Variety field guide
What to expect from Green Vines Supreme Malabar
Green Vines Supreme keeps greens coming in warm weather that sends ordinary spinach to seed.
Open the complete descriptionHide the complete descriptionVariety traits, flavor, garden use, and the complete description
Green Vines Supreme keeps greens coming in warm weather that sends ordinary spinach to seed. Its twining green stems carry thick, glossy leaves with a mild flavor and a succulent texture. Use young leaves fresh, or cook the larger leaves and tender tips in stir-fries, soups and curries, where they add a gentle thickening quality. Give this tropical vine a sturdy support and keep picking to encourage fresh branching growth.
Minimum seeds per packet: 50 seeds.
Glossy summer greens for fresh salads and warm dishes.
Variety and background
Green Vines Supreme is warm-season Malabar, a tender perennial usually grown as an annual where frost occurs. Soak seed overnight and sow a quarter inch deep.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Basella alba L. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Tender perennial; grown as an annual where frost occurs |
| Seed depth | 1/4 in |
| Germination | 10-21 days |
| Germination temperature | 75-85 F |
| Plant height / spread | 73–96 in |
| Habit | Vining/Climbing |
| Plant spacing | 12 in |
| Row spacing | 24 in |
| Sunlight | Full - Partial Sun |
| Pollination type | Open-Pollinated (OP) |
Starting from seed
Soak seed overnight; sow 1/4 in. deep after frost or start indoors 6-8 weeks earlier. At 75-85 F allow 10-21 days. Plant with nights above 60 F, 12 in. apart, rows 24-36 in. apart. Trellis; give rich soil and steady water.
Planting and care
Soak seed overnight; sow 1/4 in. deep after frost or start indoors 6-8 weeks earlier. At 75-85 F allow 10-21 days. Plant with nights above 60 F, 12 in. apart, rows 24-36 in. apart. Trellis; give rich soil and steady water. Green Vines Supreme is warm-season Malabar, a tender perennial usually grown as an annual where frost occurs. Soak seed overnight and sow a quarter inch deep.
Harvest and use
Snip leaves and tender tips once vines are vigorous; leave growth to recover. Chill and use soon. Pinch flower spikes for more leaves, or let berries ripen dark for seed; clean off pulp and dry seeds well. Protect plants from frost.
Saving seed
Select several healthy, true-to-type Green Vines Supreme Malabar plants that match the expected vining/climbing habit and overall plant form. Avoid saving seed only from the earliest or largest individual unless that is your deliberate selection goal. Pollination system: Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Compatible plants of the same species may cross to varying degrees through insects or wind. Separate compatible varieties that may flower together, or use cages, barriers, hand pollination, or another documented control appropriate to the crop. Green Vines Supreme Malabar is a perennial. Seed production may require overwintering, vernalization, or more than one growing season, depending on climate and crop biology. Clean the seed carefully, dry it thoroughly away from direct heat, label the lot with variety and year, and store it cool, dark, and dry. Test germination before an important planting or distribution season.
Common problems
Common concerns: Damping-off, aphids, slugs, caterpillars, leaf spots, root rots, and stress-related bolting or poor establishment. Management: Start with clean seed and mix, match temperature to the crop, avoid overwatering, provide airflow, scout regularly, and rotate families. Diagnosis note: Similar symptoms can have different causes. Compare plants of the same age, record weather and irrigation, and use local Extension or diagnostic support before applying a control.
Frequently asked questions
What distinguishes this selection?
Green Vines Supreme is warm-season Malabar, a tender perennial usually grown as an annual where frost occurs. Soak seed overnight and sow a quarter inch deep.
How should I start it?
Soak seed overnight; sow 1/4 in. deep after frost or start indoors 6-8 weeks earlier. At 75-85 F allow 10-21 days. Plant with nights above 60 F, 12 in. apart, rows 24-36 in. apart. Trellis; give rich soil and steady water.
When and how should I harvest?
Snip leaves and tender tips once vines are vigorous; leave growth to recover. Chill and use soon. Pinch flower spikes for more leaves, or let berries ripen dark for seed; clean off pulp and dry seeds well. Protect plants from frost.
Can I save seed?
Select several healthy, true-to-type Green Vines Supreme Malabar plants that match the expected vining/climbing habit and overall plant form. Avoid saving seed only from the earliest or largest individual unless that is your deliberate selection goal. Pollination system: Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Compatible plants of the same species may cross to varying degrees through insects or wind. Separate compatible varieties that may flower together, or use cages, barriers, hand pollination, or another documented control appropriate to the crop. Green Vines Supreme Malabar is a perennial. Seed production may require overwintering, vernalization, or more than one growing season, depending on climate and crop biology. Clean the seed carefully, dry it thoroughly away from direct heat, label the lot with variety and year, and store it cool, dark, and dry. Test germination before an important planting or distribution season.
