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Basella growing from seed. Overseas guest basella - a beautiful and tasty liana

Two years ago, I came across the seeds of a hitherto unknown plant - Indian spinach. From the annotation on the bag, we managed to find out that this plant in our climate is an annual liana that can be grown for both decorative and practical purposes, i.e. to eat.

I planted this spinach in an ordinary ceramic pot with a diameter of 15 cm, the soil was also quite common, purchased - "Begonia". Why "Begonia"? It's just that at that time we were actively growing this wonderful plant and, of course, using the appropriate soil. I had to plant and then grow this vine at work. The pot with the plant was located on the brightest south-east facing window. It is clear that the liana from the very beginning was somewhat deprived of my attention, since most of the time it was "left to itself." In addition, the window sill, on which there was a pot with a planted plant, was actively blown from the street, and during the heating season it was also warmed up from batteries. In general, the growing conditions were Spartan, although, perhaps, this is what made it possible to obtain a strong healthy plant.

The seeds germinated quite amicably, the seedlings pulled up over the summer, forming a small single-stemmed vine, which, which surprised me very much, bloomed in the fall and brought fruit somewhere by December. I planted some of them again in the same pot, thinking that the fruiting plant would die. But it turned out that the liana, although it did not feel very comfortable last winter, nevertheless survived and waved up the window frame this summer, again giving me its autumn flowering and fruiting. And the planted seeds also sprouted, and now I already have several plants of Indian spinach. And one grows along with the avocado, using its trunk as a support. Interestingly, the avocado also began to feel much better from such a neighborhood.

Since I had quite a lot of Indian spinach, I boldly decided to use some of it for food. Ate the leaves like a salad, without applying heat treatment. It turned out that their taste is quite pleasant, not spicy, really a bit reminiscent of the taste of ordinary spinach. Since the plant has occupied "its niche" in my "garden", it became necessary to learn as much as possible about it.

It turned out that this plant is called Basella (Basella alba), belongs to the Marev family, the same as the Lebedovs (Chenopodiaceae). Sometimes they write about belonging to their own family - the Basells. Under natural conditions, it is a perennial. Basella loves a lot of moisture and a lot of light, which is natural and is associated with the climatic conditions of growth.

What does it look like? In nature, this is a liana, reaching several meters in height. I have grown about 1.5 meters. The trunk is juicy, at the base reaching the thickness of the index finger, reddish, towards the top - green. The leaves are green, juicy, the flowers are inconspicuous, white, the fruits are small, black, when crushed, they secrete black juice, which has coloring properties. In appearance, the fruits of Basella are a bit like the fruits of my other curiosity - phytolacca. I grow Basella in one trunk, although it easily produces numerous side shoots, especially if the main trunk is laid horizontally.

It reproduces, as I said above, by seeds, but it can be easily propagated by part of the side shoot: tearing it off, you need to put it in water, wait for the roots to appear and plant it in a permanent place. I fertilize the plant about once a month. Last year I used regular vegetable fertilizer, and this year I used Greenworld flower fertilizer. So far, I have not noticed any difference in growth, flowering and fruiting associated with the use of different fertilizers.

Basella is often called Malabar spinach after the place of its main growth - the Malabar coast of the Hindustan peninsula. This coast is characterized by high humidity, swampy lowlands, tropical rainforests. The climate is subtropical, monsoonal, with comfortable temperatures in January - February (20-240C), with heavy rains (up to 2000 - 3000 mm of precipitation per year) in June - September. In May, the temperature can rise up to 400C. So the conditions for the growth of basella in nature can not be compared with my "window". Although, perhaps, the rather hot spring and relatively rainy summer of last year were not so bad for my creeper.

Many of our favorite plants belong to the Marev family: kochia, hill hodgepodge, quinoa, beets, spinach; some of them are widely used in food, others are used as medicinal plants, others are simply pleasing to the eye. In this capacity, the basella is no different from them. It is eaten both raw, which I have already tried on myself, and after heat treatment. According to some authors, basella is a medicinal plant. Applied topically, it has wound healing properties, and when taken orally, it normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The fruits are also used in cooking: in jams, jelly. Well, its appearance is also quite unusual, a well-grown liana, especially during flowering and fruiting, looks beautiful on the window.

