Gemüsemalve

Die bis zu 170 cm hohe Gemüsemalve stammt im Unterschied zur Wilden Malve aus Ostasien. Sie kann - so wie dort - auch bei uns als Gartenpflanze kultiviert werden.

Ihre Kennzeichen sind der hohe Wuchs, leicht gekräuselte Blattränder und kleine, weiße bis hellrosa Blüten.

Kultivierung:

• Sie ist allerdings frostempfindlich und wird deshalb erst ab Mitte Mai im Abstand von 15 cm x 30 cm ausgepflanzt oder direkt gesät.
• Diese Samen keimen schnell und problemlos bei Temperaturen um 20°C.
• Geerntet werden die Blätter, wobei bei der ersten Ernte die Blätter wie Schnittsalat 7 cm oberhalb der Erde geschnitten werden. Die Pflanze treibt wieder durch und lässt sich fortlaufend durch Entnahme einiger Blätter beernten. Anfangs August wird die Spitze ausgekniffen, sodass die Seitentriebe gut durchtreiben.

Küchentipps:

Verwendet werden die Blätter in Salaten oder, sehr fein und - durch die Schleimstoffe- sehr magenfreundlich, wie Spinat. Auch für Lasagne, Suppe, Spinatnocken, Quiche usw. geeignet. Selbstverständlich sind auch die kleinen, weiß-rosa Blüten, die Blütenknospen und Jungtriebe essbar.

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil, though it prefers a reasonably well-drained and moderately fertile soil in a sunny position. This species is cultivated as a salad crop in parts of Europe. There is at least one named variety:- 'Crispa' has more tender leaves than the species with curled leaf edges that make it look more attractive in salads. This species was one of the earliest domesticated crops in China, it has been in cultivation for well over 2,500 years. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits. Plants are prone to infestation by rust fungus. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is clumping, giving the plant a clumping habit. The predictable growth behaviour makes it easier to maintain without having to apply containment methods[2-1].

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Leaves - raw or cooked. The leaves of well-grown plants can be 15cm or more across. They have a mild and very pleasant flavour that makes an excellent addition to salads[K]. We use them as a tasty alternative to the lettuce[K]. Young seeds - raw or cooked. Used when green and immature. A pleasant nutty taste but the seed is too small and fiddly for most people to want to harvest[K].

Dye Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed heads[168 ]. An extract of the leaves, flowers and stems is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[1243 ]. An essential oil obtained from the seeds is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an emollient and skin conditioner[1243 ]. The following were listed under Malva meluca and mohileviensis (both now considered to be synonyms of this species) The seed contains up to 10 - 20% of a greenish oil with an iodine number 116.9[74 ]. It is used for making soap[74 ]. The fibre obtained from the stem is a useful substitute for jute in cordage production. The fibre is strong, but somewhat coarse and brittle. It is inferior in quality to kenaf and hemp. The fibre has a breaking strength of 14 kilos without a knot and 9 - 10 kilos with a knot[74 ].

Heimisch: Afghanistan, Altay, Amur, Assam, Bangladesh, Buryatiya, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, East Himalaya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Inner Mongolia, Irkutsk, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Lebanon-Syria, Manchuria, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Primorye, Qinghai, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan-South Sudan, Tibet Eingeführt: Alberta, Angola, Arizona, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, British Columbia, Bulgaria, California, Cape Provinces, Central European Russia, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechia-Slovakia, DR Congo, Delaware, District of Columbia, East European Russia, France, Free State, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Illinois, Iowa, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Khabarovsk, Lesotho, Libya, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, NW. Balkan Pen., Namibia, Nebraska, Netherlands, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, North European Russia, Northern Provinces, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Peru, Poland, Prince Edward I., Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Rwanda, Saskatchewan, South European Russia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, Utah