Erosion

A fair amount of loose topsoil gets washed away with heavy downpours. Spent this morning making a barricade with old roof tiles and bricks.

Ran out of bricks.

Mushroom-like flower

 The sayur manis just flowered. Some of the flowers look like little mushrooms.

first ginger harvest

 It's been 5 months.

Couldn't wait for 8 as recommended by most on the web. Some random guy I met while walking my dog told me his took about 4 months. That convinced me to go ahead.

Luckily I planted it above the ground in a bed of new soil surrounded by bricks. Removing one or two of them made it easier to dig the ginger out from the side...

This was growing under the soil...

What an amazing feeling seeing it multiplied. Lots of earthworms in between the bulbs so I had to be careful washing and breaking the ginger apart.

This was what it looked like, semi cleaned. You can see the original mother was a different colour.

Height perspective

 Most of the photos of the banana tree have been by itself. Here is one with me next to it. I am 5ft11in.

cutting grass

Cutting grass day today...

I used to spend heaps of time sweeping up and composting all the cuttings. But now I just sweep whatever is on the driveway only, out back into the garden and let the cuttings break down all over.

Also was time for another dose of Epsom salts. I do a tablespoon to 4 litres of water and just give a little to each plant, every 6 months. I dont overdo it coz there are claims on both sides, some swear by it, some say its useless.  

Tilting tree from the weight of the fruit

 The banana tree will sure fall if we leave it as it is. Just the weight from the start of the fruiting has already caused it to lean quite a bit. 

We have had to secure most of our trees to the wall/fence.

Used a sack to distribute the force on the tree a bit more. Also 2 ropes instead of one. All to lessen the stress on the plant.

Tree looks better/straighter now. 

Red neem water

 The water which I soak neem leaves garlic and chili in has turned from a dark brown to red.