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ONION

"I will not move my army without onions." This curious message was sent by General Ulysses S. Grant to the War Department in Washington during the Civil War. Nowadays, onion is only known for its use in culinary and many people doesn't have an idea about its medicinal properties. So, I chose this vegetable to give the light it need to shine.

"Onion" is somewhat a generic term that refers to several pungent members of the genus Allium (Lilaceae family) including common (bulbous) onion, garlic, leek and others. The word was derived from the Middle English union which, in turn, came from the Latin unio. The latter means "one" or "unity" and refers to the onion's single bulb consisting of concentric rings.

I also chose onion because it has this very amazing property that even the most rock-hearted people will go crying as they cut the onion, but the explanation for this mystery is that people cry due to the sulfur-containing compounds that are released.

It's really hard for me at my first try cause I think, I've plant it the wrong way but then it ended up pretty well. So here are the steps that I did to plant my onion:
1. I first clear some weeds from my gardens using my trowel.
2. Then I harden the soil in my pot using my hand.
3. Third, I align a piece of string in a straight line.
4. I dig holes 10 cm apart with a 1 inch depth, for my onion to place.
5. Lastly, I covered the holes then watered it.

Well, I did this steps 1 month ago but a typhoon came and destroys my plant so I need to plant a new one a couple of weeks ago.

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LERPIDO, Angel Gazella T.

OKRA

FIRST ATTEMPT

Before I start to plant, i have thought of questioning the elderly, the experienced ones, for me to be able to have a headstart on what i am about to do.  Their advice was to plant Okra. After further research, discovery wad made: okra may be cooked, pickled, eaten raw, or be included in salads. A raw okra is 90% water, 2% protein, 7% carbohydrates and negligible in fat. And doctors recommend okra to the people who has diabetes.

As i commence planting, the process told to me was to wait for the okra fruit to dry, open the dried fruit, and plant it immediately. Little did i know that i am doing the wrong way. I've waited for weeks cheering and hoping for the plant to grow; but no sprout came to life. I am going nowhere with this, second attempt must be made.

OKRA 1

THIRD ATTEMPT

After okra, next is Pechay.  I have made my research, and watched youtube videos to learn anf understand pechay and how they live.

Pechay possess vitamins namely: Vitamin A "anti-inefective" which protects and supports the epithelial cells that are vital to immune system defenses. Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant, and is necessary for the synthesis of collagen, a major block of the connective tissue. Folate (a member of Vitamin B complex), is critical to the development and maintenance of cells. Also, small amounts of niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6. The most important benefit of pechay is its vitamins and minerals, which helps maintain a person healthy in terms of attaining stronger bones and glowing skin.

In planting, seeds of pechay were bought at the super market. The seeds were small round blue seeds. Initially, the first step was to plant the seeds, water them everyday, and wait for a sprout. Second step is to remove the sprout from the pot, seperate each sprout, and plant them with enough distance. For now, I am at the stage of separating the sprouts and planting them again.

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Effie Mari Magugat
Grade 12 - STEM B

As a person who loves nature and beautiful sceneries, I am thrilled and excited when I first heard about our project in our biology class. Nature makes me feel calm and relaxed. I, myself grew up in a place where plants are abundant. Our house is near the ricefield and we have a small garden. I used to water our plants and even volunteered myself to water it every morning before.

I have planted my own plant when I was in elementary. It was for our home economics subject. Now, I feel nostalgic doing it again. I asked my lola to help me in taking care of my plant. I originally wanted to have a flower specifically a sunflower but because of the typhoon, my lola suggested not to plant first. Also, the weather changes time to time and growing sunflower is quite hard I guess. I chose tomato for some reasons. During the summer time, I kept myself busy researching about food which can help strengthen the heart and improve the body because someone dear to me got sick. Making fresh juices can make a big differences. Tomatoes are in no doubt beneficial and healthy. Also, tomatoes are also a necessity in our kitchen. You can make a lot of dishes from tomatoes and can also reduce the expenses especially now that everything is expensive.

During our grocery shopping, I bought my seeds and flowepots. The next day, we planted the seeds. Good thing, we still have a sack of soil left and there is no need to buy anymore.

STEPS:

1.We gathered all the materials the needed.

2. Transfered the soil into the pot.

3. Spread the seeds in the soil.

4. Sprinkle some water. A little water should be enough. Don't let your plant drown.

5. Place it in a nice location where it can get sunlight and let it grow. It takes patience and effort.

Here are some information about tomatoes:

Tomato 🍅

Known scientifically as Solanum lycopersicum, the tomato is the berry of a plant from the nightshade family, native to South America.

Despite technically being a fruit, the tomato is generally categorized as a vegetable.

Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.

They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K.

They are usually red when mature, but can come in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, green and purple.

Then there are many subspecies of tomatoes, with different shapes and flavor.

Nutrition Facts

The water content of tomatoes is around 95%. The other 5% consist mainly carbohydrates and fiber.

One medium sized tomato (123 grams) contains only 22 calories.

Fresh tomatoes are low in carbs (4%). The carb content consists mainly of simple sugars and insoluble fibers.

Tomatoes are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K and folate.

The main plant compound in tomatoes is lycopene. They also contain beta-carotene, naringenin and chlorogenic acid.

Lycopene

Of all the plant compounds found in tomatoes, lycopene is particularly noteworthy.

Lycopene is the most abundant carotenoid in the ripened tomato and is found in the highest amount in the tomato peel (17, 18).

The rule of thumb is, the redder the tomato, the more lycopene it contains (19).

It is found in the highest amounts in tomato products, such as ketchup, tomato juice, and tomato-based sauces.

Health Benefits of Tomatoes

Consumption of tomatoes and tomato-based products has been linked to many benefits regarding heart disease, cancer prevention and skin health.

Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, is the world's most common cause of death.

A study in middle-aged men showed that low blood levels of lycopene and beta-carotene are linked to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes (27, 28).

Increasing evidence from clinical trials shows that lycopene supplementation is effective at lowering LDL cholesterol (29).

Clinical trials of tomato products have also shown benefit against inflammation and markers of oxidative stress (30, 31).

They also show a protective effect on the inner layer of our blood vessels and may decrease the risk of blood clotting (32, 33).

Cancer Prevention

Cancer is a generic term for the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that spread beyond their normal boundaries, often invading other parts of the body.

Observational studies have found links between tomatoes, tomato products, and fewer incidences of prostate-, lung- and stomach cancers (34, 35).

The high lycopene content is believed to be the main reason for these protective effects, but high quality human trials are needed to confirm this (36, 37, 38).

A study in women shows that high concentrations of carotenoids, found in high amounts in tomatoes, may protect against the development of breast cancer (39, 40).

Skin Health

Tomatoes are considered beneficial for skin health.

Tomato-based foods rich in lycopene and other plant compounds may protect against sunburn (41, 42).

According to one study, there were 40% fewer sunburns after ingesting 40 grams of tomato paste (providing 16 mg of lycopene) with olive oil, every day for 10 weeks (43).

Bottom line:

Studies show that tomatoes and tomato products may reduce the risk of heart disease and several cancers. They are also considered to be beneficial for skin health, and may protect against sunburns.

Tomatoes are often harvested and transported while still green and immature, and are then ripened with artificial ethylene gas. This may lead to less flavor development, resulting in tasteless tomatoes.

Tomatoes are generally well tolerated, but they may cause allergic reactions in people allergic to grass pollen. Tomatoes grown in contaminated soils may contain higher levels of fluoride.

Summary

Tomatoes are juicy and sweet, full of antioxidants and may help fight several diseases.

They are especially high in lycopene, a plant compound that has been linked to improved heart health, cancer prevention and protection against sunburns.

Tomatoes can be a valuable part of a healthy diet.

source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/tomatoes#section8

here is the picture of the progress of my plant:
(( I feel like a proud mom))

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Growing up, I was surrounded by people who grew their own crops. Naturally, I wanted to try it myself. Unfortunately, due to my young age (blaming it on young age because I don't want to admit that I don't have a green thumb. I'm hoping I grow some new thumbs for this project.), all my plants withered and died. And this project gave me an excuse to try again.

Sunflower - Big Smile

(HELIANTHUS anuus - Big smile)

I chose to plant this particular Sunflower because the Big smile variation grows fast and is actually a dwarf Helianthus variation thus, it can be grown in a container or a pot. It is also said to attract birds and bees and it provides new seeds after the flower wilts.

So, here's what I did to (hopefully) ensure that the seeds will grow into nice plants.

1) Germinating. This step is optional. This is done when you want the plant to sprout faster. In this step, you fold the seeds in moist cloth or paper towel and leave it for 2 to 3 days. Check daily and remove them from the towel if the seeds already sprouted.

2) Prepairing the soil. In my case, this was necessary because the soil I had was pure clay. Sunflowers need good soil drainage and clay soil retains water so I decided to mix it with burmee mulch (Excretion of Earthworms).

3) Planting. After the seeds sprouted, I transferred them to the pot (which was filled with the conditioned soil). I had a problem with this because it seem that I planted them too deep and the growing sprouts didn't reach the surface to absorb sunlight. But thankfully, I retrieved them and they continued to grow.

4) Watering. In general, sunflowers don't need that much water. As I've written earlier, they need good water drainage. You only water them daily in their early stages. Once the the stalks/stems grow a few inches tall, you gradually lessen the watering up to once a week.

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Santiago, Paul Maverick V.

12-STEM B

Eggplant (Solanum melongena)

“Patingin naman ng talong mo.” Our room was jam-packed with hilarity since the time of planting began and that line is so used in our section, but they are actually just pertaining to the progress of one’s plant growth. Our president gave us seeds because he had spare that is why okra and talong is wildfire in our project. Eggplant can be cooked in numerous ways and that is actually the reason of why I chose it, and I was never really fond of okra in the first place.

I planted it on September 11, 2018 at 8:07 PM, just after buying the soil needed for planting. It actually took 5 days to see the progress in its growth which led to plentiful prayers just to have a seedling bud. The picture below was taken a little while ago in the morning, I actually felt satisfied after comparing it from day one to present, and now in point of fact enjoys the routine of taking care of my plant.

Procedure:

1. Start plants indoors in flats or peat pots 2 months before the soil warms up or buy nursery transplants just before planting.

2. Plant outdoors in a very sunny spot with well-draining, fertile soil.

3. Mix 1 inch or so of well-rotted manure or a general fertilizer such as 5-10-5 throughout the planting bed about a week before planting. (Apply 2 to 3 pounds per 100 square feet.)

4. Use a covering of black plastic mulch to warm heavy clay soils before setting out transplants.

5. If transplanting, set 3- to 4-inch tall seedlings 24 to 30 inches apart in well-prepared beds.

6. Mix 1 tablespoon of 5-10-5 or a shovelful of rotted manure or good compost with the soil in the bottom of each planting hole and cover with more soil.

7. If you’re growing eggplant in pots, use a dark-colored container. Each plant needs five-gallon (or, larger) pots and should be placed in full sun and outdoors so it can be pollinated. Use a premium potting mix to avoid disease.

8. Stake the plants right away (just an inch or two from the plant) to provide support as they climb and to avoid disturbing the soil later.

9. If you live in a cold climate, consider using row covers to keep the eggplants warm and sheltered. Open the ends of the row covers on warm days so that the bees may pollinate.

10. After planting, water well. Add a layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Source: https://www.almanac.com/plant/eggplants

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Initial report
The plant i choose was okra because it was easy to grow, at first i thought that it would be hard but when i started i realized that it was a little fun. At first i was anxious because my plant might die or i might not even grow but i did my best to make it work and now my plant is starting to grow up and i thought to myself that i just need a little confidence to do something and every thing would turn out well in the end.

Steps i did to plant
1. Get some seeds to plant

2. We don't have a big backyard so i plant mine in a pot and i put soil into the pot

3. I dug a hole in to the center and placed my seeds and then i covered it up

4. Lastly i put a little bit of water to help the plant grow.

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So i started to doubt i'll be able to finish this project because of the fact that this plant does not talk, so how am i supposed to remember that it still exists in our house and water it on a daily basis? and what i was expecting was right, the first try was a mess, i forgot to water it for three days so maybe the nature itself decided to water it and brought a whole food. Yeah, my first eggplant was one of the casualties of ompong. and now i am redoing the whole process, soaking the seeds and planting them half an inch deep. I also made a reminder on my phone to water it everyday so i won't forget. Hopefully this one turns out well.

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I have been a nature-loving individual since I was a kid up until today. I used to play with mud and soil without any hesitation just because it gives me satisfaction that fills my heart with joy. I still remember the first seed I planted, which is the Papaya seed. It grew to be a very healthy and proud tree. It had my time specially after school, in elementary, when I will water it and remove the weeds beside it. It’s just a bit sad that most of my time gets consumed by academics and other responsibilities now. But what good is it that this activity gave me another chance to explore the left-out part of my childhood!

The first time I planted, I was devastated because the typhoon drowned my soil and plant causing me to replace it and try again. This time, I’m sure that my plant will grow to become a beautiful one!

I went to the mall and looked for flowers to plant because for me, it has a significance to my personality and who I am. I am quite reserved and oppressed before, but now, I am already my proud self. And the beauty of a flower represents me the best.

I chose the flower Chrysanthemum Snowland because it is the first plant to caught my attention. Snowland is a paludosum type Chrysanthemum. Its ideal temperature is warm, which is very fit for the temperature here in the Philippines. It has daisy-like flowers with yellow disks. The Snowland makes a great landscape that can please the eyes of its audience! The usual height of this plant is 8 to 12 inches or 20 to 30 centimeters. The diameter of the flower itself is usually 6 to 10 inches. In terms of emergence, the average days required is 12 days. For transplant, it usually takes 30 to 35 days after sowing. Now, for the days to flower, 65 to 75 days are expected.

Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum paludosum) of the genus Chrysanthemum and family Asteraceae have a pungent smell. They are natives to Asia and Northern Europe. They are also known to have insect-repellent effects. It is a necessity to support the stems with a trellis or stakes to keep them erect and to properly hold the flowers as the plant matures. A practice that is done is pinching the growing tip of the plant to increase the number of flowering stems per plant. Join me on my journey to parenting and growing this flower!

