Latin name: Artocarpus heterophyllus
Other names: Jack tree
Uses: fruit, vegetable, pickled, fried, chips, flour, dessert
What is jackfruit?
The largest tree fruit in the world, jackfruit belongs to the Moraceae family, which includes fig, mulberry, and breadfruit. Weighing anywhere between 10 and a whopping 50 pounds or more, these enormous fruits have thick, bumpy greenish-brown skin that looks almost lizard-like. Inside you’ll find a mass of plump, stringy yellow pods. Relished both green and ripe, jackfruit is increasingly available in fresh, frozen and canned form.
Why is jackfruit healthy?
Who would have guessed that a low-carb fruit packed full of antioxidants, magnesium, fiber, and vitamin B6 could also be a superior meat replacement? In 2016, plant-based eaters made it a Google “rising star” based on search volume, praising jackfruit for its versatility and unique, meat-like texture. Studies show it also may reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.
What does jackfruit taste like?
When ripe, jackfruit is sweet like a banana, with a slightly tangy acidity reminiscent of pineapple. The bulbs have a bouncy texture like gummy candy. Unripe jackfruit is not sweet and is consumed in cooked form only, almost always in savory dishes. When roasted, compounds found in jackfruit seeds can produce aromas similar to processed cocoa beans. As a result, efforts are underway to see if the seed powder could work as a cacao alternative.
How do I use jackfruit?
Ripe jackfruit is eaten raw out of hand as well as featured in tropical desserts and sweets around the world, including the crushed ice and condensed milk dessert halo-halo in Philippines, Vietnamese chè, and the South Indian mini pancakes chakka nei appam. Since ripe jackfruit is naturally sweet, it is also processed into candies, syrups, juice concentrates, and preserves. Toasted and salted, the seeds make a popular snack.
You can cook unripe jackfruit in a variety of ways. The bulbs can be boiled for salads, fried like cutlets, or simply grilled or sautéed like a vegetable. In many Asian countries, jackfruit is stewed with meat and often served with steamed rice. In the southern states of India, sliced jackfruit bulbs are deep fried and eaten as chips. Through tropical South and Southeast Asia, people consume it in curries or straight off the tree. Cooks in the West have more recently taken a fancy to jackfruit, using it to make taco fillings, salads, burgers, and a vegetarian version of pulled pork. The dried fruit and seeds can be ground into flour.
What does jackfruit pair well with?
Jackfruit likes other tropical flavors — think coconut, and South or Southeast Asian spices.
Where does jackfruit grow?
Jackfruit is native to South and Southeast Asian countries, and is believed to have originated in the region between the Western Ghats of India and the rainforests of Malaysia. Tropical lowlands are ideal for its cultivation; today it’s grown widely throughout the tropical regions of the world. The English name “jackfruit” is derived from the Portuguese “jaca” which comes from the Malayalam term “chakka.”
How to buy jackfruit:
Unripe, it should be firm and sturdy. When ripe, it will become softer and more aromatic. Avoid too-soft or browning specimens.
Fun jackfruit fact:
The wood of the jackfruit tree is resistant to fungus and termites, which makes it an ideal building material for houses and furniture.
Username: Bongsong Published on 2024-10-23 01:22:49 ID NUMBER: 124036
Quaint yellow flowers are the star of this shasta daisy variety that is both pest- and disease-resistant. "Daisies couldn’t be any easier to grow, and I love that they have a long blooming period, and this pale yellow shade is a brilliant contrast against anything that has really dark foliage," says Vater. "I consider them the sweetest of all flowers."
Full-sun exposure fuels buddleia's growth, specifically the Butterfly Candy variety, says Linda Vater, plant expert for Southern Living Plant Collection and Butterfly Candy Buddleia. It comes in five pretty shades, from purple and pink to white, and is drought-tolerant and easy to care for. "I find it so much fun to work in the garden with butterflies fluttering in and amongst these exquisite shrubs," says Vater. "They come in absolutely glorious colors and just keep on blooming throughout the season."
Asters come in a variety of shades and offer delicate, daisy-like blooms. There are many types of asters, from ground cover plants to climbing vines—and all of them are easy to grow and care for, provided they get 6 or more hours of full sun. Asters are drought tolerant when established and are known for their resilience, says Phillips.
Dramatic and tall, blazing star (Liatris) has showy flower spikes filled with vibrant purple blooms, says Phillips. They have a pretty lengthy blooming period, from mid-summer to the fall, and are both heat and drought-tolerant. "They're ideal for the back of sunny beds, adding vertical dimension," Phillips says. Blazing star also attracts lots of pollinators, like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, providing a nectar source for them in the summer, while its seedheads provide food for birds in the winter.
Blanket flower (Gaillardia) has dainty, daisy-like blooms that stun in shades of red, yellow, and orange, says Mary Phillips, Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy/Certifications at the National Wildlife Federation. The blanket flower is a hybrid between two different types of gaillardia flowers (a perennial gaillardia (G. aristata) and an annual gaillardia (G. pulchella)) and has adapted to thrive in hot, dry, full-sun conditions. "It's perfect for sunny borders, butterfly gardens, wildflower meadows, or containers," says Phillips. "It attracts hummingbirds and beneficial insects such as butterflies, bees, native ladybugs, and lacewings."
