Tomato

Though it is quite humid and warm, I'm still getting Tomatoes. I wrap Tomatoes so they do not get damaged by the rain and sun, but wrapped the top right one a little late, so the peel is a little rough. 

Pests

Here are some pests I recently found in my garden.

I found Nettle Caterpillars in my Surinam Cherry trees. When I brushed up against one of the branches, I experienced a horrible pain. At first I thought a snake bit me, but I did not find any fang marks. Then I suspected a bee sting, but did not find a stinger. To figure out what it was I started looking through the branches and got stung again on my hand. Wow! The pain was immediate and acute, but it did go away about 10 minutes later. I spent the whole afternoon carefully removing them. Terrible little creatures.

My Lizard buddies are not pests, but rather beneficial. They eat the ants that are everywhere, so I do not bother them.

This is a bark Beatle. I find them primarily on my citrus trees. Both they and their larva are extremely destructive. Bark Beatles destroy the bark and the larva drill inside the tree and make their way to the root system where they eat the roots as they mature. Eventually the tree will die. Finding them early is the best prevention.

Damage caused by a Bark Beatle.

This is a horn worm. They are veracious eaters and love citrus tree and sweet potato leaves. When they are smaller they are brown and yellow, and easy to find; however, as they mature they turn green and very difficult to find. I check my plants everyday and look for droppings. 

Small Horn Worm.

Onion

I planted 12 Onion seeds nine months ago and finally got four Onions (one is still in the soil). After considering the time it takes to grow them and my low success rate, I suspect I will just continue buying them at the store since they are so cheap.

Shikuwasa

 

This Shikuwasa tree was planted from seed roughly four years ago. It produced a few blossoms last year, but did not produce any fruit. This year I see many more blossoms and hope it produces fruit, but I'm dubious considering how young it is. We'll see....

Kumquat Tree (Kinkan Tree)

This Kinkan tree only produced a few fruit last year and many just dropped, but this year it is full of blossoms that smell so wonderful. I hope it produces tons of fruit so I can make marmalade.

One lone Kinkan.

Liriope (Lilyturfs)

These Lilyturfs are flowering and doing well, but not as beautiful as last year. I need to water them more.

Green Peppers (Piman)

Green Peppers (Piman) are still doing well and producing.

Nice condition.

I left some Peppers on the plant to turn red. They are sweeter.

Myoga (Japanese Ginger)

Myoga (Japanese Ginger) is a perennial. This is this plant's second year and it is quite productive. When it dies back in the fall I will remove all the dried stocks and cover the top soil with fertilizer to prepare it for next year.

Flower buds grow from a root near the base of the plant. For the best flavor and texture, pick them before they flower.

Myoga is generally sliced thinly and used in a verity of Asian cuisines, such as toppings for Tofu. Miso soup and Somen noodles.

 

Peanuts

Peanuts

Starting to peg.

Papaya (Fruit)

When green, Papaya can be used in stir fries or used to make pickles. When rip and firm it can be eaten fresh like one would a Cantaloupe, or if the flesh is soft is can be frozen and used to make ice cream or smoothies. 

Remove the seeds.

Slice and eat fresh.

 

Scoop out the flesh, place in a freezer bag, press flat, and place in the freezer. See my post on how to make delicious Papaya ice cream.

Dragon Fruit

(05/27) Last year this plant was just 9-months old and blossomed in September. A mature dragon fruit plant generally blossoms for a five month period each year, which means this plant will most likely produce fruit between May and September. 

(05/30)

(06/04)

(06/08) This flower blossomed in the evening around 10pm.

I was under the impression this was not a self pollinating plant, since none of the flowers that I did not pollinate matured; however, this fruit seems to have successfully self-pollinated. It should be ready to pick on 8 July.

I found about 10-12 buds on the plant so far.