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My family loves to eat vegetable salad I decide to plant cucumber. I have interest to plant it if I plant this maybe they can eat vegetable salad every time they want. When I was a child I already love to plant any kinds of plants. My grandfather taught me how to plant.
Cucumber is a vine plant like grapes. The Scientific name of cucumber is  Cucumis sativus
Nutrition facts of cucumber

Calories: 45

Total fat: 0 grams

Carbs: 11 grams

Protein: 2 grams

Fiber: 2 grams

Vitamin C: 14% of the RDI

Vitamin K: 62% of the RDI

Magnesium: 10% of the RDI

Potassium: 13% of the RDI

Manganese: 12% of the RDI

Step of planting cucumber
1. Find a place to plant or you can plant in a pot
2. Dig a hole and put the seed
3. When you notice that plant crawling put some plant support
Reference:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-of-cucumber

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Initial Report:
The plant that i chose before was talong but unfortunately the plant did not grow as i expected it to. I chose Okra and it grew after a week, i am not able to pass it on time because of what happened. As time passes by my plant is beginning to grow and eventually have their own crops.
Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus, is an herbaceous annual plant in the family Malvaceae which is grown for its edible seed pods. Okra plantshave small erect stems that can be bristly or hairless with heart-shaped leaves.
What kind of a vegetabble is okra?
Okra (also known as gumbo), is a tall-growing, warm-season, annual vegetable from the same family as hollyhock, rose of Sharon and hibiscus. The immature pods are used for soups, canning and stews or as a fried or boiled vegetable.
BENEFITS OF OKRA:
It contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid, and calcium. It's low incalories and has a high dietary fiber content. Recently, a new benefit of including okra in your diet is being considered. Okra has been suggested to help manageblood sugar in cases of type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.
Here are the steps i did in planting my okra plant:
1.I searched the internet on how to properly plant an okra plant.
2. I get 5 seeds to be planted.
3. I planted it on a pot with a healthy soil.
4. I used a spoon to dig 1/2 inch of hole in the middle and then i put the seeds and covered it up.
5.Lastly i watered them lightly to help them grow.
SOURCES:
https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/okra/infos
https://extension.illinois.edu/veggies/okra.cfm
https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/okra

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De Guzman, Jan Angel H.
12-STEM B
Since I am a lazy and a normal born child with no special abilities to grow plants or those what they call green-fingered persons, obviously I’d choose cactus as the main character of this project. Unattractive you might think these may be (unless they have flowers which normally grows after 4 months or more), seeing thorns or needle placed in an irregular shape, they are surprisingly foods which are rich in vitamins and nutrients. Other than being idle in everything, one of the reasons why I chose this plant is because the wilting process is longer than other flower, herb or shrubs out there. Cactus only need an abundant sunlight and water once a week or more. They also do not require any seed to multiply themselves, they have pods that commonly grows in the cactus itself. These pods are carrying seeds inside them and is used to grow another cactus plant.
Procedure in planting cactus:
1.) Gather seeds (can be bought in online shops or in the market) or pods.
2.) Plant these in an organized soil in a pot.
3.) Water them once a week or more.
4..) Expose the cactus in the sun for it to grow.
REFERENCES:
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-a-Cactus
https://www.lifehack.org/356365/7-surprising-health-benefits-eating-cactus

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Alfaro, Hilary Mae N.
12-STEM B

When I was a kid, my family always goes to my mother's hometown for a vacation. Since it was a province, people there likes to plant because they like to eat fresh vegetables and fruits. That’s why I used to watch my mother and Lola plant different kinds of fruits and vegetables. So when I knew about this activity of planting I want I feel confident because based on my childhood experience I can do it. But also half of me is a bit nervous because I know that it's easy to plant, but it’s hard to grow and maintain a good one.

Okra is a flowering plant that is known in many parts of the world as ladies’ fingers or bhindi and is most highly prized because of its seed pods. The scientific name of this interesting plant is Abelmoschus esculentus and its origin is still unclear.

The health benefits of okra include its ability to improve digestive health and vision, manage diabetes, boost skin health, soothe joint pain, prevent certain cancers, and strengthen bones. It also improves cardiovascular health, balances cholesterol levels, aids the immune system, lowers blood pressure, and protects heart health.

I chose okra given the seed is available and it was easy to grow. I also chose okra because it is one of my favorite vegetables that I like to eat.

How do I plant it?

1.)    Given that we have a huge backyard, I look for a perfect spot that it was easily exposed by the sun and of course I also check the soil if it's good for my plant.

2.)    After looking for a spot, I remove all the grass in where I will put the okra.

3.)    I till the soil approximately 2 to 3 inches.

4.)    After digging the soil I put the seeds into it and covered it again.

5.)    While watering the plant, I slight cultivate the soil so the plant easily breathe.

REFERENCE:
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-okra.html

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Maron Jherwyn B. Ortega
12-STEM B
all reports are on my padlet click the link below.
Thank You :)

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Alejandria, Reynaldo Jr. S.
12- STEM A

Grapes (Vitis vinifera)

Ever since I was a child, my dad would always bring home grapes every week or so. I remember not wanting to eat it every night when my father offered me some because I found it bitter at the time. Nowadays, I would get them from the fridge itself to eat whenever I needed to pull out all-nighters to finish all my school activities. That's where this task comes into play. Knowing the fact that in a couple of months I can harvest my own grapes feels amazing. For the past 16 years of my life, I've grown in a garden but never have seen or touched a grape vine.

Eating grapes bring so many health benefits to the human body. This little marble-sized fruit is packed with nutrients like Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) that is mostly given to children to prevent immune system deficiencies and Vitamin K that helps in blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding when cut or injured. It also helps in preventing chronic diseases and certain studies show that consumption of grape-related products helps in improving memory, attention and mood. Last but not least, grapes aren't those green-leafed vegetables you refuse to eat every dinner just because your mom said so. They're actually delicious to the majority of people and are very easy to consume. As a matter of fact, at the time this was written, I have a cup full of grapes waiting for me once I finish writing this essay.

Planting Process:
Keep in mind that we didn't buy grape seeds as it would take a very long time to observe any growth happening on it. Instead, we bought stems of it, as grapes can be asexually propagated using cutting. The stems we got are at least five months old, which will hopefully show a bit more progress than if we just planted seeds.

Step 1: We first chose a place where sunlight is present all the time. Next, we prepared the land for planting by digging a hole using a shovel (my hands hurt because of shoveling).
Step 2: We made sure that when we buried the stem that it was directly below our vine supports. Once our plant grows a little bit more mature in a week or so, we'll be putting supports to them to make them stronger and sturdier. Also, this will be the plant's guide in growing upwards.
Step 3: We watered the plants. My father said I should water the plants every morning before I go to school except when it rains.
Step 4: Now we wait. In the future, we'll also be putting minimal amounts of insecticide to avoid insects.

That's it. To be honest, I'm quite excited and nervous at the same time. Our neighbor across the street already succeeded in planting theirs so hopefully, we as well.

Sources:
Learn more about Propagation via Cutting, Layering and Dicision: https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-002/426-002.html
Growing Grapes:
https://www.almanac.com/plant/grapes
Health Benefits of Grapes:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-grapes#section9

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Mark Daniel T. Lagramada
12-STEM B
Calamondin (aka. Calamansi)
I chose to plant calamansi because that's the only available seed when I decided to do this activity for our Biology.
First, I made an improvised pot made of plastic bottle and make holes under that bottle, because that's what I remember when we also once had planting activities when I'm in 5th grade.
I used the soil from the area where we burn dry leaves in our backyard to make it easy for my seeds to grow. I just simply put the seeds on the top of the soil to see the progress. Even though it looks like brownies in the picture that I took. The current condition of my plant doesn't look good because the soil that I used turned into mud. I'll fix that right after I post this "iNItiAL RePOrT"

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Domingo, Hazel R.
12-STEM B

The reason why I chose CACTUS as my plant in our project is because cactus doesn’t need to be watered often (cactus can be watered at least once a week). They can live in any areas and can grow where sunlight is always present. I also like cactus because of its beauty and uniqueness. Their flowers are attracting and they have thorns instead of leaves which makes it more interesting. Cactus can easily multiply just by cutting a tiny part from it. This part can be found  anywhere at the original plant, and after cutting, you can now plant it in a small pot.

The Cactus (Cactaceae) plant lives in dry places such as deserts. Its name cactus is derived from the Greek word kaktos, which means prickly plant. It is a type of plant that can store large amount of water for them to survive in hot or dry places. Water from cactus has higher density than a tap water, and said to be safe for drinking. A cacti can survive for 15 to 300 years, depending on the type of species.

How to plant a cactus:

Step 1 Look for the materials needed in planting your cactus.

Step 2 Start cutting 3 newborn small parts of the mother cactus.

Step 3 Put the soil in your pot and make a small hole for your cactus.

Step 4 Put your 3(or more) cactus in the hole. (make sure that half of the plant is visible)

Step 5 Place your cactus where sunlight is always present. (watering the plant will be applied at least once a week.)

References:

http://www.csssj.org/welcome_visitors/basic_culture.html

http://www.flowers.org.uk/plants/plants-by-name/a-c/cactus/

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/plants/cactus.html

http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/cactus_facts/501/

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De Gracia, Vivien O.
12-STEM A

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FERNANDEZ CLAIRE DAENIELLE D.  (0 9 - 2 6 - 1 8) *** DAHLIA ***

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FERNANDEZ CLAIRE DAENIELLE D.  (0 9 - 2 6 - 1 8) *** DAHLIA ***

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So here are a few information about my plant, and my experience of planting:

Plant: Dahlia; Dahlia Pinnata
Some Facts:
** It is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants native to Mexico.

** Flower forms are variable, with one head per stem; these can be as small as 5 cm (2 in) diameter or up to 30 cm (1 ft) ("dinner plate").

** Each floret is a flower in its own right, but is often incorrectly described as a petal, particularly by horticulturists.

** The modern name Asteraceae refers to the appearance of a star with surrounding rays

*** In the language of flowers, Dahlias represent stability, as well as meaning "my gratitude exceeds your care". When given as a gift, the dahlia flower expresses sentiments of dignity and elegance. It is also the symbol of a commitment and bond that lasts forever.

Reason why I decided to plant this?
At first I was actually just planning to plant vegetables such as tomatoes or chili pepper or lettuce. While I was off in the market buying seeds, flower seeds caught my eye and somehow I felt that I want to plant a flower, although I am not fairly experienced in planting one not like planting vegetables. Not only would this be a new experience to me but will be a sentimental one too, for I thought of replanting the flower on my brother's grave. We looked for different flower seed but I decided to go home empty-handed and do research before buying a seed, that way I'd have fair knowledge of which to plant and what it would require. The flowers that caught my eye were the Picotee Cosmos and the Dahlia. After a little research of what do the flowers look like, how hard are they to plant, how to plant them; I also looked up for their meanings and found out such great s of the symbolism of the two flowers both pertaining to great love. And so I decided to plant the Dahlia.

How I planted my plant:
Dahlias can either be planted using seeds or with pre bought tubers. Since the only available option for me are the seeds, i decided to go for it.

In planting using seeds, they need to be germinated first before planting into the intended pot of soil. The process of germination is the process of seeds developing into new plants. First, environmental conditions must trigger the seed to grow. Usually, this is determined by how deep the seed is planted, water availability, and temperature. When water is plentiful, the seed fills with water in a process called imbibition.

With all honesty I didn't understand any of that. But I did found out that I have to plant them in a smaller portion of soil, put in small plant trays, and wait for five days to a week for sprouts. Then and only then, can they be transferred in pots and plant boxes.

Comments:
I can't wait for it to grow. This is a new experience for me and I can't wait to see what happens and learn from it.

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Academic life is busy so I think planting a cactus would be perfect! It is a low maintenance companion and an independent one! It requires sunlight but stores is own water. It is beautiful in it’s own way!

Easy steps:
✨ I got cactus stems from a friend and let it dry overnight.
✨I prepared a pot with a hole and soil. It is important that it drains fast!
✨ I made a hole and stuck it in there. Exposed it to sunlight and watered it once a week.

That’s it! Meet cacty❣️🌵

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Academic life is busy so I think planting a cactus would be perfect! It is a low maintenance companion and an independent one! It requires sunlight but stores is own water. It is beautiful in it’s own way!

Easy steps:
✨ I got cactus stems from a friend and let it dry overnight.
✨I prepared a pot with a hole and soil. It is important that it drains fast!
✨ I made a hole and stuck it in there. Exposed it to sunlight and watered it once a week.

That’s it! Meet cacty❣️🌵

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MANUCOM, Mary Grace C.

Okra (also known as lady finger)or known scientific name is Abelmoschus esculentus and a cultigen plant that is altered by humans through a process of selective breedin.

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I Grew With A Plant-Mary Grace C. Manucom

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De Guzman,Jan Angel h.
12 STEM B
Since I am a lazy and a normal born child with no special abilities to grow plants or those what they call green-fingered persons, obviously I’d choose cactus as the main character of this project. Unattractive you might think these may be (unless they have flowers which normally grows after 4 months or more), seeing thorns or needle placed in an irregular shape, they are surprisingly foods which are rich in vitamins and nutrients. Other than being idle in everything, one of the reasons why I chose this plant is because the wilting process is longer than other flower, herb or shrubs out there. Cactus only need an abundant sunlight and water once a week or more. They also do not require any seed to multiply themselves, they have pods that commonly grows in the cactus itself. These pods are carrying seeds inside them and is used to grow another cactus plant.
Procedure in planting cactus:
1.) Gather seeds (can be bought in online shops or in the market) or pods (atleast three).
2.) Plant these an organized soil in a pot.
3.) Water them once a week or more.
4..) Expose the cactus in the sun for it to grow.

