Sunday, 3 April 2016

Growing Malabar Spinach In My Garden.

At first, I tried to grow this veggie from the remaining stems after I have plucked the leaves and young shoots for cooking. Probably the stems were too tender and it didn't grow well. I used to call this veggie - the Slimy Veggie or Saan Choy. Some restaurants called it "Wong Tai Choy" or Emperor Veggie in Cantonese.
Some of its common names are Malabar Spinach, African Spinach, Ceylon Spinach, Vine Spinach, Red Vine Spinach, Climbing Spinach, Creeping Spinach, Buffalo Spinach, Its scientific name is Basella Alba.
 I was blessed with some Malabar Spinach seeds by a friend and I planted them in a shallow pot.
 The seeds sprouted and they grew healthily even though they were very crowded in the pot.
 This is the green type. I have also eaten the red or purple type.
 It is a climber plant with soft stems and succulent leaves.  It grows well in normal garden soil and it likes full sunlight. It is also a fast growing plant.
 It is high in Calcium, Iron, Vitamin and Protein, etc. It is also cooling for the stomach and helps in constipation. Malabar Spinach can be used in soups or in stir fries. 
 I harvested the plants while they were still young and tender. I cut the plants 2 inches above the ground to enable new shoots to grow again. 
 "Don't you understand yet?" Jesus asked.
"Anything you eat passes through the stomach
and then goes into the sewer.
But the words you speak comes from the heart
- that's what defiles you.
For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery,
all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.
These are what defile you.
Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you."
(Matthew 15:16-20, NLT)

48 comments:

  1. Nice. Cook egg soup taste good. Friends told me grow from seeds will hv bigger leaf than from stems

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    1. I have eaten this veggie since very young and I love it very much. Cook as egg soup very tasty. In fact, it is easier to grow from seeds and they are more healthy.

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  2. Healthy looking spinach...you have green fingers ! :)

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    1. Thank you, Elin. I will grow more because home grown very fresh and sweet!

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  3. who know that there were so many kind of spinach,,,surely not this guy

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    1. Hi Tom, I am also amazed that there are so many kinds of spinach too. I love this spinach.

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  4. The joy of picking up your own very fresh harvest to table within minutes is unbeatable.I'm sure they are much more tastier that the ones you buy in supermarket...and free too:) Well done Nancy! A Malaysian friend once sent me Malabar spinach seeds to grow but it didn't sprout...I blamed it on the climate:)

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    1. Thank you, Annie. Freshly picked home grown veggies are always tastier then bought ones. And it is very rewarding too to harvest what we have grown and enjoy them. Most probably is the climate, they need full sunlight.

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  5. How i wish i could plant, but sobsss, me no fate with plant...

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    1. Maybe you didn't have the time for gardening. Gardening takes up a lot of time.

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  6. Hubby would love this post. He loves fresh from the garden far more than shopping at the produce market.

    Have a fabulous day Nancy. ☺

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    1. I am sure your hubby plants a lot of edibles in your garden. Thank you, Sandee and have a fabulous day too!

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  7. Hi Nancy, I love spinach and grow some every year but they grow better early in the spring with cool soil and hate the heat. I'm so glad you showed us theres Malabar spinach and I'll be on the look out to find some seeds. I'm very interested in growing these. I went and look them up on line and I like that they grow good in the sun and heat.
    Have a great week.
    Hugs,
    JB

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    1. Thank you, Julia. Hope you will find the seeds and wish you success and abundant harvest. Have a great week too!

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  8. So glad you were able to grow your own...

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    1. Thank you, Rose. I am so glad with my harvest too!

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  9. Nancy you definitely have green fingers, Congrats

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    1. Thank you, Gosia. I am so glad and grateful for the fresh harvest.

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  10. I love to eat this malabar spinach in egg soup. How many rounds of harvest can you get from a batch of seeds?

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    1. I like them in egg soup too. So far this is the first round of harvest. I will have to wait and see first before I can tell you how many rounds. I hope to see new shoots coming out soon.

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    2. Thanks for keeping track! Hope the new shoots come out soon.

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    3. This morning when I checked, I saw tidy shoots coming out.

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  11. It certainly looks good. Something I have not grown before, maybe I will give it a try.

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    1. Thank you, Mamas. This is very easy to grow and little care too.

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  12. How nice! I love spinach. :)

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  13. Love spinach! They look so nice.

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    1. Thank you, Angie. Home grown is always fresher and sweeter!

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  14. Spinach is one of those things I don't like to eat by itself, but as something in a quiche, it's good.

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    1. I usually prefer my veggies on its own especially home grown ones. But I think I would love to try some in a quiche. Must go and get one to try!

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  15. Spinach is my favourite vegetable. Diane

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  16. Hello Nancy!! Have the exquisite beauty in your garden serin! I love the spinach, the truth I like all the vegetables. It is a privilege to have a rich and healthy product to cook and eat deliciously. I congratulate you, Bon Appetit. It has been a pleasure pass through your virtual home and see this beautiful garden. I leave you a kiss, my appreciation and gratitude. Be very very happy.


    ¡Hola Nancy!!!

    ¡Que belleza exquisita tienes en tu jardín verdecillo! Me encanta esas espinacas, la verdad me gustan todas las verduras.
    Es un privilegio tener a mano un producto rico y sano para cocinar y comer deliciosamente. Te felicito, buen provecho.

    Ha sido un placer pasar por tu casa virtual y ver ese jardín hermoso.
    Te dejo un beso, mi estima y gratitud.
    Se muy muy feliz.

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    1. Thank you, Marina. I too like all kinds of veggies. Hugs and blessings to you!

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  17. Looks healthy and grown in the tropical areas of Asia, Africa and it's native to the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and New Guinea.
    Interesting.

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    1. Thank you, Margaret. Have a wonderful new week!

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  18. This grows well in my garden! But all tended by my maid haha. She's going back in a few months and I really need to ask how to care for them. Mainly how to harvest.

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    1. Stacy, you are so blessed with a maid. Ya, you better learn how to harvest to continue to enjoy your home grown veggie. Have a happy new week!

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  19. Information about nourishment is key learning for any human. It is astonishing that in our reality there are numerous persons, particularly the youthful, who know more about games and movies than the nuts and bolts of what constitutes great and solid sustenance.

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    1. Thank you, Michael. It is true that many of our youths are so deep into games and movies.

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  20. Its good to have your own vegetable planted at home,is organic.

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    1. Thank you, Catherine. I am now trying to grow more edible than flowers.

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