My cucumber and chili plants

My FIL has grown some other vegetables at the vegetable patch outside my house. Cucumbers and chilies! One good things about growing vegetables is that they grow very fast and usually can be harvested after one month we plant the seeds/ seedlings and we can rotate between several types of vegetables. As we grow them from own consumption, no pesticides is sprayed.

We were happy to see the cucumbers 'greeting' us when we were back from hometown after Chinese New Year holidays. Cucumbers are high in Vitamin A, C, K, Pantothenic Acid (Water soluble yellow, oily acid that is a part of Vitamin B complex), Magnesium, Phosphorous and Manganese.


Several chili plants also started to bear fruits and I wonder how we could finish them all. Chilies are high in Vitamin A, C, K, B6, Potassium, Copper, Manganese, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folate, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorous. It aids weight loss and maintains optimum weight. Hubby took a lot of effort in these chili plants (as experiment) as this is one of his new project at his plantation.

Plants in my garden

There are a few plants that I did not mention in my previous post about my vegetable patch.

Spring Onions

I am not sure if these are called spring onions because the bulbs and stems are much smaller compared with what I used to buy when I was studying overseas. Spring onion contains antioxidant, vitamin C for immunity, decreases high cholesterol level, sugar level and blood pressure. Having these plants is really a convenience because we usually require only a small quantity to use as toppings on dishes or a few stalks to add to stir fry dishes for more flavour.

I am not sure what these are called in English. Direct translation from Hokkien would be 'Red Bamboo Leaves'. The leaves can be cut, washed and boiled for consumption to get rid of 'heatiness' in our body. Sugar can be added for better taste. My MIL mentioned to me that pregnant woman should not consume this.

Okra (Lady fingers)

My FIL planted about 20 plants of this and since they start to bear pods, we have okra dishes on alternate days but we can never have enough of them. Stir-fry with either anchovies or dried shrimps, steamed with pork, cooked with curry dishes, assam (tamarind) dishes are some of the dishes prepared by my MIL who is a very good cook. I will also stir-fry with garlic with a dash of liquid aminos for 1 year old Tao and she loves it. I feed her regularly because they are free from pesticides and chemical fertilisers. My 3 year old Tian who dislikes vegetables does not mind having okra dishes as well. I think this is due to we have too much of them and since they are free, we will pluck those okras when they are still young and tender, so the texture is really fine and tastes sweet.

Chinese Yams (Shan Yao/ Huai Shan)

Our neighbours who pass by our house will always wonder why we neglect to trim this bush since my parents-in-law take such good care of our vegetable patch. This is in fact the leaves of Chinese Yam (Shan Yao/ Huai Shan) and we have to let it grow abundantly so that we will have fuller roots to harvest early next year. Yes, it takes that long. This Chinese Yam that we are growing are slightly different with those we can buy at wet market. The flesh at the root is purplish whereas normal Chinese Yam is white. We consume these yams by preparing as desserts or porridge.

It is believed to benefit kidneys and female endocrine system but there is no scientific evidence to support safety and effectiveness of the claims yet. My parents-in-law said their parents would prepare Chinese Yam porridge for them whenever they got sick as a child as they were too poor and lived too far away from the city to consult a doctor.

Chillies

Chillies contain high levels of vitamin A and C as immune boosters and antioxidant. Like spring onions that I have mentioned above, it is good to have chilies in my garden because we will not feel obliged to buy a whole bunch of chilies when we need only one or two for flavouring dishes or dipping. The rest will normally rot away before we need it again.
This type is chili is too hot for my liking though but the Indian guards who patrol our neighbourhood will certainly ask for some when they see us around.

Our little garden

We have a little vegetable patch in from of our house. Plants are planted by my parents-in-law without using chemical fertilisers and pesticides. We will collect vegetables and fruits peels, water from washing rice, vegetables and fruits etc and place them on the soil as natural fertilizers and the plants are growing so well.

Screwpine leaves

Screwpine leaves (Pandan leaves) are use to add flagrance to foods and desserts. It is rich in anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is also used in cooking and I used a lot during confinement in my food as well as in boiled water for taking bath. It is antibacterial, antifungal and improves blood circulation.

Aloe vera

We use aloe vera for surface burns by applying the gel found in the succulent leaves on affected skin area as it has skin-soothing and healing properties. We also consume aloe vera by scrapping the gel of the skin and cook as desserts. Pregnant women should not consume aloe vera juice and desserts.

Basil Leaves

Basil leaves are used as spices for cooking. They are anti-inflammatory, anti-stress and purify blood.