Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Choy sum ~ Life Cycle

End of August we sowed many kind of vegetable seeds to prepare for middle spring planting. After a week the first group of vegetable seeds that has already germinated were daikon, choy sum and hon tsai tai. Below picture are a day or two day or even hours old baby choy sum seedlings in recycled orange juice carton box. End of August in Adelaide is already a good time to start sow choy sum seeds outside. Moreover, looking at it make me think the germination rate is almost 100%.

DSC08637  Inter-planting fast crop choy sum seedling with slow to mature vegetable in late autumn: in the background new garlic shoots and new emerged carrot seedlings. 

early autumn 2010 (14)Choy sum producing buds. 

CHOY SUM

Choy sum buds has bloomed. Look at the picture closely and you can see an insect growing fond of choy sum flower.choy sum flower (2) The same choy sum plant producing more flowers. The insect is still there. It has become attached with choy sum flowers. I wonder if the choy sum and the insect has form a special relationship to benefit from each other.

choy sum flower

More flowers means more seed pods. Some of the flower petals has already gone leaving the seed pod behind. Do you think that is still the same insect on the same plant?choy sum (2)

Gone all the flowers. Only the seed pod remain and becoming fatter as the seed mature.DSC08420

Leaving the seed pod to dry now to collect seeds.

I think they complete their life cycle from seed to seed in less than 4 months.

7 comments:

Bangchik and Kakdah said...

They have similar life span, these leafy vegetables. 4 to 5 months is about all they are allowed to stay before the next generation takes over. Solid and beautiful yellow flowers!! Raya di mana?... ~bangchik

One said...

Thanks for sharing. When I plant choy sum, I will know what to expect...

Malar said...

The flowers are so beautiful!
Selamat Hari Raya!

Autumn Belle said...

The choy sum flowers are very pretty. The pictures are very clear. Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri!

Stephanie said...

Your choy sums look really healthy! You use horse manure for choy sum? They look so nice and healthy. Are they pests resistant?

Malay-Kadazan girl said...

Bangchik~ Raya di perantauan.

One~ They so fast growing.

Malar~ Thank you have a nice long weekend.

Autumn Belle~ Thank you. Have an enjoyable long holiday.

Stephanie~ I haven't try using horse manure with choy sum just normal compast. Unfortunately not pest resistant. Pest love choy sum so much.

Stephanie said...

oh I see. Thanks for sharing! I was curious to know if many fruits or vegetables were grown using horse manure since you will probably get them in abundance and no charge. Btw, your vege really looks healthy all the time :-D