Buy 2 or more packets of mix and match seeds and get a free packet of seeds. Malabar spinach is a perennial vine and grown as annual or biennial pot-herb. It prefers hot, humid climate and moist, fertile, well-drained soil to flourish. Stem cuttings about the length of 20 cm preferred over seeds for natural propagation, and faster growth. Being a vine, it requires trellising for its spread. It bears white or white-pink color tiny flowers depending upon the species and purple to black color berries. Basella-alba features thick, fleshy, broad, oval to heart-shaped leaves all along its vine length. Basella rubra has pink or purplish stems and pink color veins running across its leaves. In either case, fleshy greens and terminal, tender 8-12 inches stem harvested about 35 to 45 days after planting (about 50 days after seedling). Health benefits of Basella (vine spinach) Basella is one of versatile leafy green vegetable and revered in some East Asian cultures for its wholesome phytonutrient profile. Basella is very low in calories and fats (100 grams of raw leaves provide just 19 calories). Nonetheless, it holds an incredibly good amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Fresh leaves, particularly of basella rubra, are rich sources of several vital carotenoid pigment anti-oxidants such as ß-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin. Together, these compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a healing role in aging and various disease processes. Its thick, fleshy leaves are an excellent source of non-starch polysaccharide, mucilage. In addition to natural fiber (roughage) that found in the stem and leaves, its mucilaginous leaves facilitate in smooth digestion. Fiber diet brings a reduction in cholesterol absorption, and help prevent bowel problems. Vine spinach leaves and stem are incredibly rich sources of vitamin A. 100 g fresh leaves provide 8000 IU or 267% of recommended daily allowance (RDA) of this vitamin. Vitamin-A required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin, and essential for good eyesight. Consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin-A and flavonoids has been thought to offer protection from the lung and oral cavity cancers. Basella has more vitamin C content than English spinach. 100 g of fresh greens contains 102 mg or 102% of daily recommended levels of vitamin-C. Vitamin-C is a powerful antioxidant, which helps the human body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals. Likewise in spinach, basella too is an excellent source of iron. 100 g fresh leaves contain about 1.20 mg or 15% of daily intake of iron. Iron is an essential trace element required by the human body for red blood cell (RBC’s) production. Additionally, this element acts as a co-factor for the oxidation-reduction enzyme, cytochrome oxidase, during the cellular metabolism. It also contains good amounts of many B-complex vitamins such as folate, vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), and riboflavin. 100 g fresh leaves provide 140 µg or 35% of folates. This vitamin is one of the essential compounds for DNA production and growth. Folate deficiency in during very early stages of pregnancy might results in the neural tube defects in the newborn baby. Anticipating and pregnant women are, therefore, advised to include a lot of fresh greens in their diet to help prevent neural tube defects in the offspring. Further, basella leaves are good sources of minerals like potassium (11% of RDA/100 g), manganese (32% of RDA/100 g), calcium, magnesium, and copper. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese and copper used by the human body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. SCIENTIFIC NAME:Basella rubra Malabar spinach is easily grown from the small rounded seeds. This warm season vegetable is very frost sensitive and should not be planted outdoors until a few weeks after all danger of frost has passed. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Seeds should germinate in 10 days to 3 weeks. CULTURE:Malabar spinach does best in a slightly acidic, moist, fertile soil, though it can tolerate poor soil conditions. Stem tip cuttings may be rooted, overwintered inside, and transplanted out again the following year or kept as a houseplant. Provide trellis support. Sow indoors in flats 1/4″ deep and 1/4″ apart or into 50-cell or 72-cell flats, 3 seeds per cell, 5-6 weeks before transplanting to the garden. After all danger of frost has passed, transplant out to the garden 6″ apart in rows 36″ apart. After all danger of frost has passed, sow directly into the soil 1-2″ apart, 1/4″ deep, in rows 36″ apart. Thin to 6″ apart. DISEASES AND PESTS:Prevent disease with crop rotation and sanitation. HARVEST:Pick young leaves and stems throughout the season. Pinching tips will encourage branching. AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:1 oz./130′, 1 lb./2,100′. Will be shipped from a florist and greenhouse called Flower Shop Inc. Situated in Manhasset, New York. Been in business for 19 years and counting.