This year I will try to plant a basella in the garden, if, of course, the weather permits. So the experiment on growing this exotic plant will continue. Perhaps other interesting results will be obtained, which, of course, I will gladly share with the readers of the journal.

Oleg Vinokurov, gardener

Tomorrow I will sow spinach, but not ordinary, but Ceylon. I hope the germination will be good. Because I have red-leaved seeds, which means that in addition to using the leaves for food, I also want a decorative effect. Moreover, I will definitely plant a couple of plants in pots in order to transfer the plants to the house in the fall, because the basella, and this is the name of this spinach, can also be grown as a houseplant.

When we say spinach, we imagine a small herbaceous plant with succulent green leaves. Despite the lack of a pronounced taste, this green culture is firmly registered in the menu of supporters of a healthy diet. And all thanks to the chemical composition of the leaves, which contain proteins, sugars, organic acids, vitamins B1, B2, D, K, E, P, PP, carotene, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium and iodine. Traditionally, gardeners grow just such leafy spinach; advanced gardeners have already mastered the cultivation of New Zealand spinach - tetragonia. And now a fashionable novelty is on its way - Malabar or Ceylon spinach. I tried it last summer, I strongly recommend it, you will not regret it.

exotic creeper

Curious travelers in India and Sri Lanka were the first to meet this plant. To believe that famously climbing on supports to a height of almost 4 m liana, not everyone can spinach either. But that's just the way it is. Malabar spinach, or scientifically basella, is a climbing plant with very long shoots. There are two varieties: Alba with dark green leaves and Rubra with red leaves and showy purple stems. Due to the fact that this plant also has beautiful purple fruits, many grow it in hanging pots as an ampel culture.

Historically, the Alba basella is called Malabar spinach thanks to the British - they brought this plant from the Indian state of Malabar, and the rubra basella is Ceylon spinach, less often wine, probably because the color of the leaves is akin to noble ruby wine. By the way, basella alba can be eaten both raw and boiled, but it is better to heat rubra - it is rough in its raw form.

Given the origin of the plant from the tropics and subtropics, in our climate it can only be grown as an annual crop. Only young leaves are used for food, and their cooking methods are exactly the same as traditional garden spinach. Therefore, in the garden, it is more logical to grow basella as an ornamental plant: either in hanging planters, or on trellises and arches.

The subtleties of growing

For the normal growth of basella, a high temperature is needed - not lower than 20ºС, it gains the main green mass at a temperature of 25-30ºС. Therefore, until the end of May, the plant is grown in pots, and sown for seedlings in the second half of April, maintaining the temperature at least 20ºС, including at night. Pots for seedlings should be taken with a diameter of at least 6 cm. Seedlings 10-15 cm high are planted in hanging pots or in open ground next to the supports. It looks very good in large pots, which are installed next to the supports. Only one plant can be planted in a hanging planter with a diameter of 20 cm. In open ground, the distance between plants is 35-45 cm. In large pots with a diameter of more than 50 cm, 2-3 plants are planted, often placing Alba and Rubra next to them to increase the decorative effect.

Soils need fertile, high nitrogen content, well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic. Plantings must be freed from weeds, mulched with humus and watered regularly. Basella responds very well to irrigation with warm water over the leaves, especially in hot weather. During the season, plants are fed 2-3 times with a solution of mullein or green fertilizer (0.6 l of infusion per 9 l of water).

Basella stems are tied to vertical or horizontal trellises, lowered from hanging planters. When the plants reach 30-40 cm in height, pinch the tops of the stems to stimulate branching. To stimulate leaf growth, flower shoots are removed.

If you had few seeds, then this plant can be easily propagated by cuttings, which are cut into a length of 10-15 cm, planted in pots with loose fertile soil and covered with a film. Rooted plants are planted in open ground.

When grown outdoors, Basella can suffer from nematodes, aphids, whiteflies and red spider mites. But due to the fact that the leaves of the plant are eaten against pests, only herbal preparations in a low concentration can be used, but it is better to limit yourself to the manual destruction of pests.

Harvest begins to be harvested 1-12 weeks after germination, cutting off young shoots 15-20 cm long. Fresh leaves can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 4 days.

