Growing Dragon Fruit Plant from Your Backyard or Rooftop

Since dragon fruit is from the cactus family, it requires less water and enough sunlight to grow. So it's suitable to grow them in the Philippines, probably right in your backyard or on your rooftop if it's the only available space you have. Or perhaps your garage if you don't own a car yet.

You can start growing them from seeds but make sure you have the luxury to wait 3 to 5 years. Can't wait that long? Then start from cuttings which take only 9 to 12 months before they start bearing fruits. So the smart thing is to start with cuttings. Cut from the base of a stem, at the point where the stem connects with the tree so you have the whole stem intact. Choose stems about 8 to 10 inches long.

Planting

Place the cuttings in a dry place away from direct sunlight for 2 to 3 days. Then plant the stem in a pot big enough for the plant--about 10 inches tall and 20 inches wide. Make the base of small pebbles for good drainage, then put in a balanced mix of organic compost, sand and garden soil. Then plant the cutting into the soil, with the base of the stem embedded about 2 to 3 inches deep. Make sure it's firmly supported by the soil. Then put just enough water.

After 60 to 65 days, transfer your cutting to a bigger pot, about the size of a regular bucket, or about 18 to 25 inches in diameter and 15 to 20 inches in height. The pot should have enough holes at the bottom to prevent flooding when watering. Bear in mind that this plant is from the cactus family. Then put enough spoil mixture again of compost, sand and garden soil.

Then transfer the plant from the initial pot to the bigger pot. Careful not to damage the roots, but make sure the roots are also free from hardened soil. It should be like cactus in desert soil. Planted firm enough but not too much. You may plant two cuttings per pot. Then put enough water.

In the Bigger Pot

The first two days after the transplant is crucial. So make sure the plants are comfortable in the pots with just enough water and gentle sunlight, away from a hot sun. After 4 days, start providing climbing support for the plant to crawl on. These can be simple long sticks erected firmly beside the pot, or simply embedded right in the pots.

Climb support for the dragon fruit plant.

Then tie the sticks together from the bottom up with an abaca rope to form a fence around the plants. In 9 to 12 months the plant will mature. Replenish the plants with fresh amounts of compost from time to time, probably every 2 to 3 weeks, while the plants are maturing. In about 12 months or so, the dragon fruit plants should start flowering.

Some backyard gardeners simply place the pots near a rough hollow block wall or fence and allow them to crawl there. Some provide mesh wire or square wires for the plants to lean and climb on. The support ensures that the plant trunk is well reinforced and does not easily break from its own weight. Or when accidentally bumped. 

Remember that though dragon fruit plants are like cactus, they they shouldn't be put in places under direct sunlight, especially during a hot summer noon or early afternoon. But they need enough gentle sunlight. They may be placed in shaded areas reached by enough sunlight. So choose carefully where to put them on rooftops. 

The dragon fruit itself is rich in antioxidants (like betacyanin, flavonoids, phenolic acid and others) due to its various bright colors and contains vitamins A and C, calcium, magnesium and iron plus plenty of dietary fibers. This is according to WebMD. Besides, you enjoy its rich, fruity and juicy flavor, especially when refrigerated. It blends well in mixed fruit salads or used as toppings on ice cream or yogurt. 

But of course, nothing beats eating it fresh as soon as you pick it from the tree, with all the nutrients intact. And the best thing is, you don't have to buy it from the market or grocery store where it's probably been sitting for weeks or months and largely losing its freshness and nutrients, but right from your backyard or rooftop.

How to Grow Your Organic Lettuce

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Soil Prep. Prepare the soil first. Lettuce needs a lot of nitrogen, so make sure the soil is well fertilized, with pH balance at least 6 to 6.8. But you don't have to fuss about that. Simply spray the soil with our Rapha Humus organic liquid fertilizer as you cultivate it and turn it inside out. Spray liberally to make sure of the soil's nutrition content and alkalinity. Most soils are acidic. This fertilizer has nitrogen and microorganism that "catch" nitrogen in the air.

Plus, your compost adds a bit more nitrogen and other nutrients. And till and cultivate the soil to make it soft and well drained (or to make water easily seep into it).


Seed Planting in Garden Plot. Then plant the lettuce seeds about an inch or so into the soil. Lettuce plants have short roots so you don't need to plant them deeper into the soil. Then cover the seeds with about 1.3 cm soil. Then cover that with your organic compost, about 3 or 4 inches high. Composts keep soil moist and stop weeds from growing. Just make sure the compost is organic. Don't mix anything cooked when composting because anything cooked and rots becomes acidic.

