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1/ Biggest loser: wasabi radish.

I planted the seeds outside in raised garden beds in full sun in late March and they immediately bolted. They produced wispy little bolts that only had one or two seed pods. They continued to grow and bolt and grow and bolt. I’m now on my fourth or fifth generation. I’m not going to try these again, but I’m sure they’ll continue to reseed themselves in my garden. I’d occasionally use a seed pod but they’re not worth the space they take up.

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1/ Biggest loser: wasabi radish.

I planted the seeds outside in raised garden beds in full sun in late March and they immediately bolted. They produced wispy little bolts that only had one or two seed pods. They continued to grow and bolt and grow and bolt. I’m now on my fourth or fifth generation. I’m not going to try these again, but I’m sure they’ll continue to reseed themselves in my garden. I’d occasionally use a seed pod but they’re not worth the space they take up.

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2/ pink soba and achocha.

These grew really well, but nothing really pollinated them. I got no fruit from the achocha even though they grew to be monstrous vines. Both the soba and achocha were growing adjacent to monarda and globe amaranth which are very popular with pollinators.

There are just a few viable seeds on the pink soba and they reseed themselves but not enough to harvest as food.

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2/ pink soba and achocha.

These grew really well, but nothing really pollinated them. I got no fruit from the achocha even though they grew to be monstrous vines. Both the soba and achocha were growing adjacent to monarda and globe amaranth which are very popular with pollinators.

There are just a few viable seeds on the pink soba and they reseed themselves but not enough to harvest as food.

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3/ Beit aleph cucumber

Downy mildew issues, struggled with heat. I planted these and raised garden beds in the spring in full sun. Produced but always looked pathetic.

Taste is ok.

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3/ Beit aleph cucumber

Downy mildew issues, struggled with heat. I planted these and raised garden beds in the spring in full sun. Produced but always looked pathetic.

Taste is ok.

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4/ Rat tail radish and watermelon radish. I would grow these again.

I planted these in raised garden beds in late March and in pots with tropical trees. The ones grown with the trees grew the best.

Rat tail needs shelter from midday sun. Many of the watermelon radish bolted but I still got small tubers. I planted these this fall too.

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4/ Rat tail radish and watermelon radish. I would grow these again.

I planted these in raised garden beds in late March and in pots with tropical trees. The ones grown with the trees grew the best.

Rat tail needs shelter from midday sun. Many of the watermelon radish bolted but I still got small tubers. I planted these this fall too.

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5/ Dwarf bok choi

I grew these in pots with tropical trees in late March and planted multiple generations. They never grew as they were supposed to. They bolted almost immediately. On the upside, it produced a lot of flowers and seed pods that I could use in salads. I would not buy these again because they are reseeding themselves in the pots with tropical trees.

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5/ Dwarf bok choi

I grew these in pots with tropical trees in late March and planted multiple generations. They never grew as they were supposed to. They bolted almost immediately. On the upside, it produced a lot of flowers and seed pods that I could use in salads. I would not buy these again because they are reseeding themselves in the pots with tropical trees.

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6/ eggplant. I will not grow these again.

I started these indoors in early and planted out of doors in late spring. This year I grew the Kami eggplants. The plant themselves grew fine, but the raccoons destroyed the fencing that was protecting them, and I’d find half-eaten eggplants all over the yard. It’s not worth the space and effort if you’re only going to harvest one or two fruits off of multiple plants.

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6/ eggplant. I will not grow these again.

I started these indoors in early and planted out of doors in late spring. This year I grew the Kami eggplants. The plant themselves grew fine, but the raccoons destroyed the fencing that was protecting them, and I’d find half-eaten eggplants all over the yard. It’s not worth the space and effort if you’re only going to harvest one or two fruits off of multiple plants.

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7/ winged bean vs winged pea

Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) did great, winged pea (Lotus tetrogonolobus) did not.

The bean is an autumn fruiting bean. I planted in late spring and it grew well in heat and held on to its fruit in tropical storms. Leaves are edible. It must be well-protected from rabbits.

The peas did not survive the heat. And where they were sheltered in part sun, they got really stippled by insects.

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7/ winged bean vs winged pea

Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) did great, winged pea (Lotus tetrogonolobus) did not.

The bean is an autumn fruiting bean. I planted in late spring and it grew well in heat and held on to its fruit in tropical storms. Leaves are edible. It must be well-protected from rabbits.

The peas did not survive the heat. And where they were sheltered in part sun, they got really stippled by insects.

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Two maturing winged bean pods hanging on a stem in front of chicken wire and green caging. Pea leaves are on the top of the stem. The one to the right is larger and is curved and is turned so it’s ridges aren’t visible but you can see where the edges are puckered. The one on the left is straight and pointed. You can see the ridges. Behind the beans are dried fronds of fennel pointing down towards the left corner and the seeds are still attached. 

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8/ I do not grow tomatoes bc of pests, diseases, nutritional demands, water hogs, animals stealing the fruit, not doing well in tropical storms and hurricanes. They’re just too demanding.

I grow the native ground cherry instead. Physalis grisea, they have a tomato flavor after heating. They do not need extra water or fertilizer and produce well. Survives storms. May look battered but keeps producing. I cultivate these for personal use and give the seeds away for food security programs.

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8/ I do not grow tomatoes bc of pests, diseases, nutritional demands, water hogs, animals stealing the fruit, not doing well in tropical storms and hurricanes. They’re just too demanding.

I grow the native ground cherry instead. Physalis grisea, they have a tomato flavor after heating. They do not need extra water or fertilizer and produce well. Survives storms. May look battered but keeps producing. I cultivate these for personal use and give the seeds away for food security programs.

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Physalis grisea berries chopped in half with sissoo spinach leaves in a blue bowl. There is a translucent white dressing drizzled over the fruit salad. 

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9/ Tepary beans. Will grow again.

I never watered these. The first generation I started in late March didn’t survive but the ones in May did and grew and produced well. I had them growing as companion plants to Titan sunflower and they grew up the stalks. These need to be protected from rabbits.

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9/ Tepary beans. Will grow again.

