Brinjal (ppl)

Ladies finger or Okra, popularly known in India as ‘Bhindi ‘, is an important vegetable crop of India. It is grown throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions and also in the warmer parts of the temperate regions. Okra or Ladies Finger (Abelmoschus esculentum) plant belongs to the family Malvaceae.

The vegetable itself takes on the form of an elongated lantern as it grows. It is a fuzzy, green-colored, ribbed pod ranging from approximately 2-7 inches. It is a nutrient powerhouse and an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, folacin, vitamin B, and fiber.

The plant derives its name from the Latin word ‘radix’ meaning root. Radish is a root vegetable characterised by fast-growing leaves and a long, white, napiform, mild-flavored root. Native to continental East Asia, it is both widely grown and extensively consumed in Asia.

While it is grown mostly for consumption, in some places like North America, it is also planted for its ability to break up compacted soil and replenish it. 

Karela or Bitter gourd is a vining plant that grows much like cucumbers or melons in the  hot summer sun. White Bitter melon is easily recognized by its bumpy, warty oblong-shaped skin, giving the initial appearance of a malformed white cucumber. Even its flesh can be misleading, bearing a spongy seed cavity looking more similar to that of a cucumber than of a melon. Unlike other  melons, Bitter melons do not require peeling.

The fruit’s flesh is pale green to white in color and  contains layers of flat white seeds which will turn red as the fruit matures. The bitterness in the  melon is about the only flavor that the melon delivers. This bitterness is not a uniform bitterness  and can range from fruit to fruit. Generally, the younger the fruit, the more bitter. Large, riper  fruit will be more mellow and the flesh will become spongy.