Vokar
Blooming
Posts: 183
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Post by Vokar on Sept 28, 2019 11:31:20 GMT -5
pepperhead212, Oh, yeah, it looks like it's just starting to bloom. I saw tiny white flowers starting to open. I was thinking about pulling up the plant and storing it in the shed while the seed pods finish ripening, but if they're still buds, then yeah. I'm not sure. I may try it anyway, though. Our first frost is supposed to be Wednesday morning. Here's my plant, this morning (it looks bigger in person):
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Post by tom π on Sept 28, 2019 11:43:10 GMT -5
Vokar, your epazote doesn't have the flowers of my epazote -- if the plant in the lower right corner is epazote. Search for "epazote flowers" and click on images to see what I mean.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 28, 2019 12:07:29 GMT -5
I'm not really sure, Vokar. The flowers are so small, it's sort of hard to tell - I just wait until they are sort of dried out, then rub them off, to save some. And over in my herb bed, where I planted some this year, I'll just let some drop in the bed. I've tried this before, but haven't noticed any popping up - maybe the seeds of the red are not cold resistant, like the green, which re-seeds with no help.
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Vokar
Blooming
Posts: 183
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Post by Vokar on Sept 28, 2019 19:01:56 GMT -5
tom π, Those are wonderberries. The epazote is right in the center. I had to get far away to get the whole plant in the picture, but that made it look smaller.
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Post by tom π on Sept 28, 2019 19:12:54 GMT -5
This morning when I went through the garden, the epazote was shedding pollen heavily. For some plants, the pollen is flavorful, so this afternoon I got a plate and went out to collect epazote pollen to try but got none. Apparently epazote sheds pollen only in the morning.
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Vokar
Blooming
Posts: 183
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Post by Vokar on Sept 28, 2019 19:14:45 GMT -5
tom π, I would be careful with epazote. I don't know about the pollen, but the seeds are dangerously toxic (as in harmful to certain organs). I would only eat the leaves to be safe on that one.
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Post by tom π on Sept 28, 2019 19:37:59 GMT -5
I would be careful woth epazote. I don't know about the pollen, but the seeds are dangerously toxic (as in harmful to certain organs). I would only eat the leaves to be safe on that one. Vokar , I did read about epazote toxicity. I sampled the flowers and immature seed pods. They are quite potent. If I remember correctly, toxicity for the dried leaf begins at 10 grams (the weight of two nickels). This is interesting:
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Post by tom π on Sept 29, 2019 10:47:18 GMT -5
I was able to collect epazote pollen this morning. It is tasteless and not suitable as a seasoning. The pollen fall is very heavy, and I suppose the plant should not be grown by those with allergies or asthma.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Oct 11, 2019 23:42:52 GMT -5
I got 3 epazote cuttings rooted in my cloner, then put the best looking one in my hydroponics on 10-2. In just 9 days it has about tripled in size, as usual! I took the extra 2 cuttings and potted them, then took them up to my friends at the Mexican grocery, along with another 25 or so ripe habaneros. They were thrilled to get them - they still can't believe that I have that red epazote! Even in Mexico, it's not available everywhere, and costs more, where you find it. Leftover epazote, 10-10 by pepperhead212, on Flickr Leftover epazote potted up, to give to somebody. 10-10 by pepperhead212, on Flickr Epazote, 10-11, just 9 days after planting in the hydro. by pepperhead212, on Flickr
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Post by pepperhead212 on Oct 27, 2019 15:04:50 GMT -5
This plant is almost up to the light already! I pinched it off, just before it got to the light, but soon, other stems will be up there. You'll notice that at every leaf node on the original stem, there is an auxillary bud, creating another stem, like all those suckers on indeterminate tomatoes! Epazote, 10-27 by pepperhead212, on Flickr
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Post by pepperhead212 on Aug 29, 2021 13:41:27 GMT -5
This year was the first year I found a volunteer red epazote! I always assumed that the seeds were killed by cold, unlike the regular green, which re-seeds with no problem! And no flowers on the original plant yet, so it's definitely from previous seed. I think it may be because the winter was mild - only down to 17Β° a couple of times, while it usually gets to the single digits at least a couple of times. And it came up through the landscape fabric! Volunteer red epazote, about 18 inches tall. 8-29 by pepperhead212, on Flickr The main plant is about 30 inches tall, so I pinched off the growth point, and immediately the axilliary buds at the base of every leaf started growing! In just 2 days, most are over 2" long, with a few leaves each. Red Epazote, about 30 inches tall, starting to branch out. 8-29 by pepperhead212, on Flickr
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Post by gianna on Sept 6, 2021 9:30:35 GMT -5
Epasote grows in the wild here. I don't remember if it's a native, or naturallized. Occasionally it comes up in the yard. It's a pretty plant, though on the weedy side. I put a little in a batch of dry beans a few years ago, but didn't especially like the flavor - a bit too medicinal tasting. Maybe I used too much, or it was a non-refined wild type, or it could be another 'super-taster' thing.
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