I grew it years ago, it was pretty, but i didn't care for the texture, kinda....slimy...mucilaginous? I don't remember it growing real fast, but it was the first year for that garden, and my fertility wasn't all that. Tastewise, it was a mild green, plus it grows in hot weather.

Could that be the same as New Zealand spinach? It has fleshy dark green leaves. It climbs/scrambles - more like a vine than the characteristic spinach plant. It grows well here in Ca., but I prefer the true spinach for flavor and texture. Almost becomes a weed.

Most of what I find (re-seeded) in my garden is fed to the chickens as extra nourishment (garden greens) to augment their seed/pellet diet.

I had good luck this year growing Bloomsdale longstanding - in partial shade. Normally, we have early warm weather that sends it to bolt, but this year was cooler than usual, so perhaps that accounts for my success.

Bejay

Instar8; did you cook them, is that why they were slimy?
We're going to try them RAW. LOL!

I'm not sure if it also known as New Zealand spinach. It is a vine and comes with red stems or green stems. I would like to try it for it's nutritional value. It is supposedly
high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Iron and Calcium.

Trying to get in better health.
I went ahead and ordered some seeds. Let's see how it goes.
Thanks,

Halime

I had them cooked and raw, i just like a bit more bite in my greens...like bejay said, they're fleshy, kinda like purslane, which i also don't much like. But your roughage may vary!! ;~)

Malabar spinach (Basella alba) and NZ Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides)are two different plants. The former is a climber, the latter is more of a low ground cover type thing. Neither of them tastes much like spinach, but who knows, you might like the flavour. I found Malibar spinach a little soapy in flavour/texture and don't bother with it myself.

Contrary to the negative responses relating to Basella, I each year grow the RED stem kind and think it's great. It makes a grand screen, it is attractive when grown upon a trellis, and if the young leaves and shoots are sauteed for a few minutes in garlic flavored oil(and maybe with some onion also)it is pretty tasty. Young shoot tips are a nice addition to salads too! Try it...you'll like it!

I've grown both malabar and New Zealand spinach and I like them both (wouldn't cook them though but I like most veg raw anyway). Definitely doesn't taste like spinach so if you don't expect that it will, you can judge it on its own merits. If you're limited on space, malabar is probably your best bet because the New Zealand I grew sprawled all over the place. The pic shows it when it was just getting started (the support is there because I thought I had planted malabar. duh.).

{{gwi:37037}}

Thanks taxonomist! I am also trying Malabar for the first time this year. It will go in a large container, up a trellis of some kind. I choose Malabar for its beautiful decorative quality as you mentioned, and for its climbing habit since I am very space-limited.

Another spinach substitute is Perpetual Spinach, a.k.a. Leaf Beets.

It's a kind of chard, not related to spinach at all, but it looks more like spinach (smooth dark green leaves, thin stem). It produces all summer long. It's a fantastic green.

Fedco Seeds' description:

Perpetual Spinach or Leaf Beet (55 days) Open-pollinated. Thanks to Pam Dawling who suggested we add this member of the chard family. Leaf beet should be cultured like any other chard variety. It looks similar to other swiss chards, but its stems are thinner, and its exceptionally tender leaves are smoother, not puckered. It tastes unlike any other chard, imparting a spinach-like flavor that lingers pleasantly. Unlike spinach, Perpetual lasts through summer into fall as it withstands light and moderate frosts. Production from June to October, reports one central Vermont grower. Dawling calls it a 'must-grow.'

Here is a link that might be useful: Leaf Beets / Perpetual Spinach

I thank you for this post, as I to am trying to eat healthier and will try all 3 types mentiond. The sprawling spinach will be planted in a large container to save on space.

Happy Gardening
Mark