Chillies & Some Green Edibles

Growing edibles in containers/pots gives a lot of versatility, although there are some limitations. Oh well, nevermind the limitations, I prefer to look at the positive sides of it. Resorting to growing in pots placed around my front porch gives me more control with regard to pest/disease control and fertiliser usage (can use less as the fertiliser is contained in the pot and does not get washed away).

I have had wonderful successes growing tomatoes in containers, and Asian spinach (bayam). Bayam grow so easily. Some of the earlier seeds which remained dormant are now growing in my other plant pots after I did some repotting of soil. Isn't that lovely. After I have harvested my 2nd batch of bayam (below pic), I am still getting some more growing out of nowhere.

Recent harvest. Top left are 2 stalks of crinkled pak choy; top right are bayams; bottom are 2 ladies' fingers (okra) and tomatoes.

I'm now growing three types of chilli plants. 2 out of the 3 types are growing in the same pot, just to make use of the available space. As expected I get smaller plants as they both compete for nutrients in the same pot but they still bear quite a number of chillies so it's fine by me. In the other pot is the 3rd type of chilli, looks somewhat like a miniature pointed capsicum. Here they are:

This above is the 1st type. It's bird's eye chilli that grows upwards. Below is the 2nd type, which grow downwards. Both are growing in the same pot.

This one below is the 3rd type. They're so cute!! I plucked the reds ones but much to my disappointment, a few were hollow inside and 1 had a worm inside. I saw tiny holes on the surface of the chillies and I knew immediately who the culprits were. ANTS!! I can't stand ants. Whether on plants or in the kitchen or wherever. On plants, they are the main cause of aphid disease!!

Below: Bayam growing randomly in my calamansi and rose pots...

Ok, I'm off to go make some burning hot organic concoction specially for the ants. Will share in my next post.

Enjoy gardening!

Tiny But Mighty

I've always wanted to grow my own chilies and finally since moving into my new house a year ago, I'm able to do it. It seems that chili plant can be really fussy. Or easy. I figured its mood swings are pretty much dependent on the type of soil, weather and pest-free environment. And of course, with a huge dose of luck on your side, your chili plant will surely grow and thrive.

I have two bird's eye chili plants currently growing in my messy backyard. Few months ago I scattered some seeds on a small corner patch in my backyard and two sprouts survived and grew. I was pleasantly surprised! Despite the fact that my backyard is somewhat of a 'wild country' with all sorts of pesky and gigantic ants, snails, bugs, caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles etc - basically the whole 'insectdom' - I'm lucky that my chili plants are still doing rather well so far. They aren't tall, just a mere 2 feet perhaps. I'm not complaining though, as they've produce so many luscious red little chilies for me. These chilies are quite hot and I love seeing them turning colors. When they're bright red, they're most pretty and cute (as long as you don't bite into one)!

Chili plants are able to grown on clay soil, need adequate watering like twice a day during dry season. To be honest, I hardly water my chili plants. I just let them be and thankfully, they've been surviving rather fine. I do scatter a tablespoon of organic fertiliser (chicken pooh) once every few weeks.

Interesting facts:
What makes chili hot? The answer is capsaicin - an alkaloid substance which is present in chili seeds and membrane.
How did chili became global? Was used in Mexico as early as 7,000 BC. It reached the rest of the world when Christopher Columbus discovered America (this was what I got from the Internet, but seriously, I think it has already been used in parts of Asia much earlier than that).

Given how much I love my chilies, think I'll sow some more seeds real soon :).