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John Michael R. Acuña
12-STEM B
OKRA (Abelmoschus Esculentus)
My grandfather used to plant okra and other different vegetables near our house. I learned how to plant different vegetables from him. He always shares some of the vegetables that he harvests to us. I chose this plant because I’m familiar to this plant and I know how to plant and take care of it.
Okra, known in many English-speaking countries as ladies' fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world.
The products of the plant are mucilaginous, resulting in the characteristic "goo" or slime when the seed pods are cooked; the mucilage contains soluble fiber.
Procedures:
1. I soaked the seed overnight to increase or speed up germination.
2. I removed the seeds from the water and dug an estimated value of ½ to 1 inch deep.
3. I placed the seeds there and I covered it with soil.
4. I poured a little amount of water with milk to speed up germination.
Mythbust:
Myth: Okra has little nutritional benefit.
Fact: Okra is rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber, folic acid, vitamin B5, C and A, and protein. Okra also contains essential minerals, including potassium, magnesium and iron.
Myth: Cooking okra increases some of its nutritional benefits.
Fact: One hundred grams of raw okra contains about 3.2 grams of fiber, while boiled okra contains about 2.5 grams of fiber. The fiber content is affected by freezing, dropping it to about 2.2 grams. Raw okra also has more protein. One hundred grams of raw okra has 2 grams of protein, while boiling it reduces it to 1.87 grams and 1.69 grams by freezing it.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okra
http://www.jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2013-05-01/story/goods-myths-and-facts-about-okra

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Cabanilla, Valerie Faith C. 12 STEM A
Academic life is very busy that’s why I think planting a cactus or Cactaceae would be a very good option. It is a low maintenance companion but is also very cute in its own way. It is independent, stores its own water and it loves sunlight!

Easy steps:
✨ I got cactus stems from a friend and let it dry overnight.
✨ I prepared a pot with a hole and soil in it! (It should drain fast!)
✨I made a hole for my cactus and stuck it there! Exposed it to sunlight and watered it once in a week. That’s it!

I am looking forward to more months with her, cacty!❣️🌵

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Reyes, John Herald E. Stem A
I have no idea what plant am I going to plant, and then, I planted small chili pepper. Why? Because I have no choice. My first choice is ginseng, but I already planted that 2 years ago for our assignment in Ma’am Jojo’s subject. I got an urge on recycling those pictures but no, I remembered that I’m a good guy, so I move on. Second choice is dates, because I saw a pack of dates when I opened our refrigerator, so I started planning the planting and then I learned that you will wait for 20-50 days to spot a development. Nope, definitely not dates. September23 2018, still no seeds, waiting and waiting. I feel the need, the need for seed. At that day 8:15, my father gave me some chili seeds and that’s it, that’s my chili story, it’s less interesting than the ginseng and the dates story, but hey it’s my story. I wrote this thing immediately after I planted those chili pepper seeds, so you can say that my story is hot and fresh.

This are things about siling labuyo that I got from the internet:
Capsicum Frutescens is the scientific name for siling labuyo.
It packs a lot more odor and taste. Widely used in traditional herbal medicine to alleviate pain and inflammation due to arthritis, gout, fibro myalgia.
Siling Labuyo chile pepper is available in the late summer and early fall months.
In Tagalog its name, Siling Labuyo, translates to mean “wild chili” a nod to the way the pepper was originally found to be growing wild extensively in the Philippines and how it was distributed all over the continent supposedly by wild chickens which feasted on the pepper plants.
Yeah, it’s 1000 pesos per kilo
So what did I do:
1. The first thing is getting the seed.
2. The second thing that I did is to get the tupperware for the container of the soil.
3. I put holes under or the base of the tupperware.
4. Placed the soil in the container.
5. Next is placing the seeds on it, arranged and aligned.
6. I deepen the siling labuyo seeds by pushing my finger towards the soil with the seeds, so the seeds will be 1 cm away from the ground soil.
7. And then, I added some soils on the top so the seeds will have a cover.
8. The last is watering it.

references:
https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Siling_Labuyo_Chile_Peppers_11316.php
http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/articles/silinglabuyo.htm

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Sonza, Jieline Rianne I.
12 STEM B
-

Gardening is an activity tending and cultivating a garden, especially as a pastime. Gardening is good for both your physical and mental health. Whether you're digging, hoeing or pulling weeds, you're working your muscles and exercising. On average, gardeners burn about 300 calories per hour, reports the American Council on Exercise. Being outside may also lift your spirits and help relieve stress. Planting a garden is even good for your wallet. When you grow your own produce, you may save money on groceries and, as a bonus, improve your diet. Just think how much you're going to savor those vine-ripened fruits and vegetables.

When I was a kid, I really wanted to plant a seed. Actually, my mother was inclined to plant so I just learned it from her. My mother is the one who always fixed our garden and I used to help her with that. Whenever my mom prepare the ingredients for our meal, I see the seeds that will be thrown out, that’s why I gather it and plant it afterward. Sometimes, other plants do not live because maybe my hands are hot, other people say that you should have cold hands to grow a plant. I remember when I finished planting I always check it after I got home from school and start talking to my plants, its quite crazy I know but I did it and watering them every day.

Okra, also known as "lady's finger," or "bamia pod" is one of the favorite nutritious vegetables of North-East African origin. The pods usually gathered while they are green, tender, and at the immature stage. The plant cultivated throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions around the world for their phytonutrients rich pods. It grows best in a well-drained and manure rich soil.

I chose the okra plant because it has many benefits:

The okra pods are among the very low-calorie vegetables. They provide just 30 calories per 100 g besides containing no saturated fats or cholesterol. Nonetheless, they are rich sources of dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins; often recommended by nutritionists in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs.

The pods are one of the rich sources of mucilage substance that help in smooth peristalsis of digested food through the gut and ease constipation condition.

The pods compose healthy amounts of vitamin-A, and flavonoid anti-oxidants such as beta-carotene, xanthin, and lutein. It is one of the vegetables with highest levels of these antioxidants. Vitamin-A is essential for for maintaining healthy mucosa and skin. Consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in flavonoids helps to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

Fresh pods are the good source of folates; provide about 22% of RDA per 100 g. Consumption of foods rich in folates, especially during the pre-conception period helps decrease the incidence of neural tube defects in the newborn.

The gumbo pods are also an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin, vitamin-C, providing about 36% of daily recommended levels. Research suggests that consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps the human body develop immunity to combat infectious agents, reduce episodes of cold and cough and protect it from harmful free radicals.

They are rich in the B-complex group of vitamins like niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and pantothenic acid. The pods also contain good amounts of vitamin-K. Vitamin-K is a co-factor for blood clotting enzymes and is required for strengthening of bones.

The pods are also a good source of many essential minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese, and magnesium.

Proper way of planting okra:

1.    Determine how to start your seeds. To start seeds inside, plant the seeds in peat seed starter and keep them well-watered. Put them in a warm, sunny room or use grow lamps to keep them warm during the germination period.

2.    Choose the sunniest spot in your garden. Okra grows best in full, hot sun. If you try to grow it in a shady spot, it won't produce much fruit, if it lives at all.

3.    Correct the soil's pH. Okra grows best in a soil with a pH level between 6.5 and 7.0.

4.    Enrich the soil with nutrients. Okra grows well in very rich soil that's packed with nutrients.

5.    Sow the seeds or plant the seedlings. When the weather is warm, it's time to plant the okra in your garden.

Proper way of taking care of your plant:

1.     Keep the okra well-watered. Okra should be given at least an inch per week of water. Water every morning to thoroughly moisten the soil, except after heavy rains.

2.     Thin the seedlings. When the seeds you planted have sprouted and grown to 3 inches (7.6 cm) high, thin out the smaller seedlings and leave the strongest ones standing.

3.     Weed and mulch the okra bed. While the okra is still young, cultivate the bed to eliminate any weeds. Then cover the area around the seedlings with a heavy layer of mulch, such as pine straw.

4.     Side dress the plants with compost. Since okra needs plenty of nutrients to grow, it's a good idea to continue adding compost throughout the summer.

5.     Keep an eye out for pests. Aphids, stinkbugs, and corn ear worms all like to feast on okra plants. The plants are hardy, and usually won't fail on account of pests, but it's a good idea to keep their populations low to get the most out of your okra crop.

References:

https://www.martinhealth.org/the-benefits-of-gardening

https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/okra.html

https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Okra

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Lenon, Edwin Caleb E.
12- STEM B

“I Grew Up With My Plant”

My Steps in Planting Okra:

1.      Get free dried seeds from Mark Joseph.

2.      Look for a plastic cup where I could plant the okra.

3.      Put small holes under the plastic cup so that when I water the plant the excess water would flow.

4.      Also look for a soil where the okra would most likely sprout/grow.

5.      Put the soil in the plastic cup

6.      Put few water in the soil.

7.      Press the seed into the soil with fingers.

8.      Put the plant where sunlight could reach it.

9.      Wait for it to grow.

Okra is a vegetable crop which can be predominantly grown in tropics and subtropics. Okra was originated in tropical and subtropical Africa. In Asia, the crop is cultivated for its young tender vegetables, used in curry and soups after cooking. Okra is also popularly known as “Lady’s finger”. In India, this vegetable as called as “Bhendi” or “Bihindi”.Okra is good source of nutritional values and health benefits. The stem of the plant is used for the extraction of the fiber. Okra farming is very profitable and can be cultivated throughout the year. Okra belongs to the family of “Malvaceae” and genus of “Abelmoschus”. This vegetable has sticky texture and tastes good especially when made them fried.

The reason why I want to plant okra is because it is easy to plant and it has a lot of health benefits

Health Benefits of Okra

·         Okra is a source of high fiber content.

·         Okra is a good source of folate content.

·         Okra is a source of vitamin ‘A’,’B’, ‘K’ & ‘C’.

·         Okra is an excellent source of iodine and is useful for the treatment of goiter.

·         Okra is a good source of hair and skin.

·         Okra may prevent diabetes.

·         Okra may prevent colon cancer.

·         Okra may control cholesterol Level.

·         Okra may prevent skin pigmentation.

·         Okra may control asthma.

·         Okra may prevent constipation.

·         Okra may prevent sunstroke.

·         Okra may control obesity and help in weight loss.

·         Okra may prevent constipation.

·         Okra may help in improving eyesight and immune power.

·         Dried fruit contain 12 to 22% edible oil and 20 to 25% protein and is used for refined edible oil. Dry fruit skin and fibers are used in manufacture of paper, cardboard and fibers.

Reference: https://www.asiafarming.com/okra-farming/

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John Michael R. Acuña
12-STEM B
OKRA (Abelmoschus Esculentus)
My grandfather used to plant okra and other different vegetables near our house. I learned how to plant different vegetables from him. He always shares some of the vegetables that he harvests to us. I chose this plant because I’m familiar to this plant and I know how to plant and take care of it.
Okra, known in many English-speaking countries as ladies' fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world.
The products of the plant are mucilaginous, resulting in the characteristic "goo" or slime when the seed pods are cooked; the mucilage contains soluble fiber.
Procedures:
1. I soaked the seed overnight to increase or speed up germination.
2. I removed the seeds from the water and dug an estimated value of ½ to 1 inch deep.
3. I placed the seeds there and I covered it with soil.
4. I poured a littleamount of water with milk to increase germination.
Mythbust:
Myth: Okra has little nutritional benefit.
Fact: Okra is rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber, folic acid, vitamin B5, C and A, and protein. Okra also contains essential minerals, including potassium, magnesium and iron.
Myth: Cooking okra increases some of its nutritional benefits.
Fact: One hundred grams of raw okra contains about 3.2 grams of fiber, while boiled okra contains about 2.5 grams of fiber. The fiber content is affected by freezing, dropping it to about 2.2 grams. Raw okra also has more protein. One hundred grams of raw okra has 2 grams of protein, while boiling it reduces it to 1.87 grams and 1.69 grams by freezing it.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okra
http://www.jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2013-05-01/story/goods-myths-and-facts-about-okra

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Sonza, Jieline Rianne I.
12 STEM B

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Something worth waiting is something worth having.

I am not surprised by the fact that our Biology teacher tasked us to plant trees since his field of expertise is Botany. I am excited because I involve myself too much to the ineffable beauty of nature and ways to preserve it. And this project wasn't given out of pure serendipity, it happened by purpose: it is for us to understand the importance of planting and its role to our environment.

22 September, 2018- 6:00 am
Plaridel, Bulacan
I was accompanied by my mum in transferring the plants from the raised bed, or punlaan in Tagalog, to our backyard. My mum told me to carefully lift the chili pepper or sili from the raised bed. According to an article published by the Missouri Botanical Garden Organization, Bonnet Pepper's roots are sensitive and demands warm weather. So I took extra precaution with the roots.

22 September, 2018- 7:00 am
Plaridel, Bulacan
It's time for planting the sili (again!). I made sure that sufficient sunlight is present in all the planting area since peppers require much of these as mentioned beforehand. My bare hand touched organic fertilizers, yup, feces of carabaos. After almost finishing planting my chilis I saw small tomato plant and decided to transfer it to my mini garden. My mum, alongside me, planted mangoes for our farm.

I also encountered Sam, the wiggling earthworm. It really is amazing when you became one with nature even if it is ephemeral.

Let's all hope for the best and may the force of nature be with me!

Gesmundo, Shenlhee D.
12-STEM A

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Castillo, Vivienne Nikita S.

12 - STEM A

I love planting. Mostly I plant pepper and tomatoes. I chose Okra because I never tried planting Okra before and I love eating Okra. So when our teacher told us to plant, first things came up to my mind is Okra.

Okra originated in Africa

The wild okra crop originated along Nile in Abyssinia, in the area we recognize today as Ethiopia. Accounts of the vegetable begin to show up in records dating to about the 12th century.  Historians surmise that the crop spread to Egypt and other parts of North Africa before traveling into the Mediterranean and India.

Spanish Moors advanced the spread of the crop further East in the following centuries.

Of course, okra is healthy

•Okra presents a host of benefits to those who enjoy eating it.

