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Index > Garden Blog

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What is hotter that hot pepper?

Capsicum annuum x chinense - Biquinho Pepper

Capsicum annuum x chinense - Biquinho Pepper

Capsicum annuum x chinense - Biquinho Pepper

Capsicum frutescens - Wiri Wiri Papper

Capsicum frutescens - Wiri Wiri Papper

๐Ÿ”ฅ What is hotter that hot pepper? Wiri Wiri Pepper! - it's about how to live long and have a great skin.

๐ŸŒถ These two peppers are a must for spice lovers - intense fruity habanero flavor packs quite a bang! ๐Ÿ’ฅ
Extremely showy, these ornamental peppers have culinary benefits and are great for container garden.
  • โค๏ธ Capsicum annuum x chinense - โค๏ธ-shaped Biquinho Pepper that you saw in earlier post. An exceptionally distinct pepper, an ancient hybrid of Capsicum annuum (bird pepper) and Capsicum chinense (habanero group). While of small size (1"), these heart-shaped red fruits are prolifically produced along the branches of compact plants.

  • ๐Ÿ”ด Capsicum frutescens - Wiri Wiri Pepper from Guyana is the illustrious gem; hard sought and rarely found. This plant produces good yields of small 1/2" berry shaped hot peppers. Peppers grow upright, are very hot, and turn from green, to orange, to red when mature. Guyanese dinners will only take one of those meals for you to never forget! The secret of their food is the flavor, and one of the cornerstone ingredients in many of their dishes is the Wiri pepper. The Guyanese population claim that it is not just a key ingredient to their diet, but also to why they are so good looking, live so long, and have such great skin.


โ—๏ธ What makes these peppers so much different than any other hot peppers?
Hot? Yes, it is important that hot peppers are, but the people who really know, know that it is not just about heat, it is about flavor! And that is exactly what makes these little red gems so special.

๐Ÿงช For abundant crops, fertilize with Sunshine C-Cibus plant booster.

๐Ÿ›’ Order Hot Peppers

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Does Red Passion flower produce edible fruit?

Passiflora coccinea - Red Passion Flower

๐Ÿ’ƒ Does Red Passion flower produce edible fruit?
  • โ™ฅ๏ธ Passiflora coccinea, or Red Passion Flower, is a spectacular, passion-red variety!
  • โ™ฅ๏ธ It is tropical, evergreen vine from South America known for its stunning scarlet-red flowers and edible passion fruit. Yes, the fruit are edible, but they are very rarely seen.
  • โ™ฅ๏ธ It thrives in full sun or part shade with fertile, well-drained soils and can grow up to 10-12 feet long.
  • โ™ฅ๏ธ This easy-to-grow plant is perfect for trellises, walls, and containers. Minimal pruning is needed, and it blooms primarily in summer and fall.
  • โ™ฅ๏ธ Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds ๐Ÿฆ‹๐Ÿ


๐Ÿ’ป Do you grow Passion vines? Share yours in comments๐Ÿ‘‡

๐Ÿ“š From previous post: The truth about Passion flower and Passion fruit.

๐Ÿ›’ Shop Passiflora plants

#Food_Forest #Butterfly_Plants

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How to make a zippy Papaya-Citrus Marinade

 How to make a zippy Papaya-Citrus Marinade
๐Ÿฒ How to make a zippy Papaya-Citrus Marinade

๐Ÿ— ๐Ÿ– The Papaya enzyme papain makes this fruit especially suitable for tenderizing meat in marinades. Use this zippy marinade for beef or poultry.

  • โœ”๏ธ 1 cup papaya puree
  • โœ”๏ธ 1 tbsp lime zest
  • โœ”๏ธ 1/3 cup grapefruit juice
  • โœ”๏ธ 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • โœ”๏ธ 1 tbsp honey
  • โœ”๏ธ 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • โœ”๏ธ 1 tbsp coarse black pepper
  • โœ”๏ธ 1/2 tsp basil leaves
  • โœ”๏ธ 2 tbsp olive oil


๐ŸŠ Combine and mix all ingredients except olive oil, then gradually mix in olive oil. Marinade meat for 2-8 hrs and cook over grill.

๐Ÿ“š From previous posts:

๐Ÿ›’ Get your own Papaya tree

#Recipes #Food_Forest

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What is the biggest mango fruit?

Mango Kiew Yai

๐Ÿฅญ What is the biggest mango fruit?

