How to grow Malabar Spinach
Updated October 2026
Malabar spinach is a fast, heat-loving climbing vine with thick, glossy, succulent leaves that can be eaten raw or cooked like spinach. It is not a true spinach: it thrives in hot weather when ordinary spinach has long since bolted, which makes it a great summer green for the South and anywhere with hot summers.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Malabar Spinach
Not to be confused with: Malabar spinach is not related to true spinach, which is a cool-season crop. New Zealand spinach is another heat-tolerant spinach substitute.
Where to plant
Grow Malabar spinach in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot in rich, moisture-holding but well-drained soil. It tolerates heavy rain and fairly poor soil but grows much better in rich ground. It thrives in temperatures into the 90s °F, and NC State notes growth is disappointing when temperatures stay below about 80°F. It is very sensitive to frost and cool weather.
The vines can grow 6 feet or much longer, so give them a sturdy trellis or fence. The red-stemmed form makes an attractive screen.
- Florida, the Gulf South, Texas and Hawaii: sow from spring through summer; it is at its best in the hottest months.
- The Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic, Southern Plains, Midwest and Northeast: sow 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost for a summer crop.
- The Pacific Northwest: summers west of the Cascades are usually too cool for good crops.
- Alaska: sow in June once the soil is warm, ideally in a tunnel or greenhouse.
Choosing a variety
Green-stemmed Basella alba and the red-stemmed form 'Rubra' are grown the same way and taste the same.
How to plant
- Nick or rub the hard seed coat, then sow directly 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost, once the soil is warm. In short seasons, start seed indoors in warmth.
- Thin or plant about 16 inches apart at the base of a trellis.
- Guide young vines onto the support. Stems root where they touch moist soil, so cuttings also root easily.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil consistently moist, especially in hot weather. Dry soil or extreme heat makes the plant flower, and the leaves turn bitter. Feed with compost or a nitrogen-rich fertilizer through the season for lush leaves.
Pruning and care through the year
- Pinch off flower spikes and the tips of the vines often to keep it leafy.
- Mulch to keep the soil moist and warm.
Harvesting
Pick young leaves and tender shoot tips regularly once the vine is growing strongly, usually about 7 weeks after sowing. Regular picking keeps new leaves coming. Eat the leaves raw in salads or cook them in stir-fries, soups and stews.
Growing in pots
Malabar spinach grows well in a large container or hanging basket with a support, as long as it is kept moist and warm.
Companion planting
Malabar spinach is a summer climber for the warmest part of the garden.
Good companions
- Sweet corn Another heat-loving summer crop for the same sunny bed.
- Bush beans A low summer crop for the space in front of the trellis.
Pests and diseases
NC State Extension reports no known serious diseases or pests. The main problem is bitter leaves from flowering in dry soil or extreme heat.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Clusters on young shoots; hose them off.
Malabar Spinach is rarely troubled by disease.
Common questions
Is Malabar spinach real spinach?
No. It is an unrelated tropical vine, Basella, that tastes mild and spinach-like and keeps producing in summer heat that makes true spinach bolt.
When should I plant Malabar spinach?
Sow 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost, once the soil is warm. It grows slowly in cool weather and takes off once it is hot.
Why are my Malabar spinach leaves bitter?
The plant is flowering, usually because the soil dried out or the weather was extremely hot. Keep it moist and pinch off flower spikes.
Can I eat Malabar spinach raw?
Yes. Young leaves and stems are good raw in salads, or cooked in soups, stir-fries and stews.
Does Malabar spinach come back every year?
Only in frost-free areas, about zones 9 to 11. Elsewhere it is grown as a summer annual.
Sources we checked: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Basella alba.
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