Molokhia
Corchorus olitorius
Also known as: Egyptian spinach, Jute mallow, Mulukhiyah, Melokhia, Saluyot, Nalta jute
Quick facts
- Category
- leafy greens
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Days to harvest
- 50 to 70 days
- Harvest type
- cut leaves, plant regrows for repeated harvests
- Spacing
- 25 cm between plants
Environment
- Temperature
- 18–32°C
- pH
- 6 to 7.5
- EC (hydroponic)
- 1.4 to 2.2 mS/cm
- Daily light
- 18 to 26 mol/m²/day
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 9 to 13 (winter low around -7°C or warmer)
- Frost tolerance
- frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
- Season
- warm (summer crops, frost-sensitive)
Viable growing environments:
- outdoor in growing season (annual)
- unheated greenhouse / hoop house
- heated greenhouse
USDA zone bounds reflect outdoor year-round survival. Anywhere outside the bounded zone range, this crop still grows as an annual in the warm months (outdoor_seasonal), under cover (greenhouse), or indoors under lights.
Growing systems
Molokhia works in:
- drip / Dutch buckets
- media bed (ebb and flow)
- soil bed
Root mass is heavy - thin-channel systems (NFT, vertical towers) can't hold this crop mechanically, hence the system list above.
Growing media
The substrate the roots sit in. Choice depends on the system (clay pebbles don't fit NFT channels; rockwool isn't used in media beds) and the crop (molokhia works in the media listed below).
| Medium | pH effect | Water retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies by source | high | high |
| Lava rock (Scoria) | neutral / inert | low | very high |
Bacterial surface area matters for aquaponics: clay pebbles, lava rock, and pumice double as biofilter substrate. Low-surface media (rockwool, perlite, pea gravel) work in hydroponics but need a separate biofilter in aquaponics.
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights at each growth stage; the nutrient mix calculator scales them to absolute grams or ml. EC targets shift through the plant's life: seedlings need a much lighter solution than fruiting adults.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC target (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.8 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible with typical aquaponics nutrient profiles. Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth; supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
A warm-weather leafy green for hydroponic systems serving Middle Eastern communities. EC 1.5-2.5 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.0. Temperature: 25–35°C (tropical; frost-sensitive, growth stalls below 18°C). High light (DLI 16-25 mol/m2/day). Any hydroponic system works, though the plants can grow tall (1–2 m) and may need staking. From seed to first leaf harvest: 6-8 weeks. Harvest by cutting the top 20–30 cm of growing tips, which promotes branching and continuous production. The traditional preparation: strip leaves from stems, chop very finely (or use a mezzaluna), then cook in chicken broth with garlic and ground coriander until thick and slimy. Served over rice with chicken. The leaves can be dried (dehydrate at 40–50°C) and stored for year-round use; dried molokhia is reconstituted in broth when cooking. Fresh molokhia is available at Middle Eastern grocery stores seasonally but dried molokhia is available year-round. For Egyptian and Levantine cooking enthusiasts, fresh molokhia has a brighter, more vibrant flavor than the dried product.
Verified against: u-florida-ifas, u-of-minnesota-extension, fao-fisheries-aquaculture. Last reviewed 2026-05-15.