I've never been able to grow spinach in my climate (winters are too cold, summers are too hot, and spring and fall are neither one long enough), and Malabar is the best substitute I've found. It really has a similar flavor to me (unlike chard or Brassicas), though the texture is definitely different. I like it in dishes where you only need a little bit of greens, like pasta or pizza, not just sauteed on its own or in a salad
It's a tropical, so it thrives in the heat. It can be a bit slow to start for me, but it will grow like crazy during the sticky part of summer, and usually hangs around until first frost (which may be January).
