6" TO 12" TALL KATUK (SAUROPUS ANDROGYNOUS)AKASWEET LEAF/TROPICAL ASPARAGUS

Description: KATUK, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE SWEET LEAF PLANT, IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR LEAF VEGETABLES IN SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA. IT'S PRODUCTIVE GROWTH, HIGH YIELDS AND PALATABILITY CONTRIBUTES4TO THE POPULARITY OF THIS DELICIOUS AND VERY BEAUTIFUL EDIBLE PLANT. THE PLAIN GREEN VARIETY IS THE MORE COMMONLY SEEN CULTIVAR WHILE THE VARIEGATED ONE THAT I SOMETIMES OFFER IS MORE RARE AS WELL AS BEAUTIFUL WHEN IT IS GROWING. COLORS ARE SPLASHES OF CREAMY WHITE/YELLOW AGAINST A GREEN LEAF THAT TO ME IS REMINISCENT OF CHRISTMAS. KATUK BEARS PURPLE FLOWERS THAT EVENTUALLY BECOMES A CREAM COLORED MARBLE SHAPED FRUIT WITH A PURPLE FLOWER AT THE TOP OF THE FRUIT . THE FRUIT IS ALSO EDIBLE BUT IS SOFTER AND MORE TASTY WHEN THE FRUIT IS YOUNG BECOMING MORE CRUNCHY AND NUTTY AS THE SEEDS WITHIN THE FRUIT MATURES. SHOOT TIPS OF THE KATUK HAS BEEN SOLD IN ASIA AS TROPICAL ASPARAGUS WHICH IN VIETNAM IS SOMETIMES COOKED WITH EITHER CRAB MEAT, DRIED SHRIMP OR MINCED PORK TO MAKE A DELICIOUS SOUP. THE LEAVES CAN ALSO BE STIR FRIED WITH DRIED ANCHOVIES OR EGG WHICH IS COMMONLY DONE IN MALAYSIA. MOST OF KATUK CAN BE EATEN EITHER RAW OR COOKED. THE LEAVES AND YOUNG FRUITS AND FLOWERS CAN BE EASILY STRIPPED FROM THE LONG STALKS THEN ADDED TO EITHER YOUR VEGETABLE STIR FRIES, SALAD OR SOUPS. THE TENDER YOUNG SHOOTS CAN BE STEAMED. THE GREEN PEA LIKE FLAVOR IS ACCENTUATED BY THE SLIGHTLY NUTTY TASTE MAKING THE PLANT VERY ADAPTABLE FOR MANY DIFFERENT DISHES. KATUK IS A FAST GROWING VERY HARDY VEGETABLE PLANT WHOSE GROWTH RATE WILL VARY GREATLY DEPENDING ON YOUR SUNLIGHT, TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL. FORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT A FUSSY PLANT THAT ONCE ESTABLISHED BECOMES MORE DROUGHT TOLERANT. ALTHOUGH KATUK PREFERS A LITTLE SHADE IF YOUR AFTERNOON SUN IS EXTREMELY HOT, IT WILL STILL THRIVE IF AMPLE WATER IS AVAILABLE TO KEEP THE ROOTS MOIST DURING INTENSE HEAT. GROWTH RATE CAN BE AS MUCH AS 1 FOOT IN ONE WEEK UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS. KATUK DOES BEST IN PART TO FULL SUN CONDITIONS SUCH AS MORNING SUN WITH AFTERNOON SHADE. THE SOIL SHOULD BE KEPT MOIST ESPECIALLY DURING HOT DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS UNTIL YOUR TREE IS FULLY MATURE KATUK IS VERY EASY TO GROW. MILDLY SCENTED BLOOMS ARE PRODUCED THROUGHOUT THE SPRING/SUMMER PERIODS. YOUR KATUK CAN BE PLANTED IN-GROUND OR MAINTAINED IN A POT AND STILL PRODUCE AMPLE VEGETATION AS WELL AS FLOWERS/FRUITS. KATUK WITH IT'S COLORFUL LEAF PATTERN IS A PERFECT CONTAINER PLANT TO ADD THAT RELAXING TROPICAL ACCENT TO YOUR POOL PATIO, GARDEN, OR ANY OUTDOOR SPACE. IF YOU LIVE IN A COOLER ZONE, YOUR POTTED PLANT CAN BE BROUGHT INDOORS FOR THE WINTER MONTHS AS LONG AS YOU KEEP IT NEAR A SUNNY WINDOW AND WELL WATERED. MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT UPON RECEIVING YOUR KATUK, SLOWLY ACCLIMATE IT TO SUNLIGHT BY INITIALLY KEEPING IT IN A SHADED AREA. PLACE YOUR PLANT IN A CONTAINER WITH ABOUT 1/2 INCH OF NON-CHLORINATED WATER TO KEEP THE SOIL MOIST UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO TRANSPLANT