Like the illusion of Wall Street, with its vast and powerful investment banks, now shuttered, China too is an illusion perpetuated by the Globalists that gave us the 15,000 mile Caesar salad, poisoned cat food and lead based paint on babies' pacifiers. Like the illusion that money would come from thin air to always push housing prices higher, China has spent a generation pursuing its illusion. Pursuing an unattainable dream to be like the West, while 6000 years of its carefully shepherded top soil blows into the sea.
Today I saw my first pawpaws (the actual fruit, I mean), growing along a stream on my tree farm. I knew that pawpaw seedlings grew there in profusion, but had never seen the fruit itself (I've owned the property for just over a year now). I saw two clusters, growing quite high up (maybe 10 or more feet) on a larger but still very slender tree.
The ravine this stream runs in provides ideal pawpaw conditions. It's damp, the soil is rich and deep, and the light is dim from a profusion of plant growth.
I plan to mark some "specimen" pawpaw trees and do some careful chainsaw work around them to give them more space and light. This should increase fruit production in the years ahead, for me or whoever comes after.
This will be an interesting project. _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Oh yeah! I also have pineapples growing. I know it takes 3-5 years for the fruit to mature so it's a bit of a waste of space, but they're free (they started as just the tops of pineapples I bought from the store) and I think they're pretty in an ugly sort of way. _________________ ~Laura
"If you weren't smart enough to plan ahead then Doom on you!" ~Dodo bird
Ludi, back to the title "unusual food plants", I have started to harvest my French green lentils They are tiny little pods, about the size of a pea - some have one lentil and some have two inside. I am planting regular brown lentils next year. But lentils are so cute! If plants are "cute", lol...
I grew lentils one year, but the yield was so small from those tiny pods, with only one or two tiny seeds in each pod, I decided I would leave them to people more patient than I am! Lentils are one of those foods you wonder why people ever bothered with them. I guess because they are so nutritious in spite of being so tiny. _________________ "...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow." - jboogy
Yep, they are itty bitty little things, but they store forever. Maybe they are good to hull during those dark nights sitting around the campfire coming soon. Wihtout television, we'll have nothing BUT time.
Today I saw my first pawpaws (the actual fruit, I mean), growing along a stream on my tree farm. I knew that pawpaw seedlings grew there in profusion, but had never seen the fruit itself (I've owned the property for just over a year now). I saw two clusters, growing quite high up (maybe 10 or more feet) on a larger but still very slender tree.
The ravine this stream runs in provides ideal pawpaw conditions. It's damp, the soil is rich and deep, and the light is dim from a profusion of plant growth.
I plan to mark some "specimen" pawpaw trees and do some careful chainsaw work around them to give them more space and light. This should increase fruit production in the years ahead, for me or whoever comes after.
This will be an interesting project.
Just a quick note: you might want to research just a bit. If I remember correctly, paw-paws actually grow 'under' the canopy. But do double check me on that. I'm growing Dragon Fruit here in Florida...quite a novice but here's a picture of this years blossom. I'll post the actual fruit in a week or two when it amtures.
[edit opps can't upload on this site? oh well if anyone want to see a pic of the plant/bloom/fruit send me a PM with your email i'll forward it to you]
Oh yeah! I also have pineapples growing. I know it takes 3-5 years for the fruit to mature so it's a bit of a waste of space, but they're free (they started as just the tops of pineapples I bought from the store) and I think they're pretty in an ugly sort of way.
OK I've grown Pineapples in Miami for years and years (not where I'm currently at however), It only takes 18 months for fruit production if you irrigate the plants properly. The trick is to plant a new top every two weeks and make a large bed of them if you're able. This will give you a rather large supply over long periods. If you let the slips mature you will find that the fruits get smaller and smaller. Being a Bromiliade pineapples can be propogated several different ways. By the way (I haven't researched this, but...) the moment my pineapples produced a flower ants would over run it...I believe this is essential for production (I'm not a botanist so don't quote me) don't try to kill them they seem to have very little or no interest in the fruit...go figure. Also Pineapples, unlike bananas, peaches, etc. do NOT sweeten once they are severed from the mother. So don't pick it until it is very very ripe [usually falls over from the weight]. Just my two pence
Oh yeah! I also have pineapples growing. I know it takes 3-5 years for the fruit to mature so it's a bit of a waste of space, but they're free (they started as just the tops of pineapples I bought from the store) and I think they're pretty in an ugly sort of way.
