Crude trellis

My cucumber and soybean plants are growing so rapidly, I find myself in dire need of a trellis, pronto.

I gathered some old bamboo poles chopped from my bamboo trees months ago and fashioned a crude trellis. To hold everything together, it's cable ties to the rescue again. This happens when a girl can't tie a knot to save her life. I think cable ties are the best invention ever!

Looking at the crooked and somewhat goofy trellis, I feel a sense of accomplishment. I know, it sticks out like a sore thumb in my patio but it does the job for now. Well, it's not pretty but at least it is eco-friendly.

Soon these little babies will be climbing all over the skinny poles.

Did I tell you my eggplants are flowering? The flowers are in a pretty shade of lilac.

Eggplants in a row.

Here's a resurrected cycad. For years, it was hanging on the most awkward corner of the railings, exposed to the harsh sun and deprived of water. I finally brought it down to join the rest of the plants. Now that it is receiving more TLC and daily showers, the shoots are beginning to show again.

Worm bin

I finally made my worm bin yesterday. Composting with worms is great for gardeners without a big yard space. By feeding vegetable scraps, fruit peel and other organic material to the worms, you'll end up with nutrient rich worm castings which will make plants grow really well.

Instead of buying the ready made composters in the market, I bought a garbage can, drilled some holes so the worms can breathe and we're ready to go. Only thing is, worms are not readily available here but I know where to get them. Watch out wormies, here I come!

New seedlings

I bought a bunch of seeds from Known You last week. When I sowed the seeds this time, I chose not to label them so I'll have fun guessing when they germinate.

Jugding from the size, this must be a soybean seedling. It will produce hairy pods with 2-3 big. Barring any unforseen circumstances, I should be harvesting soybeans in about 70 days. I love eating the freshly steamed ones in Japanese restaurants.

These three could be cucumber seedlings. The variety I picked is an attractive one with deep green fruits with smooth surface and small seed cavity. The flesh is thick, crisp and sweet. The rind is very thin.

I was so excited to find spring onion seeds at last. In the past, I had grown them from bulbs. Look at how cute the seedlings are! They're like needles.


Here are some of the existing plants in my garden. This coriander simply refuses to grow up!

The butterhead lettuce is growing slowly but steadily.

The spinach should be ready for harvest in a few days time. I don't want to make the same mistake like before when I waited too long until the stems became woody.

That looks like a flower bud on my egg plant! The fertiliser I applied over the weekend must be working.

Even the giant red spider lily plant is flowering. Not one but 2 buds on the same plant! Somehow the flowers always come out slightly defective unlike their white cousins.

Around the neighbourhood

I brought my camera while I was out walking Rusty this morning and shot many things that we came across.

Mangosteen tree.

Black cat under the mangosteen tree.

Many more cats along the way.




Heliconia.

Bougainvillea.


Spider lily.

Water plant.

Are these frangipani flowers pretty?

They almost look like they're painted.

Unbelievable!

After seeing cabbage being grown in temperate climates like Taiwan, I thought it would be impossible to grow them in our tropical climate. I was so wrong!

When I was at a fish farm this morning, I saw big cabbage plants scattered all over the yard. They're not even planted in special soil or given extra care and attention, yet they're thriving so well. I'm so impressed, it's going to be my next project.

Inconsiderate people

This morning, I walked out to the patio to find used tissues and even a 'koyok' (medicated plaster) in my garden. I live on the 2nd floor. Unlike the 13 units above me, only ours comes with a patio garden.

I've found tissue paper, ice cream sticks, cotton buds, cigarette butts and sweet wrappers in my patio from time to time. Other lower floor tenants with a balcony are also experiencing the same problem. We have spoken to the managing agent about this.

My neighbours above must surely know that this is a private garden and seen me lavishing lots of tender loving care on my plants. Would they allow someone to enter their home and throw rubbish on the floor? Then why can't they spare a thought for us?

What if a cigarette butt lands on my plants or laundry and catches fire? It may sound far fetched but the consequences is unimaginable. I really cannot tolerate inconsiderate acts like this.

Growth report

The market may be gloomy but I'm presenting my growth report for the week. Very encouraging I must say. Gardens are always a good investment.

Remember my other heliconia? Well, it has grown quite a bit. Pretty isn't it? Too bad it's hiding at the back and I can't get any closer.

My lettuce is progressing rather well too.

The butterhead lettuce is showing true leaves now. Can you see the millipede at the bottom? I seem to have lots of these in my garden. Since they are not harmful to my plants, I'll let them be. If only they are more helpful in the garden like the earthworms.