Personal Theme Day- Lima Flowers

After more than three weeks, the lima beans at the backyard are now starting to sprout flowers, and the leaves are so green and healthy as compared to the first batch I planted on small pots. The small trellis I provided is not enough though for the more than a dozen plants which are still growing and climbing. Here’s a macro photo of the lima flowers.

Personal Theme Day: Green for Okra

Quite a frustration because I planted the okra seeds on the small containers with potting soil with the intention of transferring the plants when ready. But then, I let it grow for weeks on the small prep pots that now the plants look pale, dehydrated and no promise of being ”fruitful.” Check out the small “fruits” peeking at the top of the vege plants. Already, I have planted the remaining seeds directly on the ground. Will post update on this later.

Personal Theme Day: Green for Tomatoes

Aside from the grape tomatoes (below) that still gives us those small reddish fruits, we also have the regular tomatoes now starting to bloom, a few flowers, though. Still practicing the intercropping method because of the limited space, the four “trees” co-exist now with the aloe vera and grape tomatoes. I planted the seedlings in this arrangement to take advantage of the support from the aloe vera leaves instead of placing sticks. So far, the technique is holding on.

Personal Theme Day: Green for Aloe Vera

The aloe vera on our pic is about two years old, having been planted when it was just a small “seedling” detached from our first mature plant. Separating the “offspings” and replanting some on the ground, others I have to dispose for there were plenty, gave the succulent plant limited sunlight but ample space for growth. The aloe flowers are greenish-yellow and blooms on a trident like stem (Look for the brown, dry looking "stem, that's what is left of the "trident" after prunng the flowers). I should have taken pics of the flowers, maybe next time. The aloes share a common ground with our tomato plants; the tomatoes hang its branches on the thorny cool leaves of the aloes. Have to figure out, aside from being ornamental, the useful usage of the plant for us.

Personal Theme Day: Potted Green Lima Beans

Green lima beans for its leaves and pod, but the beans inside the pod should come out white, though.

At the onset of spring, I test planted two lima bean seeds, the packet says “Beans, Lima- Fordhook Bush #22,” on a pottted soil. Now I have these not so green-leafedf lima, but was really expecting that it was a “climber.” Plant growth is quite slow and stunted, somehow unhealthy looking, was expecting the leaves should be more green than yellowish, anyhow, the flowers start coming out with some pods now with a promise of a limited, if not dainty harvest. I should have mixed ground soil on the potting soil to make the mix better. Texture of the potting soil alone if left unwatered for a day looks dry and barren. Could it be the cause of the plants’ stunted growth plus the fact the roots can not spread and cover enough space underneath? Yesterday, I transferred the plants on the ground.

Anyhow, I planted more seeds of what was left of the packet on the ground to check if it is better planting lima on the ground than potted. I checked today and the plants have sprouted, the cotyledons are now reaching out for the sun's rays. Will post an update later.

Personal Theme Day: Potted Green Onions

I did some recycling here, actually it was more of re-growing thing. Each time a bundle of green onion comes fresh from the market everything is consumed of the tuber from tip of the leaf to the small bulb that comes with the stem. So I just cut off the leaves, kept it in the crisper for future use and the remaining short lower portion of the tuber devoid of roots I stick on a prepared pot of ground soil mixed with potting soil from a local outlet. So far, every time we need some of the onion leaves, we’ll just head off to the backyard and harvest some without plucking the plant off the soil. We’ve been doing that close to a year now. Few months ago, the plants had their first spring, some green and white flowers burst from a few of them only to find out that tiny seeds developed and start a new generation of tiny onions.

Personal Theme Day: Green

Thought I would have a Personal Theme every Monday: Today, it’s Green, for big green bell peppers. What’s on your food?