This week has been bittersweet for me. Lots of development and some setbacks have happened. Some of my vegetables are already bearing some fruits and I finally get to plant one of my favorite root crops, Cassava. Planting Cassava actually excites me because this is the first time that I am going to plant Cassava in my entire life. I am a little sad because my efforts on planting Bottle Gourd were derailed by caterpillars and insects.

Last Friday, September 22, I was finally able to plant the Cassava cuttings that already developed leaves a few days ago. This is actually my first time planting Cassava. The last time that I saw someone planting this was when I was about 6 years old, it was when my father planted some cassava.

I am actually quite surprised by how fast cassava cuttings germinate (in less than two days I think) if submerged in water.

In planting the Cassava cutting I have to find a place that is a little elevated because Cassava doesn't like a lot of water.

Last Friday, September 23, I was surprised when I saw a lone tomato fruit on one of my tomato plants. To my excitement, I immediately took my smartphone and took a photo of the lone tomato. It is actually a little smaller than a cherry tomato as of September 23.

Aside from the lone tomato fruit, one of my eggplants is also slowly producing some fruit (Check the photo below). I planted two types of eggplant, a long and purple eggplant, and a rounded and green eggplant. I just wish that this one that I took a photo of is a long and purple one because my son loves it when he cooks as an omelet (Tortang Talong).

Another one that I am excited about is my String Beans which is already developing some fruits. I just hope that insects will not attack it because String Beans can be cooked in a lot of ways. It can be cooked as Adobo, it can be added to dishes like Sinigang, Pinakbet/Pakbet, Inabraw, and Kare-Kare, and it can be cooked on its own like fried String Beans or Boiled String Beans.

I am planning to plant a lot of Red Chili for sale but I am reluctant since I have seen how worms attack that ravages the leaves of my vegetables. Two batches of newly germinated Bottle Gourd were destroyed completely by worms (caterpillar).

Me and my wife love to cook soup with Green Chili. Some of the dishes that we like to add Green Chili are Sinigang and Pinakbet. Green Chili provides aroma to the dish and adds some chili taste to them.

I am actually very sad regarding my Bottle Gourd. I already planted two batches of Bottle Gourd but caterpillars and insects kept destroying them. I also used insecticide for prevention but I guess the frequent rain washes away all the insecticides enabling the insects and worms to eat the leaves of the newly germinated Bottle Gourds.

That is all for now guys, catch you up with the next one. Wishing you all safety, good health, and abundance.