Agrihortico

Recent scientific studies reveal one important fact regarding our nutrition: Cruciferous vegetables, dark leafy greens, citrus fruits and berries like strawberries and blackberries are the most nutritious foods on the planet Earth. Yes, these fruits and vegetables are nothing but only nutrients and water. Among the fruits, citrus fruits and berries provide a wholesome nutrition to human body. So if you are looking for a healthier lifestyle, start today to include one or more of these foods in your daily diet.

Scientific name of Aloe is Aloe vera. Aloe is an evergreen perennial succulent plant that belongs to the family Liliaceae. Aloe is a hardy perennial plant that is tropical and succulent in habit and can successfully be cultivated in arid climates. Aloe Vera is also known as True (vera means ‘true’) aloe, Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, and Barbados Aloe. It is also called as first-aid plant owing to its healing properties to cure wounds and burns.

Tamarind is a multipurpose tree. Timber of a fully grown tree yields brown-colored hardy durable heartwood which is used for various carpentry purposes. Young, tender leaves are used as a delicious vegetable. Its pod-shaped fruit has great commercial value. Fruit may be eaten raw or may be used in various culinary or medicinal preparations. Fruit pulp extracted from mature, ripe fruits after removing seeds are available in the market for culinary uses.

Scientific name of Tomatillo plant is Physalis philadelphica (Syn. Physalis ixocarpa). It is a vegetable plant belonging to Solanaceae family. This plant is a native to Mexico. Tomatillo plants are mainly grown for their small, round fruits which are used as vegetables. Tomatillo is popularly known as ‘Mexican husk tomato’ ‘Mexican ground cherry’ and ‘Mexican green tomato.’ Its popular Spanish names are tomate de cascara, tomate verde, tomate de fresadilla, tomatillo, and miltomate.

Blackberry plants are grown for their nutritious, delicious fruits. Blackberry is considered as one of the most nutrient-dense fruits. It is counted among top 50 nutrient-rich, plant-based foods. Blackberry fruits are commonly known as ‘bramble fruit’. Blackberry plants belong to the family Rosaceae, the Rose family.

This 30-page booklet explains various natural and spiritual ways to reduce stress from daily life. Spiritual stress management techniques include yoga, meditation, peaceful living, prayer and observation of silence, solitude and fasting. Most popular natural stress management techniques are journal writing, socializing, listening to music, watching movies or television, exercises etc.

The book ’21 Culinary Herbs’ explains in detail growing practices and nutritional information of following 21 herbs: Spinach, Malabar Spinach or Ceylon Spinach, Mustard Spinach Tendergreen, New Zealand Spinach, Ginger, Turmeric, Rhubarb, Parsley, Peppermint, Spearmint, Japanese Mint, Bergamot Orange Mint, Horse Mint, Field Mint or Corn Mint, Apple Mint, Asparagus, Chives, Onions, Garlic, Leek, and Celery.

Scientific name of Broccoli is Brassica oleracea var. italic. The edible portion of a broccoli is its immature buds and thick fleshy flower stalk. There are two types of broccoli available in the market: green sprouting broccoli and purple-colored broccoli. Green sprouting broccoli contains a group of green, immature buds and thick fleshy flower stalk forming a head while purple-colored broccoli forms curds and look like cauliflower. Scientific Name of Brussels Sprouts is Brassica oleracea var. Gemmifera. It is a tall- stemmed Cole crop where axillary buds forming in the axis of each leaf are used as vegetables.

Asparagus is a cool-season vegetable that belongs to the family Liliaceae. Botanical name of asparagus is Asparagus officinalis. It is an herbaceous perennial plant. Tender shoots (spears) of asparagus plants are used as a leafy vegetable. Asparagus is believed to be originated in Europe, Africa and Asia. Young shoots of Asparagus are very rich in minerals like iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese, selenium, calcium, magnesium and zinc. It is also rich in vitamins and major vitamin present in asparagus are vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, rutin, niacin, and folic acid. Asparagus shoots are low in calories, low in sodium, rich in protein and a rich source of dietary fiber. Asparagus shoots are also rich in an amino acid called asparagine. Dried asparagus roots are used as a medicine because of its diuretic properties. Productive life of a well-managed commercial asparagus plantation is about 10 to 15 years.

Generally cultivated crops are grouped into any of the three categories based on their growing cycle. These categories are annuals, biennials and perennials. Annuals complete both their vegetative and reproductive life cycles within a season or a year. Biennials complete their vegetative growth phase during first growing season or first year and produce seeds during the second season or second year. That is, biennials complete their life cycles within two seasons or within two years. While perennials are those crops which may take one or more years to complete their vegetative phase before embarking on a continuum of reproductive cycles, yielding economically significant crop produce. That is, perennials grow for several years without compromising on their economic value. Similarly, perennial vegetables are those crops that produce edible portion that can be used as a vegetable continuously for several years.

Zucchini is a type of summer squash grown as a summer vegetable for its tender, edible spongy fruits. It is the most popular and widely grown summer squash vegetable. Scientific name of zucchini is Cucurbita pepo. It belongs to the gourd family of vegetables, i.e. Cucurbitaceae. Zucchini is also called as courgette.

Chicory or common chicory is a popular salad leafy vegetable. Two major types of common chicory are radicchio chicory and Belgian endive or Witloof chicory. Scientific name of common chicory is Cichorium intybus. Endive is a leafy salad vegetable belonging to the genus Cichorium. Scientific name of endive is Cichorium endivia and it belongs to the family Asteraceae, the Daisy family. There is a wild variety of endive called ‘wild endive’ which is Cichorium pumilum. Endive is mainly grown for its edible leaves which may be consumed in its raw or cooked form. Raw leaves are used in salads. It can be cooked by stir-frying, boiling, steaming and many other ways like cooking any other leafy vegetable.

This is a small book, which mainly deals with SIX bulb vegetables namely onion, garlic, shallots, leek, chives, and scallions and spring onions. All bulb vegetables are known for their characteristic pungent flavor due to the presence of a group of sulfur compounds in them. Growing practices, food uses and nutritional information of these bulb vegetables are explained in detail in this book.

Custard apple is a tropical fruit plant. Scientific name of custard apple is Annona reticulata. It belongs to the family Annonaceae. Annona reticulata is also known as ‘the Bullock’s Heart’, bull’s heart, Jamaica apple, and netted custard apple.

Leafy vegetables or vegetable greens are considered to be richest source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Daily consumption of minimum 100 to 150 grams of leafy vegetables along with a main diet is recommended by many health experts for balanced nutrition of a human body. Apart from its health-providing properties many leafy vegetables are considered to have medicinal benefits also, especially those vegetable greens which are loaded with antioxidant vitamins and minerals. This eBook explains in detail the food significance and nutrition of about 48 leafy vegetables.

Botanical name of curry leaf plant is Murraya koenigii. It belongs to the family Rutaceace, the citrus family. Curry leaf plant is tropical to subtropical in growth habit. It is grown as a perennial plant which when grown in an open space, grows into a small tree of up to 5 meters in height; while growing in containers and greenhouses, it grows into a small bushy shrub of up to 2.5 meters in height.