Planting Pennywort and Harvesting the Last Figs

Not much going on in the garden in September. I brought down some pennywort and flat-leafed chives from my mom's garden in Oregon that needed to be planted so I finally started working on the narrow space outside my kitchen door. The row of amaryllises are along the wall on the opposite side of the steps. I'm leaving the amaryllises there, but the space is really too narrow to plant other flowers.



There's another dirt strip opposite that, and then these two long narrow dirt strips, which seemed ideal for me to plant herbs. Right outside the kitchen door so I could cut a few herbs when cooking and the contained space would keep the them from spreading too much.

But first, I needed to pull all those weeds.

Well, I pulled weeds on the left side, where I planned to plant the chives and pennywort. The drip line for the air conditioner drains there, so the ground is always a little damp, perfect for pennywort, which likes swampy conditions.



Actually, I pulled off the leaves to make Nuoc Rau Ma (Vietnamese Pennywort Juice) and just plantd the roots.



And guess what? Two weeks later, leaves grew out of just the planted roots.



I also harvested the last of the figs from my tree and a few rogue roma tomatoes.



The lemongrass is coming back pretty quickly after I harvested 60 stalks a month ago for a batch of Tuong Ot Xa (Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce).



The snakefruit I planted from seed didn't do so well while I was in Oregon. No watering for a week and a half. Plus, the rogue roma tomato was in this pot, so I think it hogged most of the nutrients. I hope it can make a comeback.



Got a few more blooms from the Tonkin jasmine my dad planted last year. Not quite plentiful enough for a big stir-fry, but I've had a few tiny batches.



And the desert rose I brought back as a cutting from Vietnam finally bloomed.



I was afraid it didn't like the light in my living room since it hadn't bloomed all year, but it's still going strong eight years later.



I've been waiting for the weather to cool down before doing any major planting. Still haven't figured out what I'll do yet.

Other Garden Updates.

*****
1 year ago today,
2 years ago today, Bun Nem Nuong Cha Gio (Vietnamese Rice Vermicelli Noodles with Grilled Pork Patties and Egg Rolls).
3 years ago today, Dong Nguyen Restaurant - Alhambra.
4 years ago today, Petroglyph Point Trail - Mesa Verde National Park - Colorado.
5 years ago today, an American classic, the BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato) Sandwich.
6 years ago today, Sinh To Nha Dam (Vietnamese Aloe Vera Shake).