Introduction: Hello friends let us leran today about growing malabar spianach (Bachali Kura) from cuttings, seed on terrace. Growing malabar spinach from the seed and cuttings is an easy process, and you can easily grow them in pots at your terrace.
A guide to growing malabar spinach from seed, cuttings (bachali kura) on terrace
Malabar spinach is an edible perennial vine which belongs to Basellaceae family. It is mainly found in tropical Asia and Africa, where it is spread widely and is used as a leafy vegetable. When it comes to nutrional value, this wonderful leaafy vegetable is good in vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium. Malabar spinach plant is grown throughout the tropics as a perennial and in warmer temperate regions as an annual.
Different species of malabar spinach
There are two main species of Malabar spinach are Basellaalba, which has green stems and thick fleshy leaves, and Basellaruba which has red stems.There are generally two different varieties of Malabar spinach available namely ‘green and red’. The stem of the green variety is green, and reddish-purple in the red variety. But the leaves are green color in both varieties. You can select any variety depending on its availability in your area. It is a good idea of talking to your nearby gardener in your area for recommendation.
General characteristics of bachali kura/malabar spinach
The leaves and young stems of Malabar spinach are a great substitute for hot weather. The young leaves of Malabar spinach can be eaten raw in salads, the leaves and young stems cooked as a potherb mixed with vegetables, the leaves cooked separately as spinach, or added to soups.First of all, choose a good location in your terrace for growing Malabar spinach. Malabar Spinach grows better in sunny and hunid regions. But they can grow well under partial shade.
You should not miss the How to Grow Betel Leaf in Pots.
There are generally two different varieties of Malabar spinachavailable namely ‘green and red’. The stem of the green variety is green, and reddish-purple in the red variety. But the leaves are green color in both varieties. You can select any variety depending on its availability in your area. You can consult with an existing home gardener in your area for having good recommendation.
This type of spinach can be grown as an annual in cooler and hot climatic conditions. Malabar spinach is grown for mainly its edible leaves and stems apart from seed harvest. Malabar spinach is a fast-growing leafy vegetable and one can start from from direct seed sowing in the garden. Requirements for growing malabar spinachMalabar spinach is an easy to grow vine and grow like crazy. Malabar spianch is is a soft-stemmed, twining vine that can grow up to 10 to 15 feet long as an annual. However, this can be kept smaller in most gardens. The dark green, glossy, oval to heart-shaped leaves are thick and semi-succulent with a mucilaginous texture. It does well in full to partial sunlight, can grow in several types of and hardly gets infested by any sort of plant pests, so it’s a great choice for gardeners who are trying to grow their vegetables with success. If the Malabar spinach plant flowers too quickly the leaves tend to get bitter.
Temperature required for growing malabar spinach
Malabar spinach plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings. If the stems are too tough, while pruning, you can decompose them back into the soil. Scarify the seed with a file, sandpaper or even a knife to speed germination, which will take 3 weeks or longer at temperatures between 25-35°C.
Soil requirements for growing malabar spinach
Malabar spinach plant is a climbing vine plant which thrives best under full sun conditions. Malabar spinach thrives best with moist soil and requires a soil pH level in the range of 6.5 to 6.8. Malabar spinach growing in potsat terrace, if the soil becomes dry, it starts flowering and the leaves will become bitter in taste.Malabar spinach is a climbing plant. It grows best in full sun. It can be grown in pots or in a garden with a trellis or up a wall. If the soil becomes dry it will flower and the leaves have a much more bitter flavor.
Malabar spinach can be grown from seed. To start from seed, plant the seeds indoors 5 to 7 weeks before the last frost of local region. Usually the malabasr spinach seeds start germinating in 12 days to 20 days after sowing. If you want to speed up your seedling’s growth, you can either soak them in water overnight before planting, or use a knife to open up the hard exterior seed coating.
