With projected food shortages now is the time to plant Chaya Tree Spinach and other edible perennials.
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| 3m high Chaya Spinach Tree |
Chaya Tree Spinach (Cnidiscolus chayamansa) is a fantastic and abundant food. Chaya leaves do need some cooking preparation as do Cassava leaves and Warrigal Greens. Wikipedia states up to 5 raw leaves a day can be eaten but other sources are more cautious. Although blending and drying also seems to remove the toxic hydrocyanic acid substances, boiling for 20 minutes is recommended. The leaves survive the boiling still looking green and attractive. The broth that is left can also be consumed as the toxic substances have been destroyed by the heat.
Cooking in aluminum cookware can result in a toxic broth, causing diarrhea.[13]
You are left with tasty green leaves to use as a spinach or chard substitute or to be used in a salad and smoothies.
"Chaya is a good source of protein, vitamins, calcium, and iron; and is also a rich source of antioxidants.[10]" Wikipedia
The plant does burn off a little from cold but seems to survive well in a microclimate in our warm temperate-subtropical climate. There are reports that Chaya will regrow from the root after Florida's frosts. In colder climates try growing in a greenhouse.
Leafless stem cuttings are best left to dry and callus before potting up. Keep the cutting reasonably dry to avoid rotting.
The Chaya Spinach Tree (a large bush) fits well into a vegetable patch. It takes up a small ground footprint and provides some shade to other vegetables). We can reach the leaves from our deck or cut a branch that will later become a cutting.
Chaya can be used as a chard substitute in many recipes.
