Any info on Water Spinach?

lowlylowlycook · October 24, 2010

So it occurred to me that my LakeTainer (a floating EarthTainer, see the container forum for gory details), might actually be better suited to growing something that likes really wet soil than growing tomatoes.

Has anyone grown Water Spinach? Any good sources for seed?

Am I right in thinking that its invasiveness is no problem in areas with freezing winters?

pinakbet · November 1, 2010

is this what you are referring to?: http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kangkong.html

its one of the common veggies here in our area. I love it when steamed then paired with shrimp paste.

it will grow almost anywhere with water. it have a cousin, ipemoa reptans which grows in land.

bitterwort · November 1, 2010

Lowly, you might want to research that one some more, especially before planting it in a natural water source. Look at all the money spent over the years on trying to control Asian millefoil and purple loosestrife (and buckthorn and ...). The USDA and other sites list water spinach as a federal noxious weed and specifically call it out as an example of an invasive that is "damaging our agricultural resources." If you feel a need to try growing it, it's probably a better candidate for growing in a pot on a concrete patio where you can control seed production and vegetative propagation.

franzb69 · November 1, 2010

if you're gonna grow these, you'll wanna keep them contained. very invasive. don't let it out. =D

lowlylowlycook · November 1, 2010

Well it's things like this make me think that there is no problem where I live:

Quote:

Water spinach was placed on this list because it can become an established weed in waterways. Since water spinach is extremely frost sensitive, it has only become an invasive species in Southern states.

source

As far as I can tell,

It would be a huge pain to buy seeds legally in the US (unless you are in Mass).
I could start from fresh plants bought at an Asian market.
In the States where it is causing problems, the people that want it, find the seeds and grow it anyhow.

I'm not exactly dying to grow it so maybe I'll put it on the back burner for now.

jwr6404 · January 1, 2011

You can purchase this water spinach in Korean grocery stores under the name Minari(my spelling). It also grows wild in the streams that pour into the Puget Sound. Im certain if you found any in a marketyou could get it to sprout heavily in a vase of water

habitat_gardener · January 2, 2011

How about water chestnuts? I've never grown them, but when I lived near Asian markets, I loved to eat them fresh -- like most vegetables, there's no comparison with the canned product! When I was researching what I could grow, I recall there were at least 2 different plants called "water chestnuts."

October 24, 2010	#1
lowlylowlycook Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2010 Location: So. Illinois (6a) Posts: 147	Any info on Water Spinach? So it occurred to me that my LakeTainer (a floating EarthTainer, see the container forum for gory details), might actually be better suited to growing something that likes really wet soil than growing tomatoes. Has anyone grown Water Spinach? Any good sources for seed? Am I right in thinking that its invasiveness is no problem in areas with freezing winters?

November 1, 2010	#3
bitterwort Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MN Zone4b Posts: 289	Lowly, you might want to research that one some more, especially before planting it in a natural water source. Look at all the money spent over the years on trying to control Asian millefoil and purple loosestrife (and buckthorn and ...). The USDA and other sites list water spinach as a federal noxious weed and specifically call it out as an example of an invasive that is "damaging our agricultural resources." If you feel a need to try growing it, it's probably a better candidate for growing in a pot on a concrete patio where you can control seed production and vegetative propagation. __________________ Bitterwort

January 1, 2011	#6
jwr6404 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: University Place, WA Posts: 481	You can purchase this water spinach in Korean grocery stores under the name Minari(my spelling). It also grows wild in the streams that pour into the Puget Sound. Im certain if you found any in a marketyou could get it to sprout heavily in a vase of water __________________ Jim

November 1, 2010	#2
pinakbet Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pearl of the Orient Posts: 333	is this what you are referring to?: http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kangkong.html its one of the common veggies here in our area. I love it when steamed then paired with shrimp paste. it will grow almost anywhere with water. it have a cousin, ipemoa reptans which grows in land.

November 1, 2010	#4
franzb69 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Philippines Posts: 210	if you're gonna grow these, you'll wanna keep them contained. very invasive. don't let it out. =D

January 2, 2011	#7
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,540	How about water chestnuts? I've never grown them, but when I lived near Asian markets, I loved to eat them fresh -- like most vegetables, there's no comparison with the canned product! When I was researching what I could grow, I recall there were at least 2 different plants called "water chestnuts."