我的试验室 My Lab

My Goji berries plants are flowering now.  The purple flowers are very tiny and sweet. 

Frankly, this is my first time to witness goji berries flowers. I simply just have not had imagined, red goji actually started from a purple flower!!

I find it very interesting and would like to share it with you.

Everybody says, Rosemary grows like a weed in Australia.  Though, this definitely does not happen to me.  I have been trying to grow rosemary from cutting since last year.  And, this is the 5th time trying it....


This is my rosemary cutting in the water



When you look closer, seems that there are new roots, but why are they pointing upwards?

 



These are other Rosemary cuttings in the pot

I am keeping double fingers crossed this time.

We do not usually use a lot of spring onions at a time.  So, what are we going to do with the rest of the left over spring onions? 

Try to cut with a sharp knife at about 2 inches from the 'white head' of the spring onion with the root attached. Store the green parts(without washing) in a container and keep them in the fridge, you should be able to store them up to a week. 

Meanwhile, dig some shallow holes on the ground or pots, grow the 'spring onions heads', water them immediately.  You will spot the growth immediately the next day!!  Water them everyday/ keep them really moist at all time.  You should be able to start harvesting them after 2 weeks.

When harvesting, do not pull out the whole plant. Just cut the stalks almost near to the ground. This will keep them growing for a very long time as it is a 'cut and come' herb.

Alternatively, just simply bury an onion into the ground.  Water it.  It should sprout within a week.

These are my 2 goji berries plants that are grown from cutting 2 months ago.  Seems to me they are very vigorous.  I am going to transplant them to ground when the weather gets warmer.  Can't wait...

Coriander(Cilantro)芫茜 is our family all time favourite herbs.  I used to buy it almost weekly at $2 a bunch.  I thought, it is just too expensive.  And, for curiousity sake, I trim away all the upper part, then try to grow the low part (with root attached) of it.  To my surprise, they grow!  However, these store bought coriander are the mature one.  So, they bolt easily. 
For the first time I see coriander flowers.  They are groups of tiny flowers.  Depends on the varieties.  Last time I had white, this time I have pink.
If you let the flower grow to seeds, then you will get, of course, lots of coriander seeds.  Let the seeds dry on the plant.  Keep some seeds for next sowing.  Meanwhile, use the rest of the seeds in your curry.
Coriander is an annual plant.  They do really well during cool seasons, they bolt easily when the weather turns hot, especially summer.  So, remember to sow more coriander during autumn.
I think coriander is very worth growing. 

• When they are young, enjoy their leaves and stem. 
• When they flower, enjoy the beauty of the groups of tiny flowers. 
• When the seeds are dry, harvest them for your curry.

Tips : Buy coriander seeds from oriental shops( Unroasted type - those that is used for curry).  You can use some for sowing, and the rest for cooking.