As for subtleties of flavour... I don't know how well this is preserved after you've boiled, or dried and boiled the mint (Sister Herb?). But if you want a little extra grapefruit or other flavour... (smile) why not add a little of the real thing?
May Allah Bless the gardens of those seeking Gardens.
As for subtleties of flavour... I don't know how well this is preserved after you've boiled, or dried and boiled the mint (Sister Herb?). But if you want a little extra grapefruit or other flavour... (smile) why not add a little of the real thing?
May Allah Bless the gardens of those seeking Gardens.
Why not add the real thing? Because i do not know what kind of poison people these days have grown and branded "grapefruit". Also i am not really able to grow it my self on my balcony.
I want to grow as much as possible many herbs and vegetables on my own and that i am certain of how it was grown. We these days have become so fat because of the manipulation of food and additives added to food.
Jazakallahu khairan, for the url..
"Pinapple/orange/chocolate/ mint, ", HAHAHAHHAHA....It just got A LOT more chaotic on my balcony :P.
About tomatoes; let it make minimum 5 bunch of flowers (many flowers together, not singles flowers). If it seems your tomatoe is growing very high, it´s good to break its top. Do not cut it with scissors. Never ever cut anythng with them as it may cause wounds to tomato and it may cause diseases like grey mold to infect your plant. Also later, when you already have tomatoes growing, you can take away some the lowest leaves (by hands, not with scissors) but be careful and take only few leaves away. Don´t take leaves away above of tomatoes as they help fruits to grow.
Remember - no scissors.
My tomatoes have been now outdoors about one week and I can see the first flowers.
I am not sure about cucumbers as I have had only those shark fin melons but they too make more than one stems and it seems they just take water and fertilizers with them so I have let them to grow. Are your cucumbers like these ones?
And about mints; as there are many different kind of varieties, some have more flavor than others but basicly yes, they keep their taste and flavors well while making tea and drying.
I have now 5 different varieties (spearmint, peppermint, mojito mint, grape fruit mint and "mysterious mint" but before I have also had chocolate mint and Moroccan mint. Unfortunately they didn´t survive from winters but I liked them too, specially the chocolate mint.
About tomatoes; let it make minimum 5 bunch of flowers (many flowers together, not singles flowers). If it seems your tomatoe is growing very high, it´s good to break its top. Do not cut it with scissors. Never ever cut anythng with them as it may cause wounds to tomato and it may cause diseases like grey mold to infect your plant. Also later, when you already have tomatoes growing, you can take away some the lowest leaves (by hands, not with scissors) but be careful and take only few leaves away. Don´t take leaves away above of tomatoes as they help fruits to grow.
Remember - no scissors.
My tomatoes have been now outdoors about one week and I can see the first flowers.
I am not sure about cucumbers as I have had only those shark fin melons but they too make more than one stems and it seems they just take water and fertilizers with them so I have let them to grow. Are your cucumbers like these ones?
And about mints; as there are many different kind of varieties, some have more flavor than others but basicly yes, they keep their taste and flavors well while making tea and drying.
I have now 5 different varieties (spearmint, peppermint, mojito mint, grape fruit mint and "mysterious mint" but before I have also had chocolate mint and Moroccan mint. Unfortunately they didn´t survive from winters but I liked them too, specially the chocolate mint.
They are now about 80-90 cm and JUST started giving new flowers as i removed the other ones it gave. The super sweet 100 cherry tomato is 90 cm and has no flowers as i had removed them earlier for the stem growth and root growth. Are you saying i should remove the top even though having no flowers??? Till how tall should i let it grow?
Also why at least 5 bunch of flowers? With the tomato mix cherry tomato plant, i have 2 flowers and the new flowers i believe reach about 4-5 flowers. The money maker does have that many i believe.
I used that pruning scissor or whatever it is called. I will stop using it in'sha'Allah.
Five bunches of flowers is just an average. You better let your tomatoes now just make flowers and not take top away. I have seen with my tomato plants that too much growing may decrease amount of harvest (money maker, marmande). Mine become usually about 170 cm before I take top away. It depends a lot which kind of tomato plants you have. I also have 100&1000´s grape tomatoes and with them no need to break the top as they grow as low bushes and are good for the hanging baskets. Also I have cherry tomatoes (can´t remember variety).