I never watered these. The first generation I started in late March didn’t survive but the ones in May did and grew and produced well. I had them growing as companion plants to Titan sunflower and they grew up the stalks. These need to be protected from rabbits.

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Tepary bean vine growing up a spent stalk of sunflower. It is in front of chicken wire and a rickety wooden fence. 

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10/ Titan sunflower. I will not grow these again.

They grew fine, but they didn’t produce many viable seeds for some reason, even though they were well-visited by pollinators. It might be because they weren’t grown in very good soil and got no fertilizer (the Tepary did fine with the same conditions). They took a major beating in the storms. I never watered them except to start the seedlings when there was no rain.

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10/ Titan sunflower. I will not grow these again.

They grew fine, but they didn’t produce many viable seeds for some reason, even though they were well-visited by pollinators. It might be because they weren’t grown in very good soil and got no fertilizer (the Tepary did fine with the same conditions). They took a major beating in the storms. I never watered them except to start the seedlings when there was no rain.

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11/ Miracle berry. Consistently producing perennial.

The fruit on the seed is scant. But it produces a lot of berries spring-fall and doesn’t want a lot of fertilizer. It wants a lot of perlite and sand in its soil so it is well-draining. Full sun to part shade. Bring indoors in winter. I do water it since it’s in a pot but it isn’t a water hog.

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11/ Miracle berry. Consistently producing perennial.

The fruit on the seed is scant. But it produces a lot of berries spring-fall and doesn’t want a lot of fertilizer. It wants a lot of perlite and sand in its soil so it is well-draining. Full sun to part shade. Bring indoors in winter. I do water it since it’s in a pot but it isn’t a water hog.

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A bright red berry in an oval shape, surrounded by green olive leaf-like leaves. 

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12/ Katuk. Consistent producing perennial.

I use this plant a lot. I cut a couple of sprigs with leaves on them for salad nearly every single day. Can also be cooked. It needs to be brought indoors in winter. Since it’s in a pot, it does need to be fertilized occasionally with nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Can use compost or grow beans as companions for this. Not a major water hog. Survived tropical storms ok. Gets eaten by rabbits so needs to be caged.

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12/ Katuk. Consistent producing perennial.

I use this plant a lot. I cut a couple of sprigs with leaves on them for salad nearly every single day. Can also be cooked. It needs to be brought indoors in winter. Since it’s in a pot, it does need to be fertilized occasionally with nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Can use compost or grow beans as companions for this. Not a major water hog. Survived tropical storms ok. Gets eaten by rabbits so needs to be caged.

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A katuk shrub planted in a half-barrel. The shrub layered branches of small pea green leaves. It’s shaped like cousin It from Addam’s family. The katuk shrub is surrounded by camelia bushes of darker emerald leaves. 

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13/ Sissoo spinach, consistent short-lived perennial.

Can be grown indoors. Needs a bit of shade. It really thrives well in heat. Doesn’t sustain any damage in tropical storms or hurricanes. Does need nitrogen. I grew beans in a pot with them and the spinach did well with them. Not a water hog, just watch for them getting a little wilty.

Propagates by cloning. A few sprigs should be cloned once a year to replace old ones that eventually give out.

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13/ Sissoo spinach, consistent short-lived perennial.

Can be grown indoors. Needs a bit of shade. It really thrives well in heat. Doesn’t sustain any damage in tropical storms or hurricanes. Does need nitrogen. I grew beans in a pot with them and the spinach did well with them. Not a water hog, just watch for them getting a little wilty.

Propagates by cloning. A few sprigs should be cloned once a year to replace old ones that eventually give out.

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Downward facing pic of sissoo spinach that is illuminated by sunlight so they appear bright pea green. They were also watered so are dappled white with water droplets. The leaves of the sissoo are crinkled heart-shaped leaves that emerge from stems opposite each other. The sissoo plant is densely growing and full of greenery. 

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14/ Bloody dock sorrel. Consistent short lived perennial.

This one also doesn’t get insect damaged (besides katuk and sissoo). I grow these in pots with tropical trees and it does fine. It’s small and not a heavy producer so I only harvest a few leaves a day. Plants are grown with beans and trees.

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14/ Bloody dock sorrel. Consistent short lived perennial.

This one also doesn’t get insect damaged (besides katuk and sissoo). I grow these in pots with tropical trees and it does fine. It’s small and not a heavy producer so I only harvest a few leaves a day. Plants are grown with beans and trees.

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15/ Baobab, consistent perennial, does get bugs indoors.

My plants are still young, so they’re not heavy producers. The plants will get aphids when you bring them inside in winter. I manage these by unleashing hordes of ladybugs into the sunroom where they are overwintering.

The tree doesn’t produce fruit until it’s at least 15 years old, so I am only using the leaves for now.

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15/ Baobab, consistent perennial, does get bugs indoors.

My plants are still young, so they’re not heavy producers. The plants will get aphids when you bring them inside in winter. I manage these by unleashing hordes of ladybugs into the sunroom where they are overwintering.

The tree doesn’t produce fruit until it’s at least 15 years old, so I am only using the leaves for now.

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A small two year old baobab seedling. The leaves are emerald green and grow clover-like on the stems attached to branches. There are four branches reaching upwards from a small main trunk. It is growing in a clay pot sitting on a saucer filled with stones. The plant is in front of a green grass. 

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16/ mitsuba. Biennial, reseeds itself.

I grow these in pots with tropical trees. They get aphids indoors so I collect seeds in Fall and pull the plants out when I bring the trees indoors to overwinter.

When they are out of doors, they don’t get eaten by bugs, but the bunnies will go after them so the trees need to be caged. They tolerate the heat well and don’t get damaged by tropical storms.

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16/ mitsuba. Biennial, reseeds itself.

I grow these in pots with tropical trees. They get aphids indoors so I collect seeds in Fall and pull the plants out when I bring the trees indoors to overwinter.

When they are out of doors, they don’t get eaten by bugs, but the bunnies will go after them so the trees need to be caged. They tolerate the heat well and don’t get damaged by tropical storms.