After abundant flowering in August, juicy fleshy fruits are formed on the vines with seeds that are not eaten, but in a year favorable for weather conditions, you can collect your seeds. If you provide the plant in a hanging planter with normal conditions for wintering in the house, then in the spring it can be easily propagated by cuttings. In a room culture, it is important to regularly trim the shoots, maintain high humidity, regular watering, night temperatures of at least 20ºС and high illumination.

Basella rubra varieties "Rosebud" and "Select Red" are more common on sale.

Basella - planting and care
Basella (Basella) - a small genus of lianas, uniting 5 species of plants of the Basella family. Three of them grow in Madagascar, one - in East Africa, the most widespread Basella white from Southeast Asia. The latter species fell into the era of great travels from the Malabar Islands to England and received the name Malabar spinach there, since it was widely used as a leafy vegetable in its homeland. The Latin name of the plant - Basella - is derived from its Indian name. Basella is also called Indian spinach, Philippine spinach, Ceylon spinach.

How to grow basella

The Basella plant is thermophilic, so it is grown in temperate latitudes as an annual plant. In a year, a vine grows up to 2 m. Basella twists around a support, for which you can use a pergola, a fence. Obelisks entwined with basella look very beautiful. Can grow in a container, with limited soil volume, provided it has a vertical support.

Soils for basella are better to use sandy, moist, fertile, although in nature it happens to grow in dry places, in shade and on poor soils. The acidity range withstands a fairly wide range: it grows on both strongly acidic and neutral and alkaline soils. If you find a sunny, warm place for Basella, provide watering, then it will develop well.

How to grow basella

Basella is propagated by seeds, sowing in April for seedlings in a room with a temperature of 20 degrees, and at the end of May in open ground. For quick germination of seeds, they are soaked in warm water for a day, as DachaDecor.ru advises. You can also propagate the plant using cuttings, as the Basella plant takes root well.

When planting, plants are placed at a distance of 30 cm, supports are installed.

In autumn, the basella is transplanted into a pot (if the plant is small) or young plants are obtained from cuttings. Liana is transferred to the house on the windowsill, you can leave it in the greenhouse for the winter. Basella perfectly tolerates home, room conditions, if watered abundantly, sprayed with water. But winter watering is done less often than in summer.

Basella and its types

Basella white - the most common type

White basella (Basella alba) is a perennial climbing vine that grows up to 9 m. It has fleshy stems.

The leaves have a slimy texture, alternate, ovoid, sometimes heart-shaped, the tip is pointed, the length of the leaf is up to 12 cm, they have a mild aroma. Carl Linnaeus, describing the plant, called Basella hearty.

Flowers white or tinged with pink are unisexual, blooming in the axils of the leaves. The fruits formed after flowering are 6 mm in diameter, ripen by September, painted in purple-black. According to the color and shape of the fruit, the plant also received such names as Red Grape Spinach, Malabar Nightshade.

Which type to choose

Useful properties of basella

Basella leaves are rich in vitamins, calcium, and various useful substances. In Bangladesh, they are recommended for those who do not have enough vitamin A in their bodies.

Since ancient times, the ethnomedicine of Southeast Asia has used basella as a diuretic, sedative, astringent, and mild laxative. It was also used externally for wound healing with ulcers, abscesses, and edema. Basella is known in China as an antipyretic and neutralizing poison. The whole plant has healing properties: from the roots to the fruits.

In the cuisine of Africa and Southeast Asia, the vine also won a prominent place. The leaves taste very much like spinach, have a delicate aroma. They are put raw in sandwiches, added to salads.

They are also brewed instead of tea. Soups are boiled with leaves, mashed potatoes are prepared, they are added to vegetable dishes.

Useful properties of basella

The fruits are used as food coloring in baking and making sweets, and the effect is enhanced by adding a small amount of lemon juice.

The coloring properties of the fruits were used in the manufacture of paints for seals, women used them as a blush.

Creepers in our garden (video)

Undoubtedly, the liana is the most beautiful ornamental plant that will decorate the garden, gazebo, balcony.

Basella is a heat-loving perennial vine. It is also called "Malabar spinach".
There are two types in nature:
- white basella (Basella alba);
- Basella red (Basella rubra).

Basella is native to tropical and subtropical regions of America and Africa, Madagascar, India, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.
In countries with a suitable climate, this plant is cultivated in gardens all year round. Of course, in regions with cold winters, heat-loving basella can only be grown in the garden as an annual plant.

