Cheera& Muringayila

This Blog is in continuation of my Blog dt 27thJuly 2012 regarding "Muringayila Mahatmyam". There is an old saying in Malayalam " Cheerayundengil Chora Nannavum"&"Muringayundengil Marunnu Venda". This highlights the medicinal value of the two leaf vegetables CHEERA& MURINGAYILA. Let us see what Smt Komala Sanath ,a retired Proessor of Botany from Gurruvayurappan College has to say. According to the Professor,If we can afford to get Cheerayila & include it in our food habits we could keep our Blood pure.This is an accepted version since a long time. Now let us see how Cheera can be cultivated in our Terrace or land.Preferably Land. First we have to get good variety of Cheera seeds of 250 Grams.The best source as far as I know is Mannuthi near Thrissur.These seeds are to be covered in a pure white cloth .Make it into a convenient package dip it in water and keep it as such for a couple of days.we could seethe seeds becoming ready for cultivation when the seeds start showing white projections at one tip of the seed.Soon after this we should dig & stir the field with a tool Called " Kaikkot"sprinkle water on the resultant sand and dip the seeds in the sand.Within 10 to 15 days the seeds turn into small plants.Thereafter,these small plants should be shifted in the field & replanted at an approximate Distance of 6 to 8 inches from each other. Now comes the vital part of Cheera cultivation.Plenty of Water& manure are absolutely required for healthy growth Of Cheera.The best feed for Cheera is Cowdung Powder& dry decay of leaves of other plants.One plant needs approximately 1 Kg of the mix for it's healthy growth.Though water is required constantly ,no water should be allowed to accumulate heavily around the plant. In a months time the cheer will be ready to give leaves in Plenty.We have to just collect them on an as required b basis & cook in the kitchen adding all usual ingredients required to cook according to the process prevailing in different places. MURINGA CULTIVATION:. This is practically an easier job to cultivate MURINGA. We have to get good variety of small trunks of MURINGA preferably from the best source known to us cut it into Pieces of 2 feets and then plant them deep in watered land at a distance of 10 feet each other. 2 Kg of Cowdung after a few days is the manure required. The MURINGA would grow itself without much care into big trees. It takes just one year to get leaf,flowers& Kaaya(DRUM STICK) All those are equally good & has medicinal effects. The need to run for medicines & searching for Medical shops could be avoided if one has the Cheera& MURINGA at home The commercial value also for these products are high in the market if you are ready to sell ignoring your own Need to maintain your Heath in order to earn a few easy bucks. Sreedharan Mundanat Sunday May4th 2014 06-15Hrs(IST)