Another Spinach That Is Great For Our Summers - Egyptian Spinach

Egyptian Spinach, Corchorus olitorius, is becoming very popular as a summer crop in our part of the world. Molokhia/Molokheiya is a common name or many other names. It is believed that it has been discovered in Egypt prior to Christ and has been a staple food since period of the Pharaohs. It is believed that the Egyptian name molokheiya refers to a vegetable for the king', according to Wikipedia, an Egyptian King in the year 6000 BC, requested hot soup after being sick. After drinking the hot soup daily, the illness was treated. Cleopatra is also said to have drank the same soup. Egyptian Spinach as well as its many close relatives, grows throughout Africa, India, and several other parts of Asia. It will thrive in all subtropical and tropical areas throughout the world.



It is cultivated as an annual. It will grow up to a maximum of a metre, gets small yellow flowers, and produces edible seed pods, and edible leaves that can be constantly harvested. It is very hardy and rapidly growing. It is a relative of okra that can be grown in many of the same conditions like the okra. However, it doesn't need shade.


huge Egyptian spinach plant growing up lattices in green home


Are you interested in establishing one? It is able to grow in any soil type and doesn't care about pH, however obviously prefers fertile moist soil. It can even grow in pots. Prepare your soil in your normal way then plant seed directly in the area where they'll grow the most optimal time for planting is between the seasons of spring and fall. Egyptian spinach seeds will grow better when they are bathed in hot water prior planting for a minimum of few minutes, Isabel Shipard recommends soaking for up to 12 hours. Once the plant has grown to about 40cm high, you are able to begin picking leaves. Seeds which mature on the plant and drop to the ground will be dormant in the soil until the weather is appropriate and they will grow into the next crop. Egyptian spinach is generally pest and disease free. The grasshoppers and caterpillars share the leaves with you and during the hot summer they can be affected by red spider mites however overall not too problematical. Seeds are available now from BOGI seeds.



The leaf is rich in minerals, vitamins, and protein. The younger leaves can be used in sandwiches or salads while older leaves can be cooked or أفضل انواع بذور البرسيم dried. You can use leaves like spinach. In Egypt the leaves are utilized in a traditional soup with coriander, garlic and meat. In other areas it is made into a stew made with rice, cassava, and even chicken meat. There are a variety of recipes for this vegetable. The leaves can be dried and then ground into a tea. After the tea has been prepared, it can be stored in a container for the next stews or soups. In Japan it is marketed through health food stores as a healthy tea. Young seed pods in the same way as the okra.



Since the time of the Pharaohs, Egyptian spinach has been praised for its health benefits. It is a tea that can boost your immune system and is believed to help treat constipation, cancer, anaemia and cystitis, diabetes fatigue as well as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, menopausal symptoms weight gain, respiratory ailments and water retention. Tea made from leaves can help during the birth process and improve mothers' milk production. It is also used as to wash eyes that are irritated cut, rashes, cuts and scratch marks.



Because of their long, sturdy stalks the Corchorus genus's members can be grown to produce jute. Jute was utilized over many centuries to make coarse yarn that could later be used as rope or as a sacking fabric. The most tall, unbranched stems were ideal for this. The stems were soaked in vegetable matter for several days to allow the fibres to begin to decay. After that, the fibres were easily removed and washed and dried. In some regions, this fibre can also be used for paper. Corchorus Olitorius or Egyptian spinach is best utilized as a leaf vegetable while the other related species are ideal for the production of jute.