Sineguelas Tree

Do you know how a  Sineguelas tree looks like? When not bearing fruit its branches is full of leaves. But it has only fruits when in season and almost all the leaves are gone. It's not a very common tree. In our barrio somewhere in Ilocos, I only found one tree. Here's the picture of that tree.( see above). It is a very old tree. I noticed that the bark is being scraped from its trunk. I think some people are using it as an herbal medicine.

Pomegranate Tree

About two and a half years ago I worked with a Japanese company in Dubai. One time my manager went to Caucasus ( I think he went to Armenia or Azerbaijan) and  brought back some pomegranate fruits. (See the picture below). We have a local  variety of this fruit  called "granada". But the fruit of granada is small compared to the ones grown in other places like Iran and parts of the MIddle East. Grenadine syrup comes from this fruit.

  
The fruit really taste good with a lot of seeds. I didn't know that I kept  some of the seeds  on the side pocket of my laptop bag. When I was already back in the country I saw the seeds while cleaning my laptop bag. They were very dry and thought they will not germinate anymore. Anyway I still planted them baka sakaling tumubo. And guess what? After about three weeks some sprouts came out of the soil where i put them. ( I told you I have green thumbs! ). After two years, here how they look now. ( See pictures below) I did some research and learned that pomegranate  will bear fruit after 3-4 years ( if they are planted on the ground and fertilized well)  and they are adaptable. It also grows in Southeast Asia.I hope it will bear fruit here in the Philippines. If anyone is interested to plant a pomegranate tree, I can give some cuttings ready for planting. Just send me your e-mail or contact on the comment.

Learning to be a Farmer

I'm learning to be a farmer and a part time gardener. There are a lot of things I want to learn about plants, farming and  agriculture. If you are a farmer you also have to know about the climate and the seasons. I guess even seasoned farmers have problems with that now because of the climate change. Our seasons have become erratic.


Farmers and gardeners must have green thumbs. When a person who doesn't have a green thumb  plants, they say  the plant doesn't grow well or dies. I think that's superstition. There's a scientific way of doing things or rather planting and If you follow it I guess your plants will be okay. Anyway, I think I have a green thumb because when I plant, they grow well.


Then there's also the  organic and inorganic way of farming. They say inorganic fertilizers is unhealthy and organic farming is the way to go.


But what I would like to do most is plant trees. A lot of trees. Because by planting trees we help in countering the effect of global warming, help prevent flooding and soil erosion. I hope this blog will be able to help promote and teach tree planting to other people as I myself continue to learn how to be a farmer and a gardener.


Tayo na! Magtanim na tayo!