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17/ Boehmeria cylindrica. Perennial native plant.

Needs shade to part-shade, leaves are edible, taste like spinach. Doesn’t need extra water or fertilizer. Since it grows in sheltered places, it isn’t affected by storms.

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17/ Boehmeria cylindrica. Perennial native plant.

Needs shade to part-shade, leaves are edible, taste like spinach. Doesn’t need extra water or fertilizer. Since it grows in sheltered places, it isn’t affected by storms.

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Green serrated lanceolate leaves layered pointing downwards. Newer leaves on newer stems towards the bottom of the pic are lighter green and more mature leaves on older stems towards the top of the pic are darker green. 

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18/ Golden beets and Chiogga beets. Will grow again.

Planted these in late March in raised garden beds and in pots with tropical trees/vines. The ones grown with the trees produced larger tubers. I think the tree roots hold water in the soil bc they get watered less than the raised garden beds. The trees are also grown with beans.

Did well in the heat, but they were a little bit sheltered from the sun. Didn’t notice any storm damage. Rats nibbled on a few tubers. Beds/trees were caged.

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18/ Golden beets and Chiogga beets. Will grow again.

Planted these in late March in raised garden beds and in pots with tropical trees/vines. The ones grown with the trees produced larger tubers. I think the tree roots hold water in the soil bc they get watered less than the raised garden beds. The trees are also grown with beans.

Did well in the heat, but they were a little bit sheltered from the sun. Didn’t notice any storm damage. Rats nibbled on a few tubers. Beds/trees were caged.

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19/ Shiso

These get weedy and invasive. They don’t need extra water or fertilizer and grow really well. Survived the heat fine and didn’t notice any damage from tropical storms. Rabbits leave it alone and there’s not much insect damage.

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19/ Shiso

These get weedy and invasive. They don’t need extra water or fertilizer and grow really well. Survived the heat fine and didn’t notice any damage from tropical storms. Rabbits leave it alone and there’s not much insect damage.

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20/ Huazontle

Survives fine in tropical storms. Last year I used these mostly for flower buds and seeds (can be eaten like quinoa) but I mostly used the leaves for salads this year. I grow it with my guamachil trees (bean trees) and only have three plants this year. That’s all I really needed. Doesn’t require more water than the rain.

This plant can get weedy. It’s native to North America, but not on the East Coast.

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20/ Huazontle

Survives fine in tropical storms. Last year I used these mostly for flower buds and seeds (can be eaten like quinoa) but I mostly used the leaves for salads this year. I grow it with my guamachil trees (bean trees) and only have three plants this year. That’s all I really needed. Doesn’t require more water than the rain.

This plant can get weedy. It’s native to North America, but not on the East Coast.

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Maturing red huazontle flower shoots contrasting against a blue sky. A few runaway green Guamachil branches are waving in the breeze above them. The flower buds are a deep rich wine red while the leaves are a dark pink. There is an oak tree branch in the left corner. 

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21/ white bitter melon

This might be an acquired taste, but it is more mild than green bitter melon. I grow this as a companion plant to Nkruma Tenten okra. It climbs up and trellises on the okra. It is grown in deep raised beds and in a sheltered place from wind. It gets mostly sun. Bugs don’t eat the leaves, but pollinators visit the flowers. It doesn’t get squash vine borer. I’ve tried growing it in other places, but it only seems to really like growing with the okra.

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21/ white bitter melon

This might be an acquired taste, but it is more mild than green bitter melon. I grow this as a companion plant to Nkruma Tenten okra. It climbs up and trellises on the okra. It is grown in deep raised beds and in a sheltered place from wind. It gets mostly sun. Bugs don’t eat the leaves, but pollinators visit the flowers. It doesn’t get squash vine borer. I’ve tried growing it in other places, but it only seems to really like growing with the okra.

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22/ I do not grow pumpkins, watermelons, or squash. Squash vine borer is a major problem and all my neighbors are plagued by it. I think too many people are trying to grow these cucurbits and it’s exploding the SVB population. BT spray doesn’t work.

Also rats go after the watermelon, I never get any. The melons get chewed up before they’re a few inches round.

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22/ I do not grow pumpkins, watermelons, or squash. Squash vine borer is a major problem and all my neighbors are plagued by it. I think too many people are trying to grow these cucurbits and it’s exploding the SVB population. BT spray doesn’t work.

Also rats go after the watermelon, I never get any. The melons get chewed up before they’re a few inches round.

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23/ Guamachil, bean tree

It hasn’t fruited yet but wow, it survives hurricanes like a champ. Not a water hog. Naturally nitrogen fixing. Leaves aren’t edible though: sting the tongue and are medicinal. Pest resistant, bugs don’t eat it. Bring indoors in winter.

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23/ Guamachil, bean tree

It hasn’t fruited yet but wow, it survives hurricanes like a champ. Not a water hog. Naturally nitrogen fixing. Leaves aren’t edible though: sting the tongue and are medicinal. Pest resistant, bugs don’t eat it. Bring indoors in winter.

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24/ ice cream bean tree.

It’s supposedly fruits after three years, but it didn’t fruit for me. It does poorly in tropical storms. The branches are fairly brittle and will snap easily. I have it in a sheltered place from wind, and it gets part sun. Does fine with high summer heat. It has a symbiotic relationship with ants who take up the frangrant sweet water droplets pictured.

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24/ ice cream bean tree.

It’s supposedly fruits after three years, but it didn’t fruit for me. It does poorly in tropical storms. The branches are fairly brittle and will snap easily. I have it in a sheltered place from wind, and it gets part sun. Does fine with high summer heat. It has a symbiotic relationship with ants who take up the frangrant sweet water droplets pictured.

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A close up pic of a foliar nectary of the ice cream bean tree leaf. A round sugar water droplet with a rainbow (mostly yellow-orange) sheen hanging over a small green cup. The cup sits in the cross-section of the leaf between the stem and side leaves. The leaves and stems have white hairs. The sides of the photo are blurry bc the pic was taken through a loupe. The blue is greens, yellows and oranges. 

