====== Surinam Spinach ======

===== Botanical Information =====
^Botanical Information^^
^Order | Caryophyllales|
^Family | Talinaceae|
^Genus | Talinum|
^Common Name | Surinam spinach, Ceylon spinach, waterleaf, cariru, Brazilian spinach, Sissoo spinach|
^Species | T. fruticosum|

===== Maturity days =====
* 30-60 days (30-40 days for baby leaves, 45-60 days for full-sized leaves)

===== Planting Months =====
^Planting months^^^^^^^^^^^^
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|X    |X    |X    | X   | X   |     |     |X    |X    |X    |X    |X    |

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===== Permaculture uses =====
^Permaculture uses^^^
| Usage 1| Usage 2 | Usage 3 |
| Ground cover| Shade, chop & drop, food forest| Bee food, vegetable, edible leaves|

===== Growing condition comments =====
^Growing Condition ^Comment^
|Drought Tolerant |Tolerates drought conditions but prefers regular watering for better leaf quality|
|Humidity tolerant |Thrives in humid tropical and subtropical climates|
|Planting area |Garden beds, pots, containers, food forests, understory plant|
|Sunlight |Prefers semi-shaded spots but can tolerate full sun in some regions|

===== Photos =====
^Photos^^^
|{{:wiki:surinam_spinach_2.jpg?200|}}|{{:wiki:surinam_spinach.jpg?200|}}|{{:plants:surinam_spinach_1.png?200|}}|

===== Recipes =====

|{{topic>Surinam_spinach_recipe&simplelist&nodate&nouser}}|

===== Short comments =====
Nutritious, fast-growing perennial green with slightly tangy flavor, suitable for various culinary uses and easy to propagate.

===== General comments =====
=== Ecology ===
Surinam spinach  is a hardy perennial plant native to Mexico, the Caribbean, West Africa, Central America, and much of South America. It thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, adapting well to various growing conditions.

=== Uses ===
It functions as an excellent ground cover, living mulch, and understory plant in food forests. Its ability to tolerate both heavy rainfall and drought makes it a resilient addition to gardens.

=== Food ===
Surinam spinach is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium. The leaves, stems, flowers, and even roots are edible, offering a slightly tangy flavor. It can be used raw in salads or cooked in various dishes such as stir-fries, quiches, curries, stews, and soups.

=== Planting Depth ===
When planting seeds, sow them shallowly, just covering them with soil. For cuttings, plant them directly in the ground or in pots with good-quality potting mix.
Surinam spinach is self seeding once growing in the garden.

=== Inoculant ===
No specific inoculant is required for Surinam spinach.

=== Seed Saving Tips ===
Surinam spinach produces small pink flowers that develop into tiny black seeds. Allow some plants to flower and set seed, then collect the mature seed heads for future planting.

=== Cautionary Comments ===
Surinam spinach contains high levels of oxalic acid. It is recommended to cook the leaves before consumption to reduce oxalic acid content. People with kidney disorders, gout, or rheumatoid arthritis should limit their intake or avoid it altogether.

===== Tags =====
{{tag>
Caryophyllales
Talinaceae
Talinum
Surinam_spinach
Perennial
Bee_food
Herb
Full_sun
Partial_shade
Vegetable
Garden_bed
Shade
Ground
chop_and_drop
edible_leaves
food_forest
}}