John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ shows you the FASTEST growing summer leafy green vegetable you can grow that LOVES HEAT!
In this episode, you will learn how to grow one of the fastest-growing leafy vegetables that absolutely love the heat—water spinach, also known as Ong Choy aka Ipomea Aquatica. This plant is a game-changer for anyone gardening in hot climates, whether you’re in the desert, the tropics, or any place where temperatures regularly soar above 100°F. Unlike traditional spinach and greens that struggle and bolt in extreme heat, water spinach thrives, providing you with an endless supply of fresh, nutritious greens throughout the scorching summer months. I’ve been growing this amazing plant for years, and today, I’m excited to share my tried-and-true methods with you.
First, I’ll walk you through the simplest way to propagate water spinach—using cuttings. You can easily start this plant from cuttings bought at your local Asian market or, even better, from a fresh bunch at a farmers’ market. I’ll show you how to root these cuttings in water and how to identify when they’re ready to be planted. Fresh cuttings root much faster, and with a bit of care, you’ll see them develop a strong root system in just a couple of weeks. This method is not only easy but also highly effective, ensuring you get a robust start with your water spinach.
Next, I’ll guide you through the planting process, including a unique technique I use to plant deep without disturbing the soil too much. Water spinach thrives in moist soil, and I’ve discovered that creating deep, narrow holes allows the plant’s roots to establish themselves securely. I’ll also share tips on how to ensure your plants get the right amount of sun and how to support them as they grow. By following these steps, you’ll set your water spinach up for explosive growth, leading to an abundant harvest in just 32 days.
Finally, I’ll discuss how to maximize the nutritional value of your water spinach, including a little-known tip about using iodine to boost both the growth and the vitamin C content of your plants. This episode is packed with insights and practical advice that will help you achieve an endless supply of leafy greens, even in the most extreme conditions. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, you’ll find this episode invaluable for growing your own food in hot climates. So, get ready to turn your garden into a lush, green oasis with the power of water spinach!
Jump to the Following Parts of this Episode:
00:00 Episode Starts
01:35 Lilac Sweet Potato Ipomea Batas Leaves are Edible
03:00 Water Spinach aka Ong Choi aka Ipomea Aquatica
03:30 How to Root Water Spinach from Store bought Vegetales
05:30 Water Spinach Seeds May be Illegal!
06:36 How to Easily Plant Rooted Water Spinach
11:01 Water Spinach all Planted out
11:18 Plant out early in the morning or late in the day.
12:10 Providing Shade for Just Planted Water Spinach
12:43 11-Day Update: Over 100 degrees every day
14:12 22-Day Update: 2.5 Feet Tall Now
15:15 Taste Test of Water Spinach
16:20 This is a 2000-year-old food!
17:42 32-Day Update: 3+ Feet Tall Now
18:50 How to tell when water spinach is more mature
20:19 Biofortify Water Spinach for Faster Growth, Iodine & Vitamin C
24:05 Pure Kelp Dry for add Iodine & other minerals
27:00 Buy a GYG Tee Shirt at https://www.compassion-tees.com/
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Referenced Episodes:
Fastest Growing Leafy Green Vegetable for Hot Weather: Water Spinach
How to Grow More KangKong than You Can Eat in Soil | Water Spinach
10 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in the Desert
Follow John on Instagram:
http://instagram.com/growingyourgreens
Watch all my videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/user/growingyourgreens/videos
Buy My Ebook with Garden Fresh Recipes for Better Health
http://www.payhip.com/gyg
Buy Pure Kelp (water soluble) at the lowest price at
http://www.boogiebrew.net/gyg
Uptake of different species of iodine by water spinach and its effect on growth
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18449478/
24 Comments
Jump to the Following Parts of this Episode:
01:35 Lilac Sweet Potato Ipomea Batas Leaves are Edible
03:00 Water Spinach aka Ong Choi aka Ipomea Aquatica
03:30 How to Root Water Spinach from Store bought Vegetales
05:30 Water Spinach Seeds May be Illegal!
06:36 How to Easily Plant Rooted Water Spinach
11:01 Water Spinach all Planted out
11:18 Plant out early in the morning or late in the day.
