Cucumber

Yesterday (4/27) I plant Cucumbers

I live in a sub-tropical region. Cucumbers can be planted between April and July and harvested between June and September. These are standard Cucumbers and grow to an average length of 20 cm (8 inches).

(4/30) Started to sprout in three days 

(5/1)

(5/2)

(5/6)

(6/3) Cucumber vines are growing well with many flowers

Orange Salad Pumpkin

Today (4/27) I planted Orange Salad Pumpkin seeds. This is a hybrid pumpkin that is harvested young and eaten raw. 

This Pumpkin is primarily eaten raw. We marinate thin slices in vinegar and honey and arrange on a plate to resemble a flower. The texture is firm and the taste is delicious, not to mention beautiful.

Orange Salad Pumpkin plants are fast growing and the fruit is harvested young making is a quick food source. I live in a sub-tropical region and seeds are planted between April and May and harvested between July and August. 

(5/2) Starting to sprout

(5/6)

(5/14)

(6/2)

(6/3)

(6/7) My Orange Salad Pumpkin is flowering, but I can only find male flowers.

Iris Flower (Seed Pod)

Today I noticed a seed pod of my Iris Flower plant. Iris flowers are so beautiful, so I plan to plant more using these seeds.

The seed pod should be left on the plant to brown and dry to ensure the seeds are mature. After removing the seeds from the pod, lay on a dry surface for a few days to ensure the seeds are completely dry before storing. To plant the seeds, soak in water for three or four days. Change the water everyday to prevent any fungal or bacteria growth.

Tomato

My tomatoes are starting to ripen. 








I had a fantastic harvest in January, but due to the humidity this harvest has be less fruitful. I will not plant these larger meatier Tomatoes until the fall; instead, I will plant Cherry Tomatoes since they do much better during the hotter summer months.

Celery Harvesting

This is a core from a stock of Celery. I usually plant it directly, but sometimes place it is water until I have time to plant it. I have four more stocks of Celery all planted about a month apart, but wish I had two or three more. I'll work on that.

(11/7) Planted

(11/18) Growing 

(3/27) 4 1/2 months old. 

Celery can be harvested within 4-5 months

 (4/25) 5 1/2 months old

 Harvest Look

 Professional look

I will keep the core from this stock and plant it again

Cloning (Air Layering Method)

Air Layering is a method of making a clone of a tree that is quite simple, yet effective. This chart is to help you understand the terms as I explain the process.

The first step is to select a branch about 10 mm (1/4 inch) thick and remove the leaves to make about 6 inches of space. 

1. Just below the node (towards the trunk) where you removed a leaf make a circular cut around the branch using a sterile knife or razor. Do not cut too deep, just the bark. 

2. About 1 1/2 inch below the first cut and before the next node make another circular cut.  

Make a straight cut between the two circular cuts and remove the bark. 

Gently scrap off all the Cambium between the two cuts. This will prevent any nutrients from getting to the end of the branch forcing the end of the branch to grow roots from the node.

Mix 3 parts organic material (leaf mulch) and one part potting soil using water to make a doughy ball and wrap it around the node. 

Wrap the ball with plastic tightly and tie off the ends. You do not want any water getting in to prevent rot. 

In about a month you should start seeing roots. Once you can see roots cut off the branch where you removed the bark and plant. You have a clone. 

(5/6) The branch is doing well and waiting to see roots through the plastic.

Day of Truth

(6/2) I performed this process nearly six weeks ago on 24 April. Roots should have grown by now if I was successful. 

Removed the plastic and cut the branch.

Yeah! There are roots.

I removed the dirt to exposed all the roots.

Covered the roots with root hormone.

I removed most of the leaves , clipped the bottoms one leaves to minimize water loss and planted it. Lets hope I succeed. 

Crown Daisy (Shungiku) Flower

I planted this Crown Daisy (Shungiku) plant in mid-November and was able to harvest from it several times. It is now flowering and I will collect the seeds to grow more plants.

 (4/24)

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri)

(3/12) The Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) plant on the second floor balcony is starting to produce fruit. These are from seeds that dropped, which makes this plant amazing. There is a fruit handing from the top, but there are a bunch in the cluster of leaves towards the bottom. Bitter Melon loves the sun, but the fruit do best when partially shaded or nestled amongst the leaves. Fruit exposed to the direct sun tent to ripen quickly and if not picked will explode, thus the dropped seeds.

(4/22) This Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) plant really filled out and there are many Goya fruit inside the vines towards the bottom that are not visible.

(5/8) My Goya on the second floor balcony is getting so full and filled with fruit.

(5/6) Front of the house

(5/11)