Growing Vegetables with Ms Green Fingers

It's well known that I have a very bad relationship with plants.  We grow well-acquainted with each other and then all of a sudden they turn yellow, wilt and die. It's happened to my tomatoes, spring onions and chilli peppers.  The Funeral March just rings in me when they meet their unexpected (or expected in my case!) death.  I need help!

That's why I have invited fellow Singaporean blogger, Ting Ting aka Ms Green Fingers to share her insights and tips to growing veggies in our hot and humid climate!!  Ting Ting grew up in the countryside surrounded by plants, vegetables and fruit trees. Now that she is living in an apartment, she grows her own vegetables and herbs in the patio.  If you want to grow your own veggies, read on, and don't forget to follow her at Growing Vegetables with Ms Green Fingers!  Thank you, Ting Ting! :-)

Growing our own vegetables at home is possible especially when we are blessed with good weather all year round.

However, most of us in Singapore live in high rise buildings, so the biggest challenge is finding space to grow our produce.

Do not be discouraged by the lack of space, you can start with growing small containers of herbs and leafy greens. As long as you understand what conditions they thrive in, you can still enjoy the fruits of your labour.

To get started, all you need is a generous-size container, good potting soil, and a suitable spot that gets at least five hours of full sun a day.  

Pick a bright area around the house and spend some time observing how much sunlight (direct or indirect) it is receiving daily. Generally tropical vegetables and flowering plants require few hours of direct sunlight while some herbs and vegetables like coriander, sweet basil, lettuce and rocket salad can still do well in a bright area with filtered sunlight.

Vegetables will do well in pots that provide good drainage. Don't use garden soil as it will compact quickly and affect drainage. Use a good quality compost and mix with some burnt soil (a reddish kind of soil that is very rough and rocky) to improve drainage. Blend in some natural fertiliser like bonemeal or chicken manure pellets that supply nutrients over a 3 month period.

It is important to keep your vegetables hydrated. They need lots of water especially in our tropical weather. Water twice a day and be sure to keep the soil moist but not wet. Too much water will drown your vegetables and cause the roots to rot.

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Unfortunately pests like aphids, snails and white flies are attracted to edibles. You have to be vigilant as they can destroy your crop overnight. Try to use organic or home made pesticides to get rid of the pests.  I've heard of people mixing ground fresh chilli padi (the small fiery ones) with water and spraying it all over the plants. Another mixture is made using dishwashing liquid, cooking oil and water.  You can look for tips here http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/organic-pesticides/

Leafy vegetables like kangkong, cai xin, spinach, bai cai, kale and mustard are quick growers. Just sow the seeds directly in the pot and they'll germinate in about 3 to 4 days. When the seedlings are about 2 weeks old, you can thin them out to prevent over crowding. They can also be transferred into another pot where they can grow to maturity. The vegetables can be harvested in about 40 days.

Once you're more confident of your gardening skills, you can try growing lettuce, herbs and fruiting vegetables like eggplant, ladys fingers and tomatoes.

You don't have to buy seeds from the store all the time. Your kitchen is a good place to start. You can grow peanut plants from raw groundnuts, spring onions from onion bulbs, bittergourd from seeds, chillies from the seeds of the chilli padi etc. The possibilites are endless.

You can also purchase starter kits which come complete with seeds, growing medium and container. Easi Garden is a Singapore company that produces vegetable growing kits for children and adults. www.easigarden.com 

Happy growing!

Ting Ting