Even with the smoldering days of August upon us in South Florida the garden still offers up some dividends.This week I found that some of the Bromeliad pups that I had separated from their momma plant back last November are now starting to bloom.
Here is the link to the post back on November 16th 2009 where this guy and his momma were separated.
I still have three other plants of this Bromeliad all in various stages of getting their bloom. It is one of the attributes to the Bromeliad plants that they will give you many pups . Each will produce dividends for you in the form of more pups for free.
The harvested pups make great gifts or trade items for other plants from fellow gardeners.
The Bromeliads make great tropical or sub-tropical plants. They are for the most part Idiot proof. An important consideration here at the sandpit.
With a little patience these guys will add lots of new plants to your garden for Free. Also an important consideration here at the sandpit.
But the hot weather dividends are not exclusive to the Bromeliads. Back a couple of months ago I planted Sunflowers in a few of my raised beds here.
Besides the fact that I really like Sunflowers as a plant they also produce dividends for the good of the order here.
When it is just too hot to grow most vegetables here the Sunflowers seem to do fine in the broiling summer heat.
And in the best permaculture practice for South Florida I let the plant remain in the soil after it is spent.
The intense Sun here in several weeks time will dry the plant out as well as the Sunflower seed head. After it is dried out the seed head is clipped off and the plant stalk clipped at ground level leaving the plant roots in the soil to compost naturally.
The plant stalk goes in the compost bin and it is time to reap the dividends from the dried seed head.
And the dividends are of course free Sunflower seeds.
Note: Yes bare my feet are included in the above picture. Being in the tropics it is good permaculture practice to wear as little as possible. In fact in South Florida most folks only wear shoes for ceremonial occasions. Anyone seen with shoes on South of Ft Pierce is most likely a tourist from up North, a politician, or someone trying to sell you something.
Where was I . Oh yeah, Sunflower seeds.
Well these here Sun dried heads that I harvested today produced some delectable dividends.
After cleaning the seed heads of two dried Sunflowers I came away with almost two cups of seeds. That is after deducting all the seeds that I ate while cleaning out the seed heads.
These remaining Sunflower seeds are going to be mixed in with my birdseed for the benefit of the wild birds that visit the bird feeder in the garden.
There are quite a few more Sunflower plants left not yet ready to harvest so It looks like a good supply of Sunflower seeds will be available to feed the birds, feed me , and even replant another crop from the collected seeds.
As for some future dividends accumulating now in the garden during this oppressive heat and humidity I submit these Watermelon plants.
Here is the answer to what to grow in the worst heat. These Black Diamond Yellow Belly Strain Watermelon plants. So far they seem to be unstoppable by the heat and just keep on growing longer vines. It is to the point the vine tips have to be redirected every day just to keep them contained in my enclosed garden area.
Just two of these plants has turned the sandpit into a Watermelon Vine jungle.
And as to the plant in the picture that the arrows point to, can you guess what it is.
Well it is the mighty Neem tree that I started from seed several months back. That's right this is Neem #3 and it is almost three feet tall now. Neem#1 and Neem#2 are still in containers and need desperately to be planted out in the yard. I keep wavering back and forth as to where to put them.
These Neem trees will definitely have some dividends in the future for the Sandpit if they keep prospering. They love the hot weather and if they survive the Watermelon Vines trying to grow up them will be a asset to the Sandpit.
So really August hasn't been such a bad month for gardening and it has produced dividends with prospects of future dividends to come.
Now if this here baby melon keeps doing it's thing maybe I will get a fifty pounder out of the jungle of watermelon vines. In the meantime I have plenty of Sunflower seeds to munch on.
--SANDDUNE--
First of all I had to chuckle about your no shoes comment ... we grew up as kids running around with no shoes and now I'm either bare-footed or just wearing thongs (the footwear variety!!!!) It's so true about the "it's either a tourist, a politician or a salesman" ... good one!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, your bromeliad is so lovely. I've only just discovered the attraction of broms recently and have begun collecting. I now agree they're definitely a must have in a tropical garden.
Can't believe that's one of your Neems ... I remember when you posted about them ... just terrific seeing this one grow so well. Your watermelon vines are amazing ... that was a great choice ... and such a tasty dividend.
I remember that post! What a great bloom too... doesn't look like one of the many hardy matchstick types that do so well where I live... I finally did end up getting a "del mar" even though its tender bc its so gash darn pretty. Oh, and I like the part about how wearing as little as possible is good permaculture practice.
ReplyDeleteThose watermelon have really been a success so far. Hope the fruits are just as huge as the vines. Your bird friends will love you for those sunflower seeds.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful brom blooms! I love how bromeliads multiply.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteSome Bromeliads would make great background for some of your fantastic flower plants. Bromeliads are almost carefree to grow in the right climate. And yes, the Neem tree is looking good so far. I am keeping my fingers crossed with the Neem but hold great expectations. The Watermelon vines are kinda out of control. Good thing that I only planted two.
RFG,
I still have about ten or so of the Matchstick Bromeliad plants planted out in their own bed.If I remember corectly the Matchsticks bloomed toward the end of the year. But around here with my climate plants just kind of bloom when they feel like it. I don't know the name of the Bromeliad pictured in the post but it has a neat bloom kinda like a Christmas Tree.
NanaK,
The Watermelon vines are kinda freaking me out with their growth. I am really flying blind with the melons but maybe a few will survive for the dinner table. Time will tell. As for the Sunflower seeds the birds have already went through what I harvested so far. I saw a Bluejay this morning on one of the Sunflower heads plucking out and eating seeds. Hope they save some for me.
Floridagirl,
Glad that you like them, I like them also.My Daughter gave me the original momma plant so these plants are the second generation of the Bromeliads.Hope to get some third generation pups from these blooming now in the future. They are neat plants and remind me of her gift when I look at them which makes them extra special to me.
Gosh your watermelon invasion is looking good - I heard that you should cut back excess shoots so that you get fewer, sweeter watermelons. Oh I would love to grow a neem tree! Shoes are optional here in the far north, our local primary school tried to enforce shoes and there was a huge outcry!
ReplyDeleteHi Sanddune,
ReplyDeleteBromeliads are a great favorite and that bloom is fabulous. It's a good thing you had plenty of room for your watermelon vines... sure hope you get some good fruit.
Meems
Your watermelon vines look great. I've never grown them, but should give them a try. Nice harvest of sunflower seeds, too. Make sure you share some with the birds. :-)
ReplyDeleteAfricanaussie,
ReplyDeleteThe Watermelon seeds were free so If they do survive and produce anything it will be "gravy". If not The vines will make a lot of bio-mass for the compost pile. I was pulling the new growth out of the garden fence and redirecting it but now am cutting the stems off and composting the cut pieces. If the Neem Trees will survive they will sure be an asset with their many benefits not to mention some shade. As for the shoe revolt I think that is great. You Aussies sure sound like my kind of people!
Meems,
I put the blooming Bromeliad on a plant pedestal beside my backporch where we can enjoy watching it bloom. We shall see with the Watermelon for I know not what I do. With all the rain here lately and the leaves staying wet I am kinda just waiting for some plant malady to attack it. I sprayed the vines with some of the homemade organic Bug Juice just for giggles to hopefully repel any bugs that may be eyeballing it.
Susan,
I think it is more of a case of the birds sharing some of the Sunflower seeds with me. My daily flock of backyard Doves seem to love them.