Showing posts with label Vegetable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vegetable. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

The Journey of a Permaculture Pumpkin

 

 

Photo 1

 

                  Photo 2

 

Photo 3

 

Photo 4

 

Photo 5

 

Photo 6

In the heart of our permaculture farm, where life buzzes with a quiet, natural rhythm, a new story unfolds with every season. This year, it's the tale of a remarkable pumpkin, a journey from a delicate flower to a magnificent, ripe fruit.

Our story begins not with a pumpkin, but with a promise—a beautiful, bright yellow blossom. This is the male flower (photo 1), its petals unfurling to greet the morning sun. It stands tall and proud, a beacon of golden hope, filled with the precious pollen needed to bring a new life into the world.

Nearby, a different kind of beauty emerges. Tucked among the broad, dew-kissed leaves, a smaller, more humble blossom appears. This is the female flower (photo 2), a tiny sphere at its base, hinting at the fruit to come. It patiently waits for a visitor, a pollinator to carry the golden dust of the male flower and complete the cycle.

But then, there's a moment of pure magic. A tiny, buzzing friend—perhaps a bee, a hoverfly, or another helpful insect—answers the call. We can see the magic of pollination in progress (photo 3), as the pollinator lands on the female flower, carrying the life-giving pollen from its male counterpart. This single act is the turning point, the moment of creation.

Pollination is a delicate dance, and sometimes, things don't go as planned. In the hustle and bustle of the farm, sometimes the timing isn't right, or the pollinator misses its mark. We see this in the failed pollination (photo 4), where the potential pumpkin, still so small and green, withers away. It's a gentle reminder that not every attempt leads to success, but it's all part of the natural balance.

The success of this moment is soon visible. The petals of the female flower gently close and begin to fade, a sign that its job is done. The small sphere at its base starts to swell, no longer a mere promise but a definite reality. This is our successful pollination (photo 5), the beginning of the pumpkin's growth, a testament to the thriving ecosystem of our farm.

From that small beginning, a transformation takes place over weeks and months. Nourished by the rich soil and the abundant life of the permaculture system, the pumpkin grows, day by day, gaining size and substance. It outgrows its humble beginnings, its skin changing from solid green to a beautiful mosaic of creams and deep greens.

Finally, we have the magnificent mature pumpkin (photo 6). It rests on the ground from 90 to 120 days, a heavyweight champion of the garden. Its deep ridges and speckled skin tell the story of its journey—of the sun, the rain, the soil, and the vital work of the pollinators. It’s not just a pumpkin; it's a celebration of life, a symbol of the harmony and resilience that is at the core of our permaculture farm. It’s a joy to behold, a harvest of hard work and natural wonder, ready to become a delicious part of our lives.


永续栽培南瓜的旅程

在我们永续农业农场的中心地带,生命以静谧自然的韵律嗡嗡作响,每个季节都有新的故事展开。今年,这是一个非凡南瓜的故事,它从一朵娇嫩的花朵蜕变成一颗硕果累累、硕果累累的果实。

我们的故事并非始于南瓜,而是始于一个承诺——一朵美丽的亮黄色花朵。这是雄花(图1),花瓣舒展,迎接清晨的阳光。它高大而骄傲地挺立着,如同一座金色希望的灯塔,充满了孕育新生命所需的珍贵花粉。

在附近,一种别样的美正在显现。在沾满露水的宽阔叶片间,一朵更小巧、更谦逊的花朵绽放。这是雌花(图2),基部呈小球状,预示着即将结出的果实。它耐心地等待着一位访客,一位传粉者,将雄花的金色花粉带到这片土地上,完成整个循环。

授粉是一场精妙的舞蹈,有时,事情并不会按计划顺利进行。在农场的喧嚣中,有时时机不对,传粉昆虫也会错失良机。我们可以看到失败的授粉(照片3),原本可能结出果实的南瓜,依然那么小巧翠绿,最终枯萎凋零。这提醒我们,并非每一次尝试都能成功,但这都是自然平衡的一部分。

然而,一个纯粹神奇的时刻出现了。一个嗡嗡作响的小伙伴——也许是蜜蜂、食蚜蝇或其他有益的昆虫——回应了它的召唤。我们可以看到授粉的神奇过程(照片4),传粉昆虫落在雌花上,带着雄花上赋予生命的花粉。这一举动是转折点,是创造的时刻。

