Chilli Padi

We got this happy little camper a while back.

I use Bioflora to fertilise weekly. Noticed that without fertilising, the drop in yield is apparent. So far this little pot has been offering 5-6 little babies every week. Enough for our own consumption and occasionally sharing. 

This little pot is so hardworking. I have considered repotting but decided to not rock the boat unnecessarily, in case there is transfer shock. I am also not too sure what type of soil is suitable. So I will just let it be for now.

These little Chilli Padi(s) are spicy, but not excessively. I harvest them green or just before they turn red. I am very consistent with the harvesting and do not let them age on the plant. It is important to be very careful when harvesting, because the flowers are very fragile and drop off quickly if agitated. 

Potatoes

There have been mixed reviews about the possibility of growing potatoes in tropical Singapore. Most say no, but a few affirmative voices have prompted me to give it a shot, even though the best case only promised very tiny potatoes.

I had a sprouting potato that has been sitting on my kitchen sill since April 2015. I have been pensive to start because of the mixed reviews. 

On 13 Sep 2015, signs of decay is spotted on the sprouting potato, so I was finally obliged. I cut out the unaffected shoot and buried it in a bag of soil to try. 

I inverted a canvas rice bag, and filled it with a mix of: garden soil, potting mix and compost. I filled the bag with 10cm of soil, placed the shoot cutting in and covered it with about 7cm of soil.

Nothing happened on the first few days.

On 16 Sep 2015, the first sign of life peeked through the soil despite the torrential rains and I was relieved that something finally happened. 

On 19 Sep 2015, the little shoot had put out more leaves. So from now it's a waiting game. The game plan is to wait for growth and start moulding the soil up every time the greens hit 4inches (about 10cm).

Carrots

We enjoyed some organic finger carrots and decided to grow some carrot tops to see where they would go. 

On 8 Jul 2015, the carrots had greens on top, so there was a chance that they might grow.

This was a day after leaving them in water. Sprouting occurs.

On the 3rd day, shoots are seen. About a week later, I popped them into a pot. 

By 31 Jul the carrot tops were lush and green. 

Update 19 Sep 2015:

Nothing much happened to the carrot tops. Read that they should just hopefully bolt and develop seeds and eventually die back. One thing for sure, there would be no carrots.

On 5 Sep 2015, I sowed some carrot seeds in our seeding ice tray. 

By 11 Sep 2015, the seeds started sprouting. 

On 19 Sep 2015, potted the seedlings in soil. This pot is rather small - about 15cm wide and 17cm deep. I kept 2 pots of 5 seedlings each. So that's a total of 10 seedlings to try.

A little update on the carrot tops. It's been about 9 weeks after we grew the carrot tops. They are no longer green and lush. Some of the leaves have even started to turn red but there are no signs of flowers. This could be a lost cause. But they are very fancy and rather ornamental to have around.

Update 26 Sep 2015:

It's been about 3 weeks since we sowed the carrot seeds and a week since we put it in the soil. The distinctive carrot leaves are finally showing up. Such joy!

As for the carrot tops, the filigree leaves are just so lovely, I put them in little pots and enjoy the prettiness on the dining table. Xo

Update 2 Feb 2016:

It has been slightly over 16 weeks (4 months) since we planted the carrot seeds. 

We grow them in thin but tall containers. They are so pretty and resilient. We have been travelling, so we have returned a couple of times to dried up carrot tips, but always seem to revive them with a lot of water.

Recently, due to the rainy season, the leaves have been growing lush and happy. We are starting to spot some carrots peeking out of the surface of the soil too!

Xiao Bai Cai (Bak Choy)

I started a seed tray of 小白菜 Bak Choy on 12 Sep 2015. These are little growing machines! By the next day, little shoots have started to appear.

This is how they have grown on the 3rd day! I have 1 seed in each cubby hole of the ice tray. We are looking at more than 80% success rate. 

Seedlings have grown to about 1.5cm. Now let's pray they keep up the good work!

Update 17 Sep 2015:

On the 5th day, I transferred the seedlings into individual cups. These are mini cupcake cups, around 3.5cm wide. Seedlings are about 2-2.5cm

Update 19 Sep 15:

It's been 1 week since we sowed the Bak Choy seeds. 

Potted the seedlings in a 40cm (l) X 15cm (w) X 15cm (h) trough. Seedlings are about 2.5-3.5cm. I have 2 troughs and about 32 seedlings in total. 

