Gardening in Fuerteventura

[Perrypower1]

Tamara, thanks for this fabulous thread, Yvonne and I enjoy each entry!

[OMR + MIN]

Hi Tamara,
We have joined the New Forum! Good to be on. Long time no see? the years march on - ohhh! (M La Capellania)

Monarch butterflies, yes we do them too. Doing our bit for them & the Island. Last year managed to get 7 away. They do eat ALL the leaves! Had an early visit this year from 1 butterfly, found the 5 caterpillars by accident. I net them over the 5 plants I have in the garden. That way you get to see the butterflies before they go. Only 1 chrysalis through the others disappeared? I have a butterfly basket mesh net with a zipped lid. Should evolve in a few more days.

I have just sent to New Zealand for some other milkweed seeds on Ebay, Gomphocarpus physocarpus ??? yes. Bigger, get more leaves I hope, feed more Caterpillars! They won't be big enough until next year obviously. Have big bobble flowers.

Love your plant thread.   

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Thanks PerryPower and OMR for your kind words.

OMR- great to see you on here! (Thought of you the other day when I heard the song playing!) Please keep us updated on your 'super milkweed' and the progress of your caterpillars. And of course anything else of mention (good and bad) in your garden.

[Tardis]

We bought some Milkweed plants from Happy Plants a few weeks ago.  We had three Monarch butterflies from caterpillars in June.  There is at least one chrysalis in our garden at the moment which we hope will produce another Monarch in a few days time.

[OMR + MIN]

Hi Tardis

Good to know so many people are helping the Monarch. Well done!

Our 1 chrysalis turned butterfly yesterday & flew away this morning. 

Took a pic. Might try to put on here later - um? 

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

https://fuerteventura.click/Thread-How-t...-your-post

Good luck!
Looking forward to seeing your pic 

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

I had the idea of trying to pollinate my Hylocereus/Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit by hand (paintbrush!) as I wondered if the reason I was not getting any fruit setting was lack of pollinating insects of the right type. Loads more buds on the plant that I've been keeping an eye on for more than 1 to bloom on the same night. Hooray, 3 bloomed last night! But, the blooms were at over 2M high and in the middle of some very prickly bougainvillea so that was that plan thwarted   



Some tiny buds much lower down so finger's crossed that they bloom together in a few week's time (although it will probably be when I'm on my annual UK visit!).

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Can - are you talking yuca or yucca?

Yuca is a root veg (cassava plant) whereas the yucca is the tall spiky plant that grows all over out here (you can eat some parts of it but I can't envisage it being served up in a restaurant).

Yuca 

Yucca 

I'm guessing WMG is talking Yucca. 

Hi Tamara, I mean the vegetable, when cooked in Nestors it is served roasted, and tastes a bit like a cross of a roast potato and a parsnip.

Saw this article on BBC News online this evening - don't think I'll risk eating YUCA (Cassava)! Hope your legs are OK Can!!

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48859333

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

I had the idea of trying to pollinate my Hylocereus/Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit by hand (paintbrush!) as I wondered if the reason I was not getting any fruit setting was lack of pollinating insects of the right type. Loads more buds on the plant that I've been keeping an eye on for more than 1 to bloom on the same night. Hooray, 3 bloomed last night! But, the blooms were at over 2M high and in the middle of some very prickly bougainvillea so that was that plan thwarted   



Some tiny buds much lower down so finger's crossed that they bloom together in a few week's time (although it will probably be when I'm on my annual UK visit!).

2 flowers last night on the other side of the fence and lower down so the paintbrush went into action this morning 

[Can the Man]

Can - are you talking yuca or yucca?

Yuca is a root veg (cassava plant) whereas the yucca is the tall spiky plant that grows all over out here (you can eat some parts of it but I can't envisage it being served up in a restaurant).

Yuca 

Yucca 

I'm guessing WMG is talking Yucca. 

Hi Tamara, I mean the vegetable, when cooked in Nestors it is served roasted, and tastes a bit like a cross of a roast potato and a parsnip.

Saw this article on BBC News online this evening - don't think I'll risk eating YUCA (Cassava)! Hope your legs are OK Can!!

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48859333

frightening but I will trust Nestor, gone is the idea of trying to grow them myself