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Post by rowan on May 22, 2012 22:06:12 GMT -5
I am growin a clumping variety (Black asper) and a runner (Moso). I chose these two because they are very big types that can be used for food as well as building and making heaps of stuff out of. My 1/2 dozen plants are still only small so I can't really comment on the usefullness just yet.
It is a good idea to look up the bamboo forums for more information as there are so many things to consider such as the hardness and non-cracking of the wood (culms) and growth habits, as well as frost tenderness and stuff.
What you grow will depend on your climate and what you want to do with the product. I don't know for sure but I can't see making fibre as something you could do at home..
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Post by rowan on May 22, 2012 22:01:42 GMT -5
I agree that bamboo is a fantastic plant that should be grown more for building and making things generally, as well as for food. I hate it that most bamboo products are marketed as environmentally friendly. Yes, the things that look like 'natural' bamboo are but most fabric (as stated above) are not and flooring/matting etc is put through awful manufacturing procedures that are also not friendly.
I hate bamboo fabric as I have found it cold and slippery, especially socks.
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Post by rowan on May 21, 2012 1:51:53 GMT -5
Remember some 'stealth' crops can be those that are already around town that few people know are edible - like canna lily rhisomes for example.Also some other things that don't look edible are fruits that are green when ripe like green tomatoes and feijoas.
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Post by rowan on May 12, 2012 19:21:41 GMT -5
Although I like trying new things I think that I will stick with naked-seeded pumpkins for the seeds. At least I can eat the flesh if I had to even though it is not great. I'm not sure these have enough special characteristics to be part of a breeding program.
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Post by rowan on May 9, 2012 15:29:20 GMT -5
I am interested to know more about how different people seem to have genes that cause them to taste or experience foods differently.
For example: the asparagus pee problem where it was thought that eating asparagus caused some peoples pee to smell extra strong but lately it has been found that it causes all people pee to smell strong but some people have genes that cause them to be able to smell it and some people don't.
I think the same this must happen with beets, and maybe Jerusalem artichoke, where to some people they taste like dirt and others find them sweet and tasty. This doesn't seem to change with different ways of cooking.
Are there any other examples you can come up with? It is just something that has fascinated me for a while.
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Post by rowan on May 3, 2012 21:06:02 GMT -5
Basically, a marrow is a zucchini that has been alowed to grow to a large size. They are often stuffed and baked.
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Post by rowan on Apr 24, 2012 1:46:18 GMT -5
Nice idea but needs a few tweaks before going 'live'.
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Post by rowan on Apr 22, 2012 0:47:55 GMT -5
I've never really been a fan of radishes but I just bought some rat-tailed radish seeds to see if they can win me over (Hey, maybe they are the answer to your bulbing problem). They are not grown here but I think some of my more adventurous customers at the market will really go for them.
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Post by rowan on Apr 21, 2012 14:54:00 GMT -5
Cortona - please send me a PM with your address so I don't forget.
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Post by rowan on Apr 19, 2012 14:54:30 GMT -5
I haven't grown it from seeds but I am going to try next spring, it is suposed to be easy and fruits first year. It is often traded as cuttings. Anyway... just grow it as you would tomatoes. It is a bit tougher and it takes a lot longer to fruit so that would be your biggest problem but in a greenhouse you might be able to get some ripe. Here are a couple of sites with information: www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.htmlwww.growyourown.info/page145a.html
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Post by rowan on Apr 18, 2012 16:46:58 GMT -5
I grow pepino. It is related to tomatoes and the fruit really does taste like melon. Can take a -1 C frost. Is there anything you particularly want to know about it?
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Post by rowan on Apr 17, 2012 15:31:07 GMT -5
I have three A. melandra (melanandra?) that I expected would fruit for the first time next year but we had such a severe summer that one died and another is not looking well enough to survive dormancy this winter.
I grew them from seed and am so disappointed. They powered through flood and cold but couldn't stand the heat and dry this year. If only one survives I hope that it is a female, and that they can be pollinated by another species as I am having trouble getting more seed of them. Last time I tried, most companies were out or don't post to Australia. This has reminded me to try to get seeds again.
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Post by rowan on Apr 14, 2012 14:51:55 GMT -5
Raymondo - I got them from overseas, so not diggers, I could be wrong but I think they could have been from the UK. Yes they are white rooted. The roots grow bigger and more ugly each year. I will take a picture when I get back from the market this morning. I am leaving the originals as I am curious to see how long they last, mine will be flowering for the third time come spring.
12540dumont - I do have some seeds so if you want some just PM me.
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Post by rowan on Apr 14, 2012 4:02:17 GMT -5
I bought OP sugar beet just for something different as it is not grown here in Australia. I don't remember where I bought the seed from now, sorry. I didn't grow enough to be worth trying to make syrup from them so I let them go to seed.
I put it in a few years ago and the original plants (most of them anyway) are still growing strong as a perennial. They set seed each year. I have saved some seed for myself but not enough to share. After the seed is ripe I cut off the seed stalks and water them and they put out a heap of new leaves that I cut every month for greens until I am sick of them. I love the sweet aftertaste of cooked sugar beet greens. The roots themselves are very sweet but don't have any flavor other than sweetness.
Anyway, I didn't gather all the seed last time and they have self-seeded all over the adjoining row and are coming up thickly. I will let them seed and save some seed for anyone who wants some if you like.
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Post by rowan on Apr 8, 2012 18:31:42 GMT -5
Yes I have her book - I love it. I didn't spend much time on those parts related to brassicas as up till now I hadn't had much of an interest in breeding them. My main interest is melons. I will have to get my book back from my sister I think. I am prepared to work with any male sterility issue but I really am hoping it is really stable and able to be open pollinated. That would make growing it really simple
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