Update 26 Sep 2015: 

It's been 2 weeks since we sowed the seeds and the bak choy has grown.

These babies just sprout so quickly after potting in soil. I use chicken poo to fertilise weekly. Hope this works!

Stevia

Here is another mysterious plant. I got it from the nursery and the gardener called it 甜菊 (sweet chrysanthemum).

He explained that the sweet leaves can be used as a sugar alternative! Because I like to enjoy a daily cup of tea, this is exactly what I have been hunting around for. Gardener explained that boiling in water releases the sweetness of the leaves.

These floral buds will bloom into little white lovelies!

Update 10 Sep 15:

So I have gone on a wild goose chase trying to identify this plant. I can safely conclude that it is Stevia (甜菊). A South American native plant, also commonly called honey leaf plant, sweet chrysanthemum, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, etc.

Found a comprehensive article stating its benefits: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/stevia-plant.html

But Stevia brings to mind the artificial sweeteners scares of being carcinogenic and used as a contraceptive. So some research is needed before trying it out.

Regarding its carcinogenic properties, appears that there is a general consensus that altered Strvia is the most damaging. The natural, unprocessed versions seem alright. Here is a rather comrehensive article: http://draxe.com/stevia-side-effects/

Regarding its contraceptive properties, the fear stem from its traditional use among the indigenous populations of South America as a contraceptive. Lab tests are not unanimously conclusive. Depending on website agendas, articles also sway.

I think this independent post by Norished Kitechen voicing their stand on Stevia, sort of sums up my current take.

http://nourishedkitchen.com/whats-your-take-on-stevia/

"How do I use stevia now? Occasionally I find myself served an herbal tea that has stevia leaves added to it. Meh.  I finish the cup and don’t ask for more." 

- Nourished Kitchen

In case I might have a change of heart and become more confident, here is how to use the fresh leaves.

Fresh stevia leaves can be used to sweeten tea or in sauces. A few fresh stevia and mint leaves will make a refreshing herbal tea when steeped in a cup of boiling water.

Tomatoes - Rubies on the Vine

Inspired by the bountiful tomato harvests of fellow local gardeners, I decided to jump on the bandwagon of growing tomatoes from seeds - especially since we have organic tomatoes in the refrigerator.

We made a lovely mozerella caprese and saved the stray seeds on the cutting board. The seeds were a little wet, so I left them overnight on the window sill.

I sowed the seeds on 22 Aug 2015. As usual, I like to germinate tiny seeds in ice trays as it means starting on less potting mix. The moisture conditions are also easier to control in smaller areas. I placed a seed in each corner of the cubby holes. Managed to fill 9 cubby holes with a total of 36 seeds.

On the 3rd day, the first sprouts started to appear. By the 6th, most of the seedlings were out.

To be candid, I am still clueless about the variety of tomatoes we will be getting. The label on the box just states that it's organic Rubies on the Vine from Mexico.

I am guessing (and hoping) it's going to be an indeterminate (vine) instead of a determinate (bush). As indeterminate are perennials. But it's a wild guess subject to more research. 

Some growers mention the possibility of hybrid tomatoes flowering but eventually not fruiting. Without much information about this variety, the risk of disappointment is omni-present.

Update 5 Sep 2015:

The seedlings have grown stronger. Some have even sprouted new leaves. So I decided to pot them individually before the roots get too entangled. 

The Welgrow substrate is so well aerated it is not too difficult to separate the seedlings.

Most growers recommend thinning down the seedlings at this point. However, I am too inexperienced to decide which seedling is a better specimen to keep and which one to discard. So I decided to keep all the well formed ones, which is majority and if need be, use them to experiment growing techniques. 

I transplanted the seedlings individually into mini cupcake holders. 33 seedlings made it. Way too many. I would give them away if I am more confident that they can fruit. 

So it's back to research work before I decide what to do with these little lovelies! 

Update 26 Sep 2015:

Almost a month after sowing the seeds. These tomato seedlings are finally putting out more leaves. It looks like these seeds sprout quickly but grow slowly.

Update 3 Jan 2016:

The seedlings grew quickly after potting. Within a month, they grew to about 30cm and started flowering. For the longest time, the flowers just dried off. I read that hybrids usually do not fruit and thought this could actually be one of those.

It is about 4 months since we sprouted the seeds and the 2 surviving plants are about 1m tall.

Yesterday however, a singular tomato was finally spotted on one of the plants. It's exhilarating!

Let's hope there are more to come!