Growing
This resilient annual thrives in the heat and is remarkably tolerant of poor, salty, or even saline soils where other crops might struggle. Because of its deep taproot, you can expect it to withstand periods of drought quite effectively, though it prefers well-drained ground that is not waterlogged. If you are growing it in a garden bed, you can even use it as an intercrop to help remediate soil salinity, as it is capable of pulling sodium and chloride from the growing medium.
While its waxy coating provides a natural defense against many common insects and diseases, keep an eye out for stem rot caused by certain fungi. To harvest, simply pick the leaves when they are ready for use, as the plant will not continue to ripen once detached from the stem. For longer-lasting use, you can blanch the leaves before freezing them, or preserve them through drying, canning, or pickling. If you store them in the fridge, keep the leaves unwashed to help them maintain their quality.
Plant Witch