Warming up for Winter

Week 43	October 20, 2014	October 26, 2014

1.     Preamble:

On sharing of experiences and observations and not giving up at any stage in life:

"It seems more or less impossible but if you're just determined to keep going, you don't need to give up. Because if your subject is your own experience, then as long as you're having an experience you've got a subject," - Painter Sargy Mann, who has been blind for 25 years.

The flowering plant of the week is none other than Purple Queen' bougainvillea (Bougainvillea "Moneth purple queen"), which is the latest addition to our farmhouse. It is a stunning evergreen vine with papery, deep purple flowers that contrast with attractive dark green foliage. It is presently blooming with most attractive flowers and is planted in a large clay pot, placed aside a pillar at the entrance of our farmhouse. 

Although the signs or indications of autumn are there, effects are not visible yet. The nights are cool and the days are bright and warm but the tree leaves are not falling yet. Although we don't have the trees the likes of 'Sugar', Red' or the Japanese Maples neither do we have the Aspen or Bald Cypresses, none of our own trees be they the Silver Maple or Silver Oak are changing colours or shedding leaves. I quite know, they don't and therefore won't. Fall is not therefore as colourful here in Khanpur as it may be at several places along the Margallas in Islamabad. Some of our trees such as the Cassia Nodosa, Cassia Fistula and the Rangoon Vine get barren of leaves at the fag end of winter just before spring, they maintain their green dresses even though visibly worn out, all through the coldest of winters. Our Lychee and Citrus fruit trees never show any effects of autumn but Apricot, Plum and Peach trees do shed leaves in Fall, which they haven't as yet. The Grape Arbor too is still wearing its green canopy and until it gets bare of leaves, the fall for us may not be considered to have set in. This blog will keep a record of the visible effects and keep its readers informed as and when it happens but not as yet.

Since the sowing season has started and we accordingly have already sown garlic, our traditional main crop  and other winter season vegetables such as radishes, turnips, broad beans, sugar snap peas and spinach, some of which such as red radishes have already started producing, we will devote this edition of our blog to the peas. We have planted both the ornamental i.e., the Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) and the edible (Pisum Savitum) varieties, as we normally do. As the seedlings have already started coming out, we will talk about our past experience with them and the new heirloom variety, the seeds of which we had received from our well wishers earlier this year.

2.     Sowing and Propagating Peas:

Peas are a cool-season crop. They come in three different varieties. They are: Pisum sativum which includes both garden peas (sweet pea, inedible pod) and snow peas (edible flat pod with small peas inside) and Pisum macrocarpon, snap peas (edible pod with full-size peas). This year we have planted both the edible and inedible peas at our farm both occupying sunny locations, facing the sun all the day long. However, here we will only talk about the cooking (edible) peas.

Except for the first year some four years earlier, our green peas have never done well. Although, we always used seeds from reputable foreign suppliers, our entire crop used to develop the Powdery Mildew fungus (Erysiphe Polygoni). The initial symptoms consist of tiny slightly discoloured spots on the upper surface of leaves. The fungus is seed-borne. It is recommended too use certified disease free seeds and sow them early. This year we got the seeds from two different foreign suppliers and planted them at locations, which receive direct sunlight.

2.1.   Edible Green Peas (Pisum Sativum):

During this season we have sown green pea seeds of three different varieties. These are:  Sugar Snap Peas, Pea Shelling (Dwarf Green Pea) and Fothergill's Lincoln Homestead. All the three happen to be Heirlooms (cultivar of special value handed on from one generation to another).

The Snap peas may grow to two metres (6.5 feet) or more, but more typically are about 1.3 metres 

(about four feet). They have a vining habit and require a trellis or similar support structure. The seedlings have just appeared. The Dwarf variety is an English heirloom. It is a favorite variety for home gardeners and promises to produce loads of 4-5" pods full of plump, sweet, dark green peas on 30" plants. Double pods set heavily at the top of the plant for easy picking. Let's look forward to it!

