How to grow Brazilian Spinach

Where to plant

Brazilian spinach grows best in warm, humid weather in bright light or part shade. Research in Brazil found it grows well under moderate shade, and Singapore's National Parks Board notes it grows fast with at least four hours of bright, indirect light; in strong full sun it has smaller leaves and wilts more in heat. It needs loamy soil rich in organic matter and good drainage, as it is prone to root rot.

It lives year round in South and Central Florida and Hawaii. In North Florida, the Gulf South, Texas and California, plant cuttings in spring for a summer crop and take cuttings indoors before frost. Across the North, it can be grown as a summer annual from cuttings planted in May or June. Pacific Northwest summers are too cool for a good crop, and the low desert is too hot and dry.

How to plant

1. Buy a plant or take stem cuttings from an existing plant.
2. Strip the lower leaves and root the cuttings in moist soil or a glass of water.
3. Plant rooted cuttings in spring after the last frost, about 16 inches (40 cm) apart.
4. Shade new plantings for a week or two and keep them moist while they root.

Watering and feeding

Keep the soil evenly moist, especially in hot weather, but make sure it drains well. Waterlogged soil causes root rot.

It generally needs little feeding. NParks suggests a high nitrogen fertilizer about every two months, or after a heavy harvest, to keep new leaves coming.

Pruning and care through the year

• Pick or trim regularly; pruning makes the plant bushier and leafier.
• Mulch around the plants to keep the soil cool and moist.
• Before the first frost, take cuttings and keep them in a pot indoors on a bright windowsill to replant in spring.

Harvesting

Pick young leaves and tender tips at any time once plants are growing well, cutting and coming back as new growth appears. Young leaves are the most tender.

The leaves are crunchy and mild. ECHO notes that in Brazil they are usually eaten raw in salads with oil, vinegar, tomato and onion, although the literature recommends cooking them. A quick steam or stir fry works well.

Growing in pots

Its shallow roots and tolerance for shade make Brazilian spinach a good pot plant. Use a pot with drainage holes and a rich, free draining mix at least 6 inches (15 cm) deep, and bring it indoors before frost in cold regions.

Propagation and saving seed

Grow it from stem cuttings, which root easily in moist soil or water. The stems also root where they touch the ground, so new plants can be cut from the edge of a clump.