Light purple blooms and deep purple foliage are the hallmarks of this full-sun perennial flower. "Its rich nectar and pollen content attracts a variety of pollinators, including hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, enhancing the garden’s ecological diversity," Funk says. "'Blackbeard' is known for its strong, compact stems and upright climbing habit, making it suitable for container planting and grouping in beds or borders. It thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil." This perennial also has a high tolerance for both heat and humidity, and it's drought resistant to boot, meaning it's an easy care choice for gardeners of any level.
Boasting large, bright pink blooms, the echinacea "magnus" coneflower has a long flowering season, stretching from the late spring to the fall, says Funk. The flowers can span from 4 to 6 inches in length and are a haven for birds and butterflies. This perennial is also drought tolerant, giving it the ability to truly thrive in sunny spots of your garden. "The resilience of ‘Magnus’ coneflower in heat and dry conditions and its versatility for garden beds and borders make it a top choice for gardeners looking to enjoy enduring blooms and effortless elegance," Funk says.
Featuring fragrant, pretty purple blooms and silvery foliage, the Lavandula phenomenal is a sun-loving perennial that will add both height and color to your garden. Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins, says that Lavandula is highly adaptable to many different conditions and requires very minimal watering once it's well-established. "It is also heat and drought-tolerant, making it an ideal choice for sunny areas," she says. "Its resilience and easy-care characteristics make it a great addition to borders, hedges, or any landscape needing color and sweet fragrance."
Perennial flowers are known for their ability to bloom year after year with beautiful colors and foliage. If your garden spot receives little to no shade, though, don't worry. There are plenty of full-sun perennials that not only thrive in the sun but are heat- and drought-tolerant as well, making them easy to care for. Here, we're sharing expert-approved perennial blooms for your sunny garden.
Succulents and cacti have a hard-core reputation of loving well-drained and aerated soil, making Epsom salt for succulents the perfect soil amendment. This compound ensures proper porosity and drainage in soil media, giving your succulents better breathing space and aeration for optimal growth.
We have also been previously overjoyed upon finding out the many Epsom salt for plants benefits. But it is crucial to remember that things are good when used in moderation. Any kind of overuse can and will cause damage. So, what is the correct way around Epsom salt for garden use?
Along with all its other benefits, Epsom salt for plants is a game-changer when it comes to flowering and fruiting plants. The Magnesium Sulfate compound works to promote healthier and more vibrant blooming, and healthier fruiting for a better harvest.
One of the most important roles of organic amendments is improving water retention. Materials like organic compost manure and coconut coir help soil hold onto moisture, reducing the need for frequent watering and ensuring plants have access to water during dry periods.
Best Garden Design wallpapers and HD background images for your device! Just browse through our collection of more than 30 hight resolution wallpapers and download them for free for your desktop or phone. We hope you enjoy these awesome Garden Design background images :)
Best Garden Design wallpapers and HD background images for your device! Just browse through our collection of more than 30 hight resolution wallpapers and download them for free for your desktop or phone. We hope you enjoy these awesome Garden Design background images :)
Some plants seem to do better, and are easier to handle when planted in beds rather than single rows. Try this with spinach, lettuce or other greens in beds 12 – 18″ across. Carrots are good in 6 – 8″ beds. Garlic and onions like to be almost touching when they are mature, so plant these in 4 or 5 closely spaced rows, like one wide row 4 garlics across. Don’t make beds so wide that you can’t comfortably reach across to work on them. Some grains and grasses will do better in beds because they hold each other up, where a single row stand will tip over too easily.
This could mean having a friend help you hoe, but usually it refers to planting certain species together as a natural pesticide, fertilizer or for other benefits. The strong smell of marigolds keeps many insects at a distance. Have you ever seen a cabbage fly alight on a marigold? Marigolds around the edges of the garden and close to crucifers like broccoli and cabbage tend to keep the cabbage worms and other insects away. This is not fool proof, but may reduce the numbers. It looks nice too.
This doesn’t mean blasting them out the air lock of your interstellar craft! There’s a real art to planting seeds and transplants at exactly the right distance to maximize yield and minimize open, wasted ground that will probably grow weeds anyway. The best spacing will give the plants all the room they need to fully develop, and to fill in completely between plants and down the rows, leaving just enough room for you to walk along and pick your harvest. Ideally they’d all be at waist height too so we won’t have to bend over!
Although most home gardens happen by chance ( a plant here and soon another plant there) it’s well known that a little planning goes a long way in any endeavor. Take a few minutes now to think about the layout of your garden
Step into a field of wildflowers with our latest piece, 'Consider the Wildflowers.' This composition of hand, slow-pressed flowers - featuring cheerful orange poppies, delicate snapdragons, stunning statice flowers, vibrant dahlias, and charming zinnias - invites you to take a moment to reflect on life's wonders. The flowers have been thoughtfully arranged to evoke the carefree beauty of nature and to inspire you to pause and marvel at God's incredible handiwork. Through this piece, we hope to remind you that just as He takes care of the smallest wildflower, He will also take care of you and all of the worries you face.