Read more : 

http://www.ehow.com/list_6076378_diseases-pea-plants.html

http://m.almanac.com/plant/peas

http://www.lowes.ca/seeding/mr-fothergills-peas-lincoln-homesteader-seed-packet_g1451426.html

3.     Citrus Musambi (Sweet Orange):

We have previously described in this blog various citruses e.g., Grape Fruit, Redblood Oranges and Kinow. This week we will talk about another citrus 'Musambi' a couple of trees of which too exist at our farm. Mosambi has a sweeter taste similar to orange. It is not acidic in spite of belonging to the citrus family. Mosambi or sweet lime can be easily recognised from a circular signature on the lower portion of each fruit.

4.     New Addition Around Farmhouse:

4.1.  The Tandoor:

One of the new items that has been installed only this week around our farmhouse is a Tandoor (clay
cylindrical oven) out in the open near the barbecue stand. Besides the flat bread that is traditionally prepared in Tandoors, it can be used for a variety of other allied purposes such as preparing chicken tikka and Sajji but more so for family gatherings, listening and telling tales of the old, around it during the cold winter evenings.

Note: This week's blog has unduly been delayed. I must therefore wind it up wishing the readers Godspeed.

Merry Marigolds

Week 42	October 13, 2014	October 19, 2014

1.     Preamble:

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

 ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

We are now midway in the month of October and celebrating one last autumnal hurrah before the black and white silence of winter sets in. As the night time temperatures are now dipping below 15 C, our quilts and blankets for the nights are out but the woollies for the day time are just but out (max day time temperature: 25 C). The garlic scars (cloves) having been planted (last week of September) their green shoots have just appeared. The marigold flowers, the saplings of which too were planted in mid September have started flowering. It is now time to plant spring flowering bulbs and cool season vegetables. This issue of our blog covers just that.

2.     Fall Flowering Marigolds (Tagetes Erecta):

The Marigolds (annuals) are great plants for cheering up any garden. Broadly there are two geniuses which are referred to by the common names, Marigolds (Tagets) and Calendula. While Calendula.     (October Birth Flower) can be grown in spring, the marigolds are grown in autumn. The Tagets include African Marigolds and French Marigolds.  Some of the largest marigold flowers are varieties of the African, or Aztec, species (Tagetes erecta). Although native to Mexico and Central America, this species is most often commonly called African marigold (Aztec marigold, American marigold and big marigold are also sometimes used). Big marigold may be the best descriptive name because plants are noted for their large flower heads.

The marigolds planted at our farmhouse are of the African variety, the flowers of which are double petals with blooms that can be 5 inches across, but generally are 3 1/2 inches. The plant grows to a height of 12 to 14 inches. 

In India and Sri Lanka bright yellow and orange Marigold flowers are used in their thousands and placed in garlands and to decorate religious statues and buildings. They are also used as offerings and decoration at funerals, weddings and other ceremonies.
Read more:
http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Marigold_Flowers_6604.php

3.     Sowing for Cool and Spring Season:
3.1.  Spring Flowering Bulbs and Cool Season Annuals:

Spring-planted bulbs produce some of the most dramatic garden colours with minimal effort. Tuck them among your perennials for a traffic-stopping summer display, or create a special bulb corner like ourselves. Many of these bulbs are ideal in containers, where they can be used to liven up porch. Among the flowering bulbs we have just sown are the Tulips, Lilies, Irises, Gladioli, Daffodils, Hyacinths and of course Narcissuses. While Irises can be planted in sunny locations, others like Tulips and Hyacinths prefer shady corners. To avoid strong direct sun, we have sown them under a tree covered corner, where we succeeded to find them blooming last spring. Some of these specially tropicalized bulbs were brought to us from Holland Others were sent to us by our relatives in Canada. We will remember to thank them all when they bloom this spring. 

In addition to bulbs, the seeds for cool season annuals e.g., Pansy, Viola, Calendula and Dahlia too were sown for growing saplings before planting out in the open.

