Learn Gardening

Pitaya - The Dragon Fruit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 11:54:00 +0000

Photo by boo_licious, tremaine.lea, and Eran Finkle.

White chilli

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 11:47:00 +0000

Dillenia indica / Elephant apple, commonly known as Chalta

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 08:22:00 +0000

Pitanga - Rousaille

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 12:38:00 +0000

Flowering Amorphophallus campanulatus Blume ex Decne

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 05:34:00 +0000

The stinking flower

Dodder - Cuscuta

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 15:16:00 +0000

Other names of this parasite include love vine, strangleweed, devil's-guts, goldthread, pull-down, devil's-ringlet, hellbine, hairweed, devil's-hair, and hailweed.

Dodder is an annual a leafless, parasitic. It is a bright twisting yellow or orange creeper sometimes tinted with purple or red. At times it is nearly white. The stems can be very thin and thread-like or rather firm. Dodder is said to contain some chlorophyll in the buds, fruits and stems, but the amount of food manufactured in this tissue is of little significance to the survival of the plant.

The flowers are small white, pink or yellowish. Dodder produces seed that falls to the ground and sprout the next growing season if a suitable host is present. If no suitable host is present, the seed may remain dormant for five years. The seeds can travel by water along irrigation channels. Moist soil and sunlight is required for germination.

Dodder seedlings must attach to an appropriate host within a few days of germinating or they die. The young seedling is delicate to touch and yellowish stem touches in the air until it makes contact with a plant. The contact is made firm by one or more loops about the stem. If this plant happens to contain foods suitable to the dodder then a secondary provocation is aroused, this causes root-like branches (haustoria) to form and penetrate the stem. The basal part of the parasite soon shrinks away so that no soil connection exists.

Dodder attack only when a rival is close by, and every so often gain surprise on their victims. Their vines do not directly cause destruction, but are rather used to struggle victims. Once an enemy is struggled, it attempts to constrict it to death.

Pulling and destroying dodder infected plants is recommended. Dodder must be destroyed before it produces seeds or infestations will spread. Once established, dodder appears in patches in the field. Cutting the host plant earlier to the dodder producing seed helps reduce the quantity of seed.

Roselle - Hibiscus sabdariffa

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 10:57:00 +0000

Ripe Spondias dulcis - fruits de cythère

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 06:43:00 +0000

Mulching your garden

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 May 2013 04:47:00 +0000

Mulches are materials placed over the soil surface to maintain moisture and improve soil conditions. This goes for every garden site, from vegetable garden to flower bed Mulch can reduce water loss from the soil, minimize weed competition, and improve soil structure. Properly applied, mulch can give landscapes a well-groomed appearance. However, Mulch must be applied properly; if it is too deep or if the wrong material is used, it can actually cause significant harm to trees and other landscape plants.

Mulched gardens are healthier, more weed free, and more drought-resistant then unmulched gardens, so you'll spend less time watering, weeding, and fighting pest problems.

There are two basic kinds of mulch: organic and inorganic. Organic mulches include formerly living material such as chopped leaves, straw, grass clippings, compost, wood chips, shredded bark, sawdust, pine needles, and even paper. Inorganic mulches include gravel, stones, black plastic, and geotextiles (landscape fabrics).

Both types discourage weeds, but organic mulches also improve the soil as they decompose. Inorganic mulches don't break down and enrich the soil, but under certain circumstances they're the mulch of choice. For example, black plastic warms the soil and radiates heat during the night, keeping heat-loving vegetables such as eggplant and tomatoes cozy and vigorous.

Using Organic Mulches

There are two prime rules for using organic mulches to combat weeds. First, be sure to lay the mulch down on soil that is already weeded, and second, lay down a thick enough layer to discourage new weeds from coming up through it.

Wood chips and bark mulch: You can purchase bags of decorative wood chips or shredded bark from a local garden center to mulch your flower garden and shrub borders. Or simply from carpenters, they have loads.

Shredded leaves: If you have trees on your property, shredding the fallen leaves creates nutrient-rich mulch for free.You can spread a wood chip or shredded leaf mulch anywhere on your property, but it looks especially attractive in flower beds and shrub borders. Of course, it's right at home in a woodland or shade garden. They also serve well as a mulch for garden pathway.