Basella varieties with elegant leaves and stems that have various shades of red (“Rosebud”, “Rubra”, “Select Red”) are especially decorative and popular with plant lovers.

I want to tell the readers of Gardenia. ru about basell. I bought her seeds five years ago. Before that, I had not seen this plant; I was curious what would grow from these seeds...

Basella in the garden and in the house

Having sowed basella seeds at home, I grew seedlings - it turned out to be easy.
Young plants were planted on the site when steady heat came.

Of the six seedlings of Basella, only one plant survived. The fact is that the rest of the seedlings fell into arid places in the garden, and as a result they did not have enough moisture. But the surviving basella over the summer has grown greatly and braided a two-meter support!

In the fall, I felt sorry to part with my beloved Basella. I cut the vine, dug it up, planted it in a pot and took it into the house.
Since then, this plant has been living indoors for the sixth year.

I hung the planter with basella right on the bright window. On the sunny side and with enough moisture, my basella feels good, it has grown beautifully.

This plant is very pretty - numerous shoots of basella with juicy green leaves wrap around the window picturesquely.
Basella blooms three to four times a year. Her flowers are not very expressive: they are white-pink "bombs" collected in a brush. But the ripe fruits of the basella are extremely decorative - shiny "lacquered berries" of ink-black color.

Basella is especially beautiful when on the plant you can simultaneously see flowers in racemes and berries of varying degrees of maturity and size - from small green to ripe black ones.

Basella Care

Basella is an unpretentious liana, this plant requires almost no care.
The main thing is that the location is sunny, and watering is regular. Basella loves spraying with water at room temperature.
For all the time of cultivation on the vine, no pests and diseases were observed.

The only inconvenience when caring for basella is associated with the tenderness and fragility of its young shoots. This creates some problems when transplanting vines. Therefore, at the same time, I have to cut the basella, but then it quickly grows back.

For the same reason, it is difficult to tie it up - tender shoots can be injured and dry out.
Although the Basella garter is not necessary: with the timely provision of support, the plant itself successfully clings to it.

Basella in cooking

Basella is not only beautiful, but also edible. In warm countries, it is widely distributed and used as a food plant.

Basella leaves are juicy, with a pleasant taste, similar to lettuce and spinach.
I decorate New Year's table dishes with basella leaves - it looks fresh and original.
I recently read that basella fruit can be used as food coloring.

Here it is, Basella - beautiful and tasty!

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Basella is a heat-loving perennial vine. It is also called "Malabar spinach".

There are two types in nature:

Basella white (Basella alba);

Basella red (Basella rubra).

Basella can grow well in a large container, but it needs to be supported to grow vertically. You can grow basella in the house, and also use it for landscaping a balcony. I have it growing both in the garden and on the balcony adjacent to the kitchen.

Basella varieties with elegant leaves and stems that have various shades of red (“Rosebud”, “Rubra”, “Select Red”) are especially decorative and popular with plant lovers.

Basella was planted for me by my husband. Knowing my love for spinach. Now it is still growing on the street, but for the winter I plan to bring it into the house with a goshka. I cut the leaves as new ones grow. It is very convenient - you cut off the lower ones and the upper ones grow further. It's a liana. Can be transplanted into a pot. This plant is very pretty - numerous shoots of basella with juicy green leaves wrap around the balcony picturesquely.
Basella blooms three to four times a year. Her flowers are not very expressive: they are white-pink "bombs" collected in a brush. For some reason it didn't bloom for me. The ripe fruits of the basella are decorative - shiny "varnished berries" of ink-black color.

Basella is especially beautiful when on the plant you can simultaneously see flowers in racemes and berries of varying degrees of maturity and size - from small green to ripe black ones.

Basella Care

Basella in cooking

Of its main advantages is the nutritional value of shoots and leaves. Dark green, juicy, palatable leaves are rich in vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. They are used, like spinach, for salads, soups. I like it very much. Ordinary spinach - he once and for all. Ate it. And here, as needed, you cut off the leaves for yourself - and the stem grows further on itself. The fruits are used as a food coloring for baking, making jelly, jam, sweets.

By the way, basella also has medicinal properties. It normalizes the work of the stomach and intestines, and fresh leaves of the plant are used to heal wounds.