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Growing Food in the Tropics
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Longevity Spinach - Gynura procumbens
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August 28, 2019
Melanie
17 Comments
Longevity spinach is a tropical trailing plant with edible leaves. The plant is also called “Sabuñgai” or “Sambung Nyawa.” It belongs to the Asteraceae family and is native to Southeast Asia. Gardeners in different tropical regions across the world grow this plant, and recently it has gained popularity with U.S. gardeners. The longevity spinach is a perennial trailing vine. The stems are green and snap easily when bent. As the plant gets older the base becomes thicker and turns brown in color. The leaves have an opposite pattern and the older ones can reach around 6 inches long.
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Noni - Morinda citrifolia
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January 22, 2019
Melanie
18 Comments
The noni is a tropical fruit that is known for its medicinal properties and cheese like smell and taste. The noni fruit is a multiple fruit meaning that multiple pollinated flowers will mature into one fruit. The fruit starts out green and eventually turns a yellowish white. The ripe fruit is translucent, a grey-white color, and firm yet soft. One fruit can contain over 100 brown triangular-oval shaped seeds. The seeds have an air pocket inside of them which allows them to float. In ideal conditions the noni tree will fruit all year long.
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Katuk - Sauropus androgynus
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December 19, 2018
Melanie
31 Comments
Katuk is a delicious perennial tropical leafy green. I personally consider it to be my favorite leafy green. Katuk leaves have a delicious pea like nutty flavor when eaten raw. I tend to snack on them while in the garden since they are so tasty. It is native to the island of Borneo. It is a popular vegetable in Borneo and other regions of Southeast Asia where it is often used as an ingredient in restaurant dishes. The katuk is a perennial bush. It can grow over 6 feet tall. It is an understory plant that grows best in shady wet areas.
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Cranberry Hibiscus - Hibiscus acetosella
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December 5, 2018
Melanie
42 Comments
The cranberry hibiscus is one of my favorite perennial vegetables, mainly because it’s so easy to grow. As a bonus, its leaves are a beautiful purple color that stands out in the garden and on the dinner plate. It is most commonly known as “cranberry hibiscus” or “false roselle.” The cranberry hibiscus prefers to grow in full sun. It can tolerate shade, but it seems to be more susceptible to pests when grown in the shade.
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Soursop - Annona muricata
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November 21, 2018
Melanie
22 Comments
The soursop is a popular large tropical fruit. The flesh is creamy and white with a refreshing sweet and sour flavor. The soursop is known all across the tropical regions in America. In these regions it is called “guanabana,” It is believed to be native to the tropical Americas. This fruit tree is truly tropical. Young tress can be killed by frost and older trees will drop their leaves or die back.
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Ají Cachucha - Capsicum chinense
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November 14, 2018
Melanie
24 Comments
The ají cachucha is any small and perennial sweet chili pepper. In some areas, the name refers to a specific variety of sweet chili pepper. The variety I am growing is most commonly called ají cachucha in Cuba. The ají cachucha fruit is bright red when fully ripe. There can be many variations in fruit size from plant to plant, but the flavor and color will remain almost the same. The most common shape that is seen in the ají cachucha cultivars is a round flattened disk shape. However, some plants will produce rounder fruit.
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Tindora - Coccinia grandis
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November 7, 2018
Melanie
41 Comments
The tindora is a tropical vining plant that produces small fruit. The fruit can be eaten both while immature and mature. It is a vigorous perennial that readily grows from seed. The vine produces all year long in tropical regions, but production decreases during the colder months. When it is unripe the skin pattern resembles that of a watermelon and the inside of the fruit resembles that of a cucumber. As it matures the fruit begins to ripen and become very soft. The skin and flesh become a bright red color.
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African Blue Basil - Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum 'Dark Opal’
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October 12, 2018
Melanie
14 Comments
African blue basil is a perennial hybrid basil that was created by crossing two basil species. It can be used as a sweet basil replacement. The African blue basil is frequently grown as an ornamental because of its purple leaves and constant flower production. Another benefit in the garden is that it attracts a large amount of beneficial insects.
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Guava - Psidium guajava
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September 21, 2018
Melanie
5 Comments
The guava is a tropical fruit that has green skin, and either pink or white flesh. The pink flesh guavas are overall preferred because of their vibrant color. Guavas tend to be 2 to 4 inches long, with white ones generally being larger than pink ones. It fruits twice during the year, once in the summer and once in the winter. The guava has a very distinct flavor that is appreciated by many. That is why it is often made into juices, ice cream, and preserves.
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Sugar Apple - Annona squamosa
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August 1, 2018
Melanie
13 Comments
The sugar apple is a tropical fruit that has creamy white flesh and a prehistoric looking skin. It is very sweet, however, the flavor is mild. The tree does best in a tropical climate, but it can be grown in sub-tropical regions too. The fruit has a thick segmented rind that easily breaks apart once it’s ripe. The white and creamy flesh contains multiple seeds.
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Hi, I am Melanie.
I grow food in the tropics. Copious amounts of food till the point I am so overwhelmed about how to preserve it all that I eventually start crying. Can anyone relate?
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