Grass offcuts: Grass trimmings are readily available mulch, although it's a good idea to return at least some of your grass clippings directly to the lawn as a natural fertilizer. Its fine to collect grass clippings occasionally to use as mulch, and the nitrogen-rich clippings are an especially good choice for mulching vegetable gardens. Your vegetables will thank you for the nitrogen boost!

Straw and hay: Great mulch for the vegetable garden is straw or hays. It looks good and has most of the benefits of the other mulches: retaining soil moisture, keeping down weeds, and adding organic matter to the soil when it breaks down. But be sure the hay you use is weed and seed free.

How to create a new garden bed

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 26 May 2013 05:19:00 +0000

1. Sketch the areas of your garden plot that you want to clear.

To get your edges straight for a square or rectangular vegetable plot, stretch a string between sticks and mark the line with a chalk stick.For a round shape, use a hose or rope to lay out the area, adjusting the position to create a smooth curve.

2. Clear the surface by first removing dry plants, weeds, and rock.

If your garden area contains a lot of perennial weeds make sure that you first kill these weeds or grasses.

3. Dig it up.

Now comes the digging. Dig up your new garden. If you have poor soil, now's also a great time to incorporate organic matter, such as compost. Just dig it in while you work the ground.

4. Create edging for the new bed

A waterway about 8 inches deep and a couple of inches wide will stop even the worst invaders from crossing and have a fine edging. Otherwise, drop an edging material around the border of your garden like bamboos.

5. Position desired plants

Select which plants you will plant and place them before you put them in the ground can make a world of difference. This allows you to get the spacing just right and make your plants really will look good next to each other.

6. start planting

When you know all of your plants are in exactly the right spots, plant them in the ground.

7. Water them

Once your bed is planted and protected, give your plants a good soaking. Enjoy your gardening.

Tips: make sure you make research about the types of plant needed at the proper timing and place.

Newspaper seed starter

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 05:26:00 +0000

Everyone must have old newspapers at home, some seeds, and soils, but no pot to make them germinate. Well, using newspaper as a seed starter is not only very cheap but also biodegradable thus the paper pot can directly bury into the ground without disturbing the seedling and its roots.

Materials needed:

Newspaper

soda can

soil

seed

DIY

Gather some old newspaper.

Take a soda can.

Fold the newspaper into two. And place the Soda can on top.

Wrap the newspaper around the can.

After that, just fold in one end of the newspaper to make the bottom.

It should look something like this, with the can.

Remove the can, Here is your homemade pot.

Now, just add some soils in. Add desired seed, and let Mother Nature do her work.

Voila, you now have quick and cheap pot for starting seeds that you made from newspapers that you were just going to throw away.

When the seedlings have sprouted you can plant the whole thing in the ground where the newspaper will eventually decompose.

Cucumber flower

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:13:00 +0000

After 4 weeks, and the flood, one cucumber plant managed to survive. Here is the first flower. The cucumber plant is very rough and spiky and can sprawl quite a distance.

Water Hyacinth

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 11:01:00 +0000

The Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, is definitely one of the easiest plant you can have in your pond. Not only does the water hyacinth have beautiful purple flowers, but it also has a high capacity to remove pollutants such as cyanide, arsenic and heavy metals from water.

Egg fruit / Lekima - Pouteria

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:07:00 +0000

The fruits are yellowish to orange with somewhat meaty pulp resembling a cooked egg yolk .

Egg fruit (Pautaria campechiana), belonging to the family sapotaceae, is a large, symmetrical, bushy, much branched, evergreen tree.

The tree reaches a height of 20-30 feet. The leaves are compound, large, leathery, 10-15 inches long and 3 inches broad. The flowers are medium sized borne on terminal and auxiliary inflorescence.

The fruits are yellowish to orange with somewhat meaty pulp similar in appearance and texture to a cooked egg yolk embedded often with a single large seed. At maturity, the strong odour of the pulp is musky and the skin colour turns from glossy to dull.

The taste of the fruit is unique, rich, sweet and highly nutritive with about 2000 IU/100g of carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.

It is also a good source of protein and vitamin C with 2.5 per cent and 43 mg/100 g respectively. Egg fruit thrives well in tropical and subtropical climates.

Moderate rainfall, frost free and dry climate are ideal for its cultivation. It has a wide adaptability to various soil conditions and grows in soils ranging from loose sandy to heavy clay.

