GROWING KIWI : Checking stock.

Growing kiwi is experimental. I dont think we can grow everything here in Tanah Merah. For the seedlings to come to this stage is more than achievement..., but the inquisitive mind of a gardener wish to see more. The stem is soft, definitely not hardy like grape vines, not yet at least. They are in a shady area, probably 40 percent sunlight. I cant imagine if they are placed outside under full sun, they could be fried to death within hours.

I am thinking of allowing them to stay in polybags til the end of the year, getting taller and stronger. Then they must play outside in the field, a lot safer with the initial cool monsoon climate, before things get hotter!

Thirty five seedlings now. Yaacob, a friend from Behrang asked for a few the other day. I said,  Let them grow stronger and hardened a little bit, then they may be able to fend themselves against nature, and travel.

bangchik and kakdah,  Tanah Merah home

Earlier post on Kiwi:

on the ground April 1, 2011

Blooming Friday: False Start March 18, 2011

on the ground

We dont have any plant that grows higher than the eye level, not counting kakdah's hanging orchids, and what by the end of the year, the four papaya plants would eventually be. To see flowers is to  look physically down, but flowers remain high in the aesthetic and emotional level. Kakdah will smile, temporarily getting out of whatever is negative and stressful in life, as she walk and lovingly hold the few flowers in the garden.

 flowering plants in clusters, balsam (keembung) and zinnia

Balsam, Malar's giveaways, zinnia from the old Putrajaya garden are flowering. The site is actually reserved for pandan which will soon conquer the area. For now flowerings are grown to fill the empty space.

 basil flowering

 basil getting quite bushy

Basil which is about to be a permanent feature here, is flowering too. The two basil at the back of the house are becoming more bushy after I did a complete pruning of all flower stalks. A few new flowers are coming up and are quite visible.

 a young ubi badak by the fence

 ubi badak, the shoots,

so tender looking.

 ubi itik, another tuber, is a climber too.

I don't know if it will ever produce flower.

 kiwi from seeds, first attempt.

at four leaves, they are growing steady. 

For now, i will let the eventual kiwi fruits grow in my dream.

Hop over to Katarina  to see more.

bangchik and kakdah,