Edible hibiscus: Abelmoschus Manihot, also known as the salad tree/bele

Abelmoschus manihot, was formerly considered a species of Hibiscus, but is now classified in the genus Abelmoschus. The plant is also known as the sunset muskmallow, sunset hibiscus, or hibiscus manihot. 

Edible hibiscus, Abelmoschus manihot, is a perennial shrub which can reach up to 3 meters high. The leaves can be eaten fresh, or can be cooked either alone or added to soups. It is grown exclusively for its leaves and is a very prolific producer, out yielding most crops planted for the production of leafy greens. The leaves can be as large as a slice of bread and one leaf can be used instead of lettuce.

It is reputedly an extremely nutritious vegetable. Its leaves are high in vitamins A and C, and iron, and have 12% protein by dry weight. 

Edible hibiscus must be propagated by cuttings, and is susceptible to nematodes. If you do not have nematode-free soil, try planting edible hibiscus in containers. The plant only blooms, sparingly, in SW Florida around January. Plant available at ECHO Nurser, on location. 

From Growing Your Greens YouTube Channel: "Abelmoschus Manihot, aka the salad tree, aka bele tree aka slimy cabbage tree. This tree will provide you with mild tasting leafy greens all year long."



Kiko's Crump has the largest leaves among the edible hibiscus varieties.

The best tasting varieties were:

1. Auntie Lilli's or Lili's South Sea Salad Tree. Large variagated leaves. The leaves are maple-shaped with 3-colored variegation and high antioxidant content. Flower color varies from lavender, white to white and lavender striped.

Auntie Lilli hibiscus is available here:

https://wellspringgardens.com/products/auntie-lilis-south-sea-salad-tree-abelmoschus-manihot

https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/live-plants/hibiscus-auntie-lilli-s-2-plants-march-may-ships-prompt-weekly-as-available

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Auntie-Lilli-s-South-Sea-Salad-Tree-Edible-House-Plant-Abelmoschus-4-Pot/777415918

2. Kiko's Crump. This is a large leaf variety with prominent sunken venation, red stems and yellow flowers.

The heat of summer puts stress on spinach/lettuces, making salad greens scarce in the hottest months. The Kiko's Crump hibiscus serves as a heat tolerant source of leafy vegetables. The flowers are edible too. With large, "buttery" tender leaves, it is a culinary hibiscus to add to your tropical edible garden. Plants reach from 6-8 feet tall but can be maintained at a smaller size in a pot. Plants are hardy from zones 8b-11 and can be overwintered in a pot in northern climates.

Kiko's Crump is available here:

https://wellspringgardens.com/products/kikos-crump-tm-south-sea-salad-tree-abelmoschus-manihot

https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/live-plants/hibiscus-kiko-s-crump-2-plants-march-may-ships-prompt-weekly-as-available

3. Chief Kubo's Prize. This variety has the smallest leaves and it reportedly not as good tasting as the other, hence it is listed last here. The leaves are deeply-incised, palm-like in shape, therefore leaving little material for eating. Compare and contrast the shape/size of the leaves to the other 2 varieties above.

Chief Kubo is available here: 

https://wellspringgardens.com/products/chief-kubos-prize-south-sea-salad-tree-abelmoschus-manihot 

https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/live-plants/hibiscus-chief-kubo-s-prize-2-plants-march-may-ships-prompt-weekly-as-available

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Chief-Kubo-s-Prize-South-Sea-Salad-Tree-Edible-House-Plant-Abelmoschus-4-Pot/121097128

Live plants are available here:

https://wellspringgardens.com/collections/edibles

https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/live-plants

References:

https://www.echonet.org/edible-leaves
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abelmoschus_manihot

South Florida Fruit & Vegetable Raised Bed Garden - from Growing Your Greens Channel

Vegetables shown in the video:

- katuk, including the rare variegated katook
- Malabar spinach
- many more

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com goes on a field trip to his friends condo for the 3rd season to see what's growing on. In this episode you will learn what crops best grow in South Florida. You will also discover which crops you can grow that are best if you do not want to babysit your garden.



Other suggestions:


- In South Florida, Black-eyed peas grow really well. They do really well in the heat, and you can shell them and eat them right off the plant.