•Okra aids in digestion

•Okra is high in vitamin C that can boost immune system strength

•Okra can help strengthen vision and protect against cataracts

•Okra improves skin health and can be applied directly after boiling and mashing

•Okra is a great source of fiber

P-R-O-C-D-U-R-E-S

1. I find a pot and good a soil so that the seed will grow properly.

2. I put the seed at the center of soil  and watered it.

3. Find the good spot for sunlight and of course with shade so that it will not die for too much sunlight.

4. Now just watering it everyday and taking care of it.

reference:

https://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/02/10_facts_about_okra_you_probab.html

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🍅 TOMATO 🍅
Magugat, Effie Mari R.
Grade 12 - STEM B

As a person who loves nature and beautiful sceneries, I am thrilled and excited when I first heard about our project in our biology class. Nature makes me feel calm and relaxed. I, myself grew up in a place where plants are abundant. Our house is near the ricefield and we have a small garden. I used to water our plants and even volunteered myself to water it every morning before.

I have planted my own plant when I was in elementary. It was for our home economics subject. Now, I feel nostalgic doing it again. I asked my lola to help me in taking care of my plant. I originally wanted to have a flower specifically a sunflower but because of the typhoon, my lola suggested not to plant first. Also, the weather changes time to time and growing sunflower is quite hard I guess. I chose tomato for some reasons. During the summer time, I kept myself busy researching about food which can help strengthen the heart and improve the body because someone dear to me got sick. Making fresh juices can make a big differences. Tomatoes are in no doubt beneficial and healthy. Also, tomatoes are also a necessity in our kitchen. You can make a lot of dishes from tomatoes and can also reduce the expenses especially now that everything is expensive.

During our grocery shopping, I bought my seeds and flowepots. The next day, we planted the seeds. Good thing, we still have a sack of soil left and there is no need to buy anymore.

STEPS:

1.We gathered all the materials the needed.

2. Transfered the soil into the pot.

3. Spread the seeds in the soil.

4. Sprinkle some water. A little water should be enough. Don't let your plant drown.

5. Place it in a nice location where it can get sunlight and let it grow. It takes patience and effort.

Here are some information about tomatoes:

Tomato 🍅

Known scientifically as Solanum lycopersicum, the tomato is the berry of a plant from the nightshade family, native to South America.

Despite technically being a fruit, the tomato is generally categorized as a vegetable.

Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.

They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K.

They are usually red when mature, but can come in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, green and purple.

Then there are many subspecies of tomatoes, with different shapes and flavor.

Nutrition Facts

The water content of tomatoes is around 95%. The other 5% consist mainly carbohydrates and fiber.

One medium sized tomato (123 grams) contains only 22 calories.

Fresh tomatoes are low in carbs (4%). The carb content consists mainly of simple sugars and insoluble fibers.

Tomatoes are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K and folate.

The main plant compound in tomatoes is lycopene. They also contain beta-carotene, naringenin and chlorogenic acid.

Lycopene

Of all the plant compounds found in tomatoes, lycopene is particularly noteworthy.

Lycopene is the most abundant carotenoid in the ripened tomato and is found in the highest amount in the tomato peel (17, 18).

The rule of thumb is, the redder the tomato, the more lycopene it contains (19).

Lycopene is the most abundant plant compound in tomatoes. It is found in the highest amounts in tomato products, such as ketchup, tomato juice, and tomato-based sauces.

Health Benefits of Tomatoes

Consumption of tomatoes and tomato-based products has been linked to many benefits regarding heart disease, cancer prevention and skin health.

Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, is the world's most common cause of death.

A study in middle-aged men showed that low blood levels of lycopene and beta-carotene are linked to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes (27, 28).

Increasing evidence from clinical trials shows that lycopene supplementation is effective at lowering LDL cholesterol (29).

Clinical trials of tomato products have also shown benefit against inflammation and markers of oxidative stress (30, 31).

They also show a protective effect on the inner layer of our blood vessels and may decrease the risk of blood clotting (32, 33).

Cancer Prevention

Cancer is a generic term for the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that spread beyond their normal boundaries, often invading other parts of the body.

Observational studies have found links between tomatoes, tomato products, and fewer incidences of prostate-, lung- and stomach cancers (34, 35).

The high lycopene content is believed to be the main reason for these protective effects, but high quality human trials are needed to confirm this (36, 37, 38).

A study in women shows that high concentrations of carotenoids, found in high amounts in tomatoes, may protect against the development of breast cancer (39, 40).

Skin Health

Tomatoes are considered beneficial for skin health.

Tomato-based foods rich in lycopene and other plant compounds may protect against sunburn (41, 42).

According to one study, there were 40% fewer sunburns after ingesting 40 grams of tomato paste (providing 16 mg of lycopene) with olive oil, every day for 10 weeks (43).

Bottom line:

Studies show that tomatoes and tomato products may reduce the risk of heart disease and several cancers. They are also considered to be beneficial for skin health, and may protect against sunburns.

Tomatoes are often harvested and transported while still green and immature, and are then ripened with artificial ethylene gas. This may lead to less flavor development, resulting in tasteless tomatoes.

Tomatoes are generally well tolerated, but they may cause allergic reactions in people allergic to grass pollen. Tomatoes grown in contaminated soils may contain higher levels of fluoride.

Summary

Tomatoes are juicy and sweet, full of antioxidants and may help fight several diseases.

They are especially high in lycopene, a plant compound that has been linked to improved heart health, cancer prevention and protection against sunburns.

Tomatoes can be a valuable part of a healthy diet.

source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/tomatoes#section8

here is a picture of the progress of my plant:

(( i feel like a proud mom))

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Something worth waiting is something worth having.

I am not surprised by the fact that our Biology teacher tasked us to plant trees since his field of expertise is Botany. I am excited because I involve myself too much to the ineffable beauty of nature and ways to preserve it. And this project wasn't given out of pure serendipity, it happened by purpose: it is for us to understand the importance of planting and its role to our environment.

22 September, 2018- 6:00 am
Plaridel, Bulacan
I was accompanied by my mum in transferring the plants from the raised bed, or punlaan in Tagalog, to our backyard. My mum told me to carefully lift the chili pepper or sili from the raised bed. According to an article published by the Missouri Botanical Garden Organization, Bonnet Pepper's roots are sensitive and demands warm weather. So I took extra precaution with the roots.

22 September, 2018- 7:00 am
Plaridel, Bulacan
It's time for planting the sili (again!). I made sure that sufficient sunlight is present in all the planting area since peppers require much of these as mentioned beforehand. My bare hand touched organic fertilizers, yup, feces of carabaos. After almost finishing planting my chilis I saw small tomato plant and decided to transfer it to my mini garden. My mum, alongside me, planted mangoes for our farm.

I also encountered Sam, the wiggling earthworm. It really is amazing when you became one with nature even if it is ephemeral.

Let's all hope for the best and may the force of nature be with me!

# data[].attributes.body
I have no idea what plant am I going to plant, and then, I planted small chili pepper. Why? Because I have no choice. My first choice is ginseng, but I already planted that 2 years ago for our assignment in Ma’am Jojo’s subject. I got an urge on recycling those pictures but no, I remembered that I’m a good guy, so I move on. Second choice is dates, because I saw a pack of dates when I opened our refrigerator, so I started planning the planting and then I learned that you will wait for 20-50 days to spot a development. Nope, definitely not dates. September23 2018, still no seeds, waiting and waiting. I feel the need, the need for seed. At that day 8:15, my father gave me some chili seeds and that’s it, that’s my chili story, it’s less interesting than the ginseng and the dates story, but hey it’s my story. I wrote this thing immediately after I planted those chili pepper seeds, so you can say that my story is hot and fresh.
This are things about siling labuyo that I got from the internet:
Capsicum Frutescens is the scientific name for siling labuyo.
It packs a lot more odor and taste. Widely used in traditional herbal medicine to alleviate pain and inflammation due to arthritis, gout, fibro myalgia.
Siling Labuyo chile pepper is available in the late summer and early fall months.
In Tagalog its name, Siling Labuyo, translates to mean “wild chili” a nod to the way the pepper was originally found to be growing wild extensively in the Philippines and how it was distributed all over the continent supposedly by wild chickens which feasted on the pepper plants.
Yeah, it’s 1000 pesos per kilo
So what did I do:
1. The first thing is getting the seed.
2. The second thing that I did is to get the tupperware for the container of the soil.
3. I put holes under or the base of the tupperware.
4. Placed the soil in the container.
5. Next is placing the seeds on it, arranged and aligned.
6. I deepen the siling labuyo seeds by pushing my finger towards the soil with the seeds, so the seeds will be 1 cm away from the ground soil.
7. And then, I added some soils on the top so the seeds will have a cover.
8. The last is watering it.

References:
http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/articles/silinglabuyo.htm
https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Siling_Labuyo_Chile_Peppers_11316.php

# data[].attributes.body
🍅 TOMATO 🍅
Magugat, Effie Mari R.
Grade 12 - STEM B

As a person who loves nature and beautiful sceneries, I am thrilled and excited when I first heard about our project in our biology class. Nature makes me feel calm and relaxed. I, myself grew up in a place where plants are abundant. Our house is near the ricefield and we have a small garden. I used to water our plants and even volunteered myself to water it every morning before.

I have planted my own plant when I was in elementary. It was for our home economics subject. Now, I feel nostalgic doing it again. I asked my lola to help me in taking care of my plant. I originally wanted to have a flower specifically a sunflower but because of the typhoon, my lola suggested not to plant first. Also, the weather changes time to time and growing sunflower is quite hard I guess. I chose tomato for some reasons. During the summer time, I kept myself busy researching about food which can help strengthen the heart and improve the body because someone dear to me got sick. Making fresh juices can make a big differences. Tomatoes are in no doubt beneficial and healthy. Also, tomatoes are also a necessity in our kitchen. You can make a lot of dishes from tomatoes and can also reduce the expenses especially now that everything is expensive.

During our grocery shopping, I bought my seeds and flowepots. The next day, we planted the seeds. Good thing, we still have a sack of soil left and there is no need to buy anymore.

STEPS:

1.We gathered all the materials the needed.

2. Transfered the soil into the pot.

3. Spread the seeds in the soil.

4. Sprinkle some water. A little water should be enough. Don't let your plant drown.

5. Place it in a nice location where it can get sunlight and let it grow. It takes patience and effort.

Here are some information about tomatoes:

Tomato 🍅

Known scientifically as Solanum lycopersicum, the tomato is the berry of a plant from the nightshade family, native to South America.

Despite technically being a fruit, the tomato is generally categorized as a vegetable.

Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.

They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K.

They are usually red when mature, but can come in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, green and purple.

Then there are many subspecies of tomatoes, with different shapes and flavor.

Nutrition Facts

The water content of tomatoes is around 95%. The other 5% consist mainly carbohydrates and fiber.

One medium sized tomato (123 grams) contains only 22 calories.

Fresh tomatoes are low in carbs (4%). The carb content consists mainly of simple sugars and insoluble fibers.

Tomatoes are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K and folate.

The main plant compound in tomatoes is lycopene. They also contain beta-carotene, naringenin and chlorogenic acid.

Lycopene

Of all the plant compounds found in tomatoes, lycopene is particularly noteworthy.

Lycopene is the most abundant carotenoid in the ripened tomato and is found in the highest amount in the tomato peel (17, 18).

The rule of thumb is, the redder the tomato, the more lycopene it contains (19).

Lycopene is the most abundant plant compound in tomatoes. It is found in the highest amounts in tomato products, such as ketchup, tomato juice, and tomato-based sauces.

Health Benefits of Tomatoes

Consumption of tomatoes and tomato-based products has been linked to many benefits regarding heart disease, cancer prevention and skin health.

Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, is the world's most common cause of death.

A study in middle-aged men showed that low blood levels of lycopene and beta-carotene are linked to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes (27, 28).

Increasing evidence from clinical trials shows that lycopene supplementation is effective at lowering LDL cholesterol (29).

Clinical trials of tomato products have also shown benefit against inflammation and markers of oxidative stress (30, 31).

They also show a protective effect on the inner layer of our blood vessels and may decrease the risk of blood clotting (32, 33).

Cancer Prevention

Cancer is a generic term for the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that spread beyond their normal boundaries, often invading other parts of the body.

Observational studies have found links between tomatoes, tomato products, and fewer incidences of prostate-, lung- and stomach cancers (34, 35).

The high lycopene content is believed to be the main reason for these protective effects, but high quality human trials are needed to confirm this (36, 37, 38).

A study in women shows that high concentrations of carotenoids, found in high amounts in tomatoes, may protect against the development of breast cancer (39, 40).

Skin Health

Tomatoes are considered beneficial for skin health.

Tomato-based foods rich in lycopene and other plant compounds may protect against sunburn (41, 42).

According to one study, there were 40% fewer sunburns after ingesting 40 grams of tomato paste (providing 16 mg of lycopene) with olive oil, every day for 10 weeks (43).

Bottom line:

Studies show that tomatoes and tomato products may reduce the risk of heart disease and several cancers. They are also considered to be beneficial for skin health, and may protect against sunburns.

Tomatoes are often harvested and transported while still green and immature, and are then ripened with artificial ethylene gas. This may lead to less flavor development, resulting in tasteless tomatoes.

Tomatoes are generally well tolerated, but they may cause allergic reactions in people allergic to grass pollen. Tomatoes grown in contaminated soils may contain higher levels of fluoride.

Summary

Tomatoes are juicy and sweet, full of antioxidants and may help fight several diseases.

They are especially high in lycopene, a plant compound that has been linked to improved heart health, cancer prevention and protection against sunburns.

