Edible Combo Pack

Edible Combo pack, Naranjilla, Solanum quitoense, Orange Glo Watermelon, Citrillus, Lanatus, Strawberry Popcorn, Zea Mays, Abigail’s coffee okra, Abelmoschus Esculentus

Includes one pack of each:
Naranjilla
Moon & Stars Watermelon
Strawberry Popcorn
Abigail’s Coffee Okra

Name: Naranjilla
Scientific Name: Solanum Quitoense
Family: solanaceae

A year round producer in its native climate of Ecuador, the spooky and dangerous Luto bush will make a statement in your part sun front entrance or exposure. Producing heavy sets of fuzzy orange fruit in winter when everything else has gone dormant. Be careful with Luto however, as every part of the plant is covered in tiny spines with the leaves bearing large sharp thorns on both the top and bottom. Beloved in its native home, the fruit is tart and sweet right of the tree, traditionally juiced into your mouth on the spot. A short lived perennial that is just now finding its way to the states, naranjilla is the dark and thorny focal plant for your next all hallows eve display.

Origination: Andes region – South America
Recommended uses: Edible, most used for juicing

Height: 5-8’ tall with 3’ spread
Hardiness: 9b-12 annual in more temperate zones
Flower Color: white
Maturity: takes 10-12 months to harvest fruit started from seed.
Other Names: Luto

Growing Instructions:
Sow seeds in well draining sandy starting mix in cells. Cover with sand or grit and keep moist and warm until germination in 4-6 weeks or longer. Transplant when plants show true leaves to part shade location protected from winds in sandy well draining soil. Water when dry and fertilize monthly for best fruit production.

Name: Strawberry Popcorn
Scientific name: Zea Mays ‘strawberry popcorn
Family: Poaceae

Rarely do the words cute and corn go together in conversation but when you grow strawberry popcorn it will start coming up more and more as the season progresses. Maturing at 4′ in height its perfect for children and smaller gardens where you still want corn production. Each plant produces 2-4 ears of corn with red almost magenta like kernels that are great for popping or in decorative arrangements. If you are picking them for popping make sure to let them rest for a month before processing so that they can completely dry. the corn is usually ready after the silk has gone completely brown or 20 days after it first emerges. Origination: popping corn originates from Guatemala Recommended Uses: popping or decoration

Height: 3-5’ tall
Hardiness: warm season annual can be perennial in temperate climates
Flower Color: silk is pink tassel starts white ends brown

Characteristics: dwarf ornamental corn producing 2-4 ears in a 100 day cycle
Maturity: 100 Days

Sowing Instructions:

Direct sow in full sun, rich, well draining soil. Sow ½” down in a circle or grid pattern if production is small for optimal cross pollination If large amounts are grown rows are preferable. Space plants 8” apart or seed 4” apart. Needs consistent moisture and fertilizer twice throughout growing season, high nitrogen is key early on. Space 24-36” between rows.

Name: Abigail’s Coffee Okra
Scientific Name: Abelmoschus Esculentus
Family: Malvaceae

An old heirloom from Panama, it was named after the source of the seeds and long time grower, Abigail, who along with his village grows it for the large pods that produce numerous seeds that when dried and roasted make an excellent caffeine free coffee substitute. It is very long season okra and is slow to produce so it is best grown where the warm season is very long. The pods are tender and tasty when harvested young. Okra can cause skin irritation so protective clothing and gloves are recommended when working with mature plants.

Origination: Panama

Recommended Uses: Pods edible, seeds dried roasted and ground make excellent coffee substitute

Height: 6-10’ tall
Hardiness: zones: warm season annual, perennial in tropical zones
Flower Color: yellow
Maturity: 90-120 days

Sowing Instructions:
Start seeds indoors in full light 4-6 weeks before last frost date in soilless mixture. Sow seeds 1/2-1” deep in 2” cells and keep moist until germination in 7-14 days. Transplant to 4” pots when two sets of true leaves present. Transplant to full sun rich soil location when all danger of frost has passed, spacing 1-2’ apart and in rows 3-4’ apart. Keep moist until established, very drought tolerant once established.