50+ Organic Green Malabar Spinach seeds(Basella alba) Mong Toi Mu er cai Ceylon spinach Vine Spinach USA Malabar spinach, it is known as Ceylon spinach, Indian spinach, vine spinach and climbing spinach. It is called spinach even though it is not related to spinach because the flavor is similar, slightly peppery with a hint of citrus. Malabar spinach is usually eaten raw in salads. When cooked, it can become slimy like Okra. Nevertheless, it is often used in stir fries, soups and as pot herb for stews. The stems are mucilaginous and are used as a thickening agent. Sowing: Soak the Malabar spinach seeds overnight to soften hard seed coat. Gardeners in zone 7 and warmer can direct sow their Malabar seeds in their gardens 2 – 3 weeks after their last frost date when the soil has warmed. Tropical seeds will not germinate in cold soil. The seeds germinate best when the soil is between 65F and 75f. Plant your seeds inch deep. You can look for germination in about 3 weeks. Thin your seedlings to 12 inches apart. Growing: Malabar spinach needs full sun and rich, well-drained soil. It also likes hot weather, 80s and 90s. Below 80F growth of your vines will slow. Keep the soil constantly moist. If it starts to dry out, the vines will develop their flowers. If the plants flower, the leaves become bitter. Some gardeners grow Malabar spinach as an ornamental plant, so flowering wouldn’t be a concern and might actually add to the attractiveness of the plant. A balanced slow release fertilizer is best for this plant. Sprinkle some on the soil when you plant your seedlings. Or if you direct sowed your seed, after the seedlings have developed their first set of true leaves. Because this is a vine, you will need to provide support for it. It will grow equally well on a trellis, a fence, an arbor or a hanging basket. Count on your vine growing to least 6 feet when grown as an annual and 30 feet when grown as a perennial in tropical climates.