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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Harvests and other joys

The most exciting parts of vegetable gardening for me are at right at the beginning when the seeds germinate and the lovely new green plant comes up, and then later when it's HARVEST time :). This was my first harvest of greens (not counting coriander) and I was just so thrilled !!

All set to make Palak Morkuzhambu which I've never tried before but need to give respect to my home grown palak and try something radically new with it ;).





My first transplant - the squash/zucchini is doing quite well, especially the one I put in a big cement pot. One big problem with this plant though is that it is very susceptible to the leaf borer attacks as it has a hollow stem :(. Been trying my best to control using only organic methods, keeping fingers crossed! Learning more about insect pests than I ever have about the ones that attack humans though ;).



The beans has been climbing on beautifully to the trellis behind it. Much to my surprize I hardly had to guide it at all, it just naturally reached out and clung to the support!
That is the female zucchini flower (did not know such intimate details until I started growing gourds ;)). All gourds have male and female flowers, in which the female flowers develop into the fruit (or on top of it like in this case). If they are not pollinated naturally by the insects flying around in your garden, you can pollinate it by hand. Think I see enough insects, bees flying around in my garden, else I will need to stand over them in the nighttime(that's when the flowers open up!) with a brush in hand ;). Imagine the sight! 




Oh I am so kicked with this one. The idea came originally from hubby to reuse this old shelf for plants. So in the style of the planter boxes, we used a plasticky sack material for the lining, made holes and tadaah ! Those are okra saplings, just come up from seed, about a week old.

7 comments:

  1. OH MY GOD!!! Give me your address Aparna.. I wanna run coming to your house and learn some good things from you! What superb passion you have.. I admire you even more.I am still ogling at the palak.. Palak morkozhambu.. My mouth is watering.. :D

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    1. Thank you Sahana :) drop me a mail if you ever come to BTM side of town, and i'll send across my address ;) !

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    2. email is apster@gmail.com btw :)

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  2. Quick quick give the recipe for palak morekuzhambu!!! Sounds yum :)
    Love love the pink repurposed shelf...you are too good!

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    1. Thank you :) I was/am very kicked about the shelf indeed. It may not last for more than one season (plywood after all), but still if I manage even one crop/harvest I'll be content :) !

      Palak morkuzhambu I actually saw a recipe online, then didn't have the enthu to do elaborate stuff so just did my mom's usual morkuzhambu recipe, and sauteed the palak and threw them in ;). That is vendayam+urad dal+ perungayam+ red chillies roasted in a little oil, then take out and fry lightly about 2-3 spoons of grated coconut in the leftover oil. Grind with a little water. Can fry this mixture again with a little oil if you feel the raw smell has not gone, usually not needed. Saute Palak lightly (just cooked) and mix with curd and the ground mixture and salt to taste. Mix on low heat for a couple of minutes and switch off.

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  3. WOWOW...I have no words to express how much I admire you for your passion and determination to pursue your interest. Your vegetable garden looks awesome. Well-maintained greens all over. Superb!

    Thanks for the recipe too!

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    1. Thanks a ton Uma for your heartfelt words :)

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