The trees are generally propagated by seeds. Since the seeds have poor visibility they should be sown immediately.

It is also propagated vegetatively by approach grafting. Since no named varieties are available, planting materials should be collected from good bearers.

No serious pest and disease affects this crop. The fruits can be eaten fresh either without removing the skin or after peeling and slicing.

Red carrot

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:43:00 +0000

The pink-red Indian carrot.

Carrots are a power food that gives us a wealthy of healthy benefits. Three of their major components are vitamin A, alpha carotene, and phytochemicals. Those 3 elements aid us by boosting our immunity, reducing the risk of high blood pressure and heart attack, fighting infections and even reducing acne and easing the alcohol withdrawal symptoms!

Additional nutrient in carrot, which deserves mention, is Vitamin E, the muscle vitamin. It promotes the efficiency of the entire muscular system by the effective utilization of oxygen

They are packed full of good things for our bodies. They weren't originally orange, though! Carrots originally were purple or red, but they changed over time due to temperature changes, the time of year they are grown, and the amount of water and sunlight the carrot is exposed to.

In health food stores and non-orange ones are packed with even more nutrients than the orange ones. They do taste the same as the orange ones, though.

Chinese Leek Blooming

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Chinese leek, Allium tuberosum, also known as garlic chives,
Oriental garlic or Chinese chives in bloom:

Medinilla cummingii

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:06:00 +0000

*Family*	*Melastomataceae*
*Genus*	*Medinilla*
*Species*	*cummingii*
*Category*	*Tropicals*

Medinilla cummingii shrub

Medinilla is a genus of about 150 species of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae, native to tropical regions The genus was named after J. de Medinilla, governor of the Mariana Islands in 1820.

Members of the mostly-tropical Melastomataceae family, medinillas have a very different leaf, and a very different blossom. The flowers are very colorful and range from fuchsia to purple to blue to almost glass-like. They have flowers bunches borne on long, pendulous stems, hence the common name chandelier plant/tree/shrub. The base of each cluster of flowers also has a large bract which covers the flowers like a lid. Many plants which live in rainforest surroundings have adapted ways of keeping their flowers dry.

The leaves have pronounced veins which run parallel to the midvein which may help channel off water. Medinilla magnifica is a large-growing species with very large leaves.

Care:

Medinilla cummingii likes growing in a shining place. Place the vases in a pretty sunny place, although avoiding direct sunlight, which could damage the shrubbery.

The flower.

water the Medinilla cummingii every 1-2 weeks with 2-3 glasses of water , which means when the soil has been dry for days; if the season should be very hot and arid we can intensify the quantity of irrigations, although must avoid leaving the substratum soaked with water. It is advisable to water the plants avoiding water in the saucer, because stagnant water often develops fungal diseases Fertilization is done by adding fertilizer to the irrigating water, every 15-20 days.

These plants need a soft, dissolved, not very drained soil with an acid PH. Every 2-3 years should remember to repot the plant in a slightly larger container.

Jackfruit - Artocarpus heterophyllus

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:07:00 +0000

The jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus is an enormous, bristle, egg-shaped fruit that have been first nurtured in Indian tropical forest. it is mostly grown in tropical climates. The tree is striking and majestic, 9-21 m tall, with rubbery leaves 22.5 cm long. Almost all the parts of the tree secrete sticky latex like milk (juice) when injured.

jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus

The fruit varies widely in size, weigh from 3 to 30 kg, and has a round shape measuring 10 cm to 60 cm in length, 25 to 75 cm in diameter. The immature fruits are green; when ripen, might turn to light brown color and spread a strong sweet, fruity smell. Its outer surface is covered with the blunt spikes like projections, which become soft as the fruit ripe. Its interior consists of orange-yellow tinted edible bulbs. Each bulb consists of sweet-flavored coverings that encircle a smooth, oval, light-brown color seed.

outer surface is covered with the blunt spikes like projections

Jackfruit seed is 2 to 4 cm long and 1 to 3 cm thick and is white and crisp within. There may be as many as 100 to 500 edible bulbs rooted in a single fruit interspersed between thin bands of fibers. Jackfruit seeds are indeed very rich in protein and nutritious. In general, the seeds are gathered from the ripe fruit, sun-dried and stored for use in rainy season in many parts of South Indian states. Different variety of recipes prepared in Southern India where they are eaten either by roasting as a snack or added to curries in place of lentils.

