sphinxeyes
gardener
Suburbia, small garden in side yard, containers on larger back deck. Hot humid summers.
Posts: 154
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Post by sphinxeyes on Dec 31, 2008 1:15:14 GMT -5
After reading a few threads about Chinese veggies, I thought it might be appropriate to mention that I'll be in Hong Kong from January 9th - 20th. I'm going as part of a cultural study tour for college. I don't know if it'll be possible, but if anyone is interested I could be on the look out for some Chinese veggie seeds. We'll be visiting traditional markets and fishing villages, so I might be able to acquire some. I don't know what the laws are currently about bringing in foreign seeds to the US (is it only produce that is restricted and not the seeds?) ...I was able to do it with seeds that I bought when I was in Wales. Either way I'll be eating some unusual veggies, so if anything strikes my fancy I'll try to find out what it's called. Our welcome dinner in Hong Kong will be a traditional Buddhist vegetarian meal. Are there any experts on Asian fruits and veggies here at Homegrown Goodness?
I'm also looking forward to trying a Chinese wine that is flavored with tiger bone papaya. Whatever that may be. ;D
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Post by canadamike on Dec 31, 2008 4:53:51 GMT -5
euh....I'll pass on the wine If it's anything like the drab desserts in chinese restaurants... are they all made in the same factory, owned by ''Beijing Blandness Co'' ? But for the seeds, it would be wise to mail them from there. It can be hard to send them to the USA. You could send them to me in Canada and I would relay them to anyone . It is probably easier for me to repackage the ''craft beads'' with cardboard and the like ( so it does not feel like seeds, we end up with tricks in this business). Or you could send them to me to re-offer or re-mail them to you. I already have access to all the chinese stuff I want for free and let it pass by me...so you don't risk I steal any sizeable chunk of it ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Or even much smaller than that for that matter I am trying as much as I can to develop a taste for chinese cabbage...always end up trowing old envelopes of ''whatever choy'' in the compost pile. There is something to do in the salad dept I discovered last year, but I am also working hard to get the habit of eating salad... except in restaurants, where I am crazy for them...go figure... I love making salad for others, but when I am alone, which means quite often, I never think of putting one on the table... and I feel stupid for it. But no, a salad is not a meal. OUPS!! I said it!!!! AAAAAAAH! I feel better...sorry Frank... you know I love you anyway, the way you are
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Post by Jim on Dec 31, 2008 8:16:41 GMT -5
I love the "new" dwarf type psk chois and similar cabbages.
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Post by hiven on Jan 1, 2009 10:08:45 GMT -5
I have been there pretty often (years ago) but so far never seen any vegetable seeds sold there. During winter they do have lots of interesting vegetables on sale at the wet-market such as Sichuan vegetables and several other bulbs and leavy mustards. Enjoy your stay there, it is an interesting busy city and great dining place/restaurants seems to be one of their best visited place. You should be able to try "steam-boat" at this time .
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sphinxeyes
gardener
Suburbia, small garden in side yard, containers on larger back deck. Hot humid summers.
Posts: 154
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Post by sphinxeyes on Jan 1, 2009 23:30:02 GMT -5
Ooh, nevermind that comment about the tiger bone papaya wine. I just did some more research and found out that the tiger bone (or sometimes lion bone) is meant literally. I thought it was referring to a papaya that had a tiger stripe pattern or something similar. So on second thought I don't think I'll be sampling any of that. >.<
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Post by americangardener on Jan 1, 2009 23:36:02 GMT -5
Hey.. if you happen to lose CanadMikes address. you can always mail me any melon seeds from any of the hami melons they sell in those markets. Just take alot of stamps with you. And i don't even care if you take the seeds they'd throw away. I just like collecting seeds from asian melons. Any other seeds you can find at those markets too!
It'd probably be easiest to mail them back than it would to try and bring them back on the plane with ya. Even if you have to mail it to your own address.. it'd probably be best.
Dave
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Post by grungy on Jan 2, 2009 3:34:13 GMT -5
Save seeds from any raw vegetables. Dry in a paper napkin and mail it to one of us, CanadaMike, American Gardener, myself (Grungy) (pm for address if you like) or yourself. Many a new fruit and/or veggie has made it to America this way. Cheers, Val (grungy)
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sphinxeyes
gardener
Suburbia, small garden in side yard, containers on larger back deck. Hot humid summers.
Posts: 154
|
Post by sphinxeyes on Jan 2, 2009 5:54:26 GMT -5
Hmm, I dunno...you'd be amazed at what can be stowed away amongst one's dirty laundry. Some very cheap dvds found their way back with me to America from Moscow that way. ;D I did some more checking and found listings for two seed stores in the district where we'll be staying. I also emailed the professor who's leading the trip (who is from Hong Kong) and asked if he knew how to get some seeds and the best way to bring them back. I'll keep an eye on what I eat too...though I'm sure some of it will be completely unknown to me, so I may bring back a mixed batch of mystery seeds.
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Post by orflo on Jan 2, 2009 8:53:59 GMT -5
Hmmm, interesting... some good ones I'm looking for: -gynura bicolor -capsella bursa-pastoris (a big-leaf version, I just received some very old seeds from these, so I don't know if they're still viable) -Zanthoxyllum varieties, I got one, the 'true ' sichuan pepper:zanthoxyllum piperitum, so all others could be interresting -oenanthe stolonifera -malva verticillata: a red-leaf version, although I could have found this one -green-fleshed winter radish -stem lettuce, red-stemmed, not red-leaf (also called celtuce) -benincasa varieties should do well in warmer parts of the US, I tried several over here, but no good -long and thin turnips (in contrast to 'our' round bulbous turnips) and probably more...
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Post by ottawagardener on Jan 2, 2009 13:53:14 GMT -5
You found red leaf malva verticallata Frank.
sounds like a fun trip. I look forward to hearing about it.
Telsing.
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Post by orflo on Jan 2, 2009 14:06:01 GMT -5
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Post by stevil on Jan 2, 2009 17:27:47 GMT -5
Did I tell you about my Chinese Red verticillata? It wasn't...
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Post by ottawagardener on Jan 2, 2009 17:33:58 GMT -5
I read somewhere about a malva verticullata that was called red stemmed which I guess starts out reddish but becomes green with red streaks? Anyhow, I have never seen a seed source. Let me know how it goes Frank.
Telsing.
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