Tomatoes can be a valuable part of a healthy diet.

source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/tomatoes#section8

here is a picture of the progress of my plant:

(( i feel like a proud mom))

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INTIAL REPORTDELA CRUZ, CHARISARAE C.12-STEM B   I grew up in a place where there are different types of plants in our surroundings. Why? Well, because both sides of my parets have blood of farmers. We are living in a beautiful land field where many vegetables and fruits are planted. In my early childhood my parents already taught me how to start planting.        As far as I remember, I was only 4 years old when I planted my first ever plant. It was no other than the okra. That's why I chose okra when we have told to pick our plant for the requirements for Biology. I really missed planting again. A long time had already passed since my last time I planted.      Many of us know the name of okra but the English term for this is lady's finger. Its scientific name is Abelmoschus esculentus, a part of mallow family, related to hibiscus and cotton. It is considered as a green flowering plant. The description of this is a herbaceous hairy. It easily grows in a country like Philippines because of the tropical plant. It jas an attractive leaves for having a heart-shaped and usually have a 3-5 lobed. It has a yellow flower with a crimson centre. It bears a fruit which is edible seedpods and known for being hairy at the base. The length is usally 10-25 cm that contains numerous oval dark-coloured seeds.It is one of my favorite vegetable thay can be part of specialty dishes like Sinigang and Pinkabet. But many people don't like it because of its being slimy. It contains high diatab fibers that are good for the health. It also contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid and calcium. It is best to eat by those people who need to manage blood sugar.These are the procedures that I've done in planting the seeds of okra:1) I put the seeds overnight underneath the wet towel because my mother said this is the best way to sped up the germination.2) The next day, I planted it in our garden where the soil is fertile and well-drained.3) I made a hole about 1-2 inches deep and put the seedlings.References:https://www.britannica.com/plant/okra

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INTIAL REPORTDELA CRUZ, CHARISARAE C.12-STEM B   I grew up in a place where there are different types of plants in our surroundings. Why? Well, because both sides of my parets have blood of farmers. We are living in a beautiful land field where many vegetables and fruits are planted. In my early childhood my parents already taught me how to start planting.        As far as I remember, I was only 4 years old when I planted my first ever plant. It was no other than the okra. That's why I chose okra when we have told to pick our plant for the requirements for Biology. I really missed planting again. A long time had already passed since my last time I planted.      Many of us know the name of okra but the English term for this is lady's finger. Its scientific name is Abelmoschus esculentus, a part of mallow family, related to hibiscus and cotton. It is considered as a green flowering plant. The description of this is a herbaceous hairy. It easily grows in a country like Philippines because of the tropical plant. It jas an attractive leaves for having a heart-shaped and usually have a 3-5 lobed. It has a yellow flower with a crimson centre. It bears a fruit which is edible seedpods and known for being hairy at the base. The length is usally 10-25 cm that contains numerous oval dark-coloured seeds.It is one of my favorite vegetable thay can be part of specialty dishes like Sinigang and Pinkabet. But many people don't like it because of its being slimy. It contains high diatab fibers that are good for the health. It also contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid and calcium. It is best to eat by those people who need to manage blood sugar.These are the procedures that I've done in planting the seeds of okra:1) I put the seeds overnight underneath the wet towel because my mother said this is the best way to sped up the germination.2) The next day, I planted it in our garden where the soil is fertile and well-drained.3) I made a hole about 1-2 inches deep and put the seedlings.References:https://www.britannica.com/plant/okra

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Something worth waiting is something worth having.

I am not surprised by the fact that our Biology teacher tasked us to plant trees since his field of expertise is Botany. I am excited because I involve myself too much to the ineffable beauty of nature and ways to preserve it. And this project wasn't given out of pure serendipity, it happened by purpose: it is for us to understand the importance of planting and its role to our environment.

22 September, 2018- 6:00 am
Plaridel, Bulacan
I was accompanied by my mum in transferring the plants from the raised bed, or punlaan in Tagalog, to our backyard. My mum told me to carefully lift the chili pepper or sili from the raised bed. According to an article published by the Missouri Botanical Garden Organization, Bonnet Pepper's roots are sensitive and demands warm weather. So I took extra precaution with the roots.

22 September, 2018- 7:00 am
Plaridel, Bulacan
It's time for planting the sili (again!). I made sure that sufficient sunlight is present in all the planting area since peppers require much of these as mentioned beforehand. My bare hand touched organic fertilizers, yup, feces of carabaos. After almost finishing planting my chilis I saw small tomato plant and decided to transfer it to my mini garden. My mum, alongside me, planted mangoes for our farm.

I also encountered Sam, the wiggling earthworm. It really is amazing when you became one with nature even if it is ephemeral.

Let's all hope for the best and may the force of nature be with me!

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I have no idea what plant am I going to plant, and then, I planted small chili pepper. Why? Because I have no choice. My first choice is ginseng, but I already planted that 2 years ago for our assignment in Ma’am Jojo’s subject. I got an urge on recycling those pictures but no, I remembered that I’m a good guy, so I move on. Second choice is dates, because I saw a pack of dates when I opened our refrigerator, so I started planning the planting and then I learned that you will wait for 20-50 days to spot a development. Nope, definitely not dates. September23 2018, still no seeds, waiting and waiting. I feel the need, the need for seed. At that day 8:15, my father gave me some chili seeds and that’s it, that’s my chili story, it’s less interesting than the ginseng and the dates story, but hey it’s my story. I wrote this thing immediately after I planted those chili pepper seeds, so you can say that my story is hot and fresh.
This are things about siling labuyo that I got from the internet:
Capsicum Frutescens is the scientific name for siling labuyo.
It packs a lot more odor and taste. Widely used in traditional herbal medicine to alleviate pain and inflammation due to arthritis, gout, fibro myalgia.
Siling Labuyo chile pepper is available in the late summer and early fall months.
In Tagalog its name, Siling Labuyo, translates to mean “wild chili” a nod to the way the pepper was originally found to be growing wild extensively in the Philippines and how it was distributed all over the continent supposedly by wild chickens which feasted on the pepper plants.
Yeah, it’s 1000 pesos per kilo
So what did I do:
1. The first thing is getting the seed.
2. The second thing that I did is to get the tupperware for the container of the soil.
3. I put holes under or the base of the tupperware.
4. Placed the soil in the container.
5. Next is placing the seeds on it, arranged and aligned.
6. I deepen the siling labuyo seeds by pushing my finger towards the soil with the seeds, so the seeds will be 1 cm away from the ground soil.
7. And then, I added some soils on the top so the seeds will have a cover.
8. The last is watering it.

References: https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Siling_Labuyo_Chile_Peppers_11316.php
http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/articles/silinglabuyo.htm

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Chillipeppers (Capsicum species) have their origin in the Western Hemisphere and in tropical regions of the two American continents. Chillies are botanically perennials when they grow in their natural environment and are bushy. In colder climates, they often grow as annuals. Some species, which are being kept indoors after summer, can have a good harvest in the following year.

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Capispisan, Jean L.
When I heard about our project in Biology, the first thing that came to my mind is that I want to grow is a chili pepper because it is very expensive today and maybe I can sell some of it for extra income. With the help of my father who has a “green thumbs” we planted atleast 10 chili peppers in our backyard. I’m really excited for this plant to grow because our family loves spicy foods. We always want our food spicy so planting the chili peppers will make it easier for us to have chili peppers when we need it because I will only go to our backyard and pick some chili peppers. It is also practical because instead of buying chili peppers in the market, I just have to pick chili peppers in our backyard for free.

The first step that I did is I combined “ipa” which is the rice husk which is separated after pounding and dried carabao’s feces which is a good fertilizer mixed with a healthy soil. After mixing it, I carefully put the seeds of chili pepers above the soil and gently pressed it downwards so the seeds will go underneath the soil. I love drinking coffee float in Mcdonalds so I decided to plant my chili peppers inside a used cup of coffee float. I have to put 3 holes at the bottom of the cup so the water will not be stored inside the cup. After that I decided to put the cup where the sunlight will shine because sunlight is good for plants. My father told me to not to water the plant yet because the soil is already moist.

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Faustino, John Ernest L.
12-STEM A

Since the day that I saw the post of a chili pepper on facebook having a whopping price. I had an interest in this particular plant. Also in our family we love meals that are spicy, having this kind of plant will make sure that we'll never run out of spices.

On 19th of September 2018 I started on planting the seeds of the chili pepper, which surprisingly is effortless. I am making sure that I always sprinkle water in my plant every morning and every night. I used a small gardening plot for it to  grow with a neat space.
Now my chili pepper have some nice leaves.

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Carpio, Sealtiel Amor N.
12 - STEM A

The plant that I chose to grow for this project are onions. I chose onions because it was the only choice I had and if planted correctly, it can start its germination in at least four days which means that it can start to grow faster. Our family has several “green thumbs” so I had some help and advice for my plant.

The first thing I did is I combined wood and vegetable scraps into the soil because, as I have been told, it can help plant growth. I dug out about an inch or two from the top of the pot of soil, then proceeded to spread the onion seeds within that layer. After spreading it, I covered it up and pressed on it to make sure that the seeds are touching the soil, then I moistened the soil and placed the pot in our stairs to make sure it gets enough sunlight. It has been three days since I planted it and I have been spraying it with water daily.

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12- STEM B

"I Grew Up With My Plant"- what a nice title for a project don't you think? By just reading it gives you chills and excitement to start it right away :D

Planting is actually one of my whole family's fun hobbies. From our grandparents to us grandchildren. We have a wide garden right next to our grandma's house. That's why some of our cooking ingredients came from what we call Nanay's Garden. There are different kinds of plants and some of them are a medicinal plant like pansit-pansitan, guava, and oregano. That's why we often use these instead of buying processed medicines.

After our teacher in Biology announced this project, I immediately went to my grandma for advice if planting an eggplant would be easy. I picked eggplant because this is the only seed I got from my classmates. My grandma told me that any kind of plant is easy to raise as long as you know the right procedure.

She told me that the seed I got from my classmate might not be fresh anymore (I didn't understand what she meant by that). So she told me that she'll buy me a sapling of an eggplant when she goes shopping.

After I got the sampling, I immediately and carefully removed it from its container and planted it in a small pot for me to take it home so that I can watch it grow. It looks adorable in its new home... I mean pot :D And then watered it with enough fresh water. It's like showering a baby! !

My grandma told me that it's fine to plant it on a small pot, but if it grows larger, I told should transfer it to a larger pot or to her garden for it to grow freely. :D

Facts about EGGPLANT:

1. Eggplants aren’t REALLY vegetables, they’re berries.

2. Eggplants and tomatoes are actually related. They both belong to the nightshade family.

3. Because of the eggplant’s relationship with various other nightshades, the fruit was once believed to be extremely poisonous.

4. Eggplants love oil, hate the fridge, and come in many shapes and colors.

5. Solanum melongena - Eggplant's scientific name, not a magic spell :D

6. Eggplant loves warmth and grows best in very sunny, well-drained locations.

7. Flea beetles, which chew many tiny holes in leaves, are eggplant's worst pest. So keep it indoors until summer or cover it with paper or cloth.

8. The name “eggplant” originates from the 18th century when cultivars with small, white fruit, shaped like a hen’s egg were popular.

9. The size of the eggplant depends on its variety, but on average, it ranges from 1.2 to 12 inches in length

10. No need to degorge the sweetest varieties cultivated today. When in doubt, you can remove the skin of a large eggplant, as this is sometimes the bitter part.

Refereces:
http://tonsoffacts.com/25-fun-and-interesting-facts-about-eggplants/

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20706884/growing-eggplants/

https://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-eggplant/

https://www.thedailymeal.com/cook/12-things-you-didnt-know-about-eggplant

https://indianapublicmedia.org/eartheats/eggplant-facts/

https://www.ricardocuisine.com/en/articles/10-facts/481-10-facts-about-eggplant

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Viola, Sofia Eunice B.
12-STEM A

Check out the InfoGIF below!

References:

Dagoon, J. D. (2000). Crop Production Technology: A Specialized Course. Manila: REX Printing Company, Inc.

Health Benefits of Pechay. (2013, May 11). Retrieved from All About Diabetes: www.allaboutdiabetes.net/health-benefits-of-pechay/

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Castro, Kate Anne V.
12 - STEM B

OKRA

(Abelmoschus esculentus)

Okra is an herbaceous annual plant in the family Malvaceae which is grown for its edible seed pods. It has small erect stems that can be silky or hairless and it has a heart-shaped leaves that can grow up to 4 to 8 inches long with 5 to 7 lobes. The okra plant can produce flowers with five petals (white or yellow in color). Okra can contain multiple seeds. It can grow 4 to 6 feet tall and survives only one growing season. Okra is also known as “lady’s finger”.  It is a green flowering plant. It is originated in Africa. The wild okra crop originated along Nile in Abyssinia, in the area we recognize today as Ethiopia. Okra seeds can be brewed as a substitute for coffee.

Health Benefits: (food for the health-conscious)

It contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid, and calcium

Low in calories and has a high dietary fiber content

Anti-stress effect

Anti-fatigue benefits

Boost immune system

Helps to relax blood vessels and arteries

Protects eyes against cataracts and muscular degeneration

Aids in improving digestion

Protects heart against clotting and atherosclerosis

Reduce appearance of scars, acne and wrinkles

Procedures:

1.      I find and gather materials for planting my plant okra. I found a plastic container and get some soil from our garden. And put some holes in the container.

2.      I put the soil in the container and dig 1inches and put the seeds in it.

3.      I find an area where there is enough sunlight,

4.      I make sure that I sprinkled it with enough water every day.

*Honestly, sometimes, I forgot that I have a plant that needs to grow. I planted okra because it is the only seed that I sought from my classmate. Luckily, I found out that okra can grow easily, and it has many health benefits.

References:
https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/okra
https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/okra/infos
https://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/02/10_facts_about_okra_you_probab.html

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Lopez,Karen Angela B.
12-STEM A

When our teacher first told us about the planting project, I immediately thought of asking my grandmother about her calamansi plant in her backyard but then thought that I couldn't take credit for it since I didn't even care for it nonetheless plant it. So I asked my mother instead to buy me seeds from the market she asked what kind and I told her I don't really know since I don't know very much about plants and planting. My mother then bought me some flower seeds, she bought me seeds for cosmos flowers. I only planted the seeds last friday night. It has only been two days since so the seeds haven't sprouted yet.