Read more:

http://www.springhillnursery.com/category/flower_bulbs

3.2.    Cool Season Vegetables:

During September cool season seeds for such vegetables as radish, Spinach and Turnips were sown of which red radish are just ready to be pulled out. The Peas were sown this week and they have just started sprouting. We will sow seeds of lettuce, parsley, cauliflower and Cabbage soon.

4.     Khanpur Blood Oranges:

In the previous weeks we started talking about still to mature citruses. We have already introduced  grape fruits and mandarins. This week we will introduce Khanpur Blood Oranges. Some 20 odd trees of these oranges were planted by us soon after we moved into our farmhouse 5 years ago in September 2009. These trees have started bearing fruit since last year but still have a long way to go before they produce fruit full to the capacity. The oranges are still green and would take about 3 months to mature and ready to be plucked. 

The blood oranges tend to be a bit smaller than regular oranges, with a thick, pitted skin that may or may not have a reddish blush but generally looks like a regular orange from the outside – until, that is, it is cut open. The inside flesh of a blood orange is brilliantly dark pink, maroon, or even dark blood red. Hence, their name. Along with their lovely red colour, blood oranges tend to have a noticeable raspberry edge to their flavour.

The red colour in blood oranges is the result of anthocyanin, which develops when these citrus fruits ripen during warm days tempered with cooler nights. Anthocyanin is an antioxidant, and starts to develop along the edges of the peel and then follows the edges of the segments before moving into the flesh of the orange, so blood oranges can be lined or streaked with red instead of fully blood colored, depending on the season, when they were harvested, and their particular variety.

Read more:

http://www.fragrantica.com/notes/Blood-Orange-286.html

Brutally Beautiful Garlic Creeper

Week 40	September 29, 2014	October 5, 2014

1.     Preamble:

The rains have not yet altogether ceased and the remnants of monsoon keep still returning with vengeance. Accompanied by hale, thunder and lightening, it rained without any warning on the night of Eid ul Adha. Our sacrificial animals were out, in the open. There was no cover for them and as such it was much too frightening for them as it was of concern to us. The goats could be pushed into the garage but the lone poor bullock (yearling) could not be helped much to our dismay.

We are now in transition from a brief period of fall into winter. This transitory phase sees a lot of climbing bushes and vines in bloom. Last week we talked about the blue (Thumbergia), the golden (Allamanda) and the orange (Hummingbird) trumpet vines. This week we will look at the Garlic and Rangoon Creepers, which too are blossoming these days. Previously these vines respectively were erroneously mentioned as 'Beauty Vine' (actual name: 'Garlic Creeper') and 'Panoramio Vine' (actual name: 'Rangoon Creeper'). (Ref. Blog of Monday  9 June (Week: 24). The error is amended  here under by describing these two bushy creepers in detail.

As Eid ul Adha was celebrated in Pakistan on Monday the 6th of October, the blog of this week has been overly delayed, which is regretted. As usual all our sons and their families minus Omars, who were with us on Eid ul Fitr, assembled at the the farm for the celebrations. It was a joyous occasion as Tahas too came from Toronto to be with us. There was much feasting and joyful partying to our immense happiness. We enjoyed as did every one else. This blog as such also contains a pictorial of the get to gather under the heading family matters.

2.     The Garlic Vine (Mansoa Alliacea/Pseudocalymma Alliacea):

The Garlic Creeper (Other names of this plant include - Mansoa alliacea, Pachyptera hymenaea, Pseudocalymma alliacea and Cydista aequinoctialis) is native to Amazon rain forests. The name is derived because the leaves when crushed smell of garlic. The smell is because it contains sulphur compounds like alliin and allyl sulphides that the garlic has. The natives of Amazon call it Ajos Sacha and use its leaves as a condiment to flavor their food. To the indigenous tribes of the Amazon basin it is a well-used and well-respected plant. Most consider the plant to be magical or spiritual, capable of driving off evil spirits, and bringing good luck. Leaves of this stunning tropical vine are The entire plant is used in nature medicine as a treatment for colds, flu, fever, arthritic and rheumatic pain and smokers cough. Crushed garlic vine leaves are also considered as an effective mosquito repellent.

