Growing Yacon Ulluco and Oca tubers (Part 1)

 I will put a link to more info for each from the expert I bought them from.
Ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus), pronounced oo-YOO-ko
 https://www.cultivariable.com/instructions/how-to-grow-ulluco/
Yacon (also yacón or yakon, Smallanthus sonchifolius; previously Polymnia sonchifolia), pronounced yah-CONE
 https://www.cultivariable.com/instructions/how-to-grow-yacon/

Oca/ New Zealand Yam (Oxalis tuberosa) pronounced OH-kuh,
 https://www.cultivariable.com/instructions/how-to-grow-oca/

Garden update

It is so exciting to see the first sign of your watermelon beginning to grow. You start feeling like an parent waiting on a child to be born. Day after day you watch it grow. The Carmen watermelon in the first photo is the first in my garden to start forming. Now it is the size of a cantaloupe. It has the potential of 24 pounds at full harvest weight. I think the weather plays a part in this taking so long to develop. The person I purchased the original melon from last year. Already has melons for sale.I bought one and save seed from it in case mine does not mature.

In another part of the garden I have 2 more plants with 2 smaller melons. and a new tiny one forming. This area is more protected from wind by the house bush and trees. It is a clear open spot in full sun. Yet a micro environment of protection. The top one is in a open field with tress behind (North) Both areas are south facing. Yet you can see 2 weeks growing difference in them.

The next melon I planted in a few spots. Only has melons in the same open area as the top watermelon. All the plants are prolific in flowers. This plant has 3 bigger than soft ball size Karari melons. When they mature the will have red added to there skin color. The seed is from India. The melon is said to grow to the size of a honeydew. Taste maybe sweet and spicy.  It is said to be a 70 day melon too. It is my first time growing it. So will have to update on it.

The BUSHITENO  (Grif 1490) cowpea from Sri Lanka have taken over the fence in vine. 
They were slow to start. But now that we have sunshine heat and less rain. They are forming beans.

The Oca in this area is doing well. The Yacon is surviving the transplant from a container to the ground. It could no longer handle the amount of rain we had.

The plumb Lemon tomato Is forming well. The must be a mix up in the seed sent. The plant next to it is not a plumb lemon. It is more orange. Where Yellow should be the color. It also does not have a point like a lemon at the bottom.

Winter window garden, Cranberry beans & potatoes

My winter window garden is an experiment to see what I can grow indoors.
I  was able to grow cranberry beans in the house. I started one plant from seed the beginning of Sept. Today I harvested the beans. I will see if they are sprout able. Or If the have to dry longer. This is the first time I have grown this type of bean. It is not a common type for my area. The bean origin is from Italy. But I was lucky to find it at a local store. The take is amazing. They are cooked like, pinto beans. But flavor is much better.
 The video will show you how much the Yacon plant has grown. I also will be  starting potatoes, from pull sprouts and cut of potato peals. 

The CFL light bulb. I bought is really nice.
 Note on light
 This one is a 20w CFL. 5500kelving 93 Cri. full spectrum. Color Technology W/ 6 Enriched Colors
CRI is Color Rendering Index- The quality of the light. The sun is 100 CRI
This bulb is 93+ CRI

 Balanced is pure white with 5,000-6,000K. If the temperature goes above that it will be blue (hazardous to your eyes) and below is yellow/orange in color.
Colors above 5000K are known as cool colors (blue) and closely resemble natural sunlight. Colors below 3,000K are known an warm colors (red).

Spring sun is more blue. Blue light induces vegetative growth
summer into Fall sun is gets more Red.  Red light induces flowering