Thin Out. Then, when the tiny plants have appeared, the plants should be from 5 to 8 or even 12 inches apart. So, thin out the small plants. This means removing some of them and replanting them so that they have enough spaces between them, not clustered. This is especially so if you use organic Rapha Humus fertilizer which tends to increase the size of the leaves and the plant itself.

Spraying. Spray the organic foliar fertilizer on the leaves. Do this regularly, ideally three times a day. Rapha Humus organic fertilizer has zero photoxicity or photoirritation---a condition where the plants, and especially the leaves, become "burnt" due to the reaction of the fertilizer to sunlight especially during noon. Rapha Humus does nto have this problem. So, you can spray at different times of the day, especially if you want harvests with abnormally big sizes. No overdose.

Per spray bottle, use 2 tablespoons of Rapha Humus for both soil application and foliar (spray).

Watering. But watering should be done early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Never water at noon or during hot times of the day. And water gently, being careful not to flood the soil. Make sure the plants are watered enough, though.

With Rapha Humus, green leafy vegetables often take only 3 weeks to reach their full potential and for harvest, with big impressive leaves and delightful taste.

Pesticide. How about pests? Well, it has been observed that pests hate the smell of organic fertilizers, especially our Rapha Humus. So, when sprayed on the plants, it also act as organic insect repellent.

In Containers. If you plant lettuce in containers, make sure the soil is replenished well (about every week) with compost and sprayed regularly with organic liquid fertilizer.

This same procedure is good for pechay and mustard and other similar plants.

Containerized Gardens: Vital Tips When Starting Your Home Organic Vegetable Garden

If you are not a gardener but are about to start your home organic vegetable garden, you may be wondering where you should start. There are various ways to start that's why the job seems daunting and confusing. But a good way to start is buy our HOV gardening kit.

Most people start by buying vegetable seeds (or collecting them from raw vegetables and drying them) and planting them in a seedling container like a wooden box. When the seeds sprout after a few days and grow big enough, they are transferred to a pot or garden plot on the ground.

But in between, there are vital tips you should consider:

1. Choose big enough containers. I know. Small containers for plants seen on Youtube or Google pictures look cute. But reality says containerized gardens are best done with containers that are big enough. Soil in big containers don't dry up as fast as those in small containers. Moreover, it is easier to manage bigger containers especially when it comes to replenishing soil and compost in them.

If you should opt for smaller containers, prepare to do more maintenance work. And that would be difficult in a very limited space.

2. Be careful about watering plants. Plants in containers should be watered gently. Do not pour water or put large amounts at once as to flood the containers. Use sprinklers with fine perforation and water carefully several times (one voluminous watering won't do) to let the water seep into the soil slowly, being careful not to flood the container. Use a sprayer for hanging containers. Containers should have holes at the bottom and/or sides for draining excess water.

3. Choose sunlighty areas. Whatever gardening type you are engaged in, plant in areas where there is enough sunlight. This is a vital reminder especially if you are into home gardening. Slightly or partially lighted rooms or spaces won't do. You either put the plants outdoors or directly facing windows receiving ample sunlight.

The good thing about containerized gardening is that it is portable. You can always transfer them to areas more exposed to sunlight or transfer them to safer places during the rainy season or storms.

4. Green leafy. Green leafy vegetables are mostly easier to plant and grow. So start with lettuce, pechay, or mustard. Easier to grow is sweet potato leaves or camote tops.

5. Keep off from pets and kids. Make sure the containers are out of reach of pets and children. Thus, hanging or shelved gardens or those attached to walls are preferred.

6. Foliarize well. When using foliar organic fertilizer, remember to apply or spray according to set schedules. Containerized plants get limited nutrition from the soil in their containers so they need frequent supplementation.

7. Go organic! Never underestimate the power of organic foliar fertilizer and compost.

For more details please watch the video below:

Never Ignore These Tips When Starting Your Home Organic Vegetable Garden

Money Crashers

Why start your own home organic vegetable garden? People often ask me that? You can always buy from the wet market or grocery store.

I answer back with a question---have you ever tasted garden-fresh organic vegetables? Especially one that you picked yourself from your own home garden? Most people haven't. Eaten raw, smoked or sauteed, these veggies are sweet, juicy, crunchy and rich in vibrant textures. They're so different from the usual commercial veggies.

