Mikan Orange Tree (Buds)

(03/28) This Mikan orange tree is starting to produce buds. I bought this tree last year and estimate it is about three years old. It was grafted, which is why it is producing early. It is still small so only expect 10-15 Mikan oranges, but that's fine. 

(04/01) Buds blossoming.

I had another Mikan tree that produced for a few years, but it got infected with bark beetles and died; however, before it died I was able to take a graft. The graft survived, but was growing quite slowly. I surrounded it with Peppermint plants and it suddenly started to grow. I suspect the mint keeps the soil moist allowing the root system to strengthen. 

Guava (Red and Strawberry)

 

The fruit on this red Guava tree is starting to ripen quickly. At first I could not understand why, but then I noticed the tree is starting to produce summer buds. 

These are Strawberry Guava. The buds are starting to blossom.

Carrots

My Carrots are so crowded, so I picked a few to make room.

Strawberry

Strawberries are in season and my plants are starting to produce some nice Strawberries.

The left Strawberry was placed in a plastic bag and the right was left unwrapped. 

I'm trying this experiment again to see the difference. 

I will keep this Strawberry unwrapped.

Agave and Umbrella Tree

My daughter gave me two plants and I want to show her how well they are doing.

This is an Agave. She gave me two, but one died. This one is now strong and growing well.

My daughter bought a small Umbrella tree from a Dollar store years ago. Originally, it was about the size of the plant in front, but grow quite large, so I separated it and made three new plants a few months ago. They are all doing well and I can give one back to her whenever she is ready.

Mango (Kitsu) Blossoms

I can see a few buds on the Mango tree, but not sure if the flowers were pollinated. I will have to keep an eye on them so can remove some fruit in the event many due mature.

Daikon Radish

These Daikon Radish were planted on 6 December making them three and a half months old.

A few of the Daikon are a decent size, but not exceptionally large. I can leave the rest of the Daikon in the soil to grow until I need one.

Beautiful.

819 grams (1.8 lbs).

Carrot

It is difficult to tell when Carrots are large enough to pick. Sometimes the tip sticking out of the soil looks round enough, but it may not be long, so it is difficult. Anyway, I pulled this one and it was perfect. 

These Carrots are from seeds I collected from last season. One Carrot can produce enough seed for a life time; however, seed will not remain viable that long so they need to be replenished. 
 

Japanese Sweet Potato (White Satsumaimo)

These Japanese Sweet Potato slips were planted on 30 July 2021 making them seven and a half months old.

Step 1: Remove the vines and set aside for new slips.

Step 2: Flip over the container. Some Potatoes visible. 

Step 3: Press through the soil and remove all the Potatoes.

Step 4: Add fertilizer and nutrients to the soil and place back in the container.

Step 5: Using the vines set aside, clip the ends and plant in the soil as deep as possible. Water well and add an updated label in the soil.

This container produced 2.7 Kg (6.8 lbs) of Potatoes, which is average.

Bok Choy

I picked a Bok Choy. There was some damage to the outer leaves, but perfect inside.  

 

Asparagus

Asparagus doing well.

 

Passion Fruit

Beautiful Passion Fruit flower

 

Shikuwasa (Blossoms)

One of my Shikuwasa trees is blossoming.

Tomato (Beef Steak and Cherry)

Cherry Tomato

Beef Steak 

 

Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce)

Lettuce is doing so well. I am growing 5-6 types of Lettuce. Above there is Red Leaf (top) and Green Romaine (bottom) Lettuce.  

String Beans (Ingen)

String Beans (Ingen) are doing well this year. There are about 10 plants and I continue to plant 1-2 new beans every month to keep them going.

These were collected over the past few days and there are still more on the plants.

Myoga (Japanese Ginger)

Myoga (Japanese Ginger) is starting to sprout. Myoga does not like direct sunlight, so I have it in the back of my house away from a lot of direct sunlight, I have some in a container and some directly in the ground. Both locations produce equally.   

Ground

 

Tomato (Cherry Tomatoes)

I've been wrapping Cherry Tomato clusters to protect them from birds and it has been working.

 

String Beans (Ingen)

String Beans (Ingen)

Peach Tree (Blossoms)

This Peach tree started to blossom within days after picking the last Peach.

 

Green Peppers

Still getting some pretty nice Green Peppers.

 

Passion Fruit

 

Passion Fruit are starting to drop. I cover fruit that start to turn purple with a special bag that is secured to the vine so it does not fall and get damaged when it drops.