YOUR ROOTED PLANT INTO A GARDEN POT OR PLASTIC CONTAINER. A PLASTIC CONTAINER SUCH AS THE ONES SEEN IN YOUR LOCAL NURSERIES WORK BEST SO THAT YOU CAN UPGRADE THE SIZE OF THE CONTAINER AS YOUR PLANT GROWS TALLER. GENERALLY YOU MAY USE A 6 TO 12 INCH ROUND CONTAINER TO START OFF YOUR PLANT. ONCE YOUR PLANT IS ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET HIGH YOU CAN THEN DECIDE IF YOU WISH TO TRANSPLANT YOUR PLANT DIRECTLY IN-GROUND OR INTO A DESIGNER PATIO POT SO THAT YOU CAN RELOCATE YOUR PLANT WHEN NECESSARY IF THE WEATHER BECOMES COLD. THIS IS A PLANT THAT WILL TYPICALLY KEEP GROWING AS LONG AS THE ROOTS DO NOT OUTGROW THE POT. WHEN THE PLANT'S GROWTH RATE SLOWS, THIS IS USUALLY A SIGN THAT KATUK IS BECOMING ROOT BOUND SO YOU MAY THEN TRANSPLANT YOUR TREE INTO A LARGER POT. PLEASE NOTE THAT SHIPPING CAN BE HARD ON PLANTS (ALSO KNOWN AS SHIPPING STRESS) SOME LEAVES OR FLOWERS MAY FALL OFF THE PLANTS AND THEY MAY APPEAR SLIGHTLY WILTED ON ARRIVAL. DO NOT BE DECEIVED INTO THINKING THE PLANT IS DEAD. IF YOUR BIODEGRADABLE POUCH/CUP IS DRY, SIMPLY RE-HYDRATE THE POUCH WITH EITHER DISTILLED, SPRING OR REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER. PLACE YOUR PLANT IN A SHADED AREA SO THAT IT MAY GENTLY ACCLIMATE TO NATURAL SUNLIGHT. SOME LEAF DROP IS NATURAL AFTER BEING IN A DARK BOX FOR 2 TO 3 DAYS. THINK OF HOW YOU WOULD REACT IF YOU WERE IN A DARK BOX FOR 2 TO 3 DAYS (LOL) . ONCE YOUR PLANT HAS ACCLIMATED TO NATURAL LIGHT OVER 24 TO 48 HRS, IT CAN THEN BE PLACED IN AM SUN/PART SHADE WHERE IT WILL TYPICALLY THRIVE. I ship all of my plants via USPS FIRST CLASS 2 to 3 day delivery with tracking that is available upon request but unfortunately, sometimes the postal service does not deliver on time and packages do sometimes get lost. Please understand, this is something that is out of my control. If you wish to have faster special shipping you may request it prior to bidding and we can work out the higher shipping costs. If your plant arrives damaged beyond saving, please message me with pictures of both your package and plant immediately so that I may correct the problem as soon as possible. There is no need to leave negative feedback as I always try to answer questions or concerns on a very timely basis, sometimes within minutes of being messaged. Your satisfaction is my greatest concern and I will do everything possible to make things right. GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY GARDENING :) I make every effort to ship plants as soon as payment is received. I do not provide hot packs so be mindful of cold temperatures in your area. This evergreen perennial tolerates mild temperatures when it is young preferably no lower than 50 F. For this reason you may need to be present when the post man delivers your package or have someone collect it from your mail box and bring it indoors to warmer temperatures before it gets damaged. IF YOUR PLANT ARRIVES DAMAGED PLEASE SEND ME PICTURES OF BOTH THE BOX AS WELL AS THE PLANT AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE IT SO THAT I MAY SEEK TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THANKS.

Price: 19 USD

Location: Cape Coral, Florida

End Time: 2024-09-13T21:25:14.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD