Red Malabar Spinach
basella rubra

days to maturity: 85 days
plant spacing: 1 plant every 4 feet, trellised
sunlight requirement: 6 - 14 hours
look out for: plants getting big and wild
harvest notes: harvest growing tips or mature leaves as needed
season: summer

Red malabar spinach is a very weird unique tropical vining plant that fits squarely in the “weird spinach like greens” category of plants that South Floridians grow when its too hot for “normal” spinach (which
is pretty much all year...). This beautiful greens variety makes a fast growing rubbery red vines covered in dark green savoyed spinach-like leaves. When it flowers it makes very unique white & lavender flowers that produce neon magenta juice that can be used for dyeing when ripe. Consider adding this vigorous heat tolerant grower to your garden in the “shoulder seasons” like fall and spring, when its too hot for some of the more popular veggies like lettuce, snap peas & spinach to keep your garden looking good and producing food for a longer amount of time. Just as with normal spinach, avoid cooking this “mucilaginous” plant too long or itll become unpalatable, gooey and gross. l clusters of white flowers that pollinators love to visit.