Malabar Spinach Planting Guide
Malabar spinach is a tropical vine with thick, succulent leaves that taste similar to spinach. Unlike true spinach, it thrives in heat and humidity.
Basella alba · Vegetable · Basellaceae family · 55–70 days to maturity
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Where Can You Grow Malabar Spinach?
Malabar Spinach Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Malabar Spinach planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7a | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | Apr 8 | Jun 3 – Jul 1 |
| Zone 7b | Jan 28 | Mar 25 | Apr 1 | May 27 – Jun 24 |
| Zone 8a | Jan 18 | Mar 15 | Mar 22 | May 17 – Jun 14 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 7 | Mar 4 | Mar 11 | May 6 – Jun 3 |
| Zone 9a | Dec 30 | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | Apr 14 – May 12 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 14 | Jan 25 | Feb 1 | Mar 29 – Apr 26 |
| Zone 10a | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 2 |
| Zone 10b | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 2 |
| Zone 11a | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 2 |
| Zone 11b | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 2 |
How to Plant Malabar Spinach
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
High — keep soil consistently moist
Keep soil consistently moist. Mulch heavily to retain moisture.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 7.5
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 7a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
55–70 days
Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.
👪 Plant Family
Basellaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Basellaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Malabar Spinach
Malabar Spinach matures in just 55–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.3 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Malabar Spinach
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Growing Tips for Malabar Spinach
Direct sow after last frost or start indoors. Provide a trellis for the vigorous vines. Harvest young leaves regularly; older leaves become mucilaginous when cooked.
Saving Malabar Spinach Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Level Up Your Garden
Malabar Spinach by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Malabar Spinach?
Malabar Spinach (Basella alba) takes 55 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Malabar Spinach grow in?
Malabar Spinach can be grown in USDA zones 7a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Malabar Spinach need?
Growing Malabar Spinach requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), High — keep soil consistently moist, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.