Vegetable Gardening - a realistic approach.

We had been very expressive with vegetable gardening over the years, when space wasn't the issue. It's so tempting to push for exquisite garden concept. It's so satisfying to let out creative energy, when one has full control over space and content.  If the lack of time to do watering and frequent outstation trips are the issue,  the technology offers solution in form of fertigation method, and automatic watering system. Gardening is sweat and fun.... all the way 2009 - 2013 and now 2014.

Gardens are not made 

by singing 'Oh, how beautiful,' 

and sitting in the shade.

Rudyard Kipling

Putrajaya Garden days 2009 2010
Putrajaya Garden days 2009 2010
Putrajaya Garden days 2009 2010

Coconut husk as edging

bitter gourd

Tanah Merah Garden, Kelantan 2011
Tanah Merah Garden, Kelantan 2011
Tanah Merah Garden, Kelantan 2011

potted plants at Tanah Merah Home

Four papaya, our Tanah Merah Home compound

Roselle seedlings in polybags

Rooftop Gardening - Chilli

Rooftop Gardening - Chilli

Rooftop Gardening - engagements

Pasir Gudang Garden 2012  2013
Pasir Gudang Garden 2012  2013
Pasir Gudang Garden 2012  2013

Pasir Gudang, Garden set up

Pasir Gudang - a row of roselle

Pasir Gudang - new seedlings

Bawang dalam pasu

Bawang dalam pasu, Roselle dalam polibeg

Cilli Farm - 

Grandchildren posing in Chili Farm

Pineapple Garden

A row of cabbage in pots

Amaranth

rows of vegetable bed

Rows of vegetable bed

sireh as hanging plant

Watering system

Pokok ubi kemili

Zinnia

Seri Kembangan Garden 2014

Seri Kembangan Garden 2014

Seri Kembangan Garden 2014

Now it's 

container gardening only

onions

onions

mulberry shoots

Available space, budget and time

more or less determine

the final look of a garden.

bangchik and kakdah

seri kembangan

Tanam Sayur Sendiri, bayam or spinach. - updates (Report 2)

Spinach / Bayam : we had done a bit of thinning to reduce the number of spinach.

Spinach planting schedule.
Sowing: --------------10.01.2014
Report 1 -------------18.01. 2014  Vegetable Gardening - a new start
Report 2 -------------12.02. 2014
Harvest: --------------07.03. 2014 expected
sowing to harvest: ------8 weeks  expected

Spinach originated in ancient Persia, eventually making its way to Italy in 827 and finally gracing European tables in the 1300s. Its appearance in early spring made this a fast favorite when other vegetables were scarce during Lenten diets. For this reason, spinach has the great honor of being mentioned in the first known English cookbook.
When Catherine de'Medici became the queen of France in 1522, she insisted that spinach be served at every meal because she loved it so. Today when you hear of spinach dishes referred to as "Florentine," that is because Catherine was born in Florence.   refer: National spinach day – Eatocracy - CNN.com Blogs

17th January 2014

Spinach, just tiny seedlings. 17.1.2014

12th February 2014

Spinach, a month after sowing....

Kakdah would take a few for meal 

until the batch gets too hardy before the 8th week 

________bangchik and kakdah________

seri kembangan

Vegetable Gardening - a new start

Seri Kembangan, Malaysia.

We dont seem to get tired of gardening. Kakdah clings to her orchids and ornamental plants, and I more into vegetable gardening.  We are coming to a phase of life, much different to what we are used to. The house is typical malaysian double storey. Space is very limited both at the front and back. We have to reduce the number of pots used.

I was flicking through the earlier posts on container gardening.  We had gone through several elaborate attempts on growing vegetables in pots such as  onions  ,   pakchoy,  kale / kailan,    daun sup,  cabbage,  etc.

the old kucai

Of the many vegetables we grew in Johor, we only take kucai along. Kucai never seems to stop growing, they grow quietly, they stay low and happy. Now  onions and spinach start to grow and be part of the ealier pioneers here.

bawang - onions in two small pots

bayam - spinach in large container

Yeap, we have a lot more seeds, but they have  to wait for their turn.

__________bangchik and kakdah__________

seri kembangan

green leafy vegetables in our little garden.