Planting malabar spinach seeds in terrace
Choose the terrace area with full sun and close access to water. In hot climates, grow Malabar spinach in the area where it gets partial shade, such as in the morning or afternoon time. It is a goos idea of spreading 1 to 2 inches of compost or manure in the soil using a rake, and then dig it into a depth of 7 to 8 inches. To start from seed, plant the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost in your area. You can expect seed germination in 10 to 20 days after sowing completed. If you want to speed up seedling’s growth, you can either soak them in water overnight before planting or use a knife to open up the hard exterior seed coating.
You may also like the How to Make Vermicompost at Home.
Spacing between malabar spinach seeds sown in pots
In pots you can sow the seeds just 10cm apart as they need sunlight to grow well. Don not sow many seeds in one pot. Sow maximum of 10-12 seeds in medium pots and in larger ones you can sow based on the size of the pot.
Planting malabar spinach seeds during winter season
Plant Malabar spinach seeds after the last frost when temperatures are predictably above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a good ideas of plating seeds 1 to 1.5 inch deep, 1 inch apart in rows, and in rows 2.5 feet apart. You should make sure to thin the spinach plants to 6 inches apart when they stand about 3.5 to 4 inches high. Thin germinated seedlings to one foot. Transplanting of malabar spinach can be started 8 weeks before the last frost of local climate. Spinach seedlings should be transplanted into the garden once the soil is warmed up. They do best with some type of vertical support because they can grow to be 10 to 12 feet high. They can ramble along the ground.
Water Malabar spinach frequently to maintain the soil evenly moist. Malabar spinach plant originated in the tropics and thrives in moist, warm conditions. Malabar spinach is a climbing plant that can reach 8 to 10 inches in height. Purchase or construct support on which the plant can climb and put it in the terrace. Attach the trellis or supports to the ground with stakes, sandbags or other heavy objects to keep it from blowing down in a storm.Harvest tender leaves and shoots as they appear and usually within 75 days from planting. Continue harvesting until frost nips the plant, and eliminate any buds. Once the Malabar spinach plant flowers, leaf quality deteriorates. Growing malabar spinach from cuttings is also possible.
Growing malabar spinach from seeds
Choose a garden area with full sun and close access to water. In hot climates, grow Malabar spinach where it gets partial shade, such as in the morning or afternoon time. Spread one to two inches of compost on the soil using a rake, and then dig it into a depth of 8 inches. To start from seed, plant the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost in your area. Plant the seeds 1 inch deep, 1 inch apart in rows in rows 2.5 feet apart.
Incase if you miss this: Small Vegetable Garden Ideas.
Raising the seedlings
Thin the plants to six inches apart when they stand 4 inches high. Thin germinated seedlings to one foot. Malabar spinach can be started as transplants eight weeks before the last frost. Seedlings can be transplanted into the garden once the soil has warmed and must be placed a foot apart. Plants will take off in the heat of the summer season. They do best with some type of vertical support because they can grow to be 10 to 12 feet high. They can ramble along the ground.
Seed germination in malabar spinach
Seeds must germinate in 10 days to 3 weeks. If you want to speed up seedling’s growth, you can either soak them in water overnight before planting or use a knife to open up the hard exterior seed coating. Plant Malabar spinach seeds after the last frost when temperatures are predictably above 25 degrees Centigrade.
Fertilizers and manures used to grow at terrace
You don’t have to give additional if you have already prepared the soil by adding lots of organic materials into it.
Watering malabar spinach plants
Regular watering is a must for growing Malabar spinach plant at terrace in India. The Malabar spinach plants develop well in moist soil. So keeping the soil moist constantly is important for preventing the blossoming, which will turn the leaves bitter. As the plants produce in the summer months, so regular watering is a must for them.
Pests and problems in malabar spinach plants
This is one of the few plants that is both easy to grown and amazingly free of any pests and diseases, which is great news if you typically have to deal with a lot of pests in your garden.
Harvesting the leaves and stems of malabar spinach
Because both leaves and the stems are edible, this plant can be harvested as soon as the main stem is growing well. Snip the plant leaves and tender stems with scissors as needed, before the vine flowers appear.
That’s all folks about growing Bachali Kura or Malabar Spinach from seed, cuttings on terrace. You may be interested in Hydroponic Farming Bsuiness Plan, Hydroponic Yield.