Plants as Food
02 Apr
0
86
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 2nd April 2026
By far the best all-round pest control method is to simply exclude them. This is of course often easier said than done, but for many many set-ups exclusion netting is the most efficient and practical way to ensure..
01 Apr
0
59
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 1st April 2026
Arabica Coffee (Coffea arabica)
Family: Rubiaceae (includes Cinchona (source of quinine) and Gardenia)
Genus: Coffea (includes Coffea canephora, the ‘Robusta’ coffee)
Botanical/Binomial Name: Coffea arabica
Mean..
26 Mar
0
85
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 26th March 2026
The other day I lopped the top off some sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) for a customer and was taken by how similar to lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) the cross-section looked.
So I thought I’d grab a piece of growing..
20 Mar
0
252
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 15th March 2026
Updated on 20th March 2026
I cut a roughly 2 m cane of Cultivar 1 that other day and was absolutely transfixed by its top piece:
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
Zooming in:
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
Not..
21 Feb
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176
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 21st February 2026
Strong winds once again brought down some especially tall and very mature canes of Cultivar 2 the other day, so what else could it be but chewing time!
And oh my, these were sweet juicy deliciousness! We’re ta..
09 Dec
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400
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 9th December 2025
Here we are going to explore the botanical structure of a sugarcane stalk. These parts are common to all stems and branches regardless of species, but they are particularly distinct here in sugarcane (and the s..
21 Nov
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487
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 21st November 2025
I like to grow saffron in a 38 L Air-Pot. The 20 L Air-Pot works too but you can’t fit as many in :)
Mind you, when I first began with just three corms, I grew each one in its own 3 L Air-Pot as a hedge agains..
17 Nov
0
439
Title image above is copyright © Günter
First published 17th November 2025
This post was inspired by Günter, who both gave me these cuttings and provided all the following information and photos — thank you Günter!
Maybe you are reading this because, like me, you have never been able to grow drago..
12 Jun
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899
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 12th June 2025
If you love alliums (of genus Allium) — onions, garlics, leeks, shallots, chives, and garlic chives — but are unfamiliar with society garlic, you may well need to become acquainted!
The name ‘society’ garlic comes..
11 Jun
0
991
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 11th June 2025
Some strong winds recently snapped at the base a bunch of canes growing at an angle out of a tall concrete pot. Decision made: it’s processing time!
Sugarcane is typically processed anywhere between twelve and eig..
11 Jun
1
1320
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 11th June 2025
Introduction to the Structure of Sugarcane
Sugarcane is super easy to propagate — possibly the hardest part is deciding which of the three different ways suits you best!
(There is a fourth way not covered here, a..
01 Jun
0
928
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 1st June 2025
Botanical Bits
Botanical name: Smallanthus sonchifolius
Family: Asteraceae (the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family: includes daisies, sunflowers, Curio sp. succulents)
Growth: Herbaceous (no woody stems)
..