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25/ acerola

Does well in heat, survive storms like a champ but it’s a bit of a water hog if you want fruit. Also, animals will go after the fruit as well. It needs to be brought indoors if temperatures go below freezing.

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25/ acerola

Does well in heat, survive storms like a champ but it’s a bit of a water hog if you want fruit. Also, animals will go after the fruit as well. It needs to be brought indoors if temperatures go below freezing.

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A dainty neon pink flower. The petals are a little frilly on the ends and are manta ray shaped with the tail pointing to the base of the flower and petal-rays “swimming” outward. There are yellow bulbous anthers on light green stamens. Behind the flower to the right is small waxy leaf that appears large in this perspective.  The background is full of blurry shades of green. 

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26/ jackfruit and kuai muk

Both of these artocarpus do well in heat and survive storms pretty well. Not water hogs. Mine are grown in mostly sun. Bring the jackfruit in when temps go below 40F and the kuai muk if below 32F.

Jackfruit leaf is edible (see pinned thread) but kuai muk is not. Kuai muk will make friends with beans when grown in the same pot but the jackfruit’s roots uses up all the space.

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26/ jackfruit and kuai muk

Both of these artocarpus do well in heat and survive storms pretty well. Not water hogs. Mine are grown in mostly sun. Bring the jackfruit in when temps go below 40F and the kuai muk if below 32F.

Jackfruit leaf is edible (see pinned thread) but kuai muk is not. Kuai muk will make friends with beans when grown in the same pot but the jackfruit’s roots uses up all the space.

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Leaves of kuai muk and jackfruit reaching towards a blue cloudy sky taken from below. The kuai muk is to the left and the jackfruit dominates the photo from the right. The leaves are rigid and well-defined against the sky. The leaves of kuai muk are skinny lanceolate and some have been nibbled by katydids. The jackfruit are round and deeply veined. The kuai muk are more grass green while the jackfruit are more emerald. 

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27/ white sapote

Not a water hog, but doesn’t do well in high winds. Needs to be sheltered. Will make friends and share its pot with bean plants and small vegetables like dwarf bok choi, chives, green onion, etc.

Drag indoors if temperatures go below freezing.

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27/ white sapote

Not a water hog, but doesn’t do well in high winds. Needs to be sheltered. Will make friends and share its pot with bean plants and small vegetables like dwarf bok choi, chives, green onion, etc.

Drag indoors if temperatures go below freezing.

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28/ peanut butter fruit

This does not do well in hurricanes and in storms. It will get extensive leaf damage and lose all its leaves, but will grow back again. It needs a sheltered location from wind. It fruits from spring till fall and you need to bring it indoors if temperatures go below 40F. Birds and slugs will eat the fruit. Watered down dish soap can protect the fruits from slugs.

It does require fertilizer. It is a bit of a water hog and does not share a pot with other plants.

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28/ peanut butter fruit

This does not do well in hurricanes and in storms. It will get extensive leaf damage and lose all its leaves, but will grow back again. It needs a sheltered location from wind. It fruits from spring till fall and you need to bring it indoors if temperatures go below 40F. Birds and slugs will eat the fruit. Watered down dish soap can protect the fruits from slugs.

It does require fertilizer. It is a bit of a water hog and does not share a pot with other plants.

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An orange, speckled yellow peanut butter fruit hanging from a long stem. The fruit stem is pointing up but is hanging down from the weight of the fruit. It is not quite ripe. It will turn more red and become soft. There are grass green leaves pointed in every direction, and some are insect-chewed. 

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29/ pitangatuba

Survives tropical storms and hurricanes very well but hail will destroy the fruit and flowers. It fruits consistently from spring to fall when it is mature enough. It does require a bit of fertilizer if you want to have consisten fruit. It does not share a pot with other plants, the roots are pervasive. Bring indoors if temps go below freezing. I water this plant everyday in summer but less in cooler months. Pest resistant. Cage plant to keep animals from stealing the fruit.

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29/ pitangatuba

Survives tropical storms and hurricanes very well but hail will destroy the fruit and flowers. It fruits consistently from spring to fall when it is mature enough. It does require a bit of fertilizer if you want to have consisten fruit. It does not share a pot with other plants, the roots are pervasive. Bring indoors if temps go below freezing. I water this plant everyday in summer but less in cooler months. Pest resistant. Cage plant to keep animals from stealing the fruit.

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A large plump pitangatuba fruit. It is in a similar shape to starfruit but is round ball. It is a cheery light orange. Fingers are holding it up in front of a 1/1cm cage. Behind the cage is another not quite ripe smaller yellowish green berry. There are small waxy ovate leaves densely packed and the top ones are a bit sunburnt. It is growing in a dark blue pot. 

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30/ Jamaican cherry

Consistently fruits from spring to fall, and sometimes in winter if it gets enough light. It needs to be brought in when temperatures get below 40F at night. It is a water hog and it does need fertilizer if you want to have a lot of fruit. Provided fertilizer, it is a heavy fruiter and is popular with the pollinators. Does not do well in high winds, needs a sheltered location with a lot of sun.

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30/ Jamaican cherry

Consistently fruits from spring to fall, and sometimes in winter if it gets enough light. It needs to be brought in when temperatures get below 40F at night. It is a water hog and it does need fertilizer if you want to have a lot of fruit. Provided fertilizer, it is a heavy fruiter and is popular with the pollinators. Does not do well in high winds, needs a sheltered location with a lot of sun.

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A small round red berry hanging from a stem on a small green-brown thin branch. It has lanceolate shaped leaves opposite to each other on green and brown stems in the background.  

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31/ kale and fennel

In previous years, I would net all of my kale and fennel to protect from butterflies but I don’t have time anymore, so I just leave it to get chewed down by butterflies. When temps get cooler and the butterflies are finished for the season, that’s when I harvest fennel and kale. I use regular compost for fertilizer and grow beans in the same bed. I also grow kale in pots with tropical trees. Both plants reseed themselves, they are no-effort plants. Do ok in storms.

