Category Archives: Crops

Arachis glabrata – Perennial Peanut

The perennial peanut is grown as a forage crop and an ornamental groundcover species originating in South America.  It is nitrogen fixing via rhizobial associations and tolerant of a wide range of soil and moisture conditions.

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Ananas comosus – Pineapple

The pineapple is a species of bromeliad (Bromeliaceae), a family naturally confined to the Americas.  It arrived in Britain as aprt of the Colombian exchange and became a highly prized fruit that was grown is special heated frames.  Nowadays it … Continue reading

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Abelmoschus esculentus – Okra

Okra is a member of the Malvaceae along with cotton and Hibiscus.  It is grown as an annual crop from which the unripe fruit are harvested.

Posted in Asia, Crops, Species | 1 Comment

Ginger – Zingiber officinale

Earlier in the spring (February) we planted some supermarket ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale) to establish new ginger plants for the tropical greenhouse. These have not only established very well but are now in full flower.

Posted in Annual Fund, Crops, Species | 5 Comments

The furry pink banana – Musa dasycarpa

Not so long ago I listed Musa velutina among the plants we are growing in the tropical glasshouse, now I know better!  This curious furry and pink fruited banana from Northeast India and Myanmar grows on a short (<2m) plant … Continue reading

Posted in Crops, Palaeotropics, Species | 4 Comments

Calathea lutea – Pampano, Cachibou, Cigar Plant

I met Calathea lutea (Aubl.) Meyer ex Koernicke for the first time today while on a visit to the Living Rainforest.  This impressive member of the Marantaceae is 2-3m high with silver backed leaves.  These large leaves are used for wrapping … Continue reading

Posted in Annual Fund, Crops, Neotropics, Species | 4 Comments

Colombian Exchange

The travel of Europeans to the Americas in the 15th century began a process that was to dramatically change agriculture and humanity around the world.  The Colombian Exchange was a term coined by Alfred W. Crosby in 1972 to describe … Continue reading

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Tropical smallholding – what will we be growing?

I’ve been in discussion with a range of people about the crops we should be growing in our global tropical small holding.  There are some obvious species the we know we can grow and we already have: Banana (Musa cultivars), … Continue reading

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Planting tropical crops

New crop plants for summer 2012 and beyond were planted today.  A local supermarket was the source for Pineapple (Ananas comosus), Sweet Potato (Ipomaea batatas), Ginger (Zingiber offininale) and Scotch Bonnet chilli (Capsicum annuum). It’s amazing what can be grown … Continue reading

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