The good news is, we (HOV Gardeners Club) make it easy for you to start your home organic vegetable garden, no matter the size of your available space at home. Just comment below or contact us to get the Home Organic Vegetable (HOV) Gardener's kit and start right away for only P1,888 a kit (20 percent lifetime discount on your next purchase of the fertilizer included). Click here for more on this kit.

Anyway, here's what you should do:

Start a Small Garden. Always start small. Gardening is a science, art, hobby (and therapy) that requires patience. You cannot hurry up and start big at once, especially when we're talking of a home organic vegetable garden in Metro Manila. And it's better to take pride in a small garden than fail with a big one.

 
And don't plant a lot at once. If you should suffer an error (because you're still a newbie), planting a few would limit the cost. Newbies will learn a lot about gardening and may incur some wasted expenses, so don't do a lot at once.

Choose a Sunny Portion of the Property. See where in your house or yard sunlight is present most of the time. Vegetable plants need some 6 hours of sunlight a day at least. Better if direct sunlight. If plants get enough sunlight, they produce more harvests and better tasting at that. 

Land Prep. When you plant palay, you need to do land prep. So with home organic vegetable gardening. The roots of plants need soft soil to easily penetrate through for good foundation and better absorption of soil nutrients. So make sure the soil is well tilled before planting, cleaned of debris, and choose loamy soil. 

When plants have grown enough, it is good to gently till the soil around to for air circulation. Mix the soil with organic compost for rich nutrients. For containerized gardens, it's better to replenish new soil now and then, every 2 months at least. The same with compost. This and potting mix will be discussed in a coming article. Soil layers in containerized gardens, if well prepared, can prevent water from collecting on top or getting drained away too fast. 

Crops Spacing. Plants should be spaced well. Eggplants can overshadow lettuce, for instance, so that the lettuce gets less sunlight. And their roots might fight each other for survival. And corn planted too near an eggplant may do the same. They will fight over water supply, soil nutrients and sunlight. The result? Growth or cropping failure, disease or death. 

Use the Best Seeds. Choose the best seeds to plant. Weak seeds will cost you time, energy and money all wasted. Good seeds may cost more but they yield better results.

Where to Plant. Look for spots in your property where sunlight is seen most times of the day. Place your containerized garden there. If you have enough backyard space, build garden plots that are well tilled (so the soil gets soft and fertile), well irrigated (not susceptible to flooding), and the rows should be perpendicular to the east-west direction, taking in more sunlight.

Containerized gardens are best placed on high-rise shelves, tread and runner shelves (or staired shelves), hanged on walls or windows, or hanging by ropes attached to ceilings.

What to Plant. If you want plants that can produce more crops in a single season, choose beans, cabbage, lettuce, pechay, radish, spinach, carrots, and native chili (labuyo). Moringa or malungay is an excellent plant that needs less care and management but produces a lot of harvests for you. And the more you harvest the leaves the thicker they grow the next time. 

PInterest

Green leafy veggies like lettuce, mustard and pechay can be harvested by cutting the leaves (instead of pulling the tree by the roots), leaving the stump in the soil to produce a second round of leaves. Here, spraying an organic liquid fertilizer helps a lot.

When watering the plants, always gently sprinkle. Never pour water. It is better to use a sprinkler sparingly and in several phases. Let the water seep into the soil and make sure the top soil never gets flooded. A sprayer is best for containerized vegetable gardens to prevent soil from getting washed down through the pores of the containers (containers should be pored just enough at the bottom and at the sides for air and water to circulate properly. 

When preparing the layers of soil during potting mix, containers should have soil, compost and aggregates like a little bit of sand or small tee barks or pebbles for creating small "pockets" inside for air and water to travel through properly. 

Malunggay: Why Almost Every Health Drink Claims to Have Moringa Extract

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They're all claiming to have malunggay or moringa extracts--well, almost all health drink sold in the market today. They realize how powerful this tropical plant is for health and healing and is in fact among the herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia acclaimed by the Philippine Senate as a "Miracle Tree" due to the health benefits derived from the whole plant.

Senate Bill 2099 introduced by Senator Cynthia Villar established the so-called Malunggay industry in the country, realizing its lucrativeness since it has both nutrition and healing values. It can be sold as it is--in raw green leafy form with its edible elongated seedy and fibrous fruit, or in supplement form.

The Senate document further says how malunggay is rich with Vitamins A and C, protein, calcium, potassium, and zinc, among many others, which are all essential for the health of both children and adults. The roots and seeds are usable for seasoning and alternative first aid remedy for certain ailments like cough, fever, and respiratory illnesses, to name a few. The grounded leaves can be mixed with flour and other food preparations as added nutrition. It is a versatile green leafy vegetable.

