Allspice

[jackb]

I decided to spice up my life, literally, by adding a few spice plants to my greenhouse tropical plants. The plant below is Pimenta dioica, common name Allspice. It is similar in shape to my bay laurel, but the leaves smell GREAT! As I understand it, the leaves can be used for cooking, just like the berries. Also, I am growing Ginger Curcuma petiolata, or tumeric; we have no intention of eating the tumeric, but wanted the plant for its orchid like flowers. I read that tumeric has loads of health benefits though. Variety is the spice of life.

JackB

 

[NwMtGardener]

Hmmm, cool, i had no idea what allspice looked like! Do you think it may bloom and produce berries for you?

 

[so lucky]

This is going to be interesting. I wonder how old the allspice plant has to be to produce flowers/berries? And Jack, if you like Indian food, you may find a use for the turmeric in those recipes. It really is touted as being one of the "super foods" that helps you in many ways. I just take the capsules, for inflammation. Whether it works or not, I am not sure. At least I haven't spontaneously combusted.

 

[jackb]

This is going to be interesting. I wonder how old the allspice plant has to be to produce flowers/berries? And Jack, if you like Indian food, you may find a use for the turmeric in those recipes. It really is touted as being one of the "super foods" that helps you in many ways. I just take the capsules, for inflammation. Whether it works or not, I am not sure. At least I haven't spontaneously combusted.

I read that in India they pretty much use it at very meal, and India has the lowest incidence of stomach cancer in the world. Tumeric is being studied for it medicinal value currently.

JackB

 

[jackb]

Hmmm, cool, i had no idea what allspice looked like! Do you think it may bloom and produce berries for you?

I think there are male and female trees so you may need both, not sure. That said, it is a nice looking plant and the leaves can be used and they smell so good. I have to resist pulling leaves off and crushing them to get the aroma.

JackB

 

[jackb]

Each winter we grow a few tomatoes or peppers indoors in indoor greenhouses. It dawned on me that there is a lot of good light going to waste around the perimeter of the tent that would be ideal for shade loving tropical plants. The plant is the center is a Golden Giant Marconi. The Ginger, or tumeric, is the large plant in the right rear corner, it has green and white variegated leaves. The other plants are some unusual tropical plants from around the world. Sort of a geography lesson for my assistant. Another of the plants, Ecolium viride, seen to the right of the palm tree front and center, is under study for a host of medicinal uses. It is one of the few plants in the plant kingdom that has an acquamarine colored flower. Plants are so cool.

JackB

 

[journey11]

How neat! And so nice to look at too, like a houseplant, but even better. Can't wait to see a pic of the turmeric's flower.