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31/ kale and fennel

In previous years, I would net all of my kale and fennel to protect from butterflies but I don’t have time anymore, so I just leave it to get chewed down by butterflies. When temps get cooler and the butterflies are finished for the season, that’s when I harvest fennel and kale. I use regular compost for fertilizer and grow beans in the same bed. I also grow kale in pots with tropical trees. Both plants reseed themselves, they are no-effort plants. Do ok in storms.

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32/ Jaboticabas

I have so many species that I can’t list them all. What I can say about them is that they do fine in tropical storms and hurricanes. They require a bit of extra water and they don’t share their pots with other plants. They do fine in hot temperatures. Bring indoors when below freezing. Insects and rabbits leave the leaves alone. Squirrels and birds will eat the fruit so they need to be caged.

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32/ Jaboticabas

I have so many species that I can’t list them all. What I can say about them is that they do fine in tropical storms and hurricanes. They require a bit of extra water and they don’t share their pots with other plants. They do fine in hot temperatures. Bring indoors when below freezing. Insects and rabbits leave the leaves alone. Squirrels and birds will eat the fruit so they need to be caged.

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A flush of new leaves of the red hybrid jaboticaba. Two stalks of small soft leaves are springing out into the foreground from a single branch. They are a salmon pink and contrast dramatically from the pea-green mature leaves behind them. Different species of jaboticabas can have new leaves of different colors ranging from white-ish, pink to red.  

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33/ Pouteria

I have many species of this genus. They are easy to grow, and the only pests they get are when occasionally katydids will nibble on the leaves. They share their pots with small vegetables. They aren’t water hogs. They survive well in high winds. Bring indoors when temps go below freezing. So easy.

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33/ Pouteria

I have many species of this genus. They are easy to grow, and the only pests they get are when occasionally katydids will nibble on the leaves. They share their pots with small vegetables. They aren’t water hogs. They survive well in high winds. Bring indoors when temps go below freezing. So easy.

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34/ Eugenias

I have many species of this genus. What I can say about them is that they don’t share their pots with small vegetables (grumichama is an exception). They survive OK in high winds. Once mature, don’t have heavy water demands. They do require fertilizer if you want a lot of fruit. Birds and animals will eat the fruit so they need to be caged. I haven’t noticed much insect damage besides katydid nibbles. No aphids or scale.

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34/ Eugenias

I have many species of this genus. What I can say about them is that they don’t share their pots with small vegetables (grumichama is an exception). They survive OK in high winds. Once mature, don’t have heavy water demands. They do require fertilizer if you want a lot of fruit. Birds and animals will eat the fruit so they need to be caged. I haven’t noticed much insect damage besides katydid nibbles. No aphids or scale.

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35/ Pink Guava

Water hog. The leaves don’t get a lot of wind damage in high winds but the pot will get knocked over. I only got one fruit this year because the squirrels stole most of them. Needs fertilizer to get fruit. The fruit is nice but I find the plant is a lot of trouble to keep because of the squirrels taking the fruit and it needing a lot of water and fertilizer. Does fine in hot temps. Bring indoors when temps are 40F consistently at night.

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35/ Pink Guava

Water hog. The leaves don’t get a lot of wind damage in high winds but the pot will get knocked over. I only got one fruit this year because the squirrels stole most of them. Needs fertilizer to get fruit. The fruit is nice but I find the plant is a lot of trouble to keep because of the squirrels taking the fruit and it needing a lot of water and fertilizer. Does fine in hot temps. Bring indoors when temps are 40F consistently at night.

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Flower of the pink guava. There are four white roundish petals and a fireworks explosion of thin white filaments with cream colored anthers. Behind it is another still green flower bud and grass green deeply veined guava leaves. 

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36/ citrus

I’ve lost two citrus trees due to extreme high heat (centennial kumquat) and rodents chewing at the base the trunk (pink lemon). I protect my trees with cages now and grow them sheltered from midday sun. They do not have any pests besides rats taking the fruit. They will share pots with bean plants. They are heavy nitrogen feeders so this helps. Some people have told me that their’s get scale, but this hasn’t happened to me. Citrus is not a water hog.

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36/ citrus

I’ve lost two citrus trees due to extreme high heat (centennial kumquat) and rodents chewing at the base the trunk (pink lemon). I protect my trees with cages now and grow them sheltered from midday sun. They do not have any pests besides rats taking the fruit. They will share pots with bean plants. They are heavy nitrogen feeders so this helps. Some people have told me that their’s get scale, but this hasn’t happened to me. Citrus is not a water hog.

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37/ Peppers

I grow madhatters, ají charapita and lesya. I use the madhatters the most. MH and AC are prolific but need fertilizer. I have several MH growing in a half barrel. I tried growing sugar snap pole peas in with them, but the peas got downy mildew. Next year I will try beans instead. MH can live up to 6yrs, need to be cut down to 6 inches (to go dormant) and brought indoors when temps go below freezing. MH and AC are pest resistant unlike the lesya (aphids!).

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37/ Peppers

I grow madhatters, ají charapita and lesya. I use the madhatters the most. MH and AC are prolific but need fertilizer. I have several MH growing in a half barrel. I tried growing sugar snap pole peas in with them, but the peas got downy mildew. Next year I will try beans instead. MH can live up to 6yrs, need to be cut down to 6 inches (to go dormant) and brought indoors when temps go below freezing. MH and AC are pest resistant unlike the lesya (aphids!).

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38/ Annonas

I have several of this genus. They do not have heavy water demands and they share their pots with small vegetables. They do alright in high winds. They might lose their leaves, but will quickly grow back. I have not noticed any pest issues. Their leaves, bark and seed have a natural pesticide. Some species are quite cold sensitive. I do not recommend guanabana bc of this. They tolerate high heat very well.

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38/ Annonas

I have several of this genus. They do not have heavy water demands and they share their pots with small vegetables. They do alright in high winds. They might lose their leaves, but will quickly grow back. I have not noticed any pest issues. Their leaves, bark and seed have a natural pesticide. Some species are quite cold sensitive. I do not recommend guanabana bc of this. They tolerate high heat very well.