๐Ÿ” We discovered one of the biggest Mango fruit after we planted this new variety - Kiew Yai.

๐Ÿฆถ Right now the fruit is almost a foot long!

โณ The tree was planted in April - only 3 months ago.

๐Ÿ˜‹ Looking forward to tasting it soon and sharing our taste impressions with you. Stay with us!

โฌ†๏ธ Reminder: In order to have good quality fruit, your Mango tree must be grafted. Grafted varieties start fruiting right away, while seedlings may take from 7 to 10 years to fruit and the taste of the seedling's fruit will always be a surprise, they may be small in size and very fibrous.

๐Ÿ“ Check out our earlier posts on Mango

๐Ÿ›’ Order Kiew Yai and shop more Mango varieties

#Food_Forest #Mango

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How to always have your own Root Beer

Piper auritum - Root Beer Plant, Acuyo, False Kava-Kava

๐Ÿฅค How to always have your own Root Beer
  • ๐Ÿฅ™ Piper auritum - Root Beer Plant, Acuyo, False Kava-Kava - is a close relative of Piper methysticum (Kava-Kava), and Piper nigrum (Black Pepper). It is very often confused with Kava-Kava, and probably has some similar medicinal effects.
  • ๐Ÿฅ™ This herb originated from Tropical America and grows also in the South Pacific.
  • ๐Ÿฅ™ Large-leaved perennial, known for its leaves, which are used for their spicy aromatic scent and flavor, some liken to root beer, others to anise-clove. It can be used for making a root beer-flavoted drink.
  • ๐Ÿฅ™ This species is easily identified by its huge leaves which can grow over a foot long in older specimens.
  • ๐Ÿฅ™ The leaves are chopped and used for flavoring, as well as used whole, as wrappings for meats, tamales, etc.


๐Ÿ“š
Learn more about Piper plants

๐Ÿ›’ Grow your own Root Beer Plant

#Food_Forest #Remedies

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How India grows most of the mangoes in the world

Mango fruit

Mango fruit

๐Ÿฅญ How India grows most of the mangoes in the world.
  • ๐Ÿ“ India grows 45% of all the mangoes in the world. However, exports account for only 1% of international trade - almost all the mangoes are consumed locally by the residents.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Mango import in the US limited by only easy-to-ship, fibrous varieties such as Tommy Atkins.
  • ๐Ÿ“ To enjoy the full palette of mango varieties, you need to grow your own tree or buy fruit from local growers in southern areas.


๐Ÿ“ Earlier posts on Mango:

๐Ÿ›’ Plant your own Mango Tree

#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts #Mango

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How to make tasty Carambola Banana Whip

Carambola Banana Whip

Carambola Banana Whip

Carambola

Carambola

Banana

Banana

๐Ÿน How to make tasty Carambola Banana Whip
  • โœ”๏ธ 1 ripe Carambola
  • โœ”๏ธ 3 ripe Bananas
  • โœ”๏ธ 1 tbsp Honey
  • โœ”๏ธ 1/2 tsp Cocoa (optional)


Blend ingredients until smooth. Scoop into frosted mugs. Garnish with Carambola and Banana slices.

๐Ÿท Enjoy while cold โ„๏ธ

๐Ÿ“š From previous posts:

๐Ÿ›’ Order Carambola and Banana trees

#Recipes #Food_Forest

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Five most exotic avocado varieties

Avocado Bacon

Avocado Bacon

Avocado Black Prince

Avocado Black Prince

Avocado Mexicola

Avocado Mexicola

Avocado Reed

Avocado Reed

Avocado Russel (red)

Avocado Russel (red)