The leaf

The ripe fruit

The separated ripe fruits, with seeds, without seeds, and seeds

Spider plant - Chlorophytum comosum

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 04:58:00 +0000

Spider plants are botanically known as Chlorophytum comosum, and from studies done by NASA, they are good at purifying the air in your home and adds oxygen. Spider plants are easy to cultivate both indoors and outdoors. The Spider Plant is characterized by its long shoots of thin foliage, with off-shoots at the ends of many of the leaves. The Spider plant's leaves is commonly known to be variegated. It has green foliage with either a white or yellow central strip or along the outside edges or it can also have ones that are all green. It looks similar to thick, wild grass.

white or yellow central strip

Spider plants favor natural medium to high light, but no direct afternoon sunlight. The variegated spider plants need more light than the plain green ones. If the leaves begin turning brown, try moving the plant out of the direct light.

Spider plants are delicate to the chemicals in tap water (reasons for the brown tips). They should always be watered with purified water, rain water, or if you have an aquarium, it will thrive on that water. Once you have changed the water source, all the new leaves should be normal, but you will have to trim the brown tips off the old leaves. You can remove the brown ends by snipping them off with sharp scissors (Tip: Cut the ends in points so the leaves look more natural).

Rot is caused by over-watering. Spider plants should be allowed to dry out before being re-watered. If rot has begun, the plant may die. You can try to rescue the plant by removing it from its container and dividing it. Discard the rotten part and re-pot the healthy parts in a clean container with new soil.

Pests and mites are not a problem with this houseplant, however if it happens simply spray a soapy water mixture over the plants a couple of times a day.

The off shoots can be removed and placed in soil or water which will then grow into its own plant in very little time. It is actually good to remove these off shoots from the main plant. Too many off shoots can cause the main plant to strain. Spider plants propagate very easily, with less care.

Off shoots

Heliconia Psittacorum (Heliconiaceae)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 05:21:00 +0000

Heliconia psittacorum

'Andromeda'

Grows to 1.5m high, favors well drained rich soils, full sun to part shade, flowers during summer.

Common Names:
Parakeetflower
Heliconia Parakeetflower
Parrot's Beak
Parrot's Flower
Parrot's Plant
Parrot's Tonque
Popokaytongo

Heliconia psittacorum ‘Andromeda’ is one of the most popular types of Heliconia, probably due to the fact that it is one of the easiest plan. It is an exotic plant, which blooms abundantly all year long. ‘Andromeda’grows up to 1.5 meters tall, with bright red/orange flowering bracts. The flowers make beautiful cut flowers which can last up to 3-4 weeks in water and will stay fresh on the stem even longer. Best when planted in large groups.

Planting instructions

Please plant as soon as possible after you receive the rhizome.
The rhizome should still have growing ‘buds’ or new shoots as well as the leaf stem.
The rhizome should be planted with the top (leaf stem/new shoots/buds pointing upwards) no more than 3-4 cm under the soil. New Shoots or larger buds should be above the soil. You can often look at the rhizome and see where the soil line had been while it was growing.
It is very important not to plant the rhizome too deep, as this will invite fungi and cause root rot. Freshly planted rhizomes need oxygen to grow new roots and will die if the planting medium is too dense or too wet.
After planting, water thoroughly, and then do not water again until soil is getting dry. Keep evenly moist, but not wet, when shoots to grow and leaves start to unfold.
If planted in pots, these should be of sufficient size - at least 10 to 15 cm wider than rhizome size. Keep the pots in a warm, sunny place.
When leaves start to unfold the plants can be planted out - again in well-drained soil.

Mint - Mentha

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 23:30:00 +0000

Mints belong to the genus Mentha, in the family Labiatae (Lamiaceae) which includes other commonly grown oil-yielding plants such as basil, sage, rosemary, marjoram, lavender, pennyroyal and thyme. Within the genus Mentha there are several different species, varying in their appearance, aroma and end use. The most common ones are spearmint (M. spicata), peppermint (M. × piperita), eau-de-cologne mint (M. × piperita var. citrata) and apple mint (M. rotundifolia). All are low-growing plants, readily sending out runners, or stolons, which develop new roots and shoots at the nodes.