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39/ Avocado and engkala

I don’t recommend these. Avocados get aphids very badly when brought indoors in the winter. Engkala do not but they are very cold sensitive. Neither of them do well in high winds. Their leaves are rather fragile and get ripped. Rather than just drop the leaves and produce new ones, they just hang on and look terrible until you cut the branch back. Engkala will share its pot with small veg. Both do ok in high heat.

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39/ Avocado and engkala

I don’t recommend these. Avocados get aphids very badly when brought indoors in the winter. Engkala do not but they are very cold sensitive. Neither of them do well in high winds. Their leaves are rather fragile and get ripped. Rather than just drop the leaves and produce new ones, they just hang on and look terrible until you cut the branch back. Engkala will share its pot with small veg. Both do ok in high heat.

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40/ Syzygium

I have a few of this genus. They can tolerate high winds OK. They thrive in hot temperatures. They’re not too demanding with water. They get fairly large and don’t share their pot with small veg. They need to be brought indoors when temps go below freezing. They get a little bit of scale during winter when indoors. Not too bad. My rose apple got badly damaged by rats chewing the base of the trunk, but it came back fine.

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40/ Syzygium

I have a few of this genus. They can tolerate high winds OK. They thrive in hot temperatures. They’re not too demanding with water. They get fairly large and don’t share their pot with small veg. They need to be brought indoors when temps go below freezing. They get a little bit of scale during winter when indoors. Not too bad. My rose apple got badly damaged by rats chewing the base of the trunk, but it came back fine.

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41/

I grow two okra species. Abelmoschus callei (Nkruma tenten okra) and esculentus (Okinawa pink okra)

Other years I’ve had bad aphid problems, but this year, almost nothing. The Nkruma Tenten is grown in a place sheltered from high winds. The pink okra is shorter and tolerates wind better. Both of them need protection from bunnies or they will be chewed down. And both are in raised beds. Produce reliably, aren’t needy, tolerate extreme heat well. Can be companions with other veg.

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41/

I grow two okra species. Abelmoschus callei (Nkruma tenten okra) and esculentus (Okinawa pink okra)

Other years I’ve had bad aphid problems, but this year, almost nothing. The Nkruma Tenten is grown in a place sheltered from high winds. The pink okra is shorter and tolerates wind better. Both of them need protection from bunnies or they will be chewed down. And both are in raised beds. Produce reliably, aren’t needy, tolerate extreme heat well. Can be companions with other veg.

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A bunch of okra sitting on a wood-top counter. The plump green okra are deeply ridged. They look big but they are young and at the ripe point for picking. The pink okra is a dark pink and almost maroon-red. They are thin and almost round. 

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42/ Melothria pendula, creeping cucumber

Small delicate vine with tiny cucumbers. Tolerates extreme heat and high winds well. Doesn’t have extra water or fertilizer needs bc it is a native plant. Sun to part-sun. Melons are only edible when light green.

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42/ Melothria pendula, creeping cucumber

Small delicate vine with tiny cucumbers. Tolerates extreme heat and high winds well. Doesn’t have extra water or fertilizer needs bc it is a native plant. Sun to part-sun. Melons are only edible when light green.

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Tiny cucumbers hanging on stems on a tiny vine with small ivy shaped leaves. They are hanging on by thread sized tendrils on chicken wire and green garden fencing. In the faded background are a white water barrel, blurry bush and red brick wall. The cucumbers are a cm large. 

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43/ Diospyros

Black sapote can tolerate high winds but other species have brittle branches. All the species I grow (nigra, lotus, virginiana) tolerate extreme heat well. The leaves can get nibbled on by little black flies but trees tolerate it. They can have small veg growing in the same large pot. Isn’t needy with water or fertilizer. Black sapote should be dragged indoors if below freezing.

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43/ Diospyros

Black sapote can tolerate high winds but other species have brittle branches. All the species I grow (nigra, lotus, virginiana) tolerate extreme heat well. The leaves can get nibbled on by little black flies but trees tolerate it. They can have small veg growing in the same large pot. Isn’t needy with water or fertilizer. Black sapote should be dragged indoors if below freezing.

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An unripe black sapote fruit hanging off a thick green stem. It is round and green with white freckles and a few black tiny dots. It is shiny and reflecting sunlight. The stem has black waxy large leaves that grow alternately on the stem. 

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44/ Asimina triloba, pawpaw

Native tree. Can tolerate high winds and extreme heat very well. Has a natural pesticide in its seeds, bark and roots, as well as trace amounts in the skin of the fruit. Easy to grow doesn’t need water besides the rain. It’s not self-fertile, need two trees.

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44/ Asimina triloba, pawpaw

Native tree. Can tolerate high winds and extreme heat very well. Has a natural pesticide in its seeds, bark and roots, as well as trace amounts in the skin of the fruit. Easy to grow doesn’t need water besides the rain. It’s not self-fertile, need two trees.

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45/ Feijoa

Very easy to grow. Tolerates high winds and extreme heat well. Isn’t needy with water, I rarely water it. I grow mine in pots bc of the potential for flooding and they tolerate small veg growing in the pot with them.

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45/ Feijoa

Very easy to grow. Tolerates high winds and extreme heat well. Isn’t needy with water, I rarely water it. I grow mine in pots bc of the potential for flooding and they tolerate small veg growing in the pot with them.

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46/ strawberries

I grow both native and cultivated varieties, and I rarely get to have any fruit because of animals finding a way to get at them. Most of my strawberry plugs are caged but that doesn’t stop the animals. Oh well.

Easy to grow, tolerates high winds and extreme heat, but most of mine are sheltered from midday sun.

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46/ strawberries

I grow both native and cultivated varieties, and I rarely get to have any fruit because of animals finding a way to get at them. Most of my strawberry plugs are caged but that doesn’t stop the animals. Oh well.

Easy to grow, tolerates high winds and extreme heat, but most of mine are sheltered from midday sun.