The oil produced from this plant is said to be almost comparable to olive oil and is great for cooking and mixing in salads. Mixing the leaves in souped dishes or simply taking the capsule supplement greatly enhances lactation for mothers and supplies essential antioxidants for our bodies. Because malunggay also has anti-microbial and anti-aging qualities, the extract is sometimes used for skin care products and cosmetics. It reportedly also has anti-diabetic and anti-tumor properties, especially when the malunggay is taken in tea form.

However, moringa oleifera or malunggay is not a toxin neutralizer. A lot of harmful "health" products out there--especially the so-called "energy" drinks rich in sugars and caffeine and passed off as health or sports drinks, add in malunggay extracts to give their brands a good image. But the small moringa content in them cannot neutralize the harmful effect of sugars and caffeine you get from drinking them. Instead, what small extract of moringa you get from them is easily negated by their rich sugar and caffeine contents.

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If you want to get real health benefits from drinks that contain moringa, choose sugar and caffeine free drinks that also have no chemical content in them. Better yet, just mix moringa tea into your favorite freshly squeezed all-natural fruit drink you made yourself. That's a guarantee you get nothing but purely healthy benefits.

In summary, here are some of malunggay's health benefits:

• It is anti-cancer: containing benzyl isothiocyanate that is said to possess anti-cancer properties and provides protection from chemotherapy.
• It is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal: contains pterygospermin known to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. 
• Effective for fighting malnutrition: it is rich in essential vitamins and minerals plus antioxidants. And the best thing is, it is easily grown in the tropics requiring almost zero maintenance. Since malnutrition in third world countries are mostly in the tropics, malunggay makes an ideal strategy to fight it. 
• It is anti-inflammatory: it can help alleviate chronic inflammation in rheumatism, joint pains, and arthritis. 
• Improves sex life naturally: it is believed to have aphrodisiac effects that improves your sex life.
• The leaves enhance proper and regular bowel movement: prevents constipation.
• Good for overall health. If you are sick with anything, eating malunggay or drinking its tea extract is always good for you.
• Last but not least, the leaves and fruit make delicious and healthy food menus affordable to even marginalized people. 

Gardening: Appreciating Fresh Young Leaves

When we were young my grandma always taught us to get used to eating fresh young leaves of herbs and plants. These leaves were almost always bitter, no matter how delicious they were supposed to be as our grandma assured us. We would opt for the bigger and older leaves which old folks then said had lost their nutritive value.

Later, I learned that, indeed, the secret to vegetarian health was eating fresh young leaves of herbs and plants in the Philippines. In this country, vegetables and fruits often came from far away provinces so that they lose their freshness and nutritive value during the long transit when they're just exposed to the elements. Health experts say too much exposure to the sun is not good for veggies and fruits already picked from their trees.

Thus, too, the urgency of old folks when we were kids to plant vegetables in our backyards. That way, we got to harvest them straight from the backyard and then cooked in the kitchen, fresh and young leaves. My grandma and dad were fond of planting herbs and plants everywhere possible around the house. So did Mang Kardo, our care-taker. Back then, we thought they just didn't have anything better to do. Now we know.

In our elementary school days, we were made to manage our own garden plot during our Gardening subject. We attended a private school and yet we braved stepping on the earth with our bare feet and holding soil to break and cultivate with our own bare hands--something that my boys today miss out on because of the widespread proliferation of concrete jungles. I pity them--they never experience holding rich brown soil with earthworms in them.

So, my dad and grandma always urged us to eat fresh young leaves of herbs and plants, especially the thing we so dreaded, called "Kulakteng," that short and pointed fresh, young, and green leaf, a baby bitter gourd leaf. It was terribly bitter, and yet dad, mom, grandma, and Mang Kardo ate them like they were fried chicken. They often mixed it in boiled and sauteed mongo beans. Those days it was yak, but today, knowing its super nutritional content, I find it delicious. Age teaches the taste buds to repent. Now it's my boys' turn to find it yak. But someday, their tongues will repent, too.

It's a real concern the way kids today eat loads of junk food which is becoming more expensive and taking up about 50 percent of kids' allowances. And also the way they reject real and nutritious food like kulakteng and other healthy herbs and plants in the Philippines.

Well, I hope they send kids out there gardening again and appreciating real food.