vigorous growth makes it an excellent summer replacement for traditional spinach in hot climates.

For growing success, sow Malabar spinach directly into warm soil once temperatures are consistently above 20°C and the risk of frost has passed. Seeds can benefit from soaking overnight before planting to help encourage germination. Plant in full sun to partial shade in fertile, well-drained soil and provide consistent moisture, particularly during hot or dry periods. As a climbing plant, it performs best when given a trellis, stakes or another structure to climb, allowing the vines to grow vertically and making harvesting easier. Regularly harvest the young leaves and tender growing tips to encourage branching and continued production. In warm Australian climates, Malabar spinach can grow exceptionally quickly through summer and may continue producing well into autumn, making it a highly productive and low-maintenance addition to food forests, vegetable gardens and permaculture systems.