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47/ various herbs, plant and forget

Oregano, Virginia mountain mint (both species), chives, nodding onions, green onions, ramps (go dormant late spring), monarda, feverfew, rando mints, peppercress, bokoboko spinach, culantro

High winds, extreme heat don’t get these down. All of the above can reseed themselves and get weedy. I don’t water any of the above. They just get the rain.

I grow culantro in pots with tropical trees bc it’s a biennial that will die in freezing temps.

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47/ various herbs, plant and forget

Oregano, Virginia mountain mint (both species), chives, nodding onions, green onions, ramps (go dormant late spring), monarda, feverfew, rando mints, peppercress, bokoboko spinach, culantro

High winds, extreme heat don’t get these down. All of the above can reseed themselves and get weedy. I don’t water any of the above. They just get the rain.

I grow culantro in pots with tropical trees bc it’s a biennial that will die in freezing temps.

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48/ dwarf moringa and loroco

Moringa and loroco do well in extreme heat, moringa does not do well in high winds (loroco is fine). They aren’t especially needy about water but do need fert. They need to be brought indoors if temps go below 45F. They both get buggy indoors. Aphids, white fly and spider mite. I don’t recommend growing these plants for this reason.

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48/ dwarf moringa and loroco

Moringa and loroco do well in extreme heat, moringa does not do well in high winds (loroco is fine). They aren’t especially needy about water but do need fert. They need to be brought indoors if temps go below 45F. They both get buggy indoors. Aphids, white fly and spider mite. I don’t recommend growing these plants for this reason.

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49/ curry leaf (Murraya koenigii)

Does fine in extreme heat and high winds but can get really infested with scale both indoors and out. You need to really love curry leaf to grow this plant. It isn’t needy about water or fert. It needs very well draining soil (full of perlite). Won’t share a pot with other veg but wouldn’t dare with all the scale.

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49/ curry leaf (Murraya koenigii)

Does fine in extreme heat and high winds but can get really infested with scale both indoors and out. You need to really love curry leaf to grow this plant. It isn’t needy about water or fert. It needs very well draining soil (full of perlite). Won’t share a pot with other veg but wouldn’t dare with all the scale.

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A follower cluster of the curry leaf. Most of the flowers are not yet open but a few are. The flower petals are thin and white with white stamens, anthers and pestle. Curry leaf fronds spring out in opposite directions in the background. 

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50/ Garcinia

I grow several in this genus and the only one to grow big is the achacha (Garcinia humilis). The others have stayed tiny, year after year. In the northern hemisphere, the achacha blooms in winter so keep that in mind when it comes to sun reqs. Tolerates extreme heat well, high winds not terrible, but should be sheltered bc it doesn’t regrow leaves on a branch. Pest resistant. Can grow small veg in same pot. Bring indoors when temp gets near freezing.

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50/ Garcinia

I grow several in this genus and the only one to grow big is the achacha (Garcinia humilis). The others have stayed tiny, year after year. In the northern hemisphere, the achacha blooms in winter so keep that in mind when it comes to sun reqs. Tolerates extreme heat well, high winds not terrible, but should be sheltered bc it doesn’t regrow leaves on a branch. Pest resistant. Can grow small veg in same pot. Bring indoors when temp gets near freezing.

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51/ Bael fruit, Aegle marmelos

Tolerates extreme heat and high winds well. It needs to be brought indoors when temps get near 40F. It can tolerate drought and doesn’t has heavy water demands. It does get buggy when brought indoors for winter.

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51/ Bael fruit, Aegle marmelos

Tolerates extreme heat and high winds well. It needs to be brought indoors when temps get near 40F. It can tolerate drought and doesn’t has heavy water demands. It does get buggy when brought indoors for winter.

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52/ 蜘蛛果 spider berry, Campanumoea lancifolia

Grows really well. Seems to be resilient to high winds and extreme heat. Does need a bit extra water than the rain. I don’t have a lot of information on its cultivation. I will bring it indoors when temperatures go below freezing.

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52/ 蜘蛛果 spider berry, Campanumoea lancifolia

Grows really well. Seems to be resilient to high winds and extreme heat. Does need a bit extra water than the rain. I don’t have a lot of information on its cultivation. I will bring it indoors when temperatures go below freezing.

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A bunch of flower buds of the spider berry plant hanging down from a stem. The spider berry is at the base of the flower and has long thin leaflets along its side that are very prickly looking. ￼the leaves are medium green and lanceolate. The plant is growing with Pouteria viridis and is caged to prevent bunnies from chewing it down.

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A flower has dried and the berry is starting to engorge at its base. The berry is still green. Behind it is chicken wire and a spray-painted colorful polka dot pot. 

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53/ Nam Dok Mai T4 mango.

This is an ultra dwarf mango that you can grow in a pot. I rarely water it more than what the rain gives. It will share its pot with small vegetables. It is tolerant of extreme heat and high winds, but I am growing mine slightly sheltered. It does need fert to produce fruit. Pest resistant. Keep above freezing.

I grew a champagne mango from seed, but a rat chewed it down to its base when it was two years old. That was the end of that mango.

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53/ Nam Dok Mai T4 mango.

This is an ultra dwarf mango that you can grow in a pot. I rarely water it more than what the rain gives. It will share its pot with small vegetables. It is tolerant of extreme heat and high winds, but I am growing mine slightly sheltered. It does need fert to produce fruit. Pest resistant. Keep above freezing.

I grew a champagne mango from seed, but a rat chewed it down to its base when it was two years old. That was the end of that mango.

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54/ Chrysophyllum cainito, roxburghii and albidum / Gambeya albida

Pest resistant, tolerates extreme heat well, but not high winds. The leaves get torn, they will drop and plant will produce new ones. I keep mine sheltered. Cainito will tolerate small veg grown in the same pot but albidum won’t. Don’t have high water needs and I rarely almost never water the albidum in fall/winter. Bring indoors when temps get near 40F. Need two cainito to cross-pollinate.

