07-30-2017, 09:38 AM
We had decent success with our cucumbers. Only harvested 3 or 4 but decent size mainly due to the same fungus issues
We just harvested our first pineapple after 3 years and it was absolutely amazing. Tasted like a cross between a pineapple, orange and coconut. There was not a single bit of tartness just pure sweet.
Since I eat so many sweet potatoes we also decided to grow them and since they love the heat and humidity, they are doing great presumably looking at the ever sprawling vines lol. The trick is to not allow The vines to take root while they spread otherwise they grow little fingerling sweet potatoes and take energy away from the main group. Oh and I found that the leaves are just as nutritious as spinach! They are very popular around the world but haven't caught on here for some reason. I seared some with garlic and they taste like a cross between spinach and chard.
Last but not least, we are growing an edible form of hibiscus called sabdariffa or more commonly called sorrel. It's used throughout the world for its healing properties along with a tasty summer drink akin to a sweeter cranberry. I guess it used to be a big market here in Florida back in the 50's but fell out of favor for some reason. It's even called Florida cranberry because it was grown so prolifically. The leaves are also used as a chutney base in certain parts of India. I guess the plant is practically considered a religious part of their lives.
These little yellow calyces grow into what you see below. Once ripe, you peel the fleshy portion and keep the seeds for further crops. The fleshy part is then boiled to make anything from tea, to jelly, and even wine lol
This is what they will look like when they are ripe
We just harvested our first pineapple after 3 years and it was absolutely amazing. Tasted like a cross between a pineapple, orange and coconut. There was not a single bit of tartness just pure sweet.
Since I eat so many sweet potatoes we also decided to grow them and since they love the heat and humidity, they are doing great presumably looking at the ever sprawling vines lol. The trick is to not allow The vines to take root while they spread otherwise they grow little fingerling sweet potatoes and take energy away from the main group. Oh and I found that the leaves are just as nutritious as spinach! They are very popular around the world but haven't caught on here for some reason. I seared some with garlic and they taste like a cross between spinach and chard.
Last but not least, we are growing an edible form of hibiscus called sabdariffa or more commonly called sorrel. It's used throughout the world for its healing properties along with a tasty summer drink akin to a sweeter cranberry. I guess it used to be a big market here in Florida back in the 50's but fell out of favor for some reason. It's even called Florida cranberry because it was grown so prolifically. The leaves are also used as a chutney base in certain parts of India. I guess the plant is practically considered a religious part of their lives.
These little yellow calyces grow into what you see below. Once ripe, you peel the fleshy portion and keep the seeds for further crops. The fleshy part is then boiled to make anything from tea, to jelly, and even wine lol
This is what they will look like when they are ripe