"Growing Your Greens" on Instagram

Follow John Kohler growingyourgreens, http://www.growingyourgreens.com on Instagram:

http://instagram.com/growingyourgreens

Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei koidzumi)

Angelica keiskei, more widely known under the Japanese name of Ashitaba ("Tomorrow's Leaf"), is a perennial plant from the angelica genus with an average growth height of 50–120 cm.

It is endemic to some parts of Japan. Simple conditions for cultivation and fast rate of growth, have led many locals to plant ashitaba in herb gardens, flower pots, and backyards.

Traditionally, it is seen as a major contributor to the supposedly healthier, extended lives of the local residents, something that may be based on its substantial levels of vitamin B12 and on the chalconoids that are unique to this species of angelica.

In folk medicine it is claimed to be diuretic, tonic, to improve digestion, and, when applied topically, to speed wound healing and prevent infection. For similar reasons, it very widely serves as pasture for cows, being reckoned to improve their milk's quality as well as the yield and to maintain their health at the same time.

These claims have yet to be proven in clinical trials, while studies have substantiated the presence of furocoumarins in several of these plants' components. Furanocumarin is an agent known to increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and may cause dermatitis.

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ shares with you the "most important vegetable he is growing for his health in his garden." In this episode, you will learn about the Ashitaba plant also known as Angelica keiskei from Japan. This rare crop has beneficial nutrients contained within that has been heavily researched in Japan.



You can purchase seed ($10) for the Ashitaba at: https://www.horizonherbs.com/product.asp?specific=1302

References:

Ashitaba - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://buff.ly/1wN4vge

Related:

Growing Ashitaba aka Angelica Keiskei & Harvesting Seeds - YouTube http://bit.ly/1vEoE5u

What to grow in Tropical South Florida Summer Garden

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ goes on a field trip to the Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach, Florida. In this episode you will learn about some tropical fruits and vegetables you can do well in the summer in South Florida and other tropical locations. John will take you on a quick tour of some of the edible areas of the Mounts botanical garden and then give you a tour of the vendors who have many common and uncommon edible food crops. After watching this nearly 1 hour long episode which took all day to film, you will be sure to expand your knowledge about growing food and be inspired to start growing no matter where you live!



Here is the list of some of the plants mentioned in the video:

tomatoes (FLA 91, heatwave 2, solar fire, super sioux, sweetie, arkansas traveler, abe lincoln, chocolate cherokee, equinox, everglades)
banana
barbados cherry
chufa nuts
june plum
jakfruit
mango
avocado
loquat
custard apple
costa rican mint
okinawa spinach
cuban oregano
epizote
ackee
arrowroot
vanilla orchid
peppers
pigeon pea
mysore raspberry
muscadine grapes

References:

Tropical Perennial Vegetables and Fruits - Growing Your Greens - YouTube http://bit.ly/1woC8qs

One of the best websites to order pepper plants

http://www.chileplants.com

How You Can Grow 500+ Varieties of Pepper Plants including World's Hottest - YouTube http://buff.ly/SMgNXR -- John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ shares with you how he is growing over 60 varieties of peppers in his garden this year including the world's hottest chile pepper, The Carolina Reaper by Ed Currie.

During this episode you will discover a valuable online resource that will not only sell over 500 varieties of heirloom, rare and unique pepper seeds but also offer you whole pepper plants as well.

You will see John's order of 66 plants arrive via ups and then how to care for your plants after they are delivered. You will learn all the varieties of peppers, tomatoes and eggplants John ordered online.

After watching this episode you will learn about a valuable resource whether you want to order seeds or plants, the website chileplants.com has you covered.

Permaculture Homestead in the City, in Hawaii - GYG video

From Learn Organic Gardening at GrowingYourGreens: John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ gives you a tour of a permaculture homestead in the city. In this episode, John visits a couple in Hawaii who is growing food on their standard residential subdivision home in the city on Oahu. You will discover some of the crops that flourish in Hawaii as well as some of the techniques they use to grow a successful permaculture style garden including tropical fruit trees, vegetables and perennial vegetables in the city. You will also learn a way to ferment noni fruit so you can naturally collect the juice that will enable you to gain the benefits from the nutrition of the medicinal noni fruit without much of the taste.