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54/ Chrysophyllum cainito, roxburghii and albidum / Gambeya albida

Pest resistant, tolerates extreme heat well, but not high winds. The leaves get torn, they will drop and plant will produce new ones. I keep mine sheltered. Cainito will tolerate small veg grown in the same pot but albidum won’t. Don’t have high water needs and I rarely almost never water the albidum in fall/winter. Bring indoors when temps get near 40F. Need two cainito to cross-pollinate.

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Three species of Chrysophyllum clustered together in different large pots. The largest leaf is from the white star apple from Western Africa, in the front is the green star apple of Central America and behind it with the smallest leaves is the star apple of India. 

Furthest to the back is th mango, far right corner is the Coccolaba (round emerald leaves) to the left is Ramon nut. There are some dried stalks of mitsuba flowers that will get pulled out by end of autumn. 

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55/ Parkia biglobosa, tamarindus indica, Dialium guineense

Three bean trees from Africa. All of them get a bit damaged in high winds. Dialium is more resilient. Dialium will share a pot with other small veg (currently pandanus, mitsuba and sissoo). All pest resistant and thrive in extreme heat. Do not have high water demands. Bring inside when temps get near freezing.

First year, a bunny chewed down the Parkia to a stub but it came back.

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55/ Parkia biglobosa, tamarindus indica, Dialium guineense

Three bean trees from Africa. All of them get a bit damaged in high winds. Dialium is more resilient. Dialium will share a pot with other small veg (currently pandanus, mitsuba and sissoo). All pest resistant and thrive in extreme heat. Do not have high water demands. Bring inside when temps get near freezing.

First year, a bunny chewed down the Parkia to a stub but it came back.

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56/ loquats

I have two trees and both got terribly blighted. They only had a few leaves on the branches and they looked on death’s door. So I sprayed them with a fungicide - the only time I didn’t do organic - and they came back but they look really pathetic and rough. Other people around me have lost loquats to blight.

Loquats otherwise don’t need extra water or fert than nature. Fruit should be protected from late frosts.

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56/ loquats

I have two trees and both got terribly blighted. They only had a few leaves on the branches and they looked on death’s door. So I sprayed them with a fungicide - the only time I didn’t do organic - and they came back but they look really pathetic and rough. Other people around me have lost loquats to blight.

Loquats otherwise don’t need extra water or fert than nature. Fruit should be protected from late frosts.

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57/ grapes

I have two species Vitis labrusca and rotundifolia. The labrusca is supposed to be Catawba but it isn’t and the rotundifolia are native wild muscadines. Both grow without any extra water or fert. But I never get any grapes bc the animals eat all of them before they’re even ripe. The leaves of the labrusca are better for pickling and using in stews and wraps than rotundifolia bc they have more flavor and texture. R’s are a little weak and papery and too fibrous to eat raw.

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57/ grapes

I have two species Vitis labrusca and rotundifolia. The labrusca is supposed to be Catawba but it isn’t and the rotundifolia are native wild muscadines. Both grow without any extra water or fert. But I never get any grapes bc the animals eat all of them before they’re even ripe. The leaves of the labrusca are better for pickling and using in stews and wraps than rotundifolia bc they have more flavor and texture. R’s are a little weak and papery and too fibrous to eat raw.

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58/ maypops Passiflora incarnata (native fruit vine)

Vines die back each year and grow again the next spring. I did a bad job this year of securing the vines on the trellis and they keep falling down in high winds so they aren’t entirely maintenance-free. They don’t get more water than nature but I do give a bit of compost in fall after they die back. Young leaves are “edible.”

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58/ maypops Passiflora incarnata (native fruit vine)

Vines die back each year and grow again the next spring. I did a bad job this year of securing the vines on the trellis and they keep falling down in high winds so they aren’t entirely maintenance-free. They don’t get more water than nature but I do give a bit of compost in fall after they die back. Young leaves are “edible.”

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maypop flower. The most striking aspect of the flower is it hundreds of filaments that point out from the center. The filaments are mostly lavender in color with a dark purple stripe, near the center of the flower and a few white stripes. The filaments become faded white towards the tips.  the light is strong, so that the filament cast little black shadows on the leaves behind it. 
The center is purple with large yellow hanging anthers that make it look like there is a connected yellow circle. The styles are dotted purple with yellow tips. 

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59/ partridge berry, Mitchella repens

I grew the plants from foraged berries and they grow really well for a tiny plant but they have not flowered yet and it’s been almost two years. The leaves are rather peppery. I haven’t done anything with the leaves bc I want it to flower first. They’re growing in many different pots in different amounts of light except full sun. The shaded ones grow the most robust. I gave a little fert this summer to encourage 🌸 but no joy. No extra water than nature.

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59/ partridge berry, Mitchella repens

I grew the plants from foraged berries and they grow really well for a tiny plant but they have not flowered yet and it’s been almost two years. The leaves are rather peppery. I haven’t done anything with the leaves bc I want it to flower first. They’re growing in many different pots in different amounts of light except full sun. The shaded ones grow the most robust. I gave a little fert this summer to encourage 🌸 but no joy. No extra water than nature.

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An exploding cluster of partridge berry stalks and leaves. The tiny heart-shaped leaves grow opposite to each other densely on the stalk and the stalk is light brown color like pine straw. The newest leaves are very tiny and red but quickly change to a light green. 

The pic doesn’t do justice to the color bc light reflects off the leaves so that they appear greyish. The leaves’ true color is a blueish emerald. 

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60/ blackberries / raspberries

I grow native black raspberries and thornless cultivars of raspberries and blackberries. They don’t get any extra water than nature, but I do give a bit of fert. I keep the blackberries caged. It’s a dwarf variety. The raspberries are too big. I am able to get some berries off raspberries in the spring but the birds get most of them. I do use the leaves: dried/ground into powder in flours for noodles/breads or whole in tea.

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60/ blackberries / raspberries

I grow native black raspberries and thornless cultivars of raspberries and blackberries. They don’t get any extra water than nature, but I do give a bit of fert. I keep the blackberries caged. It’s a dwarf variety. The raspberries are too big. I am able to get some berries off raspberries in the spring but the birds get most of them. I do use the leaves: dried/ground into powder in flours for noodles/breads or whole in tea.