Sunday, April 18, 2010

The new Ulam Raja

ulam raja seedling
protected with a pair of coconut husks

the husks really age.
they wouldn't last another season,
all coming back to the soil as humus..,
completely decomposed






 The plant has been straining itself to sprout the last flower, therefore time for that ulam raja to go is up. The last standing ulam raja was then pulled out. I have been collecting ulam raja seeds as the flowers dried up. A few has been germinated and transplanted at a suitable location, at the edge of coleus. Four of them are growing to the fourth leaf. The young seedlings are protected by the aging coconut husks. That will do, to deter neighbour's cat from meddling with the little seedlings. It is much easier for both of us to move around as we do the daily chore of watering, so as not to trample on them.

There are spare seeds in a small plastic container.
In a month time, I wish to germinate a few more
so that we have steady supply of
ulam raja shoots for salad.


Any body wish to try growing ulam raja?




Bangchik
Putrajaya, Malaysia.

10 comments:

  1. I have been fascinated by ulam raja since you first posted about this plant. How interesting that in your tropical climate that a coconut husk will decompose so quickly.

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  2. I love your coconut husks!! How wonderful...

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  3. What a great use for the coconut husks! Nothing is wasted, and ultimately they return to the earth to enrich it.

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  4. I had a ulam raja plant but then it died! Thanks for the offer. perhaps another plant, another time!! happy gardening.

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  5. ~Noelle
    Ulam raja is in the bigger family of cosmos. Never grown for flowers but for the leaves and shoots. Their foliage blends well and give quite an impact to the garden. They will decompose faster as edging because they got to go through wet and dry everyday.

    ~Dirty Girl Gardening
    Coconut husk is not popular as edging, especially in urban residential area. The hint of ruralness is too much for most to absorb. In my case, promoting organic gardening is the focus. So husks are OK with me.

    bangchik
    Putrajaya Malaysia

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  6. ~Marie
    Thanks Marie for the visit. I do hope the weather will get warmer for serious gardening over there. I hope volcanic ash will settle down over Europe, and life gets back to normal.

    ~debsgarden
    You are right about organic gardening..., be as friendly as we can to the soil and the environment. Coconut husk has served its role in organic endeavor.

    ~Keats The Sunshine Girl
    Sorry to hear about your ulam raja. I have seen ulam raja growing in different type of soil: sandy, clayey and loamy. They seem to adapt well. You can always grow them later.

    Bangchik
    Putrajaya Malaysia

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  7. I wonder why we called this plant Ulam Raja ("the King’s salad")?. Raja like to eat it?, or famous and tasty ulam?.

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  8. ~Tabib
    I wish I know why such royal name. It is mentioned that ulam raja was brought by the Spaniards from Latin America, via the Philippines, to the rest of Southeast Asia. One of the many sultans could have popularised it and thus the name Ulam Raja.
    ~ulam raja

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  9. where to but ulam raja plant in Malaysia?

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