这一刻的成功很快就显而易见。雌花的花瓣轻轻闭合,开始凋谢,标志着它的任务完成了。花瓣底部的小球开始膨胀,不再仅仅是一个承诺,而是一个确定无疑的现实。这是我们成功的授粉(照片5),南瓜生长的开始,也证明了我们农场生态系统的繁荣。

从这小小的开始,数周数月的时间里,南瓜经历了蜕变。在肥沃的土壤和永续农业系统丰沛的生命力的滋养下,南瓜日复一日地生长,个头渐长,肉质丰满。它逐渐超越了最初的朴素,表皮从纯绿色变成了乳白色和深绿色交织的美丽马赛克。

最终,我们迎来了硕大的成熟南瓜(照片6)。它在地上生长90到120天,是花园里的重量级冠军。它深深的脊线和斑驳的表皮讲述着它的旅程——阳光、雨水、土壤,以及传粉昆虫的辛勤劳作。它不仅仅是一个南瓜;它是对生命的颂歌,象征着我们永续农业农场核心的和谐与韧性。这是令人欣喜的景象,是辛勤劳动和自然奇迹的成果,即将成为我们生活中美味的一部分


Saturday, August 9, 2025

Sword Bean: Naturally Grown & Nourishing

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

Sword beans, known for their strikingly long pods and robust growth, are a tropical legume celebrated for both their ornamental foliage and nutritional value. Grown naturally without synthetic inputs, these beans thrive in warm climates and are a perfect fit for sustainable, family-centered backyard garden.

Growth Timeline: From Seed to Harvest

Stage

Duration

Key Details

Germination

7–14 days

Seeds sprout best in warm, moist soil (20–30°C). The radicle and cotyledons emerge.

Seedling Stage

2–4 weeks

Tender leaves develop. Needs 6–8 hours of sunlight and consistent watering.

Vegetative Growth

4–6 weeks

Vines climb vigorously. Trellising helps support the lush foliage and pods.

Flowering

2–4 weeks

Light purple flowers bloom, leading to pod formation.

Pod Development

Begins ~75 days

Tender pods are ready for harvest around 75 days after sowing.

Full Maturity

110–120 days

Pods harden and seeds mature. Ideal for seed saving or dry bean use.

Natural Cultivation Tips

·         Sunlight: Minimum 6 hours daily; thrives in full sun.

·         Soil: Prefers well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.0–6.0).

·         Watering: Keep soil moist but avoid waterlogging.

·         Support: Use trellises or fences to guide climbing vines.

Harvest Notes

For fresh consumption, harvest pods when they’re still green and fleshy.

For seeds (like the pink and white ones in container), allow pods to fully mature and dry on the vine.

***Please go to the Download menu for recipes.***


Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Bitter Lettuce

 

About:

The leaves are round-lanceolate, green on the surface and grey-green on the back; the flowers are bright yellow. The young leaves of bitter lettuce can be eaten. They taste slightly bitter when eaten raw, but the bitterness can be removed by blanching them in boiling water. They can be stir-fried with meat, made into soup, or made into tofu with some soybean powder. They can also be blanched in boiling water and eaten with noodle sauce, bitter lettuce porridge, etc.

Bitter Lettuce


Nutritional Value:

Every 100 grams of fresh bitter lettuce contains 1.8 grams of protein, 4.0 grams of    carbohydrates, 5.8 grams of dietary fibre, 120 milligrams of calcium, 52 milligrams of    phosphorus, and trace elements such as zinc, copper, iron, and manganese, as well  as vitamins B1, B2 (0.2 mg), C (88 mg), carotene (3.22 mg), niacin, etc.;

In addition, it also contains 88 mg of vitamin C and 3.22 mg of carotene, which are 2.1 and 2.3 times the content in spinach respectively;

The young leaves contain a full range of amino acids, and the proportions between the various amino acids are appropriate.

