Growing Malabar Spinach: Why I chose this for My Texas Garden

Malabar Spinach

Malabar - an excellent source of calcium and iron; good source of vitamins A, B, and C, with a high roughage value.

I got my Malabar seeds today from eBay. I planted 4 seedlings and sent my mother 10. This is a decorative and edible spinach plant that grows to a height of 8' to 10' and blooms summer to fall.

 

Spinach seeds

Plant in sun, and preferably next to a trellis. Germination takes 10 - 15 days.

Today, I also picked up two containers of Horsetail.

 

Horsetail plant

Long ago, the Horsetail (Scouring Rush) was food for dinosaurs. Pioneers used to grab fistfulls of horsetail (which grew in abundance near the streams) to clean and scrub their cooking utensils.

 

Love these Horsetail plants

I purchased two plants - one for indoors and another for a decorative pot on the porch. Beware, they tend to take over a garden as they have an underground fleshy stem called rhizomes. What attracted me to these plants is that they look like miniature bamboo.

Why I Keep Growing Malabar Spinach

One of the reasons I continue growing Malabar spinach year after year isn't just because it thrives during our hot Texas summers—it's because it's incredibly nutritious.

Unlike traditional spinach, which quickly wilts once temperatures climb, Malabar spinach keeps producing tender leaves throughout the hottest part of the season. That means fresh greens are still available long after many spring vegetables have stopped producing.

The leaves are naturally rich in vitamin A, which supports healthy vision and the immune system, vitamin C for healthy skin and immune function, and several B vitamins that help convert food into energy. Malabar spinach is also a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium, along with dietary fiber and antioxidants.

A one-cup serving of fresh Malabar spinach contains only about 15–20 calories, making it an easy way to add nutrients to everyday meals without adding many calories.

What Does It Taste Like?

The leaves have a mild flavor similar to traditional spinach but are slightly thicker and more succulent.

Young leaves are tender enough to eat fresh, while mature leaves become a little heartier and hold up well during cooking.

My Favorite Ways to Use It

One thing I enjoy most about Malabar spinach is its versatility.

Fresh leaves are delicious:

• tossed into green salads
• layered on sandwiches and wraps
• chopped into pasta salads
• blended into green smoothies

It also cooks beautifully in:

• omelets and scrambled eggs
• soups and stews
• stir-fries
• casseroles
• lasagna
• quiche
• homemade vegetable soups
• curries
• sautéed with garlic and butter

The thicker leaves become slightly silky when cooked, making them excellent for soups and stir-fries where ordinary spinach often disappears.

A Perfect Homestead Vegetable

For anyone interested in homesteading or growing more of their own food, Malabar spinach is one of the easiest vegetables to recommend.

A single healthy vine can continue producing leaves for months with very little care, making it an excellent crop for gardeners who want dependable summer greens. Since it grows vertically on a trellis, it also saves valuable garden space while producing an abundant harvest.

That's one reason it has remained one of my favorite vegetables to grow, even after all these years.

If this is your first time hearing about Malabar spinach, be sure to check out my complete growing guide, where I share planting tips, trellis ideas, harvesting advice, and photos showing how these tiny seedlings eventually grew into towering vines over eight feet tall.

Gone With the Wind: Growing Malabar Spinach & Natural Slug Control Tips

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Getting the Texas Garden Ready for Spring: Vegetables, Flowers and Container Growing

Tree decor face

We spent the better part of our Sunday raking leaves (yeah, we never got around to THAT in fall) and dug out all my empty pots for another season of gardening. The week before we purchased some vegetable and flower bedding plants we got from the local nursery.

 

 

Landscaping with flowers around tree

For vegetables we planted several varieties of bell peppers, hot peppers, jalapeño, tomatoes and green onions. Not counting the flower bedding plants, I planted some Cleome, and Brown Eyed Susans.

My annual Cannas, Elephant Ears, and banana plants are all growing vigorously!

The seeds remaining to plant are:

Zinnia
Sunflower
Morning Glory
Texas Bluebonnet
Wildflower mix

And more tomato and bell peppers. I'm hoping to start a watermelon patch at the farm this year as well. I can only plant in pots around the house as we have very little space due to the pool. I've read that some families are turning their front yards into vegetable gardens. Sometimes I toy with that idea, but if we did, I'd have to get rid of our basketball goal and stray balls. Not sure if spouse would be pleased with the idea. If prices keep rising, practicality might take precedence!

Today, I'm running to the store to buy a new hoe and a hammock. We are working feverishly to get the yard in shape. Planning to spend a lot of time at home due to the gas prices.

 

Gotta grow those hot peppers. As soon as I locate some Serrano peppers, I plan to plant those. Our favorite pastime is to eat sliced Serrano's over sardines and crackers!

getting garden started on pool deck

Most gardening done in pots. I did order some Malabar Spinach online and once they arrive, I'll more than likely plant them in the ground next to my trellis. Will keep you posted on those!

cleaning swimming pool

It's been a chore cleaning the pool. Thanks to Alan, he's been working daily on extracting leaves from the bottom. Sometimes I think it's a curse having so many trees in our yard, but on those HOT summer days, and I mean (((HOT))) it's NICE swimming in a crystal clean pool under the shade of a tree!

The picture of the pool is actually more aqua than the green that is shown. (But it did look THAT green last week.) Two weeks earlier, it looked like vegetable beef soup!

I've added several bottles of algaecide, shock, and some PH. Now that the PH is good, we should have NO PROBLEMS bringing the water back to crystal clear. I purchased some Clarifier the other day and this SHOULD do the trick. I'm hoping to be able to swim by this weekend.

 

Baby Donkey

Say hello to the newest member of the farm! One of our donkey's gave birth last week! This makes donkey number 9 and he's only 5 days old!

 

Donkeys at Pioneer Farms - Austin, Texas

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Update (2026): Looking Back at Another Texas Gardening Season

Looking back nearly twenty years later, these photos remind me that you don't need acres of land to grow a productive garden. Most of our backyard was already occupied by the swimming pool, so I learned to make the most of every sunny corner with containers filled with peppers, tomatoes, onions, flowers, and whatever else I could squeeze into a pot.

One thing I've learned over the years is that a garden doesn't have to be perfect—it just has to be planted. A few pots can provide fresh vegetables, beautiful flowers, and the satisfaction of harvesting food you've grown yourself. For anyone living in a neighborhood, apartment, or home with limited space, container gardening is an excellent way to begin.

That spring, rising gasoline prices encouraged us to spend more weekends at home. Instead of driving somewhere for entertainment, we worked in the yard, prepared the pool for summer, and enjoyed watching the garden come to life. Looking back, I realize some of our best family memories were made right in our own backyard.

I also enjoy mixing vegetables with flowers. Not only do flowers brighten the landscape, but many attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that help produce healthier vegetable crops. A garden can be both practical and beautiful at the same time.

Perhaps the biggest lesson gardening has taught me is patience. Every season begins with tiny seeds and small transplants that don't look like much. Yet with sunshine, water, and a little care, they eventually become baskets of fresh vegetables and colorful blooms. That's one of the reasons I continue gardening today—it reminds me that good things are worth waiting for.

And judging by that five-day-old donkey at the farm, spring wasn't just bringing new life to our garden. It seemed the whole countryside was waking up after winter.

Growing Malabar Spinach: Why I chose this for My Texas Garden

Building My Texas Garden Tunnel: Cattle Panels, Raised Beds & Shade Cloth

Easy Cheeseburger Quesadilla Recipe Using Pantry Staples

Cheeseburger Quesadilla 

Okay, so you haven't lived until you've tried the CHEESEBURGER QUESADILLA!

Wow, what a burger! I plan to try many more recipes with flour tortillas. With the price of bread going up, tortillas really ARE the economical way to go!

For example, a loaf of wheat bread at Walmart's (the cheapest of the cheapest) costs:

Wheat bread - $1.27 for 24 slices (a few months ago, it was less than a dollar a loaf!)

5-lb bag of flour - $1.76 which can yield about 60 homemade tortillas.

Shape your burger patties into thin oval shapes, fry, and drain oil.

Butter up that iron skillet!

Top burger with your favorite toppings. In my case, I used grated cheese, burger, more cheese, Picante sauce, and chopped onions.

Fold tortilla over and grill on both sides. YUMMY, crunchy, and not soggy!

Serve with homemade fries or some nachos and cheese. (Mexican confetti Bonbolin marshmallow cookies pictured. First time we tried them!)

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Update (2026): A Budget Meal That Still Holds Up Today

Looking back at this recipe nearly twenty years later, I'm reminded that rising grocery prices aren't anything new. Even back in 2008, I was looking for simple ways to stretch our food budget without giving up family favorites.

That's exactly why this cheeseburger quesadilla became such a hit.

Instead of serving hamburgers on buns, I wrapped everything inside a crispy flour tortilla. Not only were tortillas less expensive than bread at the time, but they also stayed fresh longer and were less likely to go to waste. Today, I still keep tortillas in the freezer because they're one of the most versatile foods you can have in your kitchen.

One thing I enjoy about this recipe is how easy it is to customize. Add bacon, sliced jalapeños, mushrooms, pickles, sautéed onions, or your favorite burger sauce. Leftover taco meat also works surprisingly well. If I'm trying to stretch a pound of ground beef even further, I'll sometimes sauté diced onions or mushrooms with the meat so the filling goes farther without sacrificing flavor.

Another advantage is that cheeseburger quesadillas cook quickly, making them perfect for busy weeknights. Pair them with homemade fries, fresh fruit, a garden salad, or even a bowl of soup, and you've got an inexpensive meal that everyone enjoys.

Recipes like this remind me that good home cooking doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Sometimes the simplest meals become the ones your family asks for again and again.

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Make It Your Own

One of my favorite things about cooking is that recipes don't have to be followed exactly. Try experimenting with:

• Pepper Jack, cheddar, or Colby Jack cheese
• Bacon or grilled onions
• Dill pickle slices
• Jalapeños for extra heat
• Homemade burger sauce
• Avocado slices
• Garden tomatoes and fresh lettuce served on the side

Every family eventually comes up with their own favorite combination.

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Why Tortillas Are a Pantry Staple

One reason I always keep flour tortillas on hand is because they're incredibly versatile. They can become breakfast burritos, wraps, quesadillas, pizzas, desserts, or even homemade tortilla chips. They're inexpensive, freeze well, and make it easy to create a quick meal using ingredients you already have in the refrigerator.

Amazing Grilled Cheese Burgers on Homemade Bread (Bread Machine Recipe)

Quesadillas - Homemade Tortillas