12:10 Providing Shade for Just Planted Water Spinach
12:43 11-Day Update: Over 100 degrees every day
14:12 22-Day Update: 2.5 Feet Tall Now
15:15 Taste Test of Water Spinach
16:20 This is a 2000-year-old food!
17:42 32-Day Update: 3+ Feet Tall Now
18:50 How to tell when water spinach is more mature
20:19 Biofortify Water Spinach for Faster Growth, Iodine & Vitamin C
24:05 Pure Kelp Dry for add Iodine & other minerals
27:00 Buy a GYG Tee Shirt at https://www.compassion-tees.com/
Related Episodes:
Fastest Growing Leafy Green Vegetable for Hot Weather: Water Spinach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N58pDDEZoL0
How to Grow More KangKong than You Can Eat in Soil | Water Spinach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxdWFRjDuc
10 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in the Desert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa9Xc6b9PUs
Buy Pure Kelp (water soluble) at the lowest price at http://www.boogiebrew.net/gyg
Uptake of different species of iodine by water spinach and its effect on growth https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18449478/
You are so cool.
I appreciate you! So much to learn from you, thank you!
This guy doesn't age
It looks great, but I just checked and water spinach is illegal in Arizona. I usually grow Malabar spinach during the summer in the Phoenix area, but this year I planted Egyptian spinach instead, and it does well under shade cloth.
🌿🌿🌿💞
where did you get your clips?
Water Spinach is banned in some US states for being a terribly invasive species. It literally causes floods to divert to highly populated zones. I’d definitely recommend against planting it in a garden.
Making edible plants illegal is absurd 🐸🍺🔪🔥
I found out that kang Kong spinach is illegal in some states (not mine) and why when I bought my seeds. I didn't know plants were illegal in the US (except marijuana lol again in certain states) at least it's not illegal here in my state but I still made sure to plant it in a container and make sure it hasn't dropped seeds anywhere (no seeds yet). I've become obsessed with perennial spinach after finding out some of them can actually take a person off of certain medications. Right now I have 12 varieties growing and they taste wonderful. 💜 happy growing 💜
Kang kong
Oh That is Kangkong in the Philippines. You can plant it in a pond then you will have lots of kangkong plants to eat. They are very edible to make "ADOBONG KANGKONG"
I grow spinach in my grow tent as a cover crop for my cannabis.
Pak bung in Thailand
BLACK INSECT FRASS???? what is that?? I love your "how to" videos this one is awesome and I totally wish I could try this, but it's far too cold where I am living right now… Thank you for sharing this.. I always learn something new!
I love how you showed the stages of growth as the Sea lettuce became taller and more lush! Also really loved the Hat in the beginning of the video and how the hat brims seemed to get wider as the Heat perhaps became more intense? I cannot imagine living in such HEAT!! I really admire that you are seeking to get all of your vitamins in your food! It is really almost unheard of these days. It's concerning that we are all led to believe we must take supplements when in fact we just need to amend our soil more… Thank you again for the education you give us all!!
In Thailand, the kind that grows in soil (ผักบุ้งไทย (Pak-Bung-Thai)) is more fiberish and is usually eaten with papaya salad, especially in the northeastern region (อีสาน (Ee-Saan)). The kind that grows in the water (a.k.a. ผักบุ้งจีน (Pak-Bung-Jeen), Chinese morning glory, or Ong Choy) is generally eaten as a stir-fry dish.
I love eating water spinach. I didn't know it was an original plant. You've given me an idea to start growing these.
Would it grow if planted on it's side, like some people do with tomatoes?
Thank you so much for all you do on this platform. You have truly helped me in my journey. The heat in my area is the same as your area, 110 is common. This is a very challenging growing environment. I am always on the lookout for crops that can self sustain, self seed, in my low water, high heat, and rock soil environment.
Does this need a trellis or will it stand on its own, and not blow down in wind especially as it gets taller? Thanks! 👍🏽💕🦋
I Love the water spinach! It's my favorite veggie of all times.
Can’t you move to Iowa or something?
What’s coming in 2025? We may all starve.
Don’t let the spinach flower , pinch it off and the leaves keep coming