KATUK,  WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE SWEET LEAF PLANT, IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR LEAF VEGETABLES IN SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA. IT'S PRODUCTIVE GROWTH, HIGH YIELDS AND PALATABILITY CONTRIBUTES TO THE POPULARITY OF THIS DELICIOUS AND VERY BEAUTIFUL EDIBLE PLANT. THE PLAIN GREEN VARIETY IS THE MORE COMMONLY SEEN CULTIVAR WHILE THE VARIEGATED ONE THAT I OFFER IS MORE RARE AS WELL AS BEAUTIFUL WHEN IT IS GROWING. COLORS ARE SPLASHES OF CREAMY WHITE/YELLOW AGAINST A GREEN LEAF THAT TO ME IS REMINISCENT OF CHRISTMAS. 

KATUK BEARS PURPLE FLOWERS THAT EVENTUALLY BECOMES A CREAM COLORED MARBLE SHAPED FRUIT WITH A PURPLE FLOWER AT THE TOP OF THE FRUIT . THE FRUIT IS ALSO EDIBLE BUT IS SOFTER AND MORE TASTY WHEN THE FRUIT IS YOUNG BECOMING MORE CRUNCHY AND NUTTY AS THE SEEDS WITHIN THE FRUIT MATURES.   SHOOT TIPS OF THE KATUK HAS BEEN SOLD IN ASIA AS TROPICAL ASPARAGUS WHICH IN VIETNAM IS SOMETIMES COOKED WITH EITHER CRAB MEAT, DRIED SHRIMP OR MINCED PORK TO MAKE A DELICIOUS SOUP. THE LEAVES CAN ALSO BE STIR FRIED WITH DRIED ANCHOVIES  OR EGG WHICH IS COMMONLY DONE IN MALAYSIA. 

MOST OF KATUK CAN BE EATEN EITHER RAW OR COOKED. THE LEAVES AND YOUNG FRUITS AND FLOWERS CAN BE EASILY STRIPPED FROM THE LONG STALKS THEN ADDED TO EITHER YOUR VEGETABLE STIR FRIES, SALAD OR SOUPS. THE TENDER YOUNG SHOOTS CAN BE STEAMED. THE GREEN PEA LIKE FLAVOR IS ACCENTUATED BY THE SLIGHTLY NUTTY TASTE MAKING THE PLANT VERY ADAPTABLE FOR MANY DIFFERENT DISHES. 

KATUK IS A FAST GROWING VERY HARDY VEGETABLE PLANT WHOSE GROWTH RATE WILL VARY GREATLY DEPENDING ON YOUR SUNLIGHT, TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL. FORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT A FUSSY PLANT THAT ONCE ESTABLISHED BECOMES MORE DROUGHT TOLERANT. ALTHOUGH KATUK PREFERS A LITTLE SHADE IF YOUR AFTERNOON SUN IS EXTREMELY HOT, IT WILL STILL THRIVE IF AMPLE WATER IS AVAILABLE TO KEEP THE ROOTS MOIST DURING INTENSE HEAT. GROWTH RATE CAN BE AS MUCH AS 1 FOOT IN ONE WEEK UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS. KATUK DOES BEST IN PART TO FULL SUN CONDITIONS SUCH AS MORNING SUN WITH AFTERNOON SHADE. THE SOIL SHOULD BE KEPT MOIST ESPECIALLY DURING HOT DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS UNTIL YOUR TREE IS FULLY MATURE

VARIEGATED KATUK IS VERY EASY TO GROW WITH SIMILAR RAPID GROWTH PATTERNS TO THE NON-VARIEGATED VARIETY. MILDLY SCENTED BLOOMS ARE PRODUCED THROUGHOUT THE SPRING/SUMMER PERIODS. YOUR KATUK CAN BE PLANTED IN-GROUND OR MAINTAINED IN A POT AND STILL PRODUCE AMPLE VEGETATION AS WELL AS FLOWERS/FRUITS. KATUK WITH IT'S COLORFUL LEAF PATTERN IS A PERFECT CONTAINER PLANT TO ADD THAT RELAXING TROPICAL ACCENT TO YOUR POOL PATIO, GARDEN, OR ANY OUTDOOR SPACE. IF YOU LIVE IN A COOLER ZONE, YOUR POTTED PLANT CAN BE BROUGHT INDOORS FOR THE WINTER MONTHS AS LONG AS YOU KEEP IT NEAR A SUNNY WINDOW AND WELL WATERED.

MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT UPON RECEIVING YOUR KATUK,  SLOWLY ACCLIMATE IT TO SUNLIGHT BY INITIALLY KEEPING IT IN A SHADED AREA.  PLACE YOUR PLANT IN A CONTAINER WITH ABOUT 1/2 INCH OF NON-CHLORINATED WATER TO KEEP THE SOIL MOIST UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO TRANSPLANT YOUR ROOTED PLANT INTO A GARDEN POT OR PLASTIC CONTAINER. 

A PLASTIC CONTAINER SUCH AS THE ONES SEEN IN YOUR LOCAL NURSERIES WORK BEST SO THAT YOU CAN UPGRADE THE SIZE OF THE CONTAINER AS YOUR PLANT GROWS TALLER.  GENERALLY YOU MAY USE A 6 TO 12 INCH ROUND CONTAINER TO START OFF YOUR PLANT. ONCE YOUR PLANT IS ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET HIGH YOU CAN THEN DECIDE IF YOU WISH TO TRANSPLANT YOUR PLANT DIRECTLY IN-GROUND OR INTO A DESIGNER PATIO POT SO THAT YOU CAN RELOCATE YOUR PLANT WHEN NECESSARY IF THE WEATHER BECOMES COLD. THIS IS A PLANT THAT WILL TYPICALLY KEEP GROWING AS LONG AS THE ROOTS DO NOT OUTGROW THE POT. WHEN THE PLANT'S GROWTH RATE SLOWS, THIS IS USUALLY A SIGN THAT KATUK IS BECOMING ROOT BOUND SO YOU MAY THEN TRANSPLANT YOUR TREE INTO A LARGER POT. 

 PLEASE NOTE THAT SHIPPING CAN BE HARD ON PLANTS (ALSO KNOWN AS SHIPPING STRESS) SOME LEAVES OR FLOWERS MAY FALL OFF THE PLANTS AND THEY MAY APPEAR SLIGHTLY WILTED ON ARRIVAL. DO NOT BE DECEIVED INTO THINKING THE PLANT IS DEAD. IF YOUR BIODEGRADABLE POUCH/CUP IS DRY, SIMPLY RE-HYDRATE THE POUCH WITH EITHER DISTILLED, SPRING OR REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER. PLACE YOUR PLANT IN A SHADED AREA SO THAT IT MAY GENTLY ACCLIMATE BEING BACK TO NATURAL SUNLIGHT. SOME LEAF DROP IS NATURAL AFTER BEING IN A DARK BOX FOR 2 TO 3 DAYS. THINK OF HOW YOU WOULD REACT IF YOU WERE IN A DARK BOX FOR 2 TO 3 DAYS (LOL) . ONCE YOUR PLANT HAS ACCLIMATED TO NATURAL LIGHT OVER 24 TO 48 HRS, IT CAN THEN BE PLACED IN AM SUN/PART SHADE WHERE IT WILL TYPICALLY THRIVE.  

IF YOUR PLANT ARRIVES DAMAGED PLEASE SEND ME PICTURES OF BOTH THE BOX AS WELL AS THE PLANT AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE IT SO THAT I MAY SEEK TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THANKS.