The Garlic Creeper planted at the edge of of our front lawn along the boundary wall is a beautiful ornamental vine with opposite leaves divided into two ovate leaflets. The flowers are funnel shaped and purple to pale lavender to white, which become lighter as they age.The showy flowers are a real draw,  they start off as a deeper purple, then get more pastel, so there is a nice combination of different shades on the blooms at  one time, which is pretty indeed.

The above pictures were taken when the plant first bloomed just before Eid ul Adha. The change in colours and shades is clearly apparent and obvious in another set of pictures taken only a couple of days later as can be seen here under:

The Garlic Creeper, which actually is a shrubby vine, can grow up to 12 to 14 feet and is propagated from cuttings. It climbs with the help of its long tendrils. It is usually used to decorate the fence, trellis etc., The plant needs to be trimmed after each flowering season. The evergreen garlic vines bloom twice a year in Autum and Spring. 

Read more:

http://www.itslife.in/gardening/creepers-gardening/garlic-creeper
http://www.itslife.in/gardening/creepers-gardening/garlic-creeper
http://www.jagtapnursery.com/plants/climbers/garlic-creeper-lasun-vel-480.php
http://truthneverkills.blogspot.com/2010/10/garlic-vine.html
http://nurserylive.com/buy-climbers-creepers-plants-online-in-india/garlic-creeper-mansoa-alliacea-plants-in-india
http://www.orchids-flowers.com/tropical-flowers/garlic-vine-mansoa-alliacea/
http://www.rareflora.com/cydistaaec.htm

3.     The Rangoon Vine (Quisqualis indica):

The Rangoon Creeper is also called Burma Creeper and Chinese Honeysuckle. It is an extremely spectacular vine that blooms throughout the summer. When in full bloom, it is covered with large trusses of tricolored flowers that are very showy and pleasantly scented. The flowers have many variations of color, depending on how old they are. Over about a 3 day period the flowers starts out white, turn solid pink then dark pink and purplish red, then bright red on maturity.The foliage itself is also very attractive - bright green elongated leaves fill in to form dense lush greenery covered with flowers.

We have a couple of these vines at our farmhouse. Particularly attractive are those climbing in front of the pergola verandah facing our living area. Those provide the much needed sun shade in summer and allow the sun to come through in winters, when they shed their leaves.The name of the vine is from the Latin quis, "who", and qualis, "what". This name was given by the early botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius as an expression of his surprise at the variability of the plant's growth and flower colour.

Read more:
http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/Rangoon%20Creeper.htm
http://www.jaycjayc.com/quisqualis-indica-rangoon-creeper/

4.     Family Event:
4.1.  A Pictorial of Eid ul Adha Congregate:

,

5.     Point to Ponder:

During the week preceding Eid ul Adha, I started reading, 'Kim', a novel published by Rudyard Kipling over 100 years ago. The author's thoughts interpreted by Morten N. Cohen in the Introduction  of the novel, are worth taking note of:

'This is a brief life, but in its brevity it offers us some splendid moments, some meaningful adventures. Savor the moments as they come, enjoy the adventures and relish freedom while you have it.'

On this note, I close this edition of the Blog.

Godspeed.

Dimply Mandarins

Week 41	October 6, 2014	October 12, 2014

1.    Preamble:

After a brief Eid ul Adha interlude, we may now return to our world of nature. Only a week before the last we were talking about our citruses. We may continue with that. The Grape fruit having already been introduced, this week we may describe the Mandarins, which include the familiar Kinnow, Fruiter and Calamondin. The description will only be introductory in nature as the fruits are still green and may take a while before ripening, ready to be picked. We will return to them when such a time arrives in few weeks.