Dill - Anethum graveolens

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 23:00:00 +0000

Dill is a lovely herb that adds a refreshing flavor to any recipe. Dill is one of the easiest herbs to grow and would make a great first herb for someone who has never grown herbs before. You'll find lots of uses for both the leaves and the seeds in the kitchen. The best way to use dill is fresh from the garden, so during the growing season, cut your dill to use fresh as you need it. If not kept cut, your dill will go to seed, so cut often until you are ready to switch to seed production.

Dill, like most herbs, loves to bask in the sun, but will tolerate afternoon shade.
Dill grows up to 3 feet tall, so plant it in the back of your flower, vegetable or herb garden.
Sow seeds close together. This will allow the plants, which blow over easily to support each other.
Cover the seeds lightly, and allow a week or two for them to germinate.
For a continuous crop, sow repeatedly from mid spring to early summer.
Don't plant near caraway, fennel or angelica.
Caterpillars are fond of dill, and can be handpicked if they become a nuisance.

The taste of dill leaves resembles that of caraway, while the seeds are pungent and aromatic. Freshly cut, chopped leaves enhance the flavor of dips, herb butter, soups, salads, fish dishes, and salads. The seeds are used in pickling and can also improve the taste of roasts, stews and vegetables. In Mauritius dills are grown like wild herbs. They are widely used in the preparation of 'gateau piment'

Coriander - Coriandrum sativum

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), also known as cilantro, Chinese parsley or dhania, Coriander, or cilantro, is an annual plant whose leaves and seeds are used in many parts of the world. Coriander seeds are often used in Asian cooking, and the leaves are widely used in Latin American cuisine. Plant care differs depending on whether it is being grown for leaves or for seeds

Plant coriander seeds in a sunny spot, with some shade for the hottest afternoon sun if the plants will be harvested for their leaves, as intense heat can cause the plants to flower and go to seed more quickly. They grow best from seeds directly in the soil, as transplanting them can also cause them to flower quickly.

If the coriander leaves are to be harvested, the plants should be at least four-to-six-inches tall.

Basil

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 14:08:00 +0000

There are several types of basil. The most common is bush or sweet basil, a compact plant growing to 18 inches or so during the season. Basil is a heat-loving annual herb. If you do any Italian cooking at all, you'll want to include basil in the herb garden

Keep basil plant in a sunny spot in your garden
Water regularly, but do not allow the soil to remain flooded. Repot or transplant if the soil is not well-draining.
Fertilize 1 to 2 times a month with a liquid plant fertilizer. Any well-balanced fertilizer will do, but avoid those designed to increase blooming.
Trim often by pinching center leaves. This will not only give you a tasty addition to your recipes, but it will also help your plant to stay productive longer.
Remove any flower stalks. Once basil starts to bloom it will put all of its energy into flowering instead of growing leaves.
Water when the soil is dry. Basil, like many herbs, prefers conditions on the dry side.

Curry Trees - Murraya koenigii

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 06:55:00 +0000

Its leaves are used in many dishes in India and neighbouring countries. Often used in curries, the leaves generally go by the name "curry leaves", though they are also translated as "sweet neem leaves" in most Indian languages (as opposed to ordinary neem leaves which are bitter).

It is a small tree, growing 4–6 m (13-20 feet) tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter. The leaves are pinnate, with 11-21 leaflets, each leaflet 2–4 cm long and 1–2 cm broad.

It has aromatic compound leaves with about 12 dark green leaves pet stem. The flowers are small, white, and fragrant.White flowers occur in clusters and are followed by pea sized berries which turn reddish brown when ripe. The small black shiny berries are edible, but their seeds are poisonous

Curry leaf tree is a native of India and Sri Lanka where it has been used medicinally and in cooking for hundreds of years. Leaves are used in curries, vegetable dishes, chutneys, pickles. The leaves are often fried first in oil before other spices are added. Curry Leaves are now also used in Malaysia and Indonesia mainly in fish curries.

Curry leaf trees are tropical plants but will grow in cooler climates if kept in warm area through the winter. The trees sucker vigorously so if space is limited growing in a pot is a good option. They grow well in a pot and make an attractive plant for a verandah or outdoor area.