Medicinal and Edible Plants: March 2012

Mission Statement

My goal with mande plants is to teach about medicinal and edible plants, show how to grow these plants, where to find these plants, and how to use these plants. There are many useful botanicals in our world. I will growing seasonal crops and perennial edibles using organic methods as best as possible. One of my long term goals is to grow a temperate food forest garden. As I grow new plants and harvest them I will be sharing photos and details on this blog. All photos on this blog are taken by me. If you like this blog and you would like to help me further my research you can use the paypal donate button on the right. All donations will be used to buy tools, plants, seeds, and pay for expenses needed to develop gardens.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Prickly Pear and Kumquat

I planted a prickly pear cactus and Kumquat. The Prickly Pear (Opuntia) will provide fruit and nopale pads, which can be eaten raw or cooked. They are excellent cooked with egg and cheese, perhaps some mushrooms and onion added to the mix. The Kumquat has edible fruit. The peel of the fruit is sweet and the pulp of the fruit is sour. Kumquat is in the genus Fortunella, which is closely related to the Citrus genus.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

March Planting

For my March Allowance I planted the Following:
Che Fruit
Fuyu Persimmon 'jiro'
Jujube 'sherwood'
Trifoliate orange
Plum 'santa rosa'
Sweet Bamboo
Black Bamboo
Japanese Quince
Yellowhorn
Seaberry
Jelly Palm
Loquat

There are many exciting things to come!

Monday, March 5, 2012

What's Blooming in March 2012?

As we enter spring some plants are waking up and budding, while others are putting out flowers.

I planted these fava beans back in November.

These are the flowers of the Sierra Gooseberry. I discovered this little shrub growing on the side of hill near my garden, next to an elderberry tree.

This little nightshade is Solanum xanti. As far as I know it has no edible uses.

Medicinal and Edible Plants