Growing vegetables is easy

Growing vegetables isn't so difficult as long as the conditions are right. I've been growing tropical vegetables like spinach and kang kong in these small planters measuring about 17x17cm. Vegetables thrive as long as they receive enough sunlight and water. It is important to choose a growing medium that provides good drainage.

The best thing about growing kang kong is they continue to grow after each harvest. I leave about 2 cm of stump and new leaves will grow very quickly within days.

Brilliant

I spotted this home-made vegetable growing system in Malacca and think it is brilliant.

Sunflower

 I've been growing sunflower sprouts for salad. They're so easy to grow and taste great in salads, a bit nutty and crunchy at the same time.

When I toss the unsprouted seeds in my garden, I get pretty flowers in a month or two.

A nice centrepiece

Maybe because I grew up in a farm surrounded by fresh flowers, I don't have a habit of buying flowers. When I'm expecting guests, I jazz up the home using other creative methods like growing wheatgrass or barley grass. They make a great centrepiece and are quick growers too. The best thing is, they're edible.

To usher in the Lunar New Year, I decided to sow radish seeds in some glass jars. I feel it is an auspicious thing to do. Radish seeds germinate within days and they're very decorative and delicious. The sprouts in the photo are about a week old.

Winter Veggies

Yesterday I did a major cleanup of my garden after the neighbour below complained that our vines are creeping into his territory. I blame it partially on the huge amount of rainfall we've been getting. It has been raining every afternoon for more than a month already. Everything is growing at a high speed and the vines are grasping and twining all over the other plants, I had a hard time manoeuvring in my patio.

The garden looks tidier now. I'm not sowing any seeds until the weather improves. Here are some photos of vegetables I took during my week in Korea.

This is one of the few vegetables that can tolerate the freezing temperate in Korea. It was -14 degree celcius that day.

The ornamental kale is grown along the streets as a decorative plant. These tolerate the cold very well.

The temperature in Busan is milder at around -6 degree Celcius and I was surprised to see lettuce growing in someone's backyard.

Wild but productive

My garden is looking wild and unkempt but we're loving it. The kids are delighted that butterflies and sunbirds visit daily. To be honest, I'm secretly envious of my neighbours who have converted their spacious garden into clean and neat areas for dining and relaxing. Some have even installed hammocks and swings. I barely have space to put out my laundry rack.

Well, if I can't enjoy eating out in the garden, at least I can eat what I grow. The combination of sunny and rainy days have been good for the plants. I'm seeing lots of flowers lately. Even the mulberry plants are fruiting. And the bitter gourd is also ready for eating.



Have a break

 

 I've given up trying to grow anything new in this wet weather. Nothing seems to germinate these days.

The utriculari (bladderworts), which belong to my son, love the rain. These plants are so intriguing. Their bladder traps are recognized as one of the most sophisticated structures in the plant kingdom.

 The rain is also great for established plants. My garden is now awash with colour and green foliage. Instead of trying so hard to grow vegetables, I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the burst of colours in the garden for now.