OK I've grown Pineapples in Miami for years and years (not where I'm currently at however), It only takes 18 months for fruit production if you irrigate the plants properly. The trick is to plant a new top every two weeks and make a large bed of them if you're able. This will give you a rather large supply over long periods. If you let the slips mature you will find that the fruits get smaller and smaller. Being a Bromiliade pineapples can be propogated several different ways. By the way (I haven't researched this, but...) the moment my pineapples produced a flower ants would over run it...I believe this is essential for production (I'm not a botanist so don't quote me) don't try to kill them they seem to have very little or no interest in the fruit...go figure. Also Pineapples, unlike bananas, peaches, etc. do NOT sweeten once they are severed from the mother. So don't pick it until it is very very ripe [usually falls over from the weight]. Just my two pence
Interesting. . .mine haven't flowered in a LONG time. What do you consider irrigating properly? I thought they really like water and mine stay nice and damp most of the time. I had some issues with the ones in full sun turning redish so I started keeping them in partial shade and the plants look healthier, but they haven't had new fruits in a while . . .come to think of it my bromiliads haven't flowered in about the same time frame. I wonder what I'm doing wrong. _________________ ~Laura
"If you weren't smart enough to plan ahead then Doom on you!" ~Dodo bird
Yesterday I dug out my first Yacons (I've bought only one plant and have now more to plant) and they are yummy.
In my opinion the taste lots better than the Queensland Arrowroot (canna edulis) however, they are not that decorative (the Arrowroot you can easily plant in your front yard). the yacons come from South America and are called sweet roots as well.
I hope to get some yacons and see if they will grow here. _________________ "...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow." - jboogy
Oh yeah! I also have pineapples growing. I know it takes 3-5 years for the fruit to mature so it's a bit of a waste of space, but they're free (they started as just the tops of pineapples I bought from the store) and I think they're pretty in an ugly sort of way.
OK I've grown Pineapples in Miami for years and years (not where I'm currently at however), It only takes 18 months for fruit production if you irrigate the plants properly. The trick is to plant a new top every two weeks and make a large bed of them if you're able. This will give you a rather large supply over long periods. If you let the slips mature you will find that the fruits get smaller and smaller. Being a Bromiliade pineapples can be propogated several different ways. By the way (I haven't researched this, but...) the moment my pineapples produced a flower ants would over run it...I believe this is essential for production (I'm not a botanist so don't quote me) don't try to kill them they seem to have very little or no interest in the fruit...go figure. Also Pineapples, unlike bananas, peaches, etc. do NOT sweeten once they are severed from the mother. So don't pick it until it is very very ripe [usually falls over from the weight]. Just my two pence
Interesting. . .mine haven't flowered in a LONG time. What do you consider irrigating properly? I thought they really like water and mine stay nice and damp most of the time. I had some issues with the ones in full sun turning redish so I started keeping them in partial shade and the plants look healthier, but they haven't had new fruits in a while . . .come to think of it my bromiliads haven't flowered in about the same time frame. I wonder what I'm doing wrong.
I have my own expierence from growing them in Miami, Florida...but I will tell you what the Haiwian's do...their fields are wide open...lot's of rain but...full sun...the difference between them and (you and I ) is the quality of soil. So Full Sun! (full stop) and adequet water to keep the plants from drying out...this will cause small fruits. It's a balance. Really. They require drenching...then total drying out....followed by drenching etc. Constant, moist soil doesn't seem to benefit. So by proper irrigation I mean: during drought periods, you supply a daily soaking...nothing more. If you keep the soil constantly saturated I doubt you will see production.
I think you might be overwatering them. Remember bromiliades get most of the moisture they need from rain...just look inside. Top watering is the best.
Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 13191 Location: naive idiot fantasy world
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Unusual food plants
Banana update:
Of the 11 varieties I planted last summer, only the following survived the winter and this spring/summer drought (got weekly watering) here in Zone 8 Central Texas -
1780
Thousand Finger
Mysore
Dwarf Cavendish
The dead:
Double Mahoi
Grand Nain
Kru
Orinoco
Red Iholene
Goldfinger
Williams Hybrid
Kind of discouraging, but the conditions were not especially good. I'm repotting the survivors to move them to a much better location near the house where they will be on greywater next to a large water tank facing south.
Of the survivors, Thousand Finger is the most robust, with two stocky but short stems. _________________ "...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow." - jboogy
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They are tiny little pods, about the size of a pea - some have one lentil and some have two inside. I am planting regular brown lentils next year. But lentils are so cute! If plants are "cute", lol...
. . .come to think of it my bromiliads haven't flowered in about the same time frame. I wonder what I'm doing wrong.
