Opopeo Amaranth

This is my Opopea  Amaranth plant.  It is very easy to grow.   Amaranth is very high in vitamins and minerals.  It is better to eat the leaves of this variety.  The leaves can be cooked like spinach or included raw in your smoothies.  Other types of amaranth are harvested for their seeds.  The seeds can be used as grain and even for popping like pop corn.  The seeds are in the colorful plooms at the top of the plant.  I will be saving these seeds for planting next year.

Finally it is raining!

Central Florida is getting pounding rains to make up for all the dry weather.  I had to rescue my tomato plants and tie them to the trellis.  It’s good to have rain.  Just take it easy. 

Opopeo Amaranth

My Opopeo Amaranth is just starting to bloom.  This plant is over 5 feet tall now.  Other varieties of amaranth can grow much taller.  This particular variety is raised to eat the young leaves.  Other varieties are grown to harvest the seeds.  Amaranth is highly nutritious.  It is a very easy plant to raise.  I will save the seeds from this heirloom plant for next year.

Lettuce Leaf Basil

I harvested some lettuce leaf basil yesterday.  It was my first time growing this variety of basil.  My leaves did not get that large, but they have a nice flavor.   I put them in the dehydrator overnight.  What are your favorite varieties of basil?

MY NEMESIS – THE SQUASH BUG

He and all his compatriots are always waiting for me under the biggest leaves in my garden.  They always run when I find them.  I don’t spray or pour.  I hunt them down and “SQUASH” them.  Just as their name implies, that is their fate in my garden!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father’s Day to all you fathers out there! 

(Especially the ones with “green thumbs.”)

I hope that you get to have a little garden time on your special day!

Dry Weather and Tangerine Trees

The weather has been so dry here in Central Florida.  The orange trees are starting to wilt.  I keep watering them every day, but I should have started sooner.  I bought a new tangerine tree.  (My favorite citrus tree)  It looks like such a baby next to the older trees.  There are little green tangerines on the other 2 tangerine trees.  They are the first citrus to ripen in late November.  I am looking forward to the cooler weather of November in Florida with lots of tangerines from the tree.