Urban gardening, anyone?
By annacelle
@annacelle (91)
Philippines
July 25, 2012 9:45am CST
I live at the heart of the city, in a crowded area where one can rarely see any vegetation. Now, as a result of formula feeding to my less than three year old youngest child, I have already accumulated a three-tier pile of empty formula cans. I've always wanted to make use of the empty cans to grow vegetables, but the problem was where to get the soil! So little by little, with help from neighborhood kids who come regularly to collect garbage for a small fee, I was able to fill most of the cans with the needed soil. Next problem was the seeds, I meant to plant pechay or cabbage but my husband counldn't find pechay seeds for me! Lucky enough, a friend met a Korean nationale who gave her some pechay seeds. Well, to sum it up, just yesterday I already transplanted the pechay seedlings to the formula cans. I don't know their variety, I'm just so glad I am now growing pechay right in my own home!
2 people like this
8 responses
@celticeagle (164045)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Jul 12
The formula cans would be great to start seeds in. Let them get to a good few inches and then transplant them into larger pots. I might get some soil from the store as well to top off the pots when you transplant. Have you read up on pechay and the type of soil you need?
@celticeagle (164045)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Jul 12
It may be costly cause the stuff is heavy but I am sure you will be happy with the result. Good soil is very important.
@annacelle (91)
• Philippines
26 Jul 12
Thank you celticeagle, I really haven't thought of reading up on pechay, might just do that.:) As for the soil, there aren't any stores that sell soil here in Manila, I will have to order them straight from the province.:)
1 person likes this
@musicluv4life (1867)
• United States
25 Jul 12
That's cool that you have a use for your old formula cans.
and everyone likes home grow veggies, they are fresh and you know what is being put on them.
@annacelle (91)
• Philippines
25 Jul 12
Thanks, musicluv4life! Now there are little greens in my own environment, and yes, I'd get fresh home grown veggies when they mature, aside from the fact that it makes me simply happy waking up in the morning to water and watch my plants grow! haha:)
@musicluv4life (1867)
• United States
26 Jul 12
Thats good it makes you happy, thats the most important thing.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
25 Jul 12
I tried gardening in the city too..didn't work! But what I did do that did work when I had sunshine...I bought rain gutters...the length of my window sill and caps on the ends and planted herbs. Worked great.
@annacelle (91)
• Philippines
25 Jul 12
That's nice, I think herbs are also easy to grow, even indoors. You've just given me an idea, I think it would be great if I also have some herbs which should be placed near the kitchen, just an arm's reach when I'm cooking! Thanks.:)
@annacelle (91)
• Philