Malabar Spinach-Karma

Karma is a Malabar Spinach, or Basella alba. A red stemmed cultivar of malabar spinach, it can be grown just like it's green stemmed counterpart. The succulent leaves and stem tips are rich in vitamins A and C and are a good source of iron and calcium. They may be eaten raw in salads, boiled, steamed, stir-fried, or added to soups, stews, tofu dishes, and curries. Or you can use them as a filling for quiche, omelets, savory turnovers, and potpies. Since red-stemmed Malabar spinach can lose a lot of its red color when cooked, perhaps it is best utilized (visually speaking) in raw dishes. Known as pui or poi sag in Bengali.

Latin Name: Basella alba

Planting Guidance: This variety requires full to partially shaded areas, where there is ample room for the vines to spread. It does best in fertile, well-drained neutral pH soil, with a covering of mulch. Regular watering is needed, to keep growth vigorous, which ensures the shoots are tender and firm.

Approx. Seed Count:

• Retail Packet:40-50 Seeds

Seed Treatment

Untreated

Genetics

Open Pollinated

Hindi Name: Poi पोई

Marathi Name: Velbendi

Gujrati Name: Valchi Bhagi

Kannada Name: Basale ಬಸಲೆ, ಬಸಳೆ, Potaki,ಮಂಥಗಾಲಿ , Manthagaali, ಮಂದಕಾಲಿ

Telugu Name: Bachali kura, Bachali aaku

Tamil Name: Vasalakkirai

Bengali Name: Pui Shaak

Malayalam Name: Vasalaccira