Learn more about Paul and Kelly at:
http://www.yogardenhawaii.com/

Hear more of Paul's Music at:
http://www.paulizakmusic.com/

What is Aquaponics and How it Works - Video from Growing Your Greens Channel

What is Aquaponics? How it Works & Why an Aquaponic Setup Can Fail - YouTube http://buff.ly/1jVmqxq

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ visits the Aquaponic Place in Waimanalo, Hawaii to share with you what exactly is Aquaponics, and how it works. You will discover the key element to a successful aquaponics system, and its more than just the fish and the plants. Hint: bacteria growing in the medium.

You will also learn some of the different vegetables, fruits, and herbs that can be grown under aquaponics. You will discover a unique way for starting seed under aquaponics as well as watering baby plants automatically. You will learn what a bell siphon and how it operates without any power... After watching this episode you will have a really good understanding of how an aquaponics system works and why you may want to use it at home to grow some of your own food including vegetables and fish.

Learn more about the Aquaponics Place at
http://www.theaquaponicsplace.com/



Related:

Cage Culture Of Tilapia http://bit.ly/1Df4dVW

Lowest Delivered Prices for Organic Fertilizers

Lowest Delivered Prices on Compost Tea & other Organic Fertilizers for Your Garden - YouTube http://buff.ly/1jVkFjR



Check the link here for the products: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5ItTiwlA_I

How to Build a Concrete Block Raised Bed Garden

"John from http;//www.growingyourgreens.com/ shows you how to build a concrete block raised bed garden. In this episode, John visits his local concrete block company and shares with you some of the concrete blocks that may be available to you. He will also discuss the reasons you may want to use concrete blocks to build your square foot raised bed garden. Next you will discover how to layout your in your backyard garden. John will then show how to lay the concrete blocks with sand and level to ensure you have a nice looking raised bed garden that stack properly for the professional look. After watching this episode you will discover how easy it is to build your own concrete block raised bed garden without using cinder blocks but using solid blocks that look better and are more functional."

Largest Self Watering Container? Aqueous and Oasis commercial planters

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ sets up the largest self-watering containers he has ever found. They can last up to a month between watering. In this episode, John sets up the Aqueous and Oasis Commercial Self-watering planters that is like a self-contained raised bed. You will discover what sets these self-watering containers apart form others that are currently on the market, and how easy they are to set up and grow edible vegetables in.



Here are the planters from the video:

http://www.godawn.com/category/self-watering-planters.htm

What flowers are edible? Here's the list

What flowers are edible? Here's the list:

- Nasturtium
- Marigold
- Pansy
- Johnny Jump Up
- Purple Coneflower

More info here:

http://youtu.be/KPabGSy3urg?t=2m27s

Crops You Can Grow from Produce at a Farmers Market (video)

"John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ goes on a field trip to the Alemany Farmers Market in San Francisco and shares with you the crops you can buy at the farmers market, take home and plant to grow your own food at home. In this episode, John shares some of his favorite fruits and vegetables you can start from produce at your local farmers market or even grocery store (provided its fresh). In this episode John will share how many popular produce items such as onions, shallots, garlic, turmeric, wild potato, sunchokes, chayote squash, green onions, peanuts and more can be taken home and planted to grow your own garden."

Urban Farm in Fort Lauderdale Grows Food in 100% Container Garden

Why Urban Farm Grows Food in 100% Container Garden - YouTube http://buff.ly/1ggJtvZ

"John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com goes on a field trip to downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida to share with you a urban farm who grows food in 100% containers. In this episode, you will learn about Fort Lauderdale Vegetables who grow food in the city and teach about decentralized farming. You will learn some of the techniques they use to grow in a tropical environment that gets lots of rain."

Learn more about Fort Lauderdale Vegetables at http://www.fortlauderdalevegetables.com



Related:

Florida Gardening Calendar http://buff.ly/1gwaWkp

Perrenial tree collards

How to Propagate Tree Collards. Video from OneYardRevolution:





How to Propagate Perennial Tree Collards from Stem or Tip Cuttings: John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ shares with you how he is propagating his purple perennial tree collards. In this episode, John shares with you his favorite perennial vegetable that grows year round to provide him with bountiful harvests of delicious purple collard greens. You will discover the two different ways you can propagate this plant from cuttings and see how it is actually done. After watching this episode, you will learn how easy it is to clone or propagate this amazing brassica family vegetable to make new plant starts for yourself or your friends.

