Growing Garlic in the Tropics
Nov 12, 2012: We are growing garlic on the farm, which is a humid, hot, tropical climate. I haven’t heard of anyone growing garlic in our part of Costa Rica, but since our uneaten garlic bulbs seem to like to sprout on their own, it seems like they should grow here. A little research on […]
Eggplant
Known for their beauty in color, and egg-like shape by which they earned their name, this vegetable belongs to the nightshade family along with it’s brothers and sisters Tomatoes and Sweet Peppers. First allegedly growing wild in in ancient India it was then cultivated by the Chinese and brought over to Europe in the 14th […]
Healthy Spinach
Spinach has a high nutritional value and is extremely rich in antioxidants, especially when fresh, steamed, or quickly boiled. As opposed to Kale where nutrition availability actually increases when steamed, the nutrients in Spinach are most accessible in it’s raw form. This edible flower plant we all know and love for the tasty leaves, antioxidant […]
Super Healthy Kale
Kale is a very versatile and nutritious green leafy vegetable. It is a widely popular vegetable since ancient Greek and Roman times for its low fat, no cholesterol but health benefiting anti-oxidant properties. Many consider is a “superfood” and is among the world’s most healthiest things to eat. Widely cultivated today across Europe, the USA […]
Cashew Nuts and Cashew Apples
Cashew Nut This Kidney shaped seed originated in Brazil but was spread to other tropical nations in the 16t Century by the Portuguese. The nut is produced by the Cashew apple fruit which yields one nut per fruit, which explains why they can be fairly pricey. The outer shell in which they grow contains a […]
Amaranth
With leaves streaked through with shades of red and purple, Amaranth Greens are a gorgeous green full of protein. The species of amaranth, which is technically classified as a herb, is cultivated by many Asian cultures as a leaf vegetable. Across Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and China and is most commonly paired with cumin, chile […]
Yellow and Green Cucumbers
There are three main varieties of cucumber: slicing, pickling and burpless and we grow 2 of the 3 here at Rancho Delicioso. The cucumber originated over 3,000 years ago in India but now grows on most Continents. With enclosed seed and their development from a flower, botanically speaking, cucumbers are classified as a fruit, though much like […]
Yuca
Yuca is a warm climate root vegetable also known as Cassava , it shares similarities in both appearance and nutritional content to potatoes. It is the tropical potato, bringing something different to the table! In Central and South America, where it is commonly grown, yucca is used as a carbohydrate side dish. Boiled and fried, […]
Mustard Greens
Also known as Brassica Juncea or Green Mustard Cabbage, this zingy green is about the sharpest green of the bunch, it never ceases to surprise me in a salad… especially when you don’t expect it! This can happen as it bears a close resemblance the kale we grow here on the farm, which both bare […]
Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the easiest plants to grow that we have in the farm. These orange roots, which look like ginger, can just be stuck into the ground just about anywhere and they’ll grow. It’s so easy in fact that one of the world’s largest herb companies, Gaia Herbs, has 2 hectares of organic […]