Leafy vegetables, leafy greens, sayur hijau all refer to the same thing. Plant leaves are eaten as vegetables, either raw as salads or cooked; stir fried, stewed, boiled or steamed.  I love growing leafy vegetables because they do provide exciting view, green, thriving and soothing.  Seeds are cheap and we can grow by hundreds. Most grow so quick that in a matter of weeks they are ready for steady harvest.

bayam

It is always bayam to us here. We can get them cheap at the market, but growing bayam ourselves is something else. It is always nice to have bayam right at the backyard ready to be cut for a lovely lunch or dinner.  Sometimes it is called amaranth tricolour. A friend said, one should buy seeds only once,  then after one should keep saving seeds when the plants flower and produce seeds. The seeds are black in colour, so small that a pinch could contain hundred of seeds.

They are slightly more than two months, and now they are already flowering. That's bayam, at after two months, they are considered old or ancient.

bayam

bayam

ulam raja

We never miss growing ulam raja. It is quite strong against pests and wind. Picking the shoots for fresh salad never kill them, in fact will promote development of side shoots, turning the plant into  bushy ornamental herb.

ulam raja

ulam raja

kangkung

kangkung, or water spinach is known as poor man's veggie. It can propagate by cuttings, but the most usual way is by seeds. And like the above veggies, kangkung will bloom and produce seeds in a short time. This veggie is unique, because once it sets, it will keep growing and crawl where ever it wishes. Heavy pruning will give the plant a fresh start all over again. 

kangkung / water spinach

kangkung / water spinach

water spinach

The three leafy green will always be with us, placed somewhere at the backyard.  I am eyeing at other leafy greens to be included here. The one foot square vegetable bed, will be an adventurous site to trying as many as I can squeeze.

bangchik and kakdah

pasir gudang JOHOR

Vegetable Garden maturing

It's slightly over two months since we arrived here, Pasir Gudang Johor. Weather is getting slightly drier, no more daily shower around 5pm. The other day, cloud swelled heavy, indicating it's readiness to rain, then some how wind carried the whole heavy cloud away.... surprising.  Neighbours Syed, Sanusi and Sahul mentioned about Jan and Feb being very windy, pointing out  that Pasir Gudang International Kite Fest will always be held in February.  This year, it is 15th to 19th February.

Our Vegetable Garden is really maturing now. A few weeks ago, roselle and lady's finger bent almost flat to the ground, as wind blew hard. But the next morning they sprang up like nothing happened.  Wonderful to know how plants endure wind, sun and rain again and again. They are designed to survive. Judging by the number of seeds most plants produce, they really are programmed to last to the end of time.

vegetable bed, okra, ulam raja and keladi

vegetable bed viewed from top left

sweet corns and pineapples

bayam

Keladi

okra / lady's fingers / bendi

Lady's finger flowering

Bayam has been harvested many many times, more for the neighbours than our own kitchen.  Lady's fingers were attacked by black ants a week ago, and of course I fought back. Now lady's fingers are growing happily and first harvest will happen tomorrow. Two months had passed, vegetables are maturing, harvest is daily chore for kakdah...... and our neighbourhood is blessed with fruits of labour..... gardening.

bangchik and kakdah

Pasir Gudang

vegetables on raised bed

Rhythm of life is somewhat different now , more because it is only two of us staying in Tanah Merah home. Whenever I have to go outstation, kakdah has to join, leaving the whole garden to fend themselves. Two days without rain is enough to yellow any delicate plants. For now, I really have to go slow with vegetable gardening.... But some plants are enjoying secluded spot, with just a few hours of sun . So no watering for a couple of days wont hurt them.....

Angled Luffa or Petola is something new to me. They germinated fast, with 100 percent success. Now they are crawling up the white stakes. The solitary bitter gourd seems to be doing fine. Honey dew seedlings are not so lucky. Bugs mutilated their tender leaves to the veins. No choice, they have to be pulled out.

Trellis. I have to thank Ahmad, Anwar and PakNgah for their help, in setting up the structure. Trellis is something we cant happily do alone.... I have come to a point where, whatever I do with vegetable gardening should satisfy certain criteria. Tanah Merah is not used to seeing white painted bamboo stakes as trellis...... I suppose Tanah Merah is about to see new things...

angled luffa or petola
green and healthy.

petola climbing up

another petola climbing up

trellis for angled luffa or petola,
all painted white.

bitter gourd, 

same age as petola on another trellis

both trellis, 

one for six angled luffa or petola and another one for bitter gourd. Bamboo stakes for bitter gourd are not painted.


Sand was earlier added and mixed thoroughly with the clayey red soil. Peat soil was also added to soften the soil. Fertiliser has always been poultry pellets. Occasionally I will spray liquid fertiliser to the leaves.

 bangchik and kakdah

home vegetable gardening, Tanah Merah