The Wonderful World of Curry Leaf Gardening: A Green Adventure

Welcome to the Creative Garden! Today, I'm thrilled to share the story of my amazing Curry Leaf tree that is growing in my food forest.  You can check out the video below.

I originally brought a small Curry Leaf plant, and it's grown into a thriving tree that can grow up to 20 feet, whilst I don't want mine growing that tall here are a few things I noted:

1. The Unexpected pests

When I first got my Curry Leaf plant, it was a tiny sapling.  I currently face some challenges when it flowers and it gets attacked by the small black fly which then attracts the ants, they have this symbiotic relationship.

I had to make the difficult decision to trim it back quite hard and wondered how it would respond. To my amazement, it bounced back stronger and healthier than ever. 

2. A Bounty of Seeds and Saplings

Once the Curry Leaf tree blooms and produces flowers, it also starts to produce seeds. These seeds are not only edible but also give rise to an army of tiny Curry Leaf saplings. I discovered several mini plants surrounding the mother tree! They all sprouted from the fallen seeds.

Some have even grown into sturdy young plants that I've carefully transplanted to different parts of my garden. However, propagating these saplings from seeds or cuttings requires a delicate touch, as they don't like to be disturbed.

3. Cooking 

The Curry Leaf tree is native to India and is also found in Australia, Barbados and other places around the world. It's known for its aromatic leaves that are widely used in Indian cuisine, adding that unique flavor to curries and other dishes. I often use the leaves in cooking, especially stews and soups, it adds a lovely flavor to the dishes.  

4. Gardening Hacks: Pest Control and Bird Partnerships

In the world of organic gardening, pest control can be a challenge. One of the most effective ways I have found to keep pests at bay is by attracting birds to my garden and other garden friends to help - such as the lizards, frogs and toads.  There are also a number of natural ways that you can deter pests in your garden such as Neem Oil, picking the pests off by hand, soapy water and other solutions depending on the pests.  

5. Future Plans and Maintenance

As my Curry Leaf tree continues to thrive, I have plans to shape it so that it can stay at a manageable height, around six feet or so, to ensure easy harvesting of the leaves. Pruning and occasional spraying with neem oil will help maintain its health and shape.  Additionally, I'll be relocating some of the young saplings to better spots in the garden.

That said some great tips for the Curry leaf plant.  If it is not something that you are able to grow, think about how being out in your garden space or outdoors positively impacts on your health and well-being.  Here are a few reasons to spend time in the outdoors:

Here are some Benefits of Gardening on Health

Gardening isn't just about growing plants; it also has health benefits as well:

1. Stress Reduction: Gardening provides a calming environment that can reduce stress levels.

2. Physical Exercise: Tending to your garden involves physical activity, helping you stay active and fit.

3. Fresh Air and Vitamin D: Spending time outdoors exposes you to fresh air and sunlight, essential for good health.

4. Mental Wellbeing: Gardening can improve your mood, reduce symptoms of depression, and boost overall mental wellbeing.

5. Healthy Eating: Growing your own fruits and vegetables encourages a healthier diet, rich in fresh, organic produce.

My Curry Leaf tree has been a great addition to my garden.  If you have any questions or want to share your gardening experiences, please leave a comment below. Let's grow together!

Until next time, happy gardening!

Gardening Zen in the Tropics

Gardening is a wonderful way to relax and unwind, and today I'm taking some time out to tend to my garden chores. I decided to take a break under the shade of my flamboyant tree, to admire how the garden is looking at the moment. The Flamboyant tree that we are sitting under has lovely red flowers and this tree has grown well in this area.

This flamboyant tree is relatively new, but it is already starting to produce large pods and seeds - I still have to find out more about the properties of this tree - it is used in some countries to line streets.  I have two of them in my garden and will keep them at a particular height, as they can grow quite tall. 

I'm also repairing a hole that my dog Cole made in the Mexican sunflower hedge.  Mexican sunflower needs to be cut back regularly to stay vibrant. When I cut it back, it encourages new growth and keeps the plant healthy. Over the years the cuttings that I have taken have been planted in other parts of my garden. These cuttings will flower in the year that it is planted because has been taken from a mature plant.

Another plant that I'm currently working on is my scaevola. I want to retain the path near my Aloe plants, so I'm cutting it back to a certain height, so it doesn't hang over the path. I'll be using the cuttings as chop and drop in my moringa patch and other parts of the garden.

I've got a lot of other trees to trim and will get to them over the course of the week, including my Shak Shak tree and Clammy cherry tree. I've been documenting my gardening adventures on my Channel, and you can take a look at some of the videos to see how things have grown and changed over time.

Gardening is a great way to take time out and relax. It's an activity that allows you to be present in the moment and focus on the task at hand even if you are doing chores in the garden. Check out the video above to see the work I'm doing in my garden today.  You can also check out my Amazon Gardening Guide for details of some of the plants that I have in the Garden.  Check out my online course which takes lessons inspired by the garden.  You can check it out HERE or click on the image below.

 

Creative Gardener - Growing Henna

 Growing Henna

Come and join me in the tropical garden where we are looking at the Henna plant, also known as Lawsonia Inermis.   It is a tall shrub tree and is used to create the dye henna for skin as well as fabrics.  There are also medicinal properties in the leaves that I will be looking into.

It is a lovely plant to have the flowers have a very sweet fragrance and I would love to have more of the plants dotted around the garden

The leaves are what is crushed and makes the dye.  Check out the video above.

Grow Your Own Course

Are you interested in growing your own, and making your time in the garden fun and efficient?  Check out the course below, click on the image for more information

Creative Gardener - Harvesting Cassava

Come and join me in the Creative Garden this week as we look at harvesting Cassava from my garden.

You can see more images on my Patreon Blog