Source: https://m.sohu.com/n/444759397/

Grow and Care:


Cultivation :

Bitter lettuce can be grown using seeds, reaching maturity in 40 to 50 days. This plant is suitable for growing in a pot, a flower pot with a diameter of 12 inches is enough to allow this plant to grow lushly

Soil:

This plant requires fertile soil, loam soil mixed with compost and organic fertilizer is very suitable

Sunlight:

Better lettuce needs sunlight for at least six to eight hours a day

Water :

make sure the soil is always moist, in hot weather, it needs to be watered twice daily.

Ferlilizer:

The appropriate fertilizer to use is organic fertilizer or granular fertilizer with NPK 15:15:15








Thursday, August 8, 2024

Perennial Spring Onions 四季葱

 Perennial Spring Onions are a type of vegetable that is very commonly used in cooking in Malaysia, the speciality of this plant is that it is a perennial plant compared to the type that is planted with shallots bulbs that are planted and harvested only once. This type of plant has many benefits.

Nutritional value

1. 90g of water per 100g of onion

2. 2.5g of protein

3. 0.3g of fat

4. 5.4g of carbohydrates

5. 54mg of calcium

6. 61mg of phosphorus

7. 2.2mg of iron

8. 0.46mg of carotene

9. 15mg of vitamin C

 Efficacy

1. Antipyretic and expectorant: The volatile oil and other effective ingredients of onion can stimulate the sweat glands of the body to achieve the effect of sweating and heat dissipation; onion oil stimulates the upper respiratory tract, making it easier to cough up sticky phlegm.

2. Promote digestion and absorption: Onion can also stimulate the secretion of digestive juices in the body, strengthen the spleen and appetite, and increase appetite.

3. Onion can also lower blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood sugar. If eaten with mushrooms, it can promote blood circulation.

4. Antibacterial and antiviral: Allicin in onion significantly resists bacteria and viruses, especially against Shigella dysenteriae and skin fungi.

5. Anti-cancer: The pectin contained in chives can significantly reduce the occurrence of colon cancer and has an anti-cancer effect. The allicin in onion can also inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

 

Perennial Spring Onions

 

Perennial Spring Onions placed in front of kitchen window

 


四季葱

四季葱是马来西亚烹饪中非常常用的一种蔬菜,这种植物的特殊之处在于它是一种多年生植物,而不像种植和收获一次的葱头那样。这种植物有很多好处。

营养价值:

四季葱的营养价值

1、每100克葱中含水分90

2、蛋白质2.5

3、脂肪0.3

4碳水化合物5.4

5、钙54

6、磷61

7、铁2.2

8胡萝卜素0.46

9、维生素c15

效:

 1、解热,祛痰:葱的挥发油等有效成分,具有刺激身 体汗腺,达到发汗散热之作用;葱油刺 激上呼吸道,使粘痰易于咯出

2、促进消化吸收:葱还有刺激机体消化液分泌的作用,能够健脾开胃,增进食  欲

3、葱还有降血脂、降血压、降血糖的作用,如果与蘑菇同食可以起到促进血液循环的作用

4、抗菌,抗病毒:葱中所含大蒜素,具有明显的抵御细菌、病毒的作用,尤其对痢疾杆菌皮肤真菌抑制作用更强

5、防癌抗癌:香葱所含果胶,可明显地减少结肠癌的发生,有抗癌作用,葱内的蒜辣素也可以抑制癌细胞的生

https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%9B%9B%E5%AD%A3%E8%91%B1/10334786


Monday, February 27, 2023

One of the healthiest vegetable.

 Collard Greens

Collard greens are various loose-leafed cultivars of Brassica Oleracea (cabbage family) and are also part of the Acephala group of the species, which include kale and spring greens. Collard greens belong to the cruciferous family, and several studies have analyzed the health benefits of cruciferous vegetables may have anticancer effects.
Research shows that people with a high intake of cruciferous vegetables have a reduced risk of developing certain types of cancers including prostate, breast, colon, bladder, lung and ovarian cancer.
There are many ways to cook collard greens; my favourite is stir-fried with eggs,  pork or beef and add some cooking wine. This simple way of cooking make this dark greens and one of the healthiest vegetable among the most favourite dish on my dining table



Collard green nutritional fact:

72 grams of row collard green provide:

