Tuesday, October 27, 2009

the old leaves won't fall, these Ulam Raja.




ulam raja


Ulam raja has old brown leaves hanging down still intact, protecting the stems against scotching hot sun.  The plants were planted in clusters, very close, barely six inches apart. They do create an impact, and the hanging old leaves give a lovely tone of green and brown.

Kakdah cut off the shoots for salads. She purposely  created the pyramid look, by cutting the shoots from the outer plants first, and progressively moved to the inside. There is no sign of ulam raja flowering yet. Ulam Raja is getting very tall, almost 5 feet, much taller than their normal height of about 3 feet. Neighbours and friends has been asking about the secret recipe for such height.... Regular watering, adequate poultry fertilizer and a little bit of attention may be.. haha.



~bangchik
Putrajaya, Malaysia




11 comments:

  1. A can say one word-Amazing! It sounds very interesting with vegetables like that. Nothing for us in the very north of the world.

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  2. They must be being looked after very well to be growing so well. I notice your coconut husks again.

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  3. If they grow any taller Kakdah is going to need a very long ladder!

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  4. Alamak, I thought ulam raja is only just as tall as basil or sawi! Yours look like ulam raja shrub or small tree at 5 ft. If it grows any taller, Kakdah will certainly need helping picking those leaves.

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  5. If you play a music to Ulam Raja, it'll grow even higher and healthier. I bet you.

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  6. A little bit of attention is a great boon to plants. Good for you, Bangchik.

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  7. Looks like your Ulam Raja trees are all grown up. Does the leaves taste better as the plant age?

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  8. Im eagerly waiting to see those ulam raja flowers. I have seen some gardeners had grown it in my place which grows tall as these but the flowers are small & pink. Not like the showy cosmos which is short and full bloom.

    Wonder if all cosmos leaves can be eaten or only this genes that is considered the salad plant?

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  9. It would be hard for me to leave the brown leaves on the lower part of the plant....thinking it just needs 'cleaned up a litte'.

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  10. HI bangchik,
    How hot does it get there? I guess the plant will do what it needs to do to survive, sort of like us.
    Rosey

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  11. [Northofsweden, Jo, easygardener , Autumn Belle , rainfield61 , Mary Delle , Stephanie , James Missier , Janet , Rosey Pollen .]

    Thanks for the visits and comments. I am sorry to keep highlighting Ulam Raja in this blog. I really want to do it, to observe the life of ulam raja to its full cycle. The blog is a journal on the little vegetable garden. The number of plants is so limited, that I can really observe, scrutinize and record plants life and behaviour.

    If not for the regular cutting of the shoots, these ulam raja probably have grown taller. Huh... but not to the extent where Kakdah has to use ladder. I thought I saw a little bud yesterday, which means flowering is about to occur.

    Kakdah loves to clean up old leaves, but she allows Ulam Raja to go on living unhindered. It is for the sight, a two tone foliage.., brown and green.

    The temperature is in the region of 80 degrees. Not too hot by our standard. Ulam Raja as any other tropical plants, loves the sun and keep on growing..... So far, the root system manage to anchor Ulam Raja well against strong wind....

    Love ulam raja shoots as salad!!

    ~bangchik
    Putrajaya.

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