IVY GOURD VINE

Coccinia Grandis, the Ivy Gourd vine   

Ivy gourd vine is also called as Baby watermelon, little gourd, gentleman's toes and popularly termed as Tindora belonging to the Family Cucurbitaceae. Roots form everytime the branch touches the soil.

Each root is enlarged giving the ability to grow long period of the season.

The leaves are slightly broad and flat shaped as a heart and having sometimes different shapes of leaves seen. The flower is white with five petals with a tube-like base.

This vine is fast growing and aggressive in growth.It is said that the growth is 4 inches per day. There is a wonderful and true saying that is if we don't consume the ivy gourd, Ivy gourd will consume the environment. That much aggressive and dominating growth is its nature. This vine smothers the nearby trees.

In my home garden, this aggressive vine smothers the lemon tree nearby. The vine is recorded as an invasive weed in Pacific Islands.

Perennial vine up to 12 m tall which forms the dense leaves and vines that cover the entire shrubs and trees nearby. Stems are green slender and when it matured becomes succulent and thick.

Flowers are not seen in our garden because I remove certain stems whenever it covers the lemon tree.I heard from my mom that the fruits are wonderful red colour and soft the parrots love to eat this fruit.

Health benefits of this Ivy gourd is amazing.

Prevents kidney stones.

It controls blood sugar levels.

It acts as a immune system regulator.

It is rich in Beta-carotene.

It is used for culinary purpose. I rarely use these young leaves of the ivy gourd vine for green gravy. Sometimes I add two different greens with this Ivy gourd leaves in dal base and consume. It is very tasty. For that nutritional and culinary benefits, I love this vine very much.

CURRY LEAVES- MURRAYA KOENIGII

Curry leaves are richly packed with iron and folic acid. Folic acid, you know, is mainly responsible for absorption of iron. So we can conclude that the curry leaves are the rich source of both the iron and folic acid also that they are the very natural remedy for anaemia.

Curry leaves check the blood sugar levels and so it is good for diabetic people. They lower the high blood sugar levels and they are proved to be rich in fibers

Researchers prove that curry leaves help in lowering cholesterol levels. It is packed with antioxidants and prevent the oxidation of cholesterol that forms LDL cholesterol (bad ) and simultaneously it increases the good cholesterol levels protecting the body from the heart diseases and atherosclerosis.

It improves digestion and it supports the weight loss thereby treating diabetes right at the root level.

According to the researchers, curry leaves can reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It protects the chromosomes and bone marrow and prevents the production of free radicals in the body. What an astonishing ability of these wonderful leaves!

It sounds unbelievable remedies. Isn't it?
Curry leaves consist of antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal properties so that it is dealing common skin infections like the fungal infection of nails.
Moreover, it accelerates the abundant hair growth and prevents the greying hair.it fights dandruff.

These leaves are termed as Kadipatta in Hindi.

It is not only used for seasoning but also it has a lot of benefits for our health.

Scientific name: Murraya Koenigii Family Rutaceae native to India and Sri Lanka.

Curry leaf plant can be grown from seeds or cuttings.  Sow the seeds in pot soil and keep them damp.
but not too much wet. It can grow well in the exposure to sunlight after growing some inches high.
Freshwater accelerates its growth abundantly and bright green, elongated leaves. Its baby leaves and stem are red in nature. They are much aromatic and beautiful.

Pinch the tips of the branches so that the many branches will grow.

Prune the plant during the winter season to avoid pests and worms. It goes dormant and the leaves turn black and dotted and drop out the entire leaves and stand alone. But it will cherish during the months of March and April during summer seasons.

The more you harvest, the bushier the plant will grow.

LEMON FRUIT GROWTH