Red Leaf - Baselle
This ancient variety, from tropical Asia, produces a red stem, climbing up to 3 m high, and green leaves with red highlights. Also known as "Malabar spinach", it is eaten like spinach and has a light sorrel taste.
Although this variety adapts to a wide range of climatic conditions, hot weather favors its development.
Soaking the seeds 24 hours before sowing facilitates germination. Sow in pots, from March to April, in a warm place (25°C). Set out after mid-May, in the open ground 40 cm apart, or in a very large pot.
Regular watering keeps the leaves tender, and harvesting should be carried out as and when required, without stripping the plant of all its foliage, otherwise vegetation will be delayed.
Basella alba var. rubra
30 seeds
From 200 to 300 cm
China
1883
"Vilmorin-Andrieux "Les Plantes Potagères
This ancient Chinese variety is mentioned in Vilmorin-Andrieux's 1883 book "Les Plantes Potagères".
The shipment cost were very high for few seed bags. Nevertheless read more
Review of 03/04/2025, reflecting an experience on 23/02/2025 by Frank K