A very small harvest

I harvested the edamame from my few plants today. There wasn't even enough to fill a small bowl but I was determined to eat them instead of leaving them on the plant like the last time. They were lightly boiled in salt water and MY GOSH, I had never tasted such sweet edamame before!

The beans were sweet and slightly crunchy, nothing like the ones served in Japanese restaurants. I think they are best eaten straight after harvest because like sweetpea and sweetcorn, they turn starchy quickly once they leave the plants.

Now I am even more convinced that I should grow more in the garden. After eating these few beans, I doubt I will ever fully enjoy store bought ones.

Edamame (soy beans)

 I love eating boiled edamame in Japanese restaurants but did you know that you can grow your own at home too? I used dried soy beans from Japan and they sprout very quickly and are easy growers. In less than a month or so, little pinkish flowers will bloom and pea pods will start to appear all over the vine. Mine should be ready for harvest anytime soon.

Final rocket harvest

The weather had been so hot lately. I returned from my trip to Kuching to find most of the rocket leaves parched and partially scorched. I salvaged some good leaves for my mango salsa and pulled out the rest to make way for a new batch.

These two pots of rocket have served us well. I've made so many delicious salads for dinner and these plants kept producing new leaves after each harvest. They also did not attract pests like the way other vegetables do.

I've just sowed some wild and cultivated rocket in my patio. My only worry is, the patio is getting way too much sun at this time of the year, my rocket might not do so well under the heat.

We'll see.

Why I like radish

If there is one vegetable that I love growing the most, it has to be radish. It's almost impossible to go wrong with growing radish.

 

If you have no garden space, you can grow radish sprouts inside your home. Just pick a bright spot and sow some seeds in a shallow tray filled with some growing medium and you can harvest in under 10 days. Remember to keep the soil moist but do not drown the seedlings. I even grow mine in bowls. Young radish sprouts are slightly spicy (like wasabi) and they taste great in salads.

 

If you have outdoor space, try growing radish in a deep pot or on the ground. There are so many varieties to choose from. I'm currently growing cherry radish. Thinly sliced radish goes well with flavourful cheese!

All about sprouts

An interesting article in The Sunday Times.