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Cambiado, Christina Michaela D.
12- STEM A

Being an animal-lover I am, I am not that interested with planting. With this, my planting techniques  are somewhat influenced by me being a first-timer and how I treat my pets. To see how I did it, click the pdf file below...

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Diaz, Charline Mae DG.
12 - STEM A

I originally wanted to plant a flower but I decided to plant Okra because it is edible. Well, I do not eat okra but everyone in our family eats it. Also, it grows easily that's why I planted Okra. My uncle is an agriculturist and because of him, I became interested in plants.

Abelmoschus esculentus or commonly known as Okra is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. Okra is also known as 'lady's finger'. This species is an annual herb or some time perennial. This plant is cultivated in warm temperate regions in the world. Its flower is about 4-8cm in diameter and has dark purple in the center. Its fruit is usually 5-20cm long.

Planting process:
1. I bought garden soil because the soil in our backyard does not have any nutrients. (I learned it when I planted sunflower in our backyard some time in summer)
2. I filled the pot with garden soil.
3. I dig for about 1-2 inches in the soil and put the 2 seeds in it and cover it with soil.
4. Water the soil.
5. Placed it in a spot where sunlight is present.

It has been only 2 days since I planted it and I don't see any significant changes in it.

Did you know?
·A 2009 study found okra oil suitable for use as a biofuel.

·Mature okra is used to make rope and paper!

·The red okra variety is of a vibrant burgundy shade but turns green when cooked.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okra
http://dhcrop.bsmrau.net/3379-2/

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Perez, Kate B.
12 - STEM A

I grew up in an environment with  lot of plants. I grew up watching my lolas and lolos taking care of their plants daily. But when I try to take care of a plant they always end up dead. Obviously I do not have a green thumb so I just resorted to observing and adoring plants and try not to touch them so that their chance of survival don't decrease. When the performance task was announced I already know that my father will be the one to plant the seeds because I don't want to take the risk of it not being planted properly. My father bought some seeds from the market and when I saw the packaging I was kind of confused by the picture in the packaging. He said
it was an eggplant but it look as if its a native melon (melon na tagalog) in the
shape of an eggplant. I searched the types of eggplants and later found out that it was a Thai Eggplant.

References:
https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/thai_eggplant_567.php
http://solanaceaesource.org/?spnumber=3819
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/water-eggplants-62253.html

To know more about the process, development, and  information about Thai Eggplant click the file below:

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Macayan, Marcus Alexis R.
12-STEM B
Every day when I go home to school I always come home to my favorite meal, sinigang. Sinigang is one of the most iconic filipino foods. Not only is it delicious, but it is also filled with nutrient-rich vegetables. My favorite of these is which okra. Since I love this vegetable so much, I decided to plant it for this project. Okra is relatively easy to plant and to grow, which is one of the reasons why I chose this particular vegetable to plant.

Procedures:
Step 1:Buy okra seeds.
Step 2: find a nice pot to put a soil in it
Step 3: find a soil and put it in the pot
step 4: dig a little hole
And put the seeds (2-4 seeds)
Step 5 : water the plants

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Mauricio, Aaron Kyle E.
12-STEM A

Our teacher asked us to think of something that we can plant for our project. First thing i thought of is, it won't be easy because i haven't tried planting anything before and i have no interest in it. But then, there was a new trend of meme on my facebook feed about Chili, and that was the time that i decided on planting chili for my project. But then, when i asked my parents to buy a seed for me, they bought me a bell peper seed.

Bell peppers has varieties that mature into dazzling shades of yellow, orange, and red - are well-known for the carotenoid content.
Also called sweet peppers or capsicums, bell peppers are eaten as vegetables, either raw or cooked. Like their close relatives, the chili peppers, bell peppers are sometimes dried and powdered. In that case they are referred to as paprika. They are low in calories and exceptionally rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants, making them an excellent addition to a healthy diet. Green, unripe fruits have a slightly bitter flavor and are not as sweet as those that are fully ripe.

Nutrition Facts

Procedures:

1. Put a right amount of soil on your pot
2. Get the bell pepper seed
3. Put the seeds on the pot with soil
4. Sprinkle some water
5. try to place your pot where the sunlight can shine upon your pot

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12 STEM B
I was never interested in plants or gardening my whole life, but ever since my mother got into it I saw how much time and effort are put into these gardens, I have grown an appreciation for these plants and how my mother takes care of them everyday. So for this activity I have decided to plant okra seeds in my mother's garden. I asked my mother for tips because she knows how to plant these seeds properly. She advised me to put the seeds in an empty white eggshell. She says that the eggshells have nutrients that can help the seeds grow.  They add nutrients to the soil because they are transplanted into the ground right along with the seedling. Eggshells are especially high in calcium. They make the transplanting process easier because the entire shell goes into the ground, avoiding transfer shock on the plant.

I only planted them a few days ago so nothing noticeable has happned yet.

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Pimentel, Kenneth G.
12-STEM-B

When i was scrollin on facebook while thingking of a seed to plantto plant i suddenly came across a meme that is famous in the Phillipines. A chilli pepper. Thankfully there's some chilli pepers on backyard and proceded to take the seed and plant them.

Chili pepper
• Has 952 Ui of vitamin A
• 143.7 mg of vitamin C
• .69 mg of vitamin E
• 14 mcg of vitamin K
• decrease chance of getting cognitive diseases like alzheimer's and dimentia
• contributes to red blood cells
• boosts immunity

Procedures:

1. Cut out a big watter bottle in half and took the bottom half then filled it with soil

2. Took a chili pepper from our backyard and carefully took out the seeds within it then spread it on the soil.

3. Sprinkled some water to start the proccess.

4. Put the makeshift pot where the sunlight can't be blocked.

1 week in the process the seed sprouted a little bud.

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Borja, Christine A.
12 STEM A

The moment our biology teacher told us of this “I Grew Up with My Plant” project, I immediately thought of my father, who is a nature lover, and certainly, has love for planting. Although many of us chose to this plant, my father still recommended okra for it thrives in warm weather and is easy to grow. We also have a lot of seeds available for we have this very tall okra plant planted by my father, which he is very proud of.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) or sometimes called the “ladies’ finger” because of its long and slim appearance that greatly resembles the fingers of a lady. It is easy to cultivate and grows well in both tropical and temperate zones ranging from Africa to Asia, Southern European, and America (Adelakun and Oyelade, 2011). Just a fact, okra and cotton are both members of the mallow (Malvaceae) family of plants.

I planted my okra seeds on September 8. I used fresh seeds and was expecting it to sprout after a week. Two weeks have passed, still, there’s no signs of greenery. So, as I started panicking, I planted store-bought eggplant seeds last Thursday, hoping for it to germinate immediately. Fortunately, when I checked my two pots (eggplant and okra) last Friday, I saw signs of life. It turns out that the fresh okra seeds I’ve used were too dry.

PROCEDURES: (with the help of my very hardworking father)

1)      Soak the okra seeds for 12-18 hours to soften its hard seed coat.

2)      Choose the sunniest part in your garden. Okra grows best in warm weather.

3)      Find a pot that is appropriate for your plant.

4)      Fill the pot with soil. Okra will grow in many soil types.

5)      Dig about ½ to 1 inch deep and 12 to 18 inches apart then place the seeds on the soil. Okra plants are tall, so be mindful of the spacing.

6)      Water it every morning. Okra seeds generally germinate in 2-12 days.

Just to remind you, properly soak your okra seeds for quick germination.

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/malvaceae

https://www.southernstates.com/articles/growing-okra.aspx

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Disbarro, Gwyneth Dollwyn P.
12-STEM A

I picked hot pepper as a joke but after searching more information about it, planting it is not a bad choice at all.  I planted it because it is also a staple ingredient for cooking in our kitchen and it is also a star in some of our dipping sauces.

There are many interesting facts about it including:

-Hot peppers are also great source of vitamin C than oranges.

-Mammals are the only one sensitive to it, making birds immune and responsible for spreading it.

-Scientists believe that the capsaicin in peppers exists to keep infestations of fungi at bay. Insects like to poke holes in the skin of fruits, and as a result, harmful fungi can make their way in. To combat this, a pepper’s capsaicinoids can slow the growth of the microbes. Since birds are immune to the burn, it doesn’t affect their appetite and the plant can still spread its seeds successfully. To prove this theory, scientists have found that peppers growing in areas with a lot of insects tend to be much spicier than others living in more bug-free zones.

Procedures that I did:

Before planting the hot peppers, first I bought the seeds in the store and then preparing the pot and soil where the seeds will be planted.  The second step is reading information about the plant online and the directions behind the pack of seeds. After reading some instructions, I proceed on digging a small hole then putting the peppers in and covering the seed after with soil and then watering it. The next step is placing it where it would be receiving a lot of sunlight. And lastly is watering it daily and preventing weeds from growing.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/68511/15-spicy-facts-about-chili-peppers

The picture below is my 3 day old plant

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Faustino, Paulo Gabriel B.
12- Stem A
Living in a place where there is a lot of plants makes me love planting and gardening. Planting and watching your plant grow day to day is such a satisfying and wondeful feeling. In this project “I grew up with my plant” I choose to plant okra. I chose to plant okra because this plant grows fast.
Here are some background information about my plant:
Okra - also known as Abelmoschus esculentus or "lady finger" in english is a herbaceous hairy annual plant of the mallow family called Malvaceae and comes from the kingdom plantae. It is very popular to the tropics of eastern hemisphere and widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics of western hemisphere because of its edible fruits.

Description/Appearance:

Leaves are heart-shaped and three- to five-lobed.

The fruit or pod, hairy at the base, is a tapering 10-angled capsule, 10–25 cm (4–10 inches) in length.

The flowers are yellow with a crimson centre.

Have small erect stems.

Basic Procedures for Planting:

1. Soak the Seed(optional)

2. Prepare the planting area

3. Plant the seeds.

4. Cultivate the plants.

5. Harvest the fruit.

Hope I gave you enough information you need.
:-)

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Pagdanganan, Jeremiah J
12-STEM B

" I Grew up with my Plant" - I didn't expected this to be our project but, it is pretty exciting to do so. I am from a family of farmer so, I have a little experience in farming. When this project was given to us, I'm  pretty excited to do this  kind of work because, this is so thrilling. You don't know if your plants will survive or die. Fortunately, my plants survived  I chose okra to be my plant cause, It is quiet easy to plant it.

OKRA

(Abelmoschus esculentus)
Okra (also known as gumbo), is a tall-growing, warm-season, annual vegetable from the same family as hollyhock, rose of Sharon and hibiscus. The immature pods are used for soups, canning and stews or as a fried or boiled vegetable. The hibiscus like flowers and upright plant (3 to 6 feet or more in height) have ornamental value for backyard gardens.

Fast facts about okra

Okra is a green, finger-shaped vegetable with a characteristic viscous juice.

It provides fiber, folate, and vitamin K.

Its nutritional content means it can promote heart health and strong bones and protect against cancer.

Buy okra when it is firm and keep it dry. Store for no more than 3 to 4 days in paper or plastic in a crisper drawer.

Cooking it whole makes it the mucilaginous juice, unpopular with some people, less obvious.

People who use blood thinners should not eat too much okra, as the vitamin K levels can interact with the drug.

Procedures

Get some seedsGently pour it    Gently press it Add some water after 2 weeks  Resources
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/311977.php

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Alvean Jean P. Abejuela
12-STEM B

Planting a plant is never easy for someone who has no interest in it. As one of those, I never imagined that I will be doing this kind of thing. Although I know that my mother loves flowers, I didn’t inherit any of her characteristics about growing a plant.

Honestly, the day I heard about this task, I had cough and cold. When I got home, my mother told me to drink calamansi juice in order for me to get better. Then I thought, calamansi helps to aids common diseases like cough and cold.  I chose this plant because of that reason. Calamansi is a healthy fruit that makes a person feel better when he or she has cough and cold.

Calamansi (citrofortunella micropa) is a small, very round citrus fruit that’s ubiquitous in the Philippines. The fruits are often used when the thin rind is still green on the outside, and that is the color associated with it. It is bountiful with goodness of appeal, nutrients and taste. This tangy sour fruit rich in citric acid is often a key ingredient in preparing ice cream, sorbets, jello, juice, soft drinks, nectar, jelly, gummy candies, sauces, vinaigrettes, fruit preserves and yogurt.

Procedure:

1.      The planting begins with the selection of pot where it will grow for 2-3 months. Its size should be enough to cope up with the growth of the plant.

2.      After selecting the pot, I also gave attention in selecting the soil. It should be hospitable for a plant to take roots so that the plant can get the nutrients it needs.

3.      After the preparation of the plant’s environment, I get seeds from calamansi fruit and plant it in the pot.

4.      I always make sure that it will be watered daily and it receives the amount of sunlight it needs to grow properly.

At first, I wanted to grow one plant only. Just in case my calamansi plant would not grow properly, I have a back-up plant. But that is not the only reason why I planted Chilli Pepper. Chilli Pepper became controversial these days because of its price in the market. Because of this, growing chilli pepper in your backyard is a budget-friendly decision you can make.

Chili pepper, (capsicum annuum) any of several species and cultivars of very hot, pungent peppers in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Chili peppers are native to the Americas and are cultivated in warm climates around the world. Many of the most-common chili peppers are cultivars of Capsicum annuum, including the cayenne, jalapeño, serrano, and Thai chili peppers. Some of the hottest chili peppers are cultivars of C. chinense, including the habanero, the Carolina reaper, and the ghost chili pepper, or bhut jolokia, though tabasco is a cultivar of C. frutescens. Chili peppers can be eaten fresh or dried and are used to make chili powder and to flavour barbecue, hot curry and other spicy sauces.

Procedure:

1.      The planting begins with the selection of pot where it will grow for 2-3 months. Its size should be enough to cope up with the growth of the plant.

2.      After selecting the pot, I also gave attention in selecting the soil. It should be hospitable for a plant to take roots so that the plant can get the nutrients it needs.

