"Watching the plants grow from tiny seeds to tall plants, then eventually bear fruit, makes me feel very hopeful for life everyday." - This month we are introducing a very adventurous urban farmer, Rebecca Hui.
Rebecca started growing veggies at her home about 1.5 years ago, and she's a great example to show that space should not hinder new gardeners to experiment in Hong Kong. She utilizes an apartment balcony of 3.3 square metres and has grown more than 30 varieties of veggies and herbs including Lemon Balm, Oregano, Rosemary, White Onion, Chives, Dill, Coriander, Shiso, Nasturtium, Borage, White Round Eggplant, Kale, Ice Plant, Bitter Melon and Alpine Strawberry!
Unfortunately, gardening is like a rollercoaster ride. There are many ups and downs that urban gardeners face and Rebecca's greatest challenge is her east-facing balcony garden. It receives only 3-4 hours of sunlight a day, so she must be selective on the plants that she grows, depending on their sunlight needs. Despite the challenges, Rebecca perseveres because she wants to utilise the space to grow something she enjoys eating, and it's more economical to grow her own organic veggies than purchasing from the supermarket.
[Tips for budding growers]: "For balcony growers, it's better to fill the soil to the top of the pots, because sunlight usually comes in at an angle. If the pots are only half-full, the sides of the pots can block the light and cause leggy seedlings."
"It's also wise to grow more seeds than required, then take out the weak seedlings and keep the strongest ones. This is a painful process for beginners, but it's more painful to waste time and fertilizers for failing crops."
Thank you Rebecca for sharing your urban farming adventure!
If you have any questions about growing your own veggies at home, do leave us a comment or send us a message!