RED Malabar spinach Seeds,- Asian vegetable,

Fast-growing Specialty Greens - Malabar spinach has a mucilaginous texture and is mostly used to thicken soups/stews. Use in any recipe that calls for spinach, with noodles and in stir-fries. In Japan, it is cooked in tempura, ohitashi or braised and topped with a sesame dressing.

Malabar spinach has many names Phooi leaf, Red Vine spinach, Creeping spinach, Climbing spinach, Indian spinach, Alugbati, Vietnamese Spinach, and Ceylon spinach. This lush vine grows best in tropical and subtropical climates and can reach up to 14'. It has reddish-purple stems, glossy dark green leaves, and grows more rapidly than the green stem variety. The leaves are used like spinach. In cooler areas, it will not over-winter but will produce a good harvest as an annual. Also grown as an ornamental.

Asian names for this vegetable...

• China: lo kwai, luo kui, mu er cai, lo kwui, lu luo kui, zi luo kui, huang koong choy, saan choy, shan tsoi, shu chieh
• India: poi
• Indonesia: gendola, gendolak, genjerot, genjulak, jingga
• Japan: tsuru murasa kai, tsuru murasaki
• Laos: phakkang
• Malaysia: gendola, remayong, tembayung
• Philippines: alugbati, dundula, grana, libato
• Sri Lanka: niviti
• Thailand: paag prung, phak plang yai, phalpang
• Vietnam: mong toi

How To Grow Malabar Climbing Spinach: Once frost danger has passed, plant the Malabar Spinach seeds directly in the herb garden. Some gardeners recommend scarifying the herb seeds to improve germination. Cover the Basella Rubra seeds with 1/4 inch of soil and keep the soil adequately moist.
Red-stemmed and pretty in flower, red Malabar spinach is a fast-growing vine that has both ornamental and culinary qualities. Red Vine Spinach requires a trellis or other support for the twining vine. A native of India, Malabar Spinach is a fully evergreen tender perennial herb with densely twining, rambling stems that can become thick and often require management to keep them from overtaking supports. Grow these herb seeds as a perennial in frost free zones and as an annual herb in colder zones.
Herb Specifications
Season: Perennial
USDA Zones: 8 - 11
Height: 120 inches
Bloom Season: Mid summer
Bloom Color: Purple & White
Environment: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Type: Prefers moist, fertile soils, high in organic matter, pH 6.5 to 6.8
Planting Directions
Temperature: 65 - 75F
Average Germ Time: 14 - 21 days, scarify seed to hasten germination
Light Required: Yes
Depth: Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep
Sowing Rate: 1 -2 seeds per plant
Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
Plant Spacing: 9 - 12 inches