I don´t know all mint varieties (there are literally hundreds different mints and they also interbreed together easily) and some taste as their name describes, some not. I have seen that grape fruit mint is very mild but some others like peppermint or chocolate mint strong. It also depends about other things which kind of taste you´ll get as soil or amount of sunlight. Here in the north where summer is short but days are long, many herbs have stronger taste than in the southern areas.
Herbs in general are interesting as here are so many different varieties. For example few years ago I had sage what tasted like pineapple. Taste was very strong and fruity.
People from western origins love beautiful flowers and such, while i believe people from the Middle East..Kurds for sure, do also plant those things, but most of the time plant beneficial things in the sense of fruits and vegetables. That is why you i am only focused on growing edible things. It is very satisfying when you have spent some time on it and later on reap the hard work to be able to taste it
My first cucumber. It is about 8 cm, i am not sure if it has become too large as this one should be the small cucumber. I just read somewhere that this one should be harvested about 2.5 cm..but that is SUPER SMALL if you ask me.
The first link is my cucumber and the second one is from the internet, it is about the same size. In'sha'Allah it will have good taste.
Taste..it was a LITTLE bit bitter. Which means i have to harvest them much earlier..maybe at 6 cm this time. Just gonna experiment with the size until i get the right size giving the right taste.
Anyways, i think i will not grow this one anymore. Although cucumber can be used as snack, i do love dates and there is a hadith that if you want to gain weight, eat dates with cucumber...
The other cucumber is the Konsa..next year in'sha'Allah will also experiment with "marktmore" and there is also another type..don't remember the name. Anyways, every year besides the standard vegetables (bell peppers, money maker (tomato plant), super sweet 100 (cherry tomato plant), i will also experiment with other vegetables..maybe beans next year besides other or Belgian Tomato .
I am kind of curious about the "cassava potato". This year i have the normal and sweet potatoes.
Aloe Vera. I bought one who looked as if it wasn't properly watered as some leaves were sort of broken/brown. But was a bit more cheaper. So giving the necessary attention it will in'sha'Allah get back on it's feet. In'sha'Allah next year already having a baby to put in another pot.
Last edited by Simple_Person; 06-22-2017 at 08:37 PM.
Did you peeled your cucumber before ate it? Peel of some cucumbers is usually the bitterest part. Yes, I have grown potatoes before when I had bigger garden. Growing potatoes is traditional in here as we know nothing better summer food than new potatoes (with butter and fresh dill).
Did you peeled your cucumber before ate it? Peel of some cucumbers is usually the bitterest part. Yes, I have grown potatoes before when I had bigger garden. Growing potatoes is traditional in here as we know nothing better summer food than new potatoes (with butter and fresh dill).
Good luck with your new family member.
No i did not peel off the skin. I will in'sha'Allah also test it with the next cucumber(s).
I have always been fascinated by sister herbs exploits in the garden and the kitchen. For many years I have looked at growing stuff from afar and never really got my fingers dirty with earth and dirt. I get it dirty with grease often enough (and I don't consider myself a mechanic, not even an apprentice).
But the last 4 months or so, I decided to give it a go! I did potatoes (apparently it is very easy) but it took forever to start. In the meantime I tried from seeds, other vegs, like the picture below, cucumber and water melons. I finally got some of the water melon seeds to sprout after my 3rd attempt. The cucumber just took off, I think only one seed not germinating.
I found another picture that I could upload before taking some photos tomorrow
This is a picture of sugar cane which I politely asked for from a sugar cane juice vendor selling it for Ramadan. He very willingly obliged. I took it home planning to plant it lying down but the a kind soul decided to plant it upright. I was thinking in the weekend I would make a rectangular box and plant it. I guess, I must have left it too long for that kind soul. Ha ha. It works both ways apparently but lying down would produce several clusters as it sprouts from the section rings. Again, totally a newbie at this and I'm just sticking 'em in and see what happens!
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..It just got A LOT more chaotic on my balcony :P.
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