The Katuk Plant Provides Year Round Nutrient Dense Greens In Hot Climates

The Katuk Plant is a highly undervalued plant in North America due to it not being known. It is also known as Sweetleaf, Star Gooseberry as well as having different names in each of these countries Cambodia, Loas, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Found in the understory rainforests, this highly nutritious green should be added to your garden to have fresh greens year-round with little maintenance and care. This plant packs a punch with protein, Vitamins A. B, & C, Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, and Iron. Best of all it is delicious. The leaves, flowers and fruit are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. This plant has been helpful to nursing mothers to increase milk production, as well as provide families with a varied nutrient profile that is easy to grow and propagate. This plant can make a live hedge or fence which can be useful and can be fed to animals that will also benefit from the nutrition. There is one potential caution and that is to not eat more than 1/2 a cup a day. 100g of fresh Katuk contains 580 mg of Papaverine, which opens the blood vessels and can cause Bronchiolitis obliterans if taken for extended periods of time. It is always wise to vary the diet and eat in moderation.
This is a fast-growing perennial evergreen shrub. Harvest often to get young leaves and avoid harvesting in the dormant season. This plant prefers part shade and can reach 7-8 feet high. Propagation is easy from cuttings and can also be seeded, however, the seeds can take 2-3 months to germinate.
There are two pests that can potentially find this plant and they are slugs and the Chinese Beetle.
#KATUK #SUPERFOOD #TROPICALGREENS
Thank you to ECHO Global Farms for teaching me about this plant!
www.echonet.org to purchase plants.
God Bless!

[@joelmd]

From my experience I can tell you that this plant likes shade better than direct sun. I confirm it because by accident I moved my pot to a place where the sun hits it a little in the morning and now with more time in the shade the plant develops faster. It already has flower and fruits. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

Very true...it is an under story grower

[@JCC_1975]

Thanks for the info! I just ordered cuttings off Etsy. Can't wait for them to come in and start growing!! 💜 Happy growing 💜

[@mamtajaya6457]

Wonderful information ♥️

[@communicracy]

My chickens love the Katuk leaves

[@Ms_Teh]

hi, i'm from Malaysia. Here we call it 'sayur manis or pucuk manis.' I love to stir fry sayur manis with egg and cook sayur manis with sweet potato in coconut gravy..

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

Thanks for sharing!! Sorry, somehow I just discovered in YT studio I can see old comments that I have not responded to. Sorry I missed yours :(

[@mikethefenceguy]

Love this plant! Thanks for the info

[@TheHexeract]

49% protein in a PLANT?! I gotta get some!

[@gphx]

I think the decimal point ended up in the wrong place. Most sources say about 6.4%.

[@Looknobook]

Nice! Thanks!

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

Thanks for commenting and enjoying the content!

[@doraw7766]

Thank you. My Katuk tree is huge and very bushy. But I still want to propagate some more since I have had so much success with it. Zone 9a freezes back the tree but it grows back in spring. I will cut it way down/short before the frost this year and cover it with leaves or straw. My moringa trees do the same thing. So I have learned I don't have to cover a tall 12 foot tree. haha. I will cut both types back as soon as I hear of a freeze and protect them.

[@christinecarlson4071]

Thanks Heidi, always good to have a plant that can be consumed for vitamins and nutrients in the garden. I wish I had some property to grow all of your fabulous plants!

[@clovado740]

Awesome video! thanks so much.

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

Thanks! Have a great day and be sure to subscribe if you haven't and hit the bell to be notified when new content drops. I will be ramping up with some more good content, coming soon!

[@soniarodriguez3810]

Hello! May I ask the name of the plant just left from the first katuk? The one with the big leaves between the chaya and the katuk? It's so beautiful and I guess also edible. Btw, I love my katuks.

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

Edible Hibiscus

[@evejee1795]

What is the plant next to the katuk...? chaya?

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

Edible Hibiscus nearest proximity and Chaya the next one over

[@nunyabiznes33]

I live in the Philippines and I don't even know that plant. I guess I need to look around for it.

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

Yes! Just ask for some cuttings and you will be set! I would let it root and establish before trimming it back too much...happy hunting!

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@GardeningWithHeidi I hope I find some. Almost everyone I showed the vid don't know the plant.

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

@@nunyabiznes33 check out www.echocommunity.org see the seed bank and farm in Asia...you may be able to get some seeds or find farmers in the community that could share cuttings with you...join for free

[@tiaracreates]

I have this in the garden and it grows even in sandy soil :)

[@Cookiejug1]

Would Katuk be good to dehydrate? I hope so.

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

I would think so...let me know how it turns out...Thanks for watching!

[@Nightengale0000]

Is that a aibika beside of it ?

[@doriswong6609]

Can you grow this vegetable from its seeds? A Malaysian in Texas and longing to grow it. Thanking you in advance.

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

Hi Doris. You can grow from seed, however, it can take months to germinate. Best to order a plant or cuttings to get started. Let me know if you need help with that too. Thanks for finding me and subscribing!

[@naceurbelgacem1896]

@@GardeningWithHeidi its good plante,Can i have this plante from you,thanks Heidi.

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

@@naceurbelgacem1896 hi Naveur. Where do you live?

[@naceurbelgacem1896]

@@GardeningWithHeidi i am from Tunisia, l have a very old Tunisian tomato ,we exchange if you want, thanks.

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

@@naceurbelgacem1896 hi! I don't t think plant material can cross customs...and I don't have any seeds, sorry!

[@Midhun2401]

വേലി ചീര❣️

[@geetanjalidalavi2119]

Is excessive consumption risky?

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

I wouldn't recommend excessive consumption...does have oxalates, which can increase chance of having kidney stones, eating foods high in calcium can help flush out the oxalates...from the body.

[@geetanjalidalavi2119]

@@GardeningWithHeidi Thanks

[@geetanjalidalavi2119]

@@GardeningWithHeidi Any other tree leaves which are edible?

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

@@geetanjalidalavi2119 yes many, where do you live?

[@geetanjalidalavi2119]

@@GardeningWithHeidi India. I searched on internet found only moringa and chakramuni (katuk) from India.

[@willpowerismyname3707]

Hi can I get katuk seeds from you im living in toronto canada 🇨🇦

[@GardeningWithHeidi]

Hi! This plant rarely sets seeds, I don't have any. Sorry. :(

[@udinudin2546]

Hai saya di Indonesia 🇮🇩,, Saya menanam tanam katuk dan berbiji. Bila anda mau, saya dapat mengirimkannya untuk anda, biji biji yang sudah tua dan dapat ditanam. Bijinya yang sudah tua, warnanya Hitam.