Water spinach

How to grow Water spinach growing and care:

Trellising, rich soil, moist soil

How to care:
Fertilize in the spring, put mulch especially when the plant is young, possible to keep the plant indoor overwinter and take it out in the spring after the last frost

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seedling / Seed / Vegetative reproduction cutting or bending a branch over and covering it with soil

How to propagate cutting?
Cutting temperature 25-30C (77-86F), high humidity, possible by water and switch the water every few days or to put in soil – moist soil, better in spring to summer and possible to use in root growth hormone.

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No, but easier to start by cutting than seeds although start from seeds it’s easy

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Aggressive, invasive

Planting season:
Spring as annual or as perennial in hardiness zone 10a, spring to summer in hardiness zone 10b, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11, all year in hardiness zone 12+

How to plant:
Dig hole bigger 50% more than the roots ball, add to the hole, organic matter, dead leaves and humus put back some soil and mix it, after this put the plant cover lightly but strong enough that won’t fall put support for the plant and give it place to trellising on it, consider to prune week branches, water it twice in the first day and every day for two weeks.

Pests and diseases:
Weevil, moth, whitefly, aphids

Pruning season:
All year, better after blooming season or in the early winter, for annual plants no need to prune

How to prune:
For design and defining borders, dead parts

Size of the plant:
2-6 m, 6-18 feet

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a pots, planter, flowerpot or containers:
Yes, when grow in container, size 10-30 liter (2.5-8 gallon) but bigger it’s better, average to big amount of water needed, it’s to keep the soil moist and better wet soil, when it’s grow as perennial every two years to switch soil, and prune part of the roots and the plants, soil need to be heavy, rich and with organic matter, can use in potting mix or peat soil but better heavier soil than this.

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Spring / Summer

General information about the flower
White petals, more close to the inner part more purple

Pollination is done by:
Bees, flies

Edible leaves

Leaves harvesting season:
All year

How to harvest the leaves?
After the plant establish can be cut with the stems

Information about leaves:
Leaves color light green the shape arrowhead the leaf grow on stems

Uses of Water spinach leaves:
Eaten raw, stir fry, cooked

How to grow from seeds

Sowing requirement:
temperature 22-30C (72-86F) moist soil, humidity

Saving and care seeds until sowing:
Dark and dry place

Sowing season:
Spring as annual and perennial and in hardiness zone 10a as perennial, spring to summer in hardiness zone 10b, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11b-12a, all year in hardniess zone 12b+, planting in summer possible but not in the hot days of the summer

How to plant:
Better to plant in peat soil with vermiculite even if planting directly just dig a bigger hole and put vermiculite around the seeds

Planting spacing:
30*40 cm (12*16 inches) and to transplant 4*4cm (1.8*1.8 inch)

Depth of Sowing:
1cm (0.5 inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
High humidity, moist soil (better sunny location)

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Germination time:
2-7 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Water regularly and don’t let it dry

Scientific name:

Ipomoea aquatica