๐Ÿฅ‘ Five most exotic avocado varieties

๐Ÿ‘€ We introduced 10 most popular varieties in our earlier posts. Here are 5 more - interesting and unusual cultivars.
  1. Bacon - A large Mexican variety with dark-skinned medium sized fruits, and a rich creamy flavor. It is very cold hardy, late-producing variety of Avocado tree with exceptional fruit. It is a highly productive tree with a lovely upright and spreading habit. Its dark green, glossy leaves lend an attractive, tropical appeal to the 15-20 feet of heigh. The oval fruits ripen in late fall and into spring. The fruits are easy to peel and have a light, subtle flavor. The tree has angelic sweeping branches which helps keep the tree shorter and easier to pick its fruit.
  2. Black Prince - The fruit was large, oval, 16-36 oz, green and slightly pebbly. The fruit turns black couple days after it is picked, ripens and softens. Black Prince deserves its title! The fruit pulp is thick, and has a rich, nutty flavor. The trees grow vigorously. Superior variety for a backyard grower. Harvesting mid-August to mid-September.
  3. Mexicola - black fruit, rich butter content, one of the most cold hardy varieties. Mature trees may withstand temperatures in the low-mid 20s.
  4. Reed - The fruit is large, weighing over a pound and round in shape. It has a large seed, but plenty of edible flesh. The skin remains green even when ripe. It is described by some as the best tasting avocado, buttery, bold, rich and nutty with an oil content of about 20%. It is a type A avocado, but fruits consistently year after year without other avocado trees around. It can be kept to around 15 feet with pruning. The branches do tend to droop horizontally.
  5. Russel (green and red) - easily recognized by its gourd-like shape, large, 24-36 oz and up to 13 inches long! Flesh is yellow, sweet, excellent quality, the seed is small.


  6. ๐Ÿ“š Learn more: Avocado Variety Guide - check this out for interactive chart of Avocado varieties and sort them by flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!

    โ” What is your favorite Avocado variety?
    Share in comments
    ๐Ÿ‘‡

    ๐Ÿ›’ Shop Avocado Trees

    #Food_Forest #Avocado


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What are the most interesting edible gingers?

Boesenbergia rotunda - Chinese Keys Ginger, Fingerroot, Kra Chai

Boesenbergia rotunda - Chinese Keys Ginger, Fingerroot, Kra Chai

Curcuma longa - Turmeric, Spice Turmeric, Longevity Spice, Indian Saffron.

Curcuma longa - Turmeric, Spice Turmeric, Longevity Spice, Indian Saffron.

Zingiber officinale - Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger

Zingiber officinale - Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger

 Zingiber officinale - Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger

Zingiber officinale - Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger

๐Ÿฑ What are the most interesting edible gingers?
  • ๐Ÿฅข Boesenbergia rotunda - Chinese Keys Ginger, Fingerroot, Kra Chai. A medicinal and culinary herb from China and Southeast Asia. It is used in Javanese cuisine in Indonesia, as well as in Thai cooking where it is called krachai. In the west it is usually found pickled or frozen. Kra Chai is used as a male tonic, vigor, health promotion, longevity, aphrodisiac.
  • ๐Ÿฅข Curcuma longa - Turmeric, Spice Turmeric, Longevity Spice, Indian Saffron. Turmeric powder might well be the healthiest spice on Earth. Made by grinding this dried root, this ancient superfood and key ingredient in curry powder has been used by Indian Ayurvedic healers for centuries.
  • ๐Ÿฅข Zingiber officinale - Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger - the one you eat with sushi! Plant this ginger in the garden to produce your own fresh ginger for pickling or healthy lemonade.


๐Ÿ“š More gingers in previous posts:
5 most beautiful flowering gingers
Alpinia formosana x zerumbet Variegata - Variegated Ginger
Costus spicatus x woodsonii - Red Button Ginger, French Kiss
Hedychium coronarium - Butterfly Ginger
Kaempferia angustifolia - Laos Silver Stripe

โ” What is your favorite Ginger? Share in comments๐Ÿ‘‡

๐Ÿ›’ Shop Gingers

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What are the best small fruit trees that will produce right away?

Bunchosia argentea - Peanut Butter Tree

Bunchosia argentea - Peanut Butter Tree

Bunchosia argentea - Peanut Butter Tree

Bunchosia argentea - Peanut Butter Tree

Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa

Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa

Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa

Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa

โ” What are the best small fruit trees that will produce right away? Peanut Butter Tree and Blackberry Jam Tree!

โฌ†๏ธ These two little trees are absolute winners and will produce fruit for your right away, whether you grow them in container or in your small garden:
  1. Bunchosia argentea - Peanut Butter Tree, earns its name from its fleshy fruits that boast a delightful peanut butter flavor.
  2. Randia formosa - Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa - a curious small evergreen tree that combines features of a fragrant flower and delicious dessert fruit which tastes like fresh Blackberry jam. Fragrant white flowers are similar to Gardenia.


  3. ๐Ÿ“š Learn more from previous posts:
    Craving a Nutty Surprise? Peanut Butter Tree
    Truth about Blackberry Jam: it comes from Gardenia

    ๐Ÿ›’ Get your own Peanut Butter Tree and Blackberry Jam Fruit Tree

    #Food_Forest #Container_Garden


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