Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Malabar spinach is a climbing vine that is both a vegetable and a beautiful ornamental (seen here in early autumn).
DISEASES AND PESTS
Arche Noah has yet to observe any disease or pest problems with Malabar spin-
ach.
CULTIVATION HISTORY
Malabar spinach is found wild in India. Cultivated varieties thrive in tropical
and subtropical environments, where they are eaten with other vegetables and in salad. In India, it is
not just used as a leafy vegetable: the black fruits it produces are pressed for their juice, which is then
used as food coloring or as a coloring agent in cosmetics. It has been grown in France since the 19th
century but has never threatened to replace common spinach.
