Malabar spinach
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The leaves of this frost-tender, fast-growing vine can be blanched or stir-fried or added to salads.
When to plant/sow in zone:
Requirements:
Fertile soil; full sun; needs a permanent position
Soil:
Well-drained soil enriched with compost and/or well-rotted manure or organic pellets.
How to start: SEED: Best sown direct in the ground, 10mm deep, 20cm apart. Keep moist. Germinates in 10-21 days. SEEDLING: Plant out when seedlings are 5-10cm+ tall, against a frame for it to climb up. Space 20cm apart. Water in and mulch with straw.
How to grow: Keep moist and mulch with straw. Apply seaweed solution or liquid fertiliser fortnightly. Apply organic fertiliser pellets monthly. In cold and temperate areas plants may die back in winter. If in a pot, move to a sheltered position until spring.
When to harvest: Start harvesting from 8 weeks when leaves are large enough.
Troubleshooting:
Aphids; bacterial leaf spot
Wondering what to plant when?
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