The Amazingly Abundant Tree Collard! In this video Dan from http://www.PlantAbundance.com shares with you one of the most abundant food plants growing in his urban backyard food forest, the 'Purple Tree Collard'. After that join Dan in the kitchen where he prepares one of his favorite recipes, 'Sautéed Greens'.



John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com shares with you his favorite edible perennial vegetable he believes everyone should grow in their garden -- tree collards. In this episode, John visits Centrose nursery in Gardena, California to share with you both purple and green perennial tree collards. He shares some of his knowledge about the perennial tree collards that he loves and enjoys so much. You will learn some of the differences between the purple and green variety, see how tall they can grow in a container, the 3 ways to do cuttings to clone or propagate the plant, and a half dozen ways John uses the leaves of his plants so he can eat more fresh, home grown leafy green vegetables.



Related reading:

Collards Are the New Kale | Whole Foods Market http://buff.ly/1crSCQO

"Garden within a garden" concept: containers expand your patients for growing vegetables

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com shares with you the "garden within a garden" concept he uses that enables him to grow more plants in his small city lot. During this episode John will visit many of his gardens on his property, and offer ideas and suggestions that will enable you to expand your urban residential garden.

7 Fastest Growing Tropical Fruit Trees that will Produce Fruit in Under 3 Years (video)

7 Fastest Growing Tropical Fruit Trees that will Produce Fruit in Under 3 Years - YouTube http://bit.ly/14lpOfa --

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ interviews fruit expert, Ken Love and he shares which 7 tropical fruit trees/plants can be grown from seed or cutting and that will produce in under 3 years. In this episode you will which tropical fruit trees / vines and plants you should plant so you can start eating out of your tropical garden sooner rather than later. This episode is geared towards people that live in tropical climates, and may not apply to growing tropical fruits in Northern (cold) climates. After watching this episode you will discover the fastest growing fruiting crops as well as some interesting information about them.

To learn more about Ken Love and purchase some of his awesome posters visit:
http://hawaiifruit.net/

The trees are:

Papaya
Fig
Dragon Fruit
Cape Gooseberry aka Poha Berry aka Incan Berry (Physalis peruviana)
Passion Fruit
Bananas
Pineapple

10 Tips on How to Have a Successful Desert Vegetable Garden in the Heat (video)

Some varieties that grow well:

- small fruited eggplants and tomatoes such as cherry punch
- okra
- peppers
- basil
- Swiss chard

Make Compost in the Snow with the JoraForm Compost Tumbler (video)

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ shares with you his new metal compost tumbler. In this episode John will explain some of the challenges he has had with excess food waste and plastic composters. He solves these issues by getting a new compost tumbler: The Joraform 270 compost tumbler that is insulated and will allow you to make compost in the snow! During this episode you will also discover the secret carbon source he uses to ensure all his nitrogenous food scraps are composted quickly and easily. Finally you will see the results of using this composter and learn how you can purchase this composter at the lowest price at: http://www.boogiebrew.net/gyg



The proportion of green material to brown is more crucial in a closed tumbler than in an open pile. If you don't add at least 40 percent browns, you'll end up with a slimy, smelly mess instead of compost. If nothing else is available, keep a bag of leaves or a bale of straw handy and use it as necessary to maintain the balance. Source: Compost Tumblers - Mother Earth News, 2003 http://bit.ly/18I5gJE

Related:

Making A Tumbling Composter Work For You | Planet Natural http://bit.ly/176Qv5p
Composter Connection - How to Compost | Planet Natural http://buff.ly/1sG4qHI
Composting for Serious Gardeners http://buff.ly/1SMDCqI - 2016 guide

Planting Garlic in Self-Watering Container (Growums)

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ shares with you how he is planting 21 garlic plants in a growums self-watering container garden. In this episode John will show how he plants garlic with approx 4" spacing in 2 square foot of space. After watching this episode you will see how easy it is to start growing in a container, and hopefully will be motivated to start growing some of your own food today.



Other Growums videos:

$10 Earth Box Clone - Growums Container Vegetable Garden at Lowes - YouTube http://bit.ly/YxFRhp
Save Time with Templates When Planting Your Growums Container Vegetable Garden - YouTube http://bit.ly/YxFSSD
Planting Garlic » Harvest to Table http://bit.ly/12qMmFe

Related reading:

Romanian Red garlic - Enough Garlic | Flash in the Pan http://buff.ly/1tdonq9