3.      After the preparation of the plant’s environment, I get the seedling I bought and plant it in the pot.

4.      I always make sure that it will be watered daily and it receives the amount of sunlight it needs to grow properly.

References

https://www.tagaloglang.com/kalamansi/

https://www.britannica.com/plant/chili-pepper

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Caluag, Glynis Joy G.
12-STEM B

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) also known as ladies' fingers, bhindi, bamia, or gumbo, is a flowering plant valued for its edible green seed pods.

A member of the hibiscus family, okra is an annual (a plant that germinates, grows and dies in a single season or year) that can grow from 3 to 8 feet tall, depending on the cultivar. The plant is a rather coarse annual with large lobed, slightly spiny leaves and a thick, semi-woody stem with few branches. The flowers are showy: hibiscus-like with pale yellow or cream colored petals and purplish hearts. Okra blooms and produces over an extended season, usually until first frost, bearing yellow flowers that give rise to the familiar okra pods so valued in Cajun gumbos.

Honestly, I don’t usually plant this kind of plants. I don’t have any experience in doing these stuffs. But with the help of my father who knows many things in planting, we were able to have the plant okra. I chose this plant because they say that this is one of the plants that can grow fast.

How I plant my okra?

1. We don’t have a backyard so we plant the okra in a pot.

2. We prepare the soil and the pot to plant on.

3. Dig 2-3 inches into the soil depending on the number of seeds.

4. Put the seeds into the hole and cover with soil.

5. Water the soil.

6. Place the pot on a place with enough sunlight.

7. Monitor and water the plant daily.

After 1 week, the growth was great as expected. Unfortunately, it got heavily affected by the Typhoon Ompong and the plant got drown in the pot because I wasn’t able to put holes in the pot and some of the plants died.

References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/okra
http://eol.org/pages/584458/hierarchy_entries/58883388/overview

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Shaneil A. Marquez
12 - STEM A

In our family, I definitely think that I'm the only one who doesn't have a green thumb. Having this task was a thrilling and an exciting challenge for me. I chose 2 plants: Chives and Eggplant. If you wanted to know more about it, its progress, and the unpredictable reason behind why I chose to plant these two, make sure to check the infograph I created below! Enjoy!

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12-STEM A

I never been used to planting and I have little to no knowledge on what procedures to do to establish an effective planting. Well, planting was never really an easy task to perform, as different kinds of plants have unique needs and conditions to maintain to make it grow and develop.

I decided to plant okra as this is the available seed at the moment when i started to do this activity. But if you are looking better at it, I believe okra best fits for me and people with little knowledge about planting.

Okra(Abelmoschus esculentus) is a flowering plant in the mallow (Malvaceae) family. It is also referred as ladyies' fingers. It usually grow during warm seasons but don't worry as we live in the Philippines wherein, no winter/snow is present.

Planting okra is easy yet it is very beneficial to our health. One research findings show the benefits an okra can give.

1. It improves heart health condition

Studies have shown that okra helps lowers the chances cardiovascular disease as a result of the soluble fibre contained in it, which naturally reduce cholesterol.

The finger nail plant is also known to be loaded with pectin, which has been shown to reduce high blood cholesterol by altering the creation of bile in the intestine.

2. It kills breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is fast becoming one of the deadliest illnesses that threaten the lives of women all over the world. As a matter of fact, it is believed that one in eight women are affected by breast cancer during their lifetime.

However, a study has it that a lectin isolated from okra instigated cell suicide in breast cancer cells. The end result of the study showed that the growth of the cancer was inhibited by 63 percent

3. Okra helps to prevent liver disease

The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body. With the help of vitamin K, it produces proteins that are important in blood clotting. It also helps in breaking down old or damaged blood cells; one of the many reasons why it is dubbed the body’s prime detox organ.

However, okra ensures that the liver which is very important to the human body is protected from disease. As shown in one study, a chemically-induced liver disease in rats was efficiently counteracted by okra.

The study also goes further to state that pre-administration of okra extract help check the effects of damaging free radicals that cause liver disease.

4. Okra helps improve eyesight

Studies have shown that the vitamin A and beta-carotene found in okra are essential nutrients for maintaining good eyesight.

In addition to the mentioned health benefit, vitamin A and beta-carotene are known to help prevent eye-related diseases such as cataracts. Vitamin A also help protect against age-related eye disorders.

5. Okra is a rich source of calcium

Okra has been shown to provide ample calcium and magnesium; and by so doing, it helps in preventing both calcium deficiency and magnesium deficiency.

What are the procedures i made in planting okra?

1. I planted okra in a small container. Firstly, i dug up soil which i put in the container.

2. Secondly, i placed the okra seeds on top of the container filled with soil.

3. The next thing I did is that, i did find a spot where sunlight is abundantly present and then i dug up once more in the ground for about a feet which i put the container below the ground. Then cover up the whole container for about 2-3 inches deep.

4. Lastly, I poured big amounts of water on it to ensure the water will go deep into the seeds. Then i monitored it frequently and water them daily.

I had planted my seeds just last friday that is why no development yet can be observed. I wish in the upcoming days or week, an improvement shall be seen.

Reference used: https://www.google.com.ph/amp/s/amp.pulse.ng/lifestyle/beauty-health/5-wonderful-health-benefits-of-okra-id8293835.html

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Bernardo, Ivan Claude C.
12 STEM A
Planting for me is very difficult. I have tried so many times to grow a plant but it simply didnt grow and one time i managed to grow one but unfortunately, it died because of me(i touched it when i saw a green thing because of excitement). So, this output is really a challenge to me. Given my vackground about planting, i have no idea what to plant so i ask a lot of people for advices and the majority of them suggested to plant okra. Aside from being easily to plant, they also said that it has a pretty leaves. So, i decided to plant okra. I tried to search on thr internet on how to plant it but there's a lot of ways and i dont know which to use so i asked other people again. The first step is to make the seed from the okra itself. Choose a brown or dark okra (dried one). Then, gather the seeds and dry it up. Then, (ibabad sa tubig ang mga buto nang isang araw). After that,gather the seeds again and wrap it up for a day (ikulob). Dont open it after a day. After a day, prepare your container and make a hole not exceeding 1 inch then put the seeds that you make. Then, (budburan ng lupa ang butas. Wag ididiin). After that, wet it using your fingers(wisikan). Then, lets see what will happen next :)

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Domingo, Warren E.
12 - STEM A

Okra is the plant I decided to grow because according to my friend it is easy to grow due to its fast-paced development. Because of that I think okra is well suited for our project in Biology. I have no interest in planting and I never imagined that I will plant again.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is also known as lady fingers, gumbo and, in south Asia, India, Nepal and some other countries, as bhindi (and, less commonly, bamia and bindi). Gumbo is also the name of a stew that usually contains okra.
Okra grows in an elongated, lantern shape vegetable. It is a fuzzy, green, ribbed, fibrous pod. It is usually two to four inches long, but it can grow to fourteen inches long. When cut open on the bias, it has rows of tiny seeds and a slimy or sticky texture.

The seeds of an okra can be toasted, ground, and served as a coffee substitute. Okra is common in African, Middle Eastern, Greek, Turkish, Indian, Caribbean, and South American cuisines. Okra is commonly associated with US Southern, Creole, and Cajun cooking since it was initially introduced into the United States in the US South. Okra is one of the most popular vegetables in late 20th century Japanese cuisine.

How do I plant okra?

1. Fortunately, we have a pot in our house and I use this pot for planting my okra.

2. I dig for approximately 2 or 3 inches in the soil.

3. Plant the seed.
4. Water the soil.

5.. I place it on a place where sunlight can reach.

5. Monitor and water it daily.

Its been only two days since I plant it so there is no development yet.

Reference: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Okra

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Punzalan, Exequiel D.
12 - STEM A

I decided to plant a lemon plant because my mother knows how to plant it and take care of it. I also thought that planting a lemon is quite strange so I gave it a shot. So succesfully my lemon plant grew but it is not that big because of the time I planted it.

Lemon (Citrus x limon) or in other countries they call it lime. It usually grow 3 - 5 feet indoors but it can grow taller when raised outdoors. It prefers acidic soil than the normal. Most of the lemon tress are bearing flowers and fruits during summer. It is hard for me to do this activity because unlike my mom that she is fond of planting. But fortunately I made it grow somehow even that you can see in the picture that some leaves are pale, but I hope that someday i cant make it grow to a very productive tree,

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Eusebio, Mharve Justine P.
12 - STEM B

Not many people chose the plant i decided to plant in our garden, but i am hopeful that the mango seed i sown grows to be a tree. I chose to plant a mango tree because i want to do what my father did a long time ago. When he and his brother was just little kids, they planted a santol seed in front of our house, and today that tiny seed produces thousands of sweet santol. I want my plant to be like that someday.

HOW I PLANTED MY MANGO SEED:
The first step i did should actually be done around a week before planting the seed and it was to make sure that the soil is nutritious. Me and my little sister buried banana peels and other biodegradable things unto the soil. A week after we did that, i planted my mango seed. Everyday ( not really ) i water it and i make sure that pests like snails and insects are not present around it. I also remove weeds that grow near it so my plant has the nutrients all to itself. Nothing really major happened since then but of course, i keep watering it in hopes of making my mango tree wish a reality. Today, my mango seed already has a sprout and i am happy!!  P.S. I promise you thats a mango sprout

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Ortega, Maui Adrian R.

12 - STEM A

When I knew that we have a project that requires planting, I knew I’d fail the class already. Why? Well, in my family, none of us have succeeded in growing plants (Be it a cactus or other plants). None of us have “green thumbs” so I was very worried. But then I thought, worrying will bring me nowhere, so I chose to challenge myself. I chose to plant Rosemary, because it is a frequent herb that my Mom uses when she cooks and it is a herb that I think is quite easy to grow. It is usually used in dishes that are fried.

Rosmarinus officinalis (or commonly known as Rosemary) is a woody perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen and needle-like leaves, native to the Mediterranean Region. It requires constant full sunlight, and dry soil.

Procedures in Growing Rosemary:

1. Plant the seeds in well-drained soil (I used ordinary pure garden soil)

2. Put it in an area where there is constant sunlight, because rosemaries require constant sunlight.

3. Water the soils evenly, throughout the pot.

4. For me, I put it inside our house during the night, because I am afraid it might die from drowning (Because it usually rains at night)

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Robles, Pocholo Rogelio B.
12- STEM B

Planting requires not just hard work and patience, but also responsibility to be done efficiently.

The Dragon Eye Fruit

Since this task was posted and explained, it took time for me to think of what I should plant. I’ve asked my father if we have available plant seeds and told me that we have some longan fruit inside the refrigerator. I immediately ate some and set aside the seeds then instantly, I have what I needed- longan seeds. I am all set for planting!

I prepare the necessary tools and materials needed such as hand trowel, small plastic pots and loam soil. Then, I put some soil inside the plastic pot and make a small hole wherein the seed will be placed. Lastly, I put the seeds in each pot and covered it again with soil.

A brief background about Longan:

Longan (Dimocarpus longan) is a small, round, sweet and watery fruit with brownish thick shell (pericarp) that hardens at it ages. The seed is small, round, and hard, and of an enamel-like, lacquered black. The name longan comes from Cantonese luhng-ngaahn which means “Dragon Eye”, because of its black seed that shows through the translucent flesh like a pupil/iris. It is better-known tropical members of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), to which lychee, rambutan, guarana, korlan, pitomba, genip and ackee also belong. It is similar to lychee, but less aromatic in taste. Also, longan fruit is native to Southeast Asia which includes the Philippines.

I choose to plant longan because it is one of my favorite fruit. Also, knowing its nutritional contents which includes dietary fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants will be beneficial not just for me but also for my family when it bears its fruits soon. Having this fruit bearing tree in our backyard will save money since we don’t need to buy this fruit in the market. Even it is challenging raising this fruit, I know that it is worth the hard work and patience when I taste its sweet and sour fruit.

The Ladies’ Fingers

At first, only longan fruit is my plan for this activity, but I have this urge to plant another one for the reason that it is an enjoyable activity to be done. Since I have some okra seeds on hand, I planted it like what I’ve carried out with my longan fruit. I put some soil inside the pot and put the seeds inside. Then, put again some soil to cover it up.

A brief background about Okra:

Abelmoschus esculentus, more commonly known as okra -is an herbaceous hairy annual plant of the mallow family (Malvaceae). It is a warm-season vegetable and also known as gumbo or ladies’ finger. The leaves are heart-shaped with yellow-crimson flowers. The taste of okra is mild, but has a unique texture with peach-like fuzz on the outside and small edible seeds on the inside of pod. Its resemblance to fingers made it named as “ladies’ fingers". Okras are also good source of fiber, folate, and vitamin K.

I’m not fond of eating okra, but I choose it in order for me and to my family to eat some healthy food available in our yard. Also, to its health benefits such that it reduces the risk of having cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis which are common ailments we may have. Having this plant in our backyard will absolutely beneficial for me and for my family.

Sources:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/311977.php

https://www.britannica.com/plant/okra

https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/longan.html

https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/top-10-amazing-health-benefits-of-longan/#gref

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Cruz, Allia Marian S.
12 - STEM B

I love plants a
nd it’s my dream to plant one, but planting does not love me. Since I was a kid, I love flowers and plants, we had a farm in Bustos so I grew up running in a rice field and harvesting kalamansi kahit napaka tindi ng sikat ng araw but I am not complaining.  When we stopped visiting our farm I planned to grow a plant so that I can still connect with nature but mother nature stopped me, because that time, we were still living in Obando and almost every week, its still flooding. But when we moved here in Malolos, I bought cactuses because of the lack of space. I really took care of it but I don’t know what happened, all of them died. That’s the time that I discovered that we don’t have a mutual feeling.

