NATURAL FARMING: GETTING STARTED AT HOME
Nothing compares to home-grown vegetables. When you grow your own food, the flavour and benefits surpass those you buy at store
When you grow your vegetables organically, you attract birds, bees, and butterflies to your garden. As an urban farmer, you will experience both sweat and joy.
Instead of going to your local garden centre, create a design plan for your vegetables. Organic farming requires creative thinking as well as careful planning to find the right space.
Understand the weather patterns in your area. Monsoon rain falls in Sabah from November to January, with the drought season lasting from March to April. We are not directly in the path of Pacific typhoons, but we do get a few days of heavy rain from May to September. Severe weather also causes soaring temperatures and drier weather.
Prioritize your planting by planting what will thrive in your area. Then, in the area, select plants with high yields. Many greens, such as tomatoes and eggplants, will keep you fed all year.
Finally, take a look around your property. Find a sunny spot where you can grow a lot of fresh-picked produce.
CREATE A NURSERY CORNER
Make a nursery section in a shady corner for your seedlings before exposing them to the sun. The nursery also shields the young plants from heavy rain.
GROW VEGETABLES IN CONTAINERS
Containers and pots are excellent alternatives if you have limited space or poor soil conditions. Growing edibles in pots is simple as long as good drainage and organic fertiliser are used..
Rainwater harvesting is beneficial. It is useful during the drought season. A consistent watering schedule is beneficial to vegetables. It is best to do this before 9 a.m.
Containers do not hold a lot of water. As a result, if there is insufficient water, you may not get any vegetables at all. If you use too much, the roots will drown and the fruits will rot.
GROW VEGETABLES VERTICALLY
Plant vining vegetables such as snake beans and bitter gourds to maximise your space. Growing up adds structure and visual interest to your garden.
To improve air circulation, space each plant about a foot apart. Next, provide them with netting to grab onto!
