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Passionfruit and roselle are in season—here’s how to use them
Two tropical-looking late-summer harvestsRoselle and native passion fruit look exotic, but both can thrive in our region. Here’s how to tell when each crop is ready—and what to make with the harvest. 
Harvest and use roselle hibiscusAfter each flower fades, roselle forms a crisp, tart calyx around its seed pod. We usually give the calyx another 3–7 days to develop; young ones may snap off by hand, while fully developed calyxes usually need clippers. Read the edible hibiscus guide 
Find, identify, and eat native passion fruitMaypop grows in fields, gardens, and sunny edges. Don’t rush green fruit: ripe maypops subtly change color and soften, and fruit that drops on its own is often ready. Split one open and eat the fragrant pulp and crunchy edible seeds; skip the papery outer skin. Read the complete maypop guide Two colorful ways to use the harvest
Happy harvesting, Aaron & Susan |
Tyrant Farms
We're educators and bloggers focused on the topics of raising pet/backyard ducks, no-dig organic gardening & rare edible plants, foraging, wild recipes, and related topics. Subscribe and join thousands of newsletter readers every week!
Cooler nights do not have to end the garden. A simple protective structure can give fall crops a warmer, more stable place to keep growing without the cost or permanence of a full greenhouse. Build an affordable mini-greenhouse or tall hoophouse Our step-by-step guide shows how to build a tall, walk-in protective structure using readily available materials. It is designed to be affordable, adaptable, and useful for shielding crops as temperatures drop. Build the mini-greenhouse BEFORE YOU...
Have you ever watched a duck suddenly tilt her head toward the sky and wondered what she sees that you do not? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Nine amazing duck eyesight facts Ducks have a 360-degree horizontal field of vision and can see distant objects more clearly than humans. They can focus underwater, detect subtle motion, perceive ultraviolet light, and protect their eyes with a translucent third eyelid. Their side-set eyes trade some depth perception for a much wider view—useful when you...
By mid-September, some summer plants are still producing while others are clearly finished. That in-between stage is the perfect time to decide what stays, what goes, and where the next round of food will grow. Five ways to grow a fall and winter garden You do not need a large traditional garden. Our guide compares five practical approaches—from in-ground beds to containers and protected growing spaces—so you can match the method to your climate, property, and available time. Choose your fall...