Crowd Growing (Lettuce, Tomato and Sweet Potatoes)

Everything is growing well.

Cauliflower

I transplanted this Cauliflower two weeks ago and it is doing well.

Parsley

I transplanted this Parsley two weeks ago and it is thriving.

Passion Fruit Flower

There are so many Passion Fruit buds on the vine and starting to flower. Passion Fruit flowers are some of the most beautiful flowers.

Papaya Tree

This Papaya tree is five months old and there is a bud.

Red Daikon Radish

Red Daikon Radish grow to a length of 5 to 8 inches, but it is difficult to know when to pick them so I've been picking one every week or so. It is cool, so I suspect they are growing slowly. Normally they will reach maturity in about 6 weeks.  

This Radish was 5 inches long. I'll make sweet pickled Radish.  

It weighted 249 grams (1/2 lb).

Papaya Fruit

The Papaya on this tree was getting quite large, so I decided to pick some to make space for other Papaya to grow. I took them to work and gave them to my co-workers.

The average weight of the Papaya were roughly 1.5 Kg (3.3 lbs).

This particular Papaya was so large it exceeded my scale, which can weight something up to 2 Kg, so estimate it weighted 2.5 Kg (5.5 lbs).

Celery

I planted a Celery core from a store bought stock of Celery about a month ago. It was not doing well at first, because I had two small ribs on the core, so I cut them off and it quickly started to grow. I suspect the energy was going to the ribs and not towards root generation.

Two more doing well.

I have a forth to plant, but do not have time to prepare a pot, so letting it sit in water for the time being.

In the right rear corner is the first Celery Core I planted in late October, which is now a fully formed stock. It takes 4-5 months to mature and will be ready to harvest in one or two months from now.

Tomato

This is the planter I just harvested Tomatoes from two weeks ago. I cut the plants off at the base about 10 days ago, but they are starting to regrow, which you can see on the left with a white arrow. Also, the birds got a lot of Tomatoes, so each time I would take the portion left and bury it. They are now starting to sprout, which can be seen in the red circles.

I have a couple buckets I used to bury Tomatoes the birds destroyed. As they sprout, I transplant them. 

Transplanted Tomato sprouts.

Beets

I never grew beets before, but my daughter loves them so thought to give them a try.

(16 February)

Red Cucumber (Moi)

I got one, out of season, Red Cucumber this year and picked it last weekend. It was not as large as some of my previous Cucumbers, but nothing to laugh at. That's a one and a half pound Cucumber.

I planted Red Cucumber (Moi) seeds I collected last year. Red Cucumber vines grow pretty long (15-20 feet) and now thinking how to hang them. I think I will let them grow over the balcony to the ground

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

These Bitter Melon plants all grew from fallen fruit. Plus, some of the plants from last year survived and starting to grow new leaves and flower. I should have a ton of Bitter Melon in a month or two.

Orange Tree

I planted a few Orange seeds last week. If I'm lucky, I'll get some Oranges in 3-5 years.

(12 March) It has been nearly six weeks since I planted the Orange seeds and I see a sprout.

Crowd Growing (Lettuce, Tomato, Japanese Sweet Potato)

Another crowd growing success. I have Sunny Lettuce, Tomatoes and Sweet Potatoes growing in the planter.

Eggplant (Nasu)

I had a problem with spider mites twice, but think I finally beat them. I cut off the damaged leaves and washed the plant with dish liquid and water using a rag. The leaves bounced back and now have many Egg Plants growing.



Crowd Growing (Crown Daisy, Red Daikon, String Beans, Sweet Potato)

I have a lot going on in this planter and pleased to see everything growing so well. I want to harvest the Red Daikon, but not sure when to harvest. I read that the Daikon grow 5-8 inches, but since it is in the dirt, I'm not sure how big it actually is. I guess I'll just have to pull one and see. Stay tuned.

Papaya Tree

My Papaya trees are doing well and loaded with fruit. Some Papaya are the size of Coconuts, so I need to harvest them soon and give them away. Way too many to eat, but I recently discovered that ripened Papaya fruit are excellent in smoothies, so I always keep a supply of Papaya chunks in the freezer. 

Bush Beans (String, Ingen)

This one Bush Bean (String Bean, Ingen) plant has produced many beans this year and continues to flower.

(26 January) Picked these yesterday.

(25 January) I planted about a dozen Bush Bean seeds last weekend. If they produce as much as the current plant, I'll be overwhelmed with beans. Also, I sprinkled Green Lettuce seeds on top to make as much use of the soil as possible, since they will not compete with one another. In fact, they will compliment each other as the beans put nitrogen in the soil that the Lettuce needs and the Lettuce will provide cover to keep to soil moist and weed free.

(16 February)

Potato (Jagaimo)

I planted two 100 gram Yellow Potatoes last week. These were in my Potato bin that started to grow roots, so cut the Potatoes into sections around the eyes. I generally find that Potatoes yield roughly seven times to original Potatoes weight, so expect to harvest roughly 1.5 Kg (3.3 lbs) in 2 or three months.

Strawberry (Ichigo)

After loosing four runners, I successfully pinched down two. I should be able to propagate many plants this year. 

Japanese Sweet Potato (Beni Imo)

These Japanese Sweet Potato (Beni Imo, white variety) grew from vines from another planter that overtook this plant about six months ago. At the time I was growing lettuce in the planter, but the vines from the other container took and I just left them.

Today when I was looking through the planter and picking out old leaves I noticed a Potato sticking out, so decided to harvest. 

Sweet Potatoes are delicate and can break easily, so I dig them out by hand. 

I got a few pretty nice sized Potatoes. Pretty good considering I did nothing.

Another. 

This is the total haul from the planter. There were some small tubers, but I put them back in the dirt to grow new Potatoes. I will set these outside in a cool place for 10-14 days to cure before eating or storing in my Potato bin.



(19 January) After I removed all the Potatoes, I added some trace elements, fresh organic matter and a little fertilizer. I took about 12 clippings from the vines I removed and planted them for a new crop. Sweet Potatoes can grow in the same soil for two or three years by adding trace elements, some fresh organic matter and fertilizer, but should be rotated after that to prevent or minimize potential diseases.

(26 January) The Sweet Potato clippings are growing well a week after planting.

Strawberry (Ichigo) Plant

I have had four runners from my new Strawberry (Ichigo) plant, but I have killed the first two by pinching them down too soon. The runner to the left will probably die too, but I removed the toothpick I used to pinch it down and hope the node creates a new runner. The runner to the right is just starting to grow leaves, so will wait until they get a little larger and try to pinch it down. I should be okay with number four.

Roses

I wanted to take this picture at night because it is easier to see how many roses bloomed. My Rose bushes are doing so well and seem to improve year after year. 

Papaya Tree (Office Plant)

(14 January) I planted a Papaya sapling in a planter and put it in my office. My office has no windows; however, I have fluorescent lights, which are fine for plants that do not require a lot of light, like Pothos plants, but not sure how well a Papaya tree will do. I will keep you posted.

It has been five weeks and my office Papaya tree is doing well

(10 March) Nearly two months now and my Papaya tree has grown 3 inches (7 cm) and gotten wider. Papaya trees do not have a deep root system, so had to secure it to prevent it from leaning. 

(2 April) Nearly a month later and my Papaya tree in now 30 inches (76 cm) tall. It has grown 8 inches (20 cm) since I placed it in my office about two and a half months ago.

 (22 April) 34 inches (86 cm)

(29 April) 36 inches (91 cm)

(14 May) 38 inches (96 cm)

(21 May) 40 inches (101 cm)