Growing 2 kinds of vegetables on a palm-sized balcony, harvesting a crop every 15 days, spending 200 yuan
Crystal ice plant
Crystal ice plant, also called ice plant or ice grass. Because its body is covered with transparent bubbles, which under sunlight look like ice crystals all over its surface. What's more, the liquid in these bubbles also contains salt, so you don't even need to add salt when cooking it!
Growing tips
1. Sowing
Just make sure the soil is loose. You can use special seedling-raising soil, or soil like worm castings. Before sowing, level the soil and water it, then scatter the seeds on the soil surface.
Because ice plant seeds are very small, we only need to cover them with a thin layer of soil. After covering with soil, spray water mist evenly and wait for germination.
2. Management after sowing
The temperature for ice plant seed germination is best kept between 20-25°C. Like last month, when the temperature was too high, many gardeners' seeds didn't germinate.
As for water, observe at all times, and water promptly when you find the soil has dried out. Once the seedlings grow 4 true leaves, they can be transplanted into a larger flower pot.
In daily care, note that the ice plant is a fairly drought-tolerant plant. We can wait until the soil is dry before watering, and moderate drought is good for the formation of the ice crystals!
Harvesting
Generally, 1 month after transplanting, we can harvest. Its branching ability is especially strong. Once the side branches grow to more than 15cm, we can use scissors to cut them off 10cm below the stem tip.
Ice plant can be harvested multiple times, meaning we can keep picking it, and over time you'll find that it can also bloom with white flowers, and after the flowers fade you can even harvest seeds.
Cooking recommendation
Wash the harvested ice plant clean, soak it in clean water for a bit, drain the water, mix peanut butter with warm water until smooth, pour it evenly over the ice plant, then add a few drops of white vinegar. It melts in your mouth, absolutely a delicious treat.
Andrographis paniculata
The Andrographis paniculata mentioned here is not the medicinal kind, but the one commonly seen on dining tables in recent years, which is actually the heartleaf ice plant (Mesembryanthemum cordifolium) we usually grow. Its leaves are edible. I wonder if any gardening friends grow this plant at home?
Growing tips
1. Cuttings
If you want to grow Andrographis paniculata at home, actually it doesn't have to be so troublesome. We can buy some from the vegetable market, keep one or two before cooking, and just stick them in to root.
Generally choose relatively thick top branches, cut the stems into cuttings of about 8cm, and insert them into relatively loose soil.
2. Management after cutting
After cutting, slowly water thoroughly and place in a cool, ventilated spot. Under normal conditions, they become seedlings in 1 month. Its growth rate is super fast.
In daily care, give it plenty of light, avoid exposure to strong summer sun, and provide enough water, but be careful not to let water accumulate.
Harvesting
Generally you can harvest 1 week after pinching off the growing tip. Choose tender tips about 7cm long, leaving 3-4 leaves at the lower part. Once the plant grows bigger, we should harvest often.
With each harvest, as long as the temperature is suitable, it can quickly grow new branches. Supplying a crop once every half a month is absolutely no problem.
Cooking recommendation
Wash the harvested Andrographis paniculata clean, blanch it in boiling water until cooked, rinse with cold water, take it out and drain the water, add minced garlic, salt, vinegar, sugar, and chicken essence, mix well and it's ready to eat. It's a very good cold dish.