By Miguel Braganza [EMAIL PROTECTED] After reading about "Cool Cucurbits" last Sunday, a reader wanted to know if there were any warm vegetables. What could be a better choice after "Gentleman's Toes", as the Tendlim [Coccinia indica] are tenderly known, than the Lady's Finger?
The first book of the Bible is known as Genesis or Creation. Its fourth chapter tells us simply, "Adam knew Eve, his wife" and they raised Cain, the tiller of the land. He might have become the patron saint of farmers engaged in crop husbandry, except for the fact that he killed his younger brother, Abel, who was into animal husbandry. The friction between agriculture and veterinary officers continues to this day regarding partial treatment by their master. Perhaps, in honour of the first recorded martyr, the Lady's Finger is botanically known as Abelmoschus esculentus. This vegetable is believed to be a native of Africa and has spread widely across the tropics of the world producing varieties like "Dwarf Prolific" in Trinidad and Tobago or "White Velvet" in Puerto Rico or "Pusa Sawani" in North India and "Arka Anamika" in South India. However, there is no variety as good as the "Sath-xirancho bhenddo" of Goa. This light pista green to old Ivory coloured vegetable pod is a rage among Goans. Whether plain boiled, with or without onion and grated coconut, cooked as a "Caldinha" with prawns in coconut milk, or stuffed with "Recheiado" masala, the local bhenddo is just unbeatable. It is well known that the Lady's Finger vegetable is the pride of central Goa and widely associated with the island or Juem named after Santo Estevao [St. Stephen], the first post-resurrection martyr [Acts 7:54]. On June 29, Goa will celebrate the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, the latter [then called Saul] was the person who consented to the martyrdom of St. Stephen. With the uncanny connection between Abel, Abelmoschus and Stephen, it seems but natural that the long-suffering residents of Juem be known as "Bhendde". While the residents of Orda-Candolim will be gathering on the bunds [protective riverside walls] to celebrate the "Sangodd" twin-boat festival in honour of Peter and Paul, the residents of Juem will be planting Lady's Finger seeds on the bunds. The rest of us can do both. Like the "Sangodd", the Lady's Finger vegetable is always associated with the Sol or Kokum. The glutinous mucilage of the vegetable is broken down by the enzymes and hydroxy citric acid, or HCA, present in the Kokum, to make the vegetable more palatable. Kokum concentrate or salt extract, locally known as ala, can also be used. Bhendde is a direct sown crop. As a rule, it should not be transplanted. A former colleague of mine in the Directorate of Agriculture had discovered a low-cost system by which he could save crop time in the field. He raised the bhendde seedlings in used paper ice-cream cups and transplanted them, cups and all, in his sugarcane field after harvest. One could do the same to raise seedlings under shelter to avoid the heavy monsoon in July and yet get the crop in September. Used ice-cream cups are still available near marriage halls. Otherwise plant in August and enjoy the vegetables in October. The best system for sowing is the twin row method, on ridges during the monsoons to avoid flooding and in the furrows during summer. Plant the seeds one foot [30 cm] apart in each row with the twin row one cubit [45 cm] from it. Between such twin rows keep a gap of two cubits [or one metre] for easy movement during harvesting. The first flower normally arises in the axil of the seventh leaf. It is best to mix organic manures in the soil while making the ridges-and-furrows to sow the seeds. A little more manure can be added after a month of sowing and the soil can be heaped around the base of the plant at the same time to give the plant better anchorage and support. About 25g of seeds is enough to sow a plot admeasuring 20 to 25 Square metres. The Bhendi Yellow Vein Mosaic [BYVM] disease is common in the local bhendde and less in the 'improved' varieties. There is no breeding programme to introduce tolerance of BYVM in the local bhendde that is known to me. Perhaps, it has been initiated by some ICAR [Indian Council of Agricultural Research] institute or private seed agency. It is well worth the effort. In the meanwhile, it is recommended that seeds from pods of disease-free plants be used. And the plants that show yellowing of veins on the leaf should be removed and buried in the ground. If most plants show the symptoms, relax and enjoy the crop. BYVM does not cause any harm to human beings. Buy seed from a disease-free plot next time. By the time you read this article, the first preparatory meting for the 17th annual Festival of Plants & Flowers would have been held at SFX High and Higher Secondary School, Siolim. The festival itself will be held on 30, 31 August and 01 September, 2008, the traditional last weekend before Ganesh Chaturthi. ABE [Association Board of Education] vice-president Fr. Paul Sagayam, MSFS, School Headmaster Fr. Santow John MSFS, guitarist Seby Pinto, cartoonist Alexyz Fernandes, Net journalist Joel D'Souza and yours truly are the unlikely TEAM for the event. But "Together Everyone Achieves More" than others can begin to dream of. Hosting a plant festival 17 years in a row is no joke. * * * This column first appeared in the Herald.
