Silver Case

Last weekend’s plantings are hard at work already, particularly one species of peas that seems to have the Holy Fire propelling it skyward.

I’ll probably have to replant the peas, at least, pretty soon.

By the way, note that I’m growing an interesting herb (exotic weed) Purslane, also known as portulacca.

Although purslane is considered a weed in the United States, it can be eaten as a leaf vegetable, providing sources can be found which have not been poisoned deliberately.

Apparently it’s got some beneficial antioxidants and fatty acids, although I tend to be put off by okra and things that have a  mucilaginous quality.

Hopefully it’s useful and then I can let it free-run in stale corners of the garden.

Sedlings

After morning coffee I got out my collection of heirloom birthday seeds sent by Mom. Matilda and I started quite a few in some small pots. Lots of herbs, a collection of peppers, peas, and kale. I didn’t bother planting any root vegetables. It’s been raining so much here that they’d just rot, like my daikon did.

We also planted one of Matilda’s favorites, what we call Asian Winged Bean. She labelled the pot in her Karen alphabet whatever it is they call it.

“Asian Winged Bean” as they call it in Karen language

Tonight’s midnight snack was a strange combination. I started out wanting a beer, then something salty to go with it, so I sliced a handful of sweet potatoes and fried them in some vegetable oil, and tossed with copious sea salt. Sounds normal. Why the aloe vera garnish? Because I also managed to stick my thumb into the boiling oil as I was adding raw sweet potatoes.

Anyone that joined me during my last tri-turkey fry-party will show little surprise, I managed the same trick, sticking my thumb into a rolling boil of 30(?) gallons of peanut oil?

So anyway, Aunty Emily ran out into the street garden and cut a sprig of aloe vera which I’ve nursed my thumb with all night long. Aloe Vera looks like a succulent plant, so I would have expected it wouldn’t enjoy scorching Singapore sun, but actually it’s growing phenomenally in our little curbside ‘local vegetables’ garden (pandan, curry, papaya, lime, sweet potato leaves, and aloe)

We planted our second season today. This time I avoided everything from the nightshade family (tomatoes, eggplants, the ilk) because they cause such a problem with whiteflies and tomatoes just don’t grow well here. I also quit planting lots of vines, because they monopolize the field and don’t produce anything very good. The maids are tired of bittergourd and okra, so I also stopped planting that.

A Brussels Sprouts (Long Island Improved)

B Broccoli (Calabrese Green Sprouting)

C Snow Pea (Oregon Sugar Pod II)

D Asian Winged Bean

E Lima Bean (Jackson Wonder Bush)

F Beets (Bull’s Blood)

G Collars (Georgia Southern)

H Japanese Minowase Daikon

I Onion (Red of Florence

J Swiss Chard (Rainbow)

K Sorghum (Honey Drip)

My friend came over to take my carrot seeds for his horse. In exchange he’s going to give me some horse manure for the field.

Luke and I composted the rest of the garden today. Time to replant.

Ling had luke wear his bicycle helmet because she was afraid he was going to brain himself with the hoe.

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This morning I picked the first (and so far only) tomato that matured from the big pile of seeds we harvested in Italy last autumn. If I wasn’t leaving for the North American Handmade Bike Show tomorrow morning, I probably would have left it longer on the vine to ripen, but alas…