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)

Red Cucumber (Moi)

(26 December) 

Red Cucumber (Moi) out of season, but growing well.

(2 January)

(8 January)

This Moi is not as large as normal, but starting to turn brown, so will be ready to be picked in about two weeks.

The Moi has not grown, but starting to ripen. 

(15 January) This Red Cucumber has not grown much, but is starting to mature as it turns brown. It will be ready to pick once it gets a nice dark brown and the skin looks like it has cracks. It can remain on the vine for weeks or even months and remain editable, but best when picked in a week or two when ready.

I could have let the Cucumber on the vine a little longer until it became dark brown, but found that it was not growing so decided to pick it. Additionally, the pot this vine was growing also has Bitter Melon which were starting to grow, so thought to clear the planter for them. I went ahead and prepared a new and larger planter for new Cucumber plants. See my 27 January post.

Green Peppers (Piman)

I picked a couple Peppers for my co-worker a few days ago and found four today I missed. There are some small Peppers a few centimeters, so should be able to pick a few more in about two weeks, plus I now have two more plants just starting to produce.

But I want to continue and highlight this particular plant, because I planted it last March and gotten 50, 60 or 70 Peppers from it. I stopped counting after 40, so not quite sure. I just add some fertilizer and some trace elements once in a while and it keeps going. It's stock looks like a tree trunk, no joke. I'll have to post pictures. By the way, I do not place it in direct sunlight, but rather tucked in the corner of my balcony. It gets a few hours of sunlight a day. I think this has been my success, plus I water it everyday and twice during the summer. 

Passion Fruit Propagation

I planted two Passion fruit vines a few weeks ago and they are doing great. The vine on the left has three branches from the base and both vines are growing at a rate of 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) a day, so I need to train each branch to follow a particular rope as they grow. 

Recently, new branches have started to develop at the base of each leaf. I will let them grow for about a foot (30 cm) and will then clip it to create a clone. I intend to use these particular vines to produce clones and will transplant the clones in a different location where I can produce a lot of fruit. Also, we have a lot of typhoons here, so am certain my Passion fruit will be destroyed once or twice during the summer, so need to protect the parent plants.

(16 January) Well, I plant the clone from the about picture four days ago and the clone looks to be doing fine and starting to grow leads. Below is how I prepared the clone.

How I clone or propagate Passion Fruit vines. In order to get a true fruit from the mother, it is best to propagate using the clone method. Planting the seeds of the fruit will get genetic diversity during pollination, which may create a different tasting fruit. Sometimes better, sometimes less delicious and sometimes the same, but to make sure, clone when possible.

1. It is best to take a cutting with at least two nodes. 

2. Make sure you have the growth direction correct so it is not planted upside down. 

3. Cut the leaves, runners or flowers from the second Node.

4. Cut the vine at an angle just below the second Node to increase water intake when planted. 

5. Cut the leaves on the top Node in half to minimize moisture loss.

6. Remove any runners or flowers from the top Node. You want all the plant's energy going towards root growth generation. 

7. Plant the second Node a couple inches deep and water well and often. It will take 7-10 days for root growth to begin.

8. Use good quality potting soil to begin and do not fertilize since it might burn the delicate roots when they begin. 

Okawakame (a kind of Madeira vine)

(7 January) Growing Okawakame (Madeira vine, Land Seaweed)  in a medium sized planter with a circular trellis. There are currently three different vines growing around 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) a day, so I need to train the vines every day. 

(18 February) The Okawakame is growing quickly and almost to the top of the trellis.

Originally I thought this was a root, but later realized it is a seed.

These seeds are growing at the base of every leaf. 

Peanuts

(3 January) I visited a farmer's market a few months ago and they had a vendor selling Peanuts. They had free samples, so I took a few home and planted them. A few days ago I noticed a sprout in one of my basil pots, but forgot what it was. I decided to move it to another planter and when I dug it up I realized it was peanuts. Yeah! It has been a few days since I transplanted it and it looks like it is doing well in it's new home. Something new to look forward to.

(7 January) Growing quickly.

(16 January)