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)