Egyptian Spinach

Egyptian Spinach is a good Spinach alternative for warmer climates. Older leaves best cooked but young leaves can be enjoyed raw. Young pods are also edible, similar to small okra. Annual but self-seeds readily. 6-7 weeks to harvest. Approximately 100 seeds per packet.
Egyptian Spinach
Egyptian Spinach
Price Per Packet: $ 2.50

Growing Advice

Photo by Apple2000 (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Scientific Name: Corchorus olitorius

Common Names: Egyptian spinach goes by many other common names including Malu Khia, Mulukhiyah, Tossa Jute, Oakra Leaves, West African Sorrel, Nalta Jute and Salad Mallow.

Family: Malvaceae

Origin

While there is some debate over whether Egyptian Spinach is native to Southern Asia or Africa, it has been cultivated in many countries across both of these regions since ancient times.

Culinary Uses

Egyptian Spinach thrives in the heat making it a good Spinach and Lettuce substitute for warmer climates.  Young leaves have a mild flavour and are best eaten raw in salads or sandwiches in place of Lettuce.  Older leaves have a stronger flavour and are best cooked as a green leafy vegetable.  The leaves have a mucilaginous texture, a quality which also makes them excellent for thickening soups and stews.  Egyptian Spinach is a rich source of Vitamins A, B2, B6, B9 and C, as well as Calcium and Iron.  Young Egyptian Spinach fruits are also edible, they resemble small okra pods and can be used in a similar way.

Other Uses

The stems have traditionally been used to make jute, although other species of Corchorus produce superior fibres than those made from this species.  The stems are placed in running water until the softer tissues rot away leaving only the fibres remaining, these are then dried and combined to make jute twine, ropes, mats and hessian sacks.

Growing Tips

Egyptian Spinach grows best in full sun, but will also tolerate light shade for part of the day.  Egyptian Spinach can grow to nearly two metres tall if conditions are favourable, take this into consideration when choosing a growing location for it.  While Egyptian Spinach will grow fine in most soils, it will still grow best if you incorporate lots of organic matter into your soil prior to sowing including worm castings, compost or well-rotted manures.  Doing this will also help to improve your soil structure, encourage worms and soil micro-organisms and provide your plants with the nutrients they need to grow.  Egyptian Spinach plants shouldn't require additional fertiliser during the growing season unless nutrient deficiencies are apparent.  Don't overwater Egyptian Spinach once established as it can be prone to rot, allow the soil to fully dry out between waterings.  Egyptian Spinach prefers growing in a soil with a slightly acidic to slightly alkaline pH between 5.9 and 7.4, although it'll tolerate a much broader range between 4.7 and 8.0.  Egyptian Spinach is not frost hardy.

When To Sow

Egyptian Spinach grows best in the warmer months of the year.  In temperate regions of Australia sow Egyptian Spinach from October to January.  In subtropical and tropical areas of Australia sow Egyptian Spinach seeds from September to February.  Egyptian Spinach will not grow well in cold and mountainous regions of Australia.

How To Sow

Soak  Egyptian Spinach seeds in lukewarm water overnight prior to sowing to allow water to penetrate their hard seed-coat.  Alternatively you can also scarify the seeds by placing them in a container lined with sandpaper and shaking them to grind through part of the seed-coat.  Sow Egyptian Spinach seeds 6mm deep spacing plants about 30cm apart.

Time To Germination

Most Egyptian Spinach seedlings will germinate 7 to 14 days after sowing the seeds.

Time To Harvest

Egyptian Spinach takes 6 to 7 weeks to grow big enough to begin harvesting the leaves.  Only harvest what you need leaving the rest of the plant in the ground to produce future leaves.