The weather in the meantime has settled into a steady wintry nights followed by cool mornings. The day time temperatures iare still however in the high 20's, often touching 30's but it is still pleasant, a time when we ask our relatives and friends to come over and stay with us.

2.    The Mandarin Orange:

The Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) is a variety of the orange family. Cultivars and crosses between the original mandarin and other citrus fruits include: Kinnow, Fruiter and Calamondin, the trees of which are producing fruit at our farm since last few years.

All the varieties of mandarin are easily peelable with fingers, starting at the thick rind covering the depression at the top of the fruit, and can be easily split into even segments without squirting juice. This makes it convenient to eat, as utensils are not required to peel or cut the fruit.

2.1.  The Kinnow Mandarin:

The Kinnow is a prime export fruit of Pakistan. Classified as Kinnow mandarin, it is a hybrid of two citrus cultivars — 'King' (Citrus nobilis) × 'Willow Leaf' (Citrus deliciosa). It was developed at the Research Centre of the University of California, Riverside, USA. After evaluation, it was released as a new variety for commercial cultivation in 1935. Environmental and soil conditions are ideal for kinnow in Punjab and parts of KPK. The factors which have contributed to the success of this fruit are its beautiful golden-orange colour, its abundant juice, and its excellent aroma and taste.

The Kinnow fruit is medium in size. It is moderately to slightly oblate with both the base and apex flattened or slightly depressed. The rind of Kinnow is thin, rather adherent for a mandarin but peel able, tough and leathery. The surface of the fruit is is very smooth and glossy but sometimes faintly pitted. The colour of the skin is yellowish-orange at maturity. The colour of the flesh is deep yellowish-orange. It's flavour is rich, aromatic and distinctive.

The Kinnow fruit tree is vigorous, tall and columnar, with numerous long, slender, ascending and virtually thornless branchlets. It is dense in foliage and consists of medium-large, broad leaves. It has a strong tendency to alternate bearing with large crop of smaller fruits followed by very small crop of larger fruits. It is largely cold-resistant. The present look of the tree and the fruit is depicted in following images:

Read more:

http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/Kinnow.html

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinnow

2.2.  The 'Fruiter' Mandarin:

The 'fruiter' is different from 'kinnow' mandarin in size, shape, colour, taste and juice content. It is more upright than oblate. The fruit is smaller in size. The rind is thicker and peelable with slight difficulty. The surface of the fruit is not as smooth as that of Kinnow and the colour of skin has a reddish-orange rather than yellowish-orange hue to it. The Fruiter tree is often not as large as a kinnow tree.

2.3.  The Calamondin Mandarin:

The Calamondin is a small mandarin like fruit widely cultivated in the Philippines, Hawaii, United States and Europe. It is commonly grown for ornamental purposes. It is often given as a gift during the Chinese New Year to signify good luck. The leaves are small and dense, giving the tree a fine textural appearance, and the fruits are small, round and orange at full maturity. It is widely used as a house or patio plant, the fruits are very sour when eaten raw but can be processed into preserves and jams.

The Calamondin produces intensely perfumed flowers from March onwards. Fruit matures by November and can stay on the tree for more than six months. The fruits grow up to 4cm in diameter and have a very fine rind that becomes loose as the fruit ripens. 

Horticulturists believe that the Calamondin is a hybrid of lime and mandarin, or lime and kumquat, or kumquat and mandarin. Technically, Chinese experts say the calamondin is a hybrid between Citrus reticulata and Citrus japonica. 

There are couple of trees of citrus Calamondin at our farm and they produce abundance of fruit each year, made use of delectable jam preserves.

Read more : 

http://www.ehow.com/about_5079023_calamondin.html

http://www.ehow.com/about_5079023_calamondin.html

Note: the present edition of this blog has again been unduly delayed. I must therefore wind it up. Next week we will take up other citruses e.g., the red blood and sweet oranges. Till then it's good bye and Godspeed.