Fern - Survivor

Marilen from Sydney asked. "Did you totally remove your edible fern ?"


I did remove all, but after few weeks roots that left inside the growbed regrow.

They grow big then I save one fern, for future stock

So what you see is what's left. They are easily grown. Picture above was taken 10 minutes ago.

Affnan

Paku

We called it Paku in English is Fern the nerd name for it is Athyrium esculentum its edible, the fronds and fiddle heads are all a delicacies here.

Fern among the first few plants I tried for Aquaponics, its water cleaning properties is good and rapid growth and ability to grow in shaded area and confine spaces make it ideal in my setup.

I am dedicating this post to this plant, it sad for me to do but I need the space and all the Fern must go. Fern in Aquaponics is such great plant and I like them a lot.

Fiddle head above usually picked and stir fried is a delicacies and daily available from diners.

I plant Fern from collecting whole plant in nearby streams, planted in growbed with only the roots part with most frons removed. They will then grow into big fern with many fernlings sprouting out from roots stolon.

Another way to grow fern are from the roots itself. Cut those roots and sow them in the growbed, with time they will form Fern and this usually happen after I remove all fern from growbed, the roots left behind will sprout new Fern.

It will takes longer for Fern to mature from roots as compare if you use Fernlings, but its so much easier to do. Normally it took about 45 days from Fernlings to full mature Fern.

Other than roots and whole Fern use for planting Spore Propagation is also a method of growing, however this method of Fern propagation is better leave it to the expert in this field.

Note : I don't know what to call those "Baby Fern" other that Fernlings, I think its not correct.


Cooking Fern

Aquaponics - Fern Transplant

Today I transplanted those fern to the growbed on top the brick wall. I took only those older fern rhizome and trim all the leaves and plant it.

It will takes sometime for it to colonize this grow bed, and give my backyard a natural curtain for privacy.

What left are young ferns in the earlier growbed, now they have enough lights to grow better.

This fern was such a bush as previous post, I am worried with those bigger fern trimmed water quality may be compromise. These fern provide good water cleaning properties. I have too see what effect it have to my tank water.

Cheers

Aquaponics - Cooking Fern

Something intresting ... How to cook them ferns



Below is a youtube post on same subject



Cheers

Aquaponics - Fern

Fern do so well I had no choice but to trimmed them. I planted 24 Fern out of that only one didn't make it. That's a good survival rate.

Trimmed Fern, this will let the young ones grow and gives even more fern.

Close up shot of young ferns, once the bigger fern gone they will start to grow better.

My in-law stir fry those fern, just a handful but its good for one helping. The way to identify the edible leaves is by looking at it upper surface. If the leave show sign of shiny waxy look then its good. Dull leave is no good and it may be unfit for consumption.

I love the smell of fresh Fern.. when I was growing up, we stayed near the jungle and undergrowth area full of Fern and we do pick a lot as vegetable.

Fresh smell of Fern never fail to bring back memories of childhood days - Its priceless.

Trimmed Fern, this gives chance for Chillies to have better growing space before they start to get wild again.

Aquaponics - Fern Transplant

New setup done, with 3 growth bed. These Fern will need to be transplanted to the new bed.

I am reluctant to move them, because they've just recover and doing fine. Well it need to be done.
Those Fern are starting to do well.
Above one of the Fern, showing the roots. It have small hair like root, it was not like this when I planted it. This is sign of good growth.
Close up photo of the root, there are sign of new Fern coming out from the roots. That also a good sign, looks like Ferns are good choice for Aquaponics.
BTW the Tomatoes, also need relocating, they are too close together. The tallest is about 2 ft tall.

I've move them to new grow bed, its not matured yet so I am worried that all the plants will not do well once on the new bed.

Paku - Athyrium esculentum

Athyrium esculentum is an edible fern, the fronds and fiddle heads are all edible, due to this I decided to head for the swamp and get myself few of these fern and plant them in my aquaponics growth bed.

Today, I'm busy getting them ferns and planting it in, this particular fern thrive in swampy area, therefor I guess they will make good aquaponics plant, they filter water very well.

In the Philippines they are called "Pako", here in the Malay Peninsular we call them "Paku", the similarity very close, that's because we are more or less the same people.

Lets see whether I can successfully grow this fern. I use the rhizome not spores, next time I'll try spore propagation. Spore propagation is interesting and you can get plenty young fern if its done correctly however it will takes longer for the fern to mature.

Fern is a very fascinating plant, careful do not pick the poisonous variety for the dinner table :(