·         Calories:24

·         Carbs:4g

·         Fiber:2.8g

·         Protein:2g

·         Fat:0.4g

·         Vitamin K:128% of the Daily Value

·         Calcium:16% of the DV

·         Vitamin C:28% of the DV

·         Folate:23%of the DV

·         Vitamin A:20% of the DV

·         Magnesium:5% of the DV

·         Potassium:3% of the DV

·         Phosphorus:1% of the DV

References: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collard-greens-benefits

Monday, May 30, 2022

Wood Ash- Super Organic Fertilizer That Every Gardener Must Use in The Garden

 Wood ash is derived from plant material, it contains most of the essential nutrients the soil must supply for plant growth.  Calcium is the most abundant property in wood ash, besides that wood ash contains potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.  In addition to macronutrients, wood ash also contains other trace elements for adequate plant growth.

Wood ash is naturally high in water-soluble potassium, it also contains phosphorous and other Trace Elements including manganese, zinc, iron and calcium.  These Trace Elements from inside the tree or grass which is important to plant health. In addition to its nutrient content, wood ash also can neutralise soil acidity.  When I burn wood, leaves and grass, high amounts of carbonates are produced.  Carbonates will neutralise the acid in the soil causing soil pH to increase.  Because wood ash tends to increase soil pH, applying it to acid-loving plants will not be beneficial.

Sprinkle wood ash around the plants will add in essential nutrients plants need to grow, The University of Vermont recommends about 5 gallons of wood ash per 1000 square feet of garden.  Making wood ash ”tea” by mixing 1 litre of wood ash with 10 litres of water and apply to the plants is standard practice at my farm.  Sprinkle a small amount of wood ash on the compost pile help to boost the pile.

How to produce wood ash


Thursday, May 19, 2022

Health Benefits of Cocoyams(Xanthosoma)

Cocoyams(Xanthosoma) are perennial plants belonging to the family Araceae. The stalk of the leaves stands erect and can reach lengths in excess of 1 m high. The leaf blades are large and heart-shaped and can reach 50 cm in length.

Cocoyams(Xanthosoma)

Cocoyam grows best in fertile, well-draining, sandy loam soil,  Xanthosoma species require temperatures above 22°C  to grow properly. They will not tolerate waterlogging and grow best in deep, well-draining loams. Cocoyam will thrive when planted in full sunlight or partial shade. On my farm, Xanthosoma grows well under the canopy of the Durian tree, Xanthosoma species produce cormels much like potatoes and are boiled, baked, steamed, cook soup or fried prior to consumption.

Cocoyams have a tuberous root (corm), which is surrounded by potato-sized tubers referred to as cormels. Cormels are consumed as food. Cocoyam is another amazing food with a lot of nutritional value that is beneficial to our body. The crop is known to have a lot of nutrients than other root and tubers crops like yam and others.

Edible Cocoyam Cormels

Cocoyam contains a wealth of organic compounds, minerals, and vitamins that can benefit our overall health in a number of ways. One cup (132 grams) of cooked cocoyam has 187 calories — mostly from carbs — and fewer than one gram each of protein and fat. It has a very significant amount of dietary fibre and carbohydrates, as well as high levels of vitamin A, C, E, vitamin B6, and folate, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database. There is magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorous, potassium, manganese, and copper in it. The plant also provides some protein in your diet, but the amount is almost negligible. (source:https://healthyhuemans.com)

Below are a few health benefits of eating cocoyam

1. Digestive health
2. Helps control blood sugar
3. Cancer prevention
4. Reduces muscle cramps
5. Reduces fatigue
6. Improves heart health
7. Great carb source
8. Improves metabolism and nutrient absorption
9. Diabetes prevention
10. Vision health
11. Reduces arthritis symptoms
12. Boosts immune system
13. Improves mental health
14. Improves hair health
15. Prevents bone loss

(source: https://nationaldailyng.com/)
Refefences
https://plantvillage.psu.edu
https://nationaldailyng.com  

How to Harvest Cocoyam and Cook Delicious Cocoyam



Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Grow pumpkin organically

This is the pumpkin that I grow organically on my farm.  Grow pumpkin is not an easy task for me, not at least organic pumpkin.  This is the most successful after trying a few times to grow it.  When coming to pests, fireflies are the most common, these little creatures love pumpkin foliage, and small seedlings cannot survive until they mature.