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Post by glen on May 4, 2019 10:38:37 GMT -6
John, that is an absolutely beautiful row of spinach. I also love the Mustard greens in front of them. Thanx so much for providing the link.
I was able to eat some steamed malabar spinach yesterday that Bercy made. She makes a big deal out of it and mixed her favorite seasonings and also chopped celery and leaks. I drink the juice that is left in the bowl it is so good. My plants are now naked. John, you had about 20 plants growing in that row. I bet you had more spinach than Carter has pills? What is your impression of the flavor or taste?
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Post by glen on May 5, 2019 21:49:22 GMT -6
totally awsesome Bon. We'll be looking forward to seeing some foto's.
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Post by john on May 6, 2019 5:10:13 GMT -6
Hi Glen
I always have so much malabar it is very productive. I think the taste is mild and nice, no bittterness like Kale or collards. I have never tried it steamed, just raw. I probably ought to try i cooked this year. I have stayed away from cooking it because I have heard it is slimy when cooked.
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Post by glen on May 6, 2019 22:44:21 GMT -6
John, I have only eaten it steamed. To me, it tastes better than spinach in the can. No slime. Its a pain in the butte to prepare I guess. You have to collect the leaf, wash it, then steam it in a big pot. Steam it and try it. Quit steaming it after its cooked enough for your taste. At first, just use salt. Then, later, use other spices that you like. Its mild. No bitterness. It looks like you have the space to grow a lot of spinach. You could eat it until you burst if you wanted. I hope you try it and let us know how you cooked it and how you liked it. Its a keeper in the middle of Summer.
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Post by john on May 16, 2019 19:26:25 GMT -6
I was doing some research about the "malabar" in my garden, I had found it very interesting that my malabar went to seed but I had heard very little from Glen about his going to seed. With my curiosity peaked I decided to do a little research and I found out that what I thought was Malabar is actually.... New zealand spinach. In the photo link I gave a few posts above that is actually malabar, so yes I have grown malabar but what must have happened is at some point when the volunteers came up in my garden I just assumed they were from the malabar I had planted the year before, I never even gave it a second thought. My apologies, I am glad I caught this. (but also embarrassed) I don't want to provide any one with mis-information. That being said New Zealand spinach is also a remarkable summer vegetable with mild flavor and tremendous hardiness to heat and also a reliable vegetable that will self seed and come up every year.
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Post by glen on May 17, 2019 18:23:53 GMT -6
  John, now you are confusing me. Here is some new photo's of this years Malabar Spinach. Latin name is Basella Alba. Which is the green variety. The red variety is called Basella Rubra which I do not have and never have tried. I thought that what you showed us in the foto link was Basella Alba. Is that the New Zealand Spinach? Basella Alba will go to seed every year. I am not sure what time of year they go to seed. Last years crop took a very long time for that to happen. I did get some volunteers in the yard. There are some in the pots in the photo's that I did start from seed that I collected from last years crop. I have already eaten spinach twice this year and in fact have some in my kitchen now ready for me to eat again! I guess I need to google New Zealand spinach now. |
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Post by glen on May 17, 2019 19:22:14 GMT -6
Ok, the spinach John is speaking of is called Tetragonia tetragonoides. I have no experience with this plant nor have I seen it here in Panama. Supposedly this is another heat tolerant spinach substitute. I would be very interested in trialing this but seed is not available in Panama. Thanx John.
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Post by john on May 20, 2019 5:52:15 GMT -6
You are correct that is malabar in the photo link I provided. What i have go to seed every year is Tetragonia tetragonoides, New Zealand spinach looks a little different but has similar growth habits and is also very mild. My apologies for the confusion.
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Post by john on May 20, 2019 5:57:35 GMT -6
If you need seeds, Contact me this fall.
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Post by macmex on May 20, 2019 6:23:25 GMT -6
My father also grew New Zealand spinach. I have fond memories of it.
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Post by glen on May 20, 2019 21:21:09 GMT -6
John, I would appreciate trying some of that seed. Do you think it will like growing in a tropical climate? I guess I need to do more reading on it. I have a very limited menu of veggy items that I can grow so it would be very nice to have another green veggy that would actually survive and provide food.
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Post by john on May 22, 2019 14:56:15 GMT -6
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Post by glen on May 28, 2019 22:09:00 GMT -6
It looks just beautiful in the foto. Thanx for sending that. If it grows in Costa Rica it should grow for me. If it can tolerate my rainy season its a keeper. I am getting deluged with rain now. Malabar spinach loves the rainy season, like it was made for it.
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Post by john on May 30, 2019 5:15:39 GMT -6
My guess is it will thrive in a lot of rain. Last summer we had over 9" in August. It grew like crazy.
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Post by glen on May 30, 2019 21:51:35 GMT -6
It will probably thrive in Panama's rainy season then. I am excited about getting some of that seed. I will probably trial it in 6 gallon pots. Can you start plants from cuttings once you have plants growing?
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