When I discovered that growing a plant is our project in Biology I was excited but worried. I don’t know if I can maintain it until December, I’m definitely not a green finger. But with the help of Mang Karding, our neighbor, he helped me in choosing my plant and bought a seedling for me. We chose Eggplant or Talong in tagalog because it is low maintenance and it is one of the ingredients of my favorite food; Sinigang. The benefits of eating an eggplant are; it supports you heart health because it has fiber, potassium, vitamin c, vitamin B6, and phytonutrientcontent. So here are the steps I did in planting my seedlings:

1.       I transferred the seedling in a cut plastic container, with a good soil, because you never go wrong in recycling things.

2.       I water it almost everyday but in a ‘shower’ style, for it to occupy the whole soil.

3.       Every morning, I put it outdoors for it to accumulate sunlight. But I put it indoors when I got home from school because it might rain overnight its rainy season so I am afraid it might die due to drowning.

Plant some eggplant to save money and to save your <3!

reference: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279359.php

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Rodriguez, Yvonne Vincent Wayne
12 - STEM A

After my family transferred to another place, we got limited soil and it’s time to limit our plants as well. Our chilli pepper died even before we left and I could say that it’s very helpful in our family since we ‘somewhat’ love spicy. We already got different types of flowers but we didn’t have this common plant in our garden, the santan flowers. After hearing this performance task, I still didn’t think of a plant to grow. The news suddenly came that chilli are getting expensive these days and knowing my family, we would not buy it for now but since we got these (photo below) seeds from India, I decided to plant it. With the help of my aunt, I could grow santan (but this flower is just my back up plant).

Now, I’m planting again not just for a requirement but also for our garden. I chose to plant ‘chilli pepper’ (Capsicum annuum) and ‘Santan’ (Ixora coccinea). Here are my procedures in planting my plant:
[For chilli]

1. I remove some grasses in the soil I chose to plant my chilli pepper.

2. I dig 4-5 cm from the soil. (According to my grandmother)

3. Put enough seeds in my palm and spread it on the soil.

4. Put the soil I digged above the soil.

5. I then water it with an average amount.
[For Santan]
Even before the "I grew Up my Plant' task, i already have a very small santan planted on our pot so I'll continue on taking care of it.

Here are some facts I found with my chosen plant.

-The Siling Labuyo chile is a petite pepper growing only one half to one inch in length. The pods have an oval shape that tappers slightly towards a rounded tip end. [but since my seeds are from India, I think it can grown up to 2 inches]

-It is believed that an ancestor of the Siling Labuyo pepper made its way to the Philippines via Mexico way of the Galleon Trade ship which traveled between Acapulco and Manila. After years of growing wild and adapting to the soil and climate of the Philippines the Siling Labuyo was born and quickly rose to become a staple seasoning in the cuisine of the Philippines. [This plant exhibits adaptation.]

- Santan is an erect and smooth ornamental shrub, growing to a height of 2 to 3 meters. Leaves are stalkless or on very short stalks, oblong, 5 to 9 centimeters long, heart-shaped or rounded at the base and blunt-tipped. Flowers are many, pink or red, and borne in terminal, stalkless or shortly stalked, hairy cymes.

References:

https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Siling_Labuyo_Chile_Peppers_11316.php

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Santan.html

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Galman, Chinee Lou S.
12-STEM A
Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God's people, joy-seed are planted in good heart-soil
-Psalm 97:11

For me, planting is not a joke it is a duty that we must deal with.

After a long long long period of time I have decided to plant Allium Sativum L. or better known as garlic. First, how did I come in that plant? At the beginning I said to my family that we have a task given in Biology that I need to grow plant within 2-3 months. So my grandmother said why not serpentina? So that you can help your father healed with his ill which is diabetes and I answered her this is a good season to plant garlic. Wondering why do I know that bermonths is the right season for garlic? Simply because I searched the list of plant that is growing in the month of september. Of course not only that, I also search what are the advantages that I can obtain if I planted it. And the examples of benefits are: garlic has a less calories but highly nutrious, it can combat sickness especially cold, it can reduce blood pressure and many many more.

I will briefly discuss more about my plant:

Garlic, is a plant with long, flat grasslike leaves and a papery hood around the flowers. The greenish white or pink flowers are found grouped together at the end of a long stalk. The stalk rises directly from the flower bulb, which is the part of the plant used as food and medicine. The bulb is made up of many smaller bulbs covered with a papery skin known as cloves. Although garlic is known as the "stinking rose" it is actually a member of the lily family.

Now here's the procedure that I made in planting my baby garlic:
1. Prepare a pot with a fertile soil.
2. Choose a varieties and after choosing, cut apart the bulb garlic and get the bigger one.
3. And in placing it, the garlic must be right side-up (another way: only half of garlic is planted in the soil)
4. In terms of sprinkle, the recommended time is twice a week and the suggested hour in placing it under the sun is 8 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon.

Well, to be honest I am not fan of planting but let's have fun and monitor our plants each and everyday.

Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-garlic#section2
http://dxupteleradyo.blogspot.com/2013/09/magtanim-ng-bawang-sa-backyard-para.html?m=1

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Ang, Lance Renzy S.
12-STEM A

The plant that i have chosen to grow is Pechay, also known as chinese cabbage, mustard cabbage or pak choi. it is one of the popular vegetables in the mainland china, philippines, vietnam and other east-asian regions.

Pechay is the plant i chose because this leafy vegetable is tolerant of many soil types and different temperature, it is also a quick grower meaning pechay leaves are ready for harvest in just a month and you can grow pechay in such a small space or pot, and lastly this leafy vegetable served in our homes is very low in calories and packed with a lot of health benefits such as vitamins, minerals and other beneficial plant compounds that help keep us healthy.

HOW TO GROW PECHAY?

Step 1

Fill a seed starter tray ¾ full with perlite. Dampen the perlite with water from a watering can.

Step 2

Lay one pechay seed on top of the perlite, in the center of each cell. Sprinkle peat moss over each seed, filling the remainder of the seed starter tray.

Step 3

Cover the seed tray with a clear plastic lid or piece of plastic wrap. Place the seed tray in an undisturbed area that receives bright, filtered sunlight.

Step 4

Check the pechay seeds daily for signs of germination, which can happen in as little as two to three days. Remove the plastic immediately when you see green shoots poking through the perlite and peat moss.

Step 5

Continue to provide the pechay seeds with filtered sunlight and damp growing medium for the first 10 days. Dampening the peat moss and perlite with water from a spray bottle should suffice. A light misting is all that is necessary. The growing medium should be moist not saturated.

Step 6

Transplant the pechay into 6-inch pots filled with organic potting soil once they reach 10 days old. Keep the soil moist at all times and continue to provide bright, filtered sunlight. Harvest the pechay when the plants are 30 days old by snipping the stems at the soil level with a pair of scissors.

ref: https://www.hunker.com/13427389/how-to-grow-pechay

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Cruz, Chester Duane H.
12- STEM B

We all know that there is an inflation on market prices. One of the major vegetable that has been affected is Chili Pepper or Capsicum annuum in its Scientific Name.

is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Chili peppers are widely used in many cuisines to add spiciness to dishes. The substances that give chili peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically are capsaicin and related compounds known as capsaicinoids.

First of all, the seeds must be removed from the vegetable itself.

After that, the seeds must be dried before it can be planted. I waited several days before my seeds became dry.

Then, I prepared a pot for the seeds to be planted.

I planted the seeds in a moist soil and I water the plant once a day.

references:
Capsicum annuum". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 2010-07-29.

Latham, Elizabeth (2009-02-03). "The colourful world of chillies". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2009-03-08.

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Guballa, Lemuel Derwin R.
12-STEM B

“Eggplant seeds germinate in 7 to 14 days, depending on the heat, moisture provided, and moisture content and age of the seed.” (Suzanne Ashworth, Fine Gardening - Issue 27)

I picked Eggplant seeds for this because according to my classmates, it fully grows in just about eight to ten weeks which is about 2-3 months. After I got home with the eggplant seeds, I went to our backyard to plant them in the plant boxes. I didn’t get to place them on a separate pot because I don’t have a pot big enough in order for them to maximize their growth (although they’re still tiny seeds), then I removed some of the grass around the area.

A few days later, I got confused because I saw two sprouts which look nothing like eggplant leaves. Although after some research, I learned that there are various eggplant lead structures which gave me a relief.

Here they are before and after 6 days I planted them.

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Sabino, Aubrey Lyn G.
12-STEM B

Happiness held is the seed;Happiness shared is the flower – John Harrigan

Growing a plant takes time.  You need a lot of patience and you must be hardworking.  It’s like raising your own child, more like a baby. You need to monitor the growth and development of the plant every single day.

We all know that sili become a trend here in the Philippines because of it’s sudden increase of price. My dad is a big fan of sili and he cannot live without it. That’s why I’ve decided to plant Capsicum annuum. Also known as “Sili” here in the Philippines. In Filipino cuisine, chilis are commonly used for sauces and dippings as pampagana.

My Dad gave me a pack of chili seeds. First, you fill the large planting tray with a light compost or potting soil. Second, before adding the seeds you must break any large clumps of soil and push the compost down 1-2 mm and water it. The soil must be watered right before adding the seeds. Then drop the individual seeds on the top of the compost. For the final step, place your plant in a warm and consistent temperature. CHECK THEM EVERYDAY!!!

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Raquel, Jason Ryan D.G.
12 - STEM A

Nature is such a wonderful thing. All plants are wonderful, that is why it’s so hard to pick. There are many types of plant to choose from, and I have to take their benefits into consideration as well. I was really struggling with choosing what plant to pick for this project so I went to our garden to check what is available. There I saw the San Francisco plant (Codiaeum variegatum L.) and decided to research more about it. To my surprise, I came across something that I would not expect. A simple and common plant such as the San Francisco plant could help fight diseases like Zika fever! Who would have known that a plant you see every day could be this helpful? Its extract kills mosquito larvae, as stated in some research. And so I decided, I should plant more of these to prevent mosquitoes from lingering around our house. Hard work and dedication is required for the plant to grow well, but I am sure that it will be worth the effort.

Procedure:
1. Put soil in pot.
2. Dig a hole and place the plant inside.
3. Bury it properly.
4. Water the plant every day and place it where it receives enough sunlight.

References:
https://www.maximumyield.com/definition/1914/stem-cutting
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/common-plant-could-help-fight-zika-virus

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Luna, Diana Camela C.
12 - STEM B

When I was a little, my mother and I used to grew our plants in our garden before. That is why, when I heard that we’re going to grow our own plant, I felt like I’m a kid again and remembered what my mother and I usually do together. We tried to plant vegetables in our garden before but it didn’t work.

Now that I heard that we’re going to grow our own plant, I challenged myself and decide to plant a vegetable. And that happened to be an okra.

PROCEDURE:

1.     Prepare your soil in the pot that you have at home.

2.     Dig a little and place your seeds under neat the soil you dig.

3.     Just sprinkle enough water on it.

4.     Place your pot when the sunlight usually rise up.

5.     To maintain a better and nutritious okra, water your plant every day and try to have a small talk with it.

about okra:

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Cuadra, Toni Pauline E.
12 - STEM B

At the very moment our teacher told us about this "I grew up withmy plant" project, i felt very nervous because I know that my hands are not that good in planting. I started thinking of how will I be able to grow my plant and what are the things that I'll be needing.

Okra known in many english-speaking countries as ladies' fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in mallow family. I chose this plant because it is edible and this is one of my favorite vegetables.

My mom and I bought a pot and soil last sunday morning. This is my first time doing this activity so i felt really excited and nervous at the same time. As i put the soil in the pot I silently pray for my seed to grow fast and healthy. I put 5 seeds of okra in a pot and watered it twice a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Before I go to school I always check my plant for a seedling and as I've said earlier my hands are not that good in planting that is why until now my plant doesn't have a seedling.

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Libao, Arman Carlo A.
12- STEM A

At the moment that I heard that we’re going to grow a plant, I felt nostalgic for a minute because we already did this task back at grade school. Since we already had some ideas I think this will be an easy task. The first seed that came to my mind were mongo seeds but unfortunately it was forbidden because it’s too easy to grow. So I asked my dear friend *thanks Google* for another easy-to-grow seed and okra showed up.

Okra “Abelmoschus esculentus” is an annual plant of the mallow family that can grow very tall from 2 meters to approximately 6.6 meters and thrives under warm weather conditions. You see? Perfect for the climate in our country so I will not see myself having a hard time with this. It is also called Lady’s Finger because it resembles the finger of a woman. Naturally, okra is commonly cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm regions.

How it’s done?

1. I searched for an average pot on my home where okra can subsequently live and grow.

2. I gaped a .5-1 inch hole on the soil using a stick for the seed to be settled.

3. I find an area where there is a good sunlight but not too much for the moisture of the soil is a must.

4. After several observations, I am now certain that I placed it at the optimal position.

5. Keep watering. Live with it.

https://dengarden.com/gardening/okragrowingtipsannieoakleyflowers

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Clemente, Christine Marie V.
12-STEM A

When our handsome Biology teacher announced that we’re going to grow our own plants as a part of our requirements in his subjects, I had mixed feelings. First of all, I am nervous because I know nothing about growing plants, much more taking care of them! But I am also excited since this is a new experience for me, and I would also like to try it out.

Thankfully, my grandfather has a green thumb so he was the one who helped me plant. He is also the one who taught me on how to take care of it. It’s a good thing that the seeds are readily available in our house since my grandfather plants them in a regular basis.

Oh, have I mentioned the plant that I’ll be taking care of? It is called Abelmoschus esculentus, or simply, Okra. I decided to plant this since we already have seeds available, and it will be useful once harvested. It is also very suitable with the Philippines’ warm weather. While researching about my chosen plant, I was surprised to know that it is also called the “ladies’ fingers”!

This is how I planted my Okra seeds:

1. I looked for a suitable spot in our backyard for okra planting. I found a spot that is teasily reached by sunlight since this is where okras grow best.

2. I digged the soil and planted the seeds.

3. I make sure to water it everyday. I didn’t put any fertilizers since our soil already has natural fertilizers.

Here are some facts about my dearest plant: https://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/02/10_facts_about_okra_you_probab.html

Attached here is a picture of my okra seeds after I gathered it, and its current situation.