Water Spinach is one of the fastest growing vegetables that you can grow for food.
It's also known as kangkong, Chinese water spinach, water morning glory, and swamp cabbage.
Many cultures in Southeast Asia use it in their cooking and it has a flavor that's similar to spinach.
They can grow up to about 3 meters (9 feet) long, or longer. The stalks are hollow and will float in water.
Reasons to Grow Water Spinach
Growing water spinach is actually illegal in some areas because it's considered an invasive species.
That means one thing…it grows fast.
Perfect.
You can harvest other vegetables only once or twice a year.
But with water spinach, you can have a continuous supply of very nutritious greens all year long. I don't have exact numbers, but it's one of the highest producing vegetables I know of.
Possibility the highest.
On top of that, it tastes great.
So if you want a plant that can put food on your table consistently and you'll actually eat, then water spinach is one of the first vegetables you should consider growing.
It's easy to start growing your first harvest.
Here's how…
How to Grow Water Spinach From Seeds
The best place to get water spinach seeds is from a local farmer you trust.
If you don't have a local source, then there are many places that sell seeds online.
I got my seeds on Etsy.
The soil you plant in should be sandy, with a bit of clay content. This mimics the areas along waterways, where water spinach typically grows.
Plant the seeds about 2 cm (1 in) deep in the soil and space them at least 7 cm (3 in) apart.
Keep the soil wet and you'll typically see the seeds sprout in 5-7 days, depending on the soil, weather and quality of seeds.
How to Propagate Water Spinach From Cuttings
The fastest way to grow water spinach is to use cuttings.
Take some healthy stalks and put them in water for a few days until they start to grow roots.
Change the water every couple of days to make sure that the stalks have the best chance of growing.
Once you see roots, plant the stalks in the ground or in a large container.
Growing Water Spinach in a Container
Don't worry if you don't have land to grow your water spinach.
They will still grow well in containers.
Using a container will also work well if you live in an area where the weather is too harsh.
Since these plants grow fast, it might not be a good idea to plant them in an area where they might take over the natural habitat.
They have been known to block waterways and disrupt ecosystems.
So growing them in containers keeps them under control.
Once your seeds have sprouted in a small container, transfer them to a bigger pot once they're about 10-15 cm (4-6 in) long.
Be sure to keep your plants well watered and give them fertilizer every 2-3 months.
Plants in containers will need quite a bit of fertilizer because the nutrients in the soil will get depleted quickly.
Growing Water Spinach in the Ground
If you don't mind having a lot of water spinach on your property, then plant them near the edge of a fresh water source like a lake, river or stream.
Remember that this is a tropical plant, so the conditions should be sunny and preferably humid.
This is easy in tropical areas, but if you live in a cooler climate, wait until summer to plant your water spinach.
It won't survive in cold weather.
You usually won't have to fertilize the plants, as they will get nutrients from the water source.
Plant your water spinach in a spot where they will get plenty of water and they will be fine.
For maximum growth, be sure that they have at least 4 hours of full sun.
They can be grown in partial shade, but they won't grow as fast.
Harvesting the Leaves
Once you have your water spinach garden started, it won't be long until you'll be able to eat them.
It can take as little as 4 weeks for your plants to be big enough to harvest.
Simply cut the stalks and be sure to leave at least 3 inches so that the plant will continue to grow.
After you harvest, it takes about 2-3 weeks for the water spinach to grow back and you can harvest them again.
So as you can see, you can have a very productive vegetable farm up and running in less than 2 months.
Final Thoughts
So if you're serious about producing a significant amount of your own food, you should consider growing water spinach.
It grows fast, it's nutritious, and it tastes good.
Give it enough light, water and nutrients, and it's easy to grow.
For more ways to grow your own food, read these articles.
