Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) in Zone 10a & 10b

Corchorus olitorius

Yes, molokhia (Egyptian spinach) grows in zones 10a and 10b. Plant it outside Feb 13–Feb 20.

When to plant molokhia (Egyptian spinach) in zone 10b

Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.

Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.

Start indoorsNot typically started indoors
Direct sow / transplant outsideFeb 13–Feb 20
Estimated harvestApr 4–Apr 11 (~50 days after direct-sowing)

Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-5 ft.

Plant alongside it in zone 10b

These go outside within two weeks of molokhia (Egyptian spinach) in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.

Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach)
Photo: Dinesh Valke via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.

Molokhia solves a problem most of the greens here have: it produces through high summer, when spinach, lettuce and chard have long since given up.

How molokhia (Egyptian spinach) fits zone 10's season

Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Molokhia (Egyptian spinach) needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.

Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) planting windows in every zone

Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.

ZoneStart indoorsSow or plant outHarvest
4a & 4bNot usuallyMay 29–Jun 5Jul 18–Jul 25
5a & 5bNot usuallyMay 24–May 31Jul 13–Jul 20
6a & 6bNot usuallyMay 9–May 16Jun 28–Jul 5
7a & 7bNot usuallyApr 24–May 1Jun 13–Jun 20
8a & 8bNot usuallyApr 8–Apr 15May 28–Jun 4
9a & 9bNot usuallyMar 1–Mar 8Apr 20–Apr 27
10a & 10b (your zone)Not usuallyFeb 13–Feb 20Apr 4–Apr 11
11a & 11bNot usuallyJan 15–Jan 22Mar 6–Mar 13

Harvest dates are about 50 days after the sow or plant-out date.

Good companions

No well-established companions for molokhia (Egyptian spinach).

Where to buy molokhia seeds

True Leaf Market (each supplier's molokhia seeds)

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing molokhia (Egyptian spinach)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

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Growing Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) in USDA zone 10b

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Growing Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.

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