How to grow kangkong, one of Southeast Asia’s most adaptable vegetables (also known as water spinach) Kangkong is a mild-flavored ingredient that can be used in salads, stir-fries, soups, or side dishes. Whatever you decide to do with it, cultivating it is worthwhile due to its delicious flavor. We’ll show you how to grow kangkong and all of its incredible health benefits in this article.
Kangkong is a delicious and nutritious vegetable that works well in a variety of dishes. However, finding it at the grocery store isn’t always simple. When it’s in season, you could try your luck finding it at neighborhood Asian grocery stores. Why not try growing it yourself rather than searching through neighborhood markets for this vegetable?
You will learn everything about how to grow kangkong in this article. We’ll talk about the ideal locations for kangkong growth before outlining some advice for growing your own supply of delectable greens. Kangkong can be grown in a variety of ways, including from seed in containers, from cuttings, and even in water.
It doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive to grow your own food. If you had a little bit of knowledge, you could also eat locally grown, fresh vegetables like kangkong!
Once you understand how to grow it, it will continue to give you fresh greens all year long.
A tropical perennial plant known as kangkong is grown for its tender shoots as a vegetable. Being a member of the Convolvulaceae (Morning glory) family, it is indigenous to Southeast Asia. Kangkong has creeping vines which stay close to water.
The two most common types of kangkong are those that are planted on land and those that are grown in water (Ipomoea aquatica).
Kangkong is also known as river spinach, aquatic sweet potato, Chinese spinach, swamp cabbage, and swamp morning glory. Its flavor is mild with a tinge of bitterness that is present in many leafy greens.
Kangkong grows on long, hollow stalks that can be as long as 7-10 feet (2-3 meters) and have green, heart-shaped leaves.
Not surprisingly, kangkong is popular in southeast Asian cuisine. A healthy leafy green vegetable, kangkong is delicious when stir-fried with sesame oil and garlic. It also makes a great addition to soups and salads.
There are references to I believe that kangkong has been consumed for thousands of years. aquatica dating back to China’s Chin Dynasty period.
Kangkong, also known as water spinach, naturally thrives in humid environments.
It grows in ponds, marshes, and on the edges of lakes. It’s hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11.
Despite being a native of Southeast Asia, kangkong is also grown in many other countries, such as Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. It’s also grown in the U. S. in several states including California, Hawaii, and Florida.
While you might be able to find kangkong in the produce section of some Asian supermarkets, it might be more difficult to locate kangkong or water spinach seeds.
This is due to the fact that in the United States, water spinach is categorized as a noxious, invasive weed. This means that you cannot transport this plant between states without a noxious weed permit from the USDA.
This plant grows so well that it’s difficult to contain. It has taken over some fresh waterways in some states.
However, because it doesn’t threaten their colder climate (this plant can’t tolerate frost), Massachusetts is permitted to grow kangkong on a legal basis.
Only one company has been authorized by World Crops to sell kangkong seeds. It’s located in Hawaii:
Despite the country’s generally cold climate, kangkong is not prohibited in Canada. Amazon and other specialized seed stores both sell seeds.
Additionally, keep in mind that the temperature should stay around 68 F (20 C). Germination occurs within a couple of weeks. You can soak the seeds in water overnight to hasten germination. The simplest way to propagate kangkong is to grow it from cuttings. Simply take a few cuttings that are 30 to 40 cm long from the new growth, and plant them 15 cm deep in potting soil.
While kangkong can be grown year-round in subtropical and tropical climates, cooler climates should plant it between late spring and early summer. Choose a site with full sun and well-drained soil. You can either grow it on the ground or in a pot because kangkong grows quickly. Additionally, you can plant it close to the edge of a pond or other body of water.
Water spinach has hollow stems and light green ovate leaves that allow it to float on the water. Both the leaves and the stems can be used in the same way that spinach is. Water spinach can be harvested all year long in tropical climates because the leaves regenerate after harvesting. It is typically grown as an annual in large containers in cooler climates.
How to grow kangkong from cuttings
The best method for growing kangkong is from cuttings if you can get your hands on some new ones. Growing from seed yields varying results and is best left to those with more patience and time.
Take cuttings from stem shoots that are between 8–24 inches (20–60 centimeters) long. The University of Adelaide recommends you take cuttings from stems where the tips have just been harvested within the past couple of days. These are the cuttings that provide the best results.
When taking cuttings, aim to get three or more nodes. One node needs to go beneath the soil.
Before planting, keep cuttings in clean water in a shaded area. Change the water frequently to prevent the stem from rotting. You ought to observe indications of wholesome root growth in about 2 weeks. Now it’s time to properly plant them!.
It’s crucial to choose the proper size of pot when growing water spinach in containers. Keep in mind that these water-loving plants require a lot of room to grow and a healthy underground root system.
Select a pot that’s fairly deep and wide. The pot should be at least 12 inches (30 centimeters) deep. The best pots for kangkong are terracotta, clay, or plastic. A few drainage holes are a good idea.
Each cutting or seedling needs its own hole, which should be about 3 inches (8 centimeters) deep and 1 inch (3 centimeters) wide. Space each plant 6 inches (15 centimeters) apart.
If you are planting cuttings, don’t forget to bury at least one node in the soil.
Cover with soil, and gently pat down. Water well after planting. Continue to water the soil as needed every one to two days to keep it moist.
How do you harvest the seeds?
The plant must first flower before the seeds can be harvested.
This means that in order for the water spinach to flower, it must be planted outside in the sun. You can take the seeds right out of the seed pods after it blooms and replant them.
You ought to have enough seeds to replant for a plentiful harvest because Kangkong produces a lot of seeds. Green stalks that branch off the main stalk are the seed pods.
When the pods start to separate, harvest the seeds after letting them grow. To grow kangkong from seed, adhere to the directions previously provided.
Here’s a video that you may find useful: