Investing or gardening, be ready to go to war!

Several years ago, I tried to grow cherry tomatoes on my balcony. 

I had three pots and they were all growing well. 

They flowered and eventually I had some fresh cherry tomatoes. 




Unfortunately, the good times didn't last very long because the plants were infested by white flies and eventually died. 

White flies are nasty insects and usually cling to the undersides of leaves in large numbers. 

Once infested by white flies, the fruits from the plants are not safe to eat either. 

Well, the important thing is that I had a lesson in gardening which I remember. 




So, when I decided to renew my efforts at gardening in the last one year, I decided not to grow cherry tomatoes despite suggestions by some people to do so. 

Instead, I decided to grow plants that would ward off all sorts of nasty insects. 

I have a pot of Basil, a pot of Rosemary, a pot of Lemon Balm and two troughs of Catnip. 

These ward off mosquitoes, house flies and other nasties. 

Rosemary.

Basil.

Lemon Balm.

Catnip.

I am also trying to grow Rosemary from seeds. 


Here is a photo taken today:

The one on the right is ahead in the race.

I am also pleased to share that my Alliums have flowered today:

Waiting for them to bloom fully.

Alliums (the onion family) repel many insects, apparently.

I also recently tried to grow some Nasturtiums which are originally from South America. 

The whole plant including the flowers are edible, apparently. 

Peppery in taste or so I read. 

Got the seeds from NTUC Fairprice Xtra.

The main reason for planting Nasturtiums is not for eating although I could try. 

What I really want is their ability to ward off those cherry tomato plant murderers, those white flies!

Today, I see the first Nasturtium seedling emerging from the soil:

Hope the rest of the seedlings follow soon.




Once the Nasturtiums are fully grown, if I should try my hand at growing some cherry tomatoes again, I wouldn't have to fear those nasty white flies!

Whether investors or gardeners, our chances of success would be higher if we are ready for war!

Related posts:
1. Be prepared for war!
2. Life is about many things.

Healthy yogurt costs less than Yami, Yoguru & llaollao.

I have been trying to cut down on sugar but one of the things I like to eat is yogurt which apparently has lots of sugar. You know the type with bits of fruit? I particularly like those with bits of mango.

Although I have been told that natural yogurt is sour, I have not tried it before, well, until today.

On my first attempt a few days ago to get natural yogurt in the neighbourhood supermarket, I could not find any. 

All the yogurt I found had more than 10 grams of sugar per 100g. Most had between 12 grams to 15 grams of sugar. 

If you cannot imagine what that means, Vitagen Less Sugar has about 9 grams of sugar per 100g. Jia Jia Liang Teh Less Sugar has about 5.5 grams of sugar per 100g. 

So, most of the yummy yogurt on the shelves in the supermarkets have relatively more sugar.

Anyway, today, I found this:

4 grams of sugar per 100g. Great!

So, what does it taste like?

OMG! 

It is sour! Sour! SOUR!

Anyway, if you want to try this, I got this from NTUC Fairprice Xtra. It was on special offer. 

Two servings for $2.95 instead of $3.95.

Yup. It costs more than the usual Low Fat or Non Fat yogurt with bits of fruit which I like so much.

Well, I guess this is healthy yogurt and it still isn't as pricey as those frozen yogurt from brands like Yami Yogurt, Yoguru or llaollao which probably have tons of sugar.

(Confession: 
I used to enjoy Yami Yogurt and Yoguru from time to time. I never did try llaollao because it is so expensive.)

My food bill is growing in size! 

That will be another blog post.


Related post:
Life is about many things.