Best Spinach for Subtropical Summers: 3 Varieties That Won’t Bolt
The 3 Best Summer Spinach Varieties for Subtropical Gardens
Summer is when we crave fresh salads and light meals, but ironically, most traditional salad greens like lettuce and spinach struggle in the heat. They either bolt to seed or wilt under the intense sun, making them impractical for hot, humid climates.
So, over the past few years, I’ve experimented with different spinach varieties to see which ones would thrive in my subtropical summer garden—and I found three winners:
🌱 Egyptian Spinach
🌱 Malabar Spinach
🌱 Brazilian Spinach
Most common spinach varieties bolt in hot weather, but these subtropical alternatives are built for heat and humidity. If you're gardening in summer and tired of wilted greens, these spinaches are your new best friends.
Not only do they love heat and humidity, but they also thrive in aquaponics—a huge bonus for me! Here’s what I’ve learned about growing each one successfully.
Check out my video on the best spinaches to grow in hot climates:
1. Egyptian Spinach (Corchorus Olitorius)
This was by far the easiest of the three to grow. If you’re looking for a set-and-forget leafy green that can handle scorching summer heat, this is it!
Why Grow Egyptian Spinach?
✅ Thrives in full sun and high temperatures
✅ Grows quickly from seed
✅ Produces an abundance of soft, edible leaves
✅ Tolerates dry spells well
How to Grow Egyptian Spinach
Planting Egyptian spinach is as simple as popping a seed into soil or your aquaponics system and letting it do its thing. Within weeks, you’ll have a healthy plant reaching for the sky—it can grow over 6 feet tall!
To keep it manageable, I trim mine regularly, which encourages a bushier growth habit. Left unpruned, the stems become thick and woody, but the leaves stay soft, delicate, and delicious.
🌞 Sun: Full sun
💧 Water: Moderate, but drought-tolerant once established
⏳ Time to Harvest: 4-6 weeks after planting
🌱 Growing Method: Best from seed
Egyptian spinach is a warm-season annual, meaning it grows throughout summer and dies off in cooler months. If you collect seeds before it dies, you can plant it again next season!
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2. Malabar Spinach (Basella Alba)
Malabar spinach is a beautiful climbing vine with deep green, thick rubbery leaves and striking red stems. It’s incredibly hardy in tropical and subtropical climates and provides a unique, slightly tangy flavour that works well in stir-fries and fresh salads.
Why Grow Malabar Spinach?
✅ Loves heat and humidity
✅ Grows as a perennial vine
✅ Thrives in aquaponics and soil gardens
✅ Stunning red-stemmed variety adds visual interest
How to Grow Malabar Spinach
Malabar spinach is a bit trickier to start from seed than Egyptian spinach. The seeds have a hard outer shell, so they need some help to germinate.
💡 My tips for successful germination:
✔ Soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting.
✔ Score the seed coat (gently scratch it) to help moisture penetrate.
Even with these steps, I only managed to germinate 2 seedlings out of a 10-pack—so don’t get discouraged if it takes a few tries!
Once you get a seedling going, transplant it into a sunny spot with a trellis. Malabar spinach loves to climb and can grow over 6 feet tall, spreading far and wide.
🌞 Sun: Full sun
💧 Water: High—loves moisture (perfect for aquaponics!)
⏳ Time to Harvest: 6-8 weeks after planting
🌱 Growing Method: Best from seed, but slow germination
🏡 Perennial: Dies back in winter but regrows the next year
A Warning About Malabar Spinach Berries
Malabar spinach produces small purple berries, which I don’t eat. They can stain your clothes, so be careful when harvesting or handling the plant!
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3. Brazilian Spinach (Alternanthera Sissoo)
Unlike the other two, Brazilian spinach doesn’t grow from seeds—it’s propagated from cuttings. It has a low, bushy growth habit, making it a great border plant for garden beds.
Why Grow Brazilian Spinach?
✅ Easy to propagate from cuttings
✅ Loves heat and moisture
✅ Great as a ground cover or border plant
✅ Thick, crunchy leaves—perfect for salads or cooking
How to Grow Brazilian Spinach
Since it doesn’t grow from seed, the easiest way to start Brazilian spinach is by taking a cutting:
1️. Trim a healthy branch from a mature plant.
2. Remove most of the lower leaves.
3️. Dip the cut end in honey (as a natural rooting agent) or use a commercial rooting hormone.
4️. Plant directly in soil OR place the cutting in a jar of water, changing the water every few days until roots appear.
5️. Once rooted, transplant into the garden.
🌞 Sun: Full sun
💧 Water: Moderate to high
⏳ Time to Harvest: 6-8 weeks after planting
🌱 Growing Method: Cuttings only
This plant grows low to the ground (about 30cm high) and spreads out like a thick carpet. It’s perfect for filling gaps in the garden, but make sure it gets full sun—if overshadowed, the leaves start to die off.
The leaves are thicker than traditional spinach, with a slightly crunchy texture. They’re great raw in salads or lightly cooked in stir-fries.
Summer Spinach Variety Comparison
1. Egyptian Spinach (Corchorus Olitorius)
Best for: Fast growth & minimal effort
Sun: Full sun
Water: Moderate
Growth Method: From seed
Harvest Time: 4–6 weeks
Notes: Grows tall, heat-tolerant, drought-resistant once established
2. Malabar Spinach (Basella Alba)
Best for: Climbing vines & unique flavour
Sun: Full sun
Water: High (loves moisture)
Growth Method: From seed (slow germination)
Harvest Time: 6–8 weeks
Notes: Perennial, great for aquaponics, red-stemmed variety available
3. Brazilian Spinach (Alternanthera Sissoo)
Best for: Ground cover & crunchy leaves
Sun: Full sun
Water: Moderate to high
Growth Method: Cuttings only
Harvest Time: 6–8 weeks
Notes: Low-growing, thick foliage, perfect for borders and small gardens
Which One Should You Grow?
🌿 Want fast, easy greens? → Egyptian Spinach
🌿 Want a climbing vine with unique flavour? → Malabar Spinach
🌿 Want a bushy, border-friendly spinach? → Brazilian Spinach
Each of these spinaches brings something unique to the table, but the best part? They all thrive in summer heat, giving you plenty of fresh greens when traditional spinach varieties fail.
If you have an aquaponics system, Malabar and Egyptian spinach are perfect choices. If you prefer soil gardening, all three will work beautifully.
Why not try all three and see which one you love the most?
Find out which other veggies thrive when grown in summer in containers.
Learn More About Aquaponics
Ready to dive deeper into growing fresh food the easy way? Visit the Courses page to start your aquaponics journey today.
Click HERE.
Check out My YouTube Channel 'Candy The Aquaponics Lady'
Aquaponics is an ecosystem, and with anything it takes time to learn how it works. So, sit back and binge watch my 'how to' playlist and the 'Water Quality Made Simple' Playlist, and learn the next steps in your aquaponics system as you create the ecosystem.
Here are the next 2 videos I recommend you watching to create your ecosystem ~ before you add any fish
How Aquaponics Works as an Ecosystem
Why Aquaponics is the best, and most sustainable form of gardening in small spaces
Learn More About Aquaponics
Check out the COURSES page to learn how you can get started with aquaponics now. Click HERE.
Want to get your Eyes and Hands on the FREE Online Aquaponics Essentials Course?
This is a great free resource to really understand how aquaponics is a sustainable ecosystem that will grow your organic food is a productive way.
You learn how all the 'parts' make up the 'whole', and helps to give you the foundations of understanding aquaponics.
Sign up HERE
Want to help out and Feed my Fish?? (They don't drink coffee)
Candy Alexander is a dedicated aquaponics enthusiast with a wealth of formal training in aquaculture. Over the past 15 years, Candy has been deeply immersed in both commercial and backyard aquaponics, honing her skills and expertise in this sustainable farming method.
Candy's passion lies in making aquaponics accessible to everyone. With a mission to simplify aquaponics, she believes that anyone can embark on this sustainable journey.
She encourages those new to aquaponics to "kick the tires" without a significant financial investment. Her guidance focuses on helping people start their aquaponics journey with small-scale systems, ensuring a low barrier to entry for newcomers.
Candy shares practical tips, step-by-step guides, and personal stories to inspire and guide readers on their aquaponics adventure. Whether you're a seasoned farmer or a curious beginner, Candy Alexander is your go-to source for simplifying aquaponics and fostering a sustainable gardening experience.
