Basella alba, commonly known as Red Malabar Spinach, is an edible perennial vine that is widely used as a leaf vegetable in various dishes. Malabar spinach, as its name suggests, is said to have originated from the Malabar Coast in India. It is not related to Spinacia oleracea or spinach, contrary to what it is called. Red Malabar Spinach belongs to the Basellaceae family, comprising species that are all climbing or trailing vines.

Red Malabar has burgundy-colored vines contrasting with the intensity of the green hues of the leaves. Its leaves have a smooth texture that almost feels like silicone. Malabar Spinach leaves have a mild taste with subtle peppery and citrusy flavors. However, when cooked, the leaves taste like spinach, even though they do not come from the same family.

Red Malabar Spinach is rich in beta-carotene and lutein, which are antioxidants. It is also a good source of protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.

At Agrotonomy, in our Tower Farms, we grow Red Malabar Spinach on aeroponic towers supported by a grow cage system to optimize our crop yield. We also use grow support cages when growing cucurbits to sustain their weight.

Through our innovative vertical farming method, we are able to cultivate Red Malabar Spinach on an aeroponic tower using only less than one square meter of space without the use of soil, only water mixed with a 10% natural ionic mineral nutrient solution. The nutrient solution that we use provides all the essential minerals and trace elements that the crops need in order to thrive and be healthy.

Check out the video to see how we grow Red Malabar Spinach on aeroponic towers while saving up to 95% water in comparison to conventional farming methods:

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