How to grow malabar spinach
Basella alba · Basellaceae · Vegetable
When to plant malabar spinach: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 5 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks after it; sow outdoors about 2 weeks after the last frost. Wait until the soil is at least 75°F; malabar spinach sprout fastest near 85°F.
Zone 5: plant out May 7 – May 24. Zone 7: plant out Apr 12 – Apr 29. Zone 9: plant out Feb 27 – Mar 16. See every zone.
Malabar Spinach is a warm-season vegetable in the Basellaceae family, grown either from a direct sowing or from transplants. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and consistent moisture — it resents drying out. From sowing to first pick is about 55–70 days. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed and the soil has warmed.
Grower’s note: Not a true spinach - a heat-loving climbing vine that gives glossy, mild, slightly mucilaginous leaves all summer, when real spinach has long since bolted. Needs warmth to germinate and a trellis to climb; red-stemmed types are ornamental.
Sowing
Sow about 0.5″ deep, into soil between 75–95°F — germination is quickest near 85°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (10–21 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 5 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 12″ along the row with roughly 24″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 2 per square foot. Allow at least 12″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 12″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
Malabar Spinach needs roughly 55–70 frost-free days to crop. Where the season is shorter than that, start it indoors and choose the earliest-maturing varieties, or grow it in a container you can move under cover on cold nights. In long, hot-summer regions it can often be planted twice — once in spring and again in mid-to-late summer for a fall harvest.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long malabar spinach takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 55-70 days (8-10 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 10-21 days in soil around 85°F.
When to plant malabar spinach
When to plant malabar spinach by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | May 22 – Jun 8 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | May 17 – Jun 3 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 7 – May 24 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Apr 22 – May 9 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 12 – Apr 29 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Mar 27 – Apr 13 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Feb 6 – Feb 23 |
Companions
No strong companions recorded.
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: leaf miner.
Diseases & disorders: cercospora leaf spot.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant malabar spinach?
Start seeds indoors about 5 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks after it; sow outdoors about 2 weeks after the last frost. Wait until the soil is at least 75°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does malabar spinach take to grow?
About 55-70 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 10-21 days, fastest in soil around 85°F.
How much sun does malabar spinach need?
It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH does malabar spinach need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant malabar spinach?
Space plants about 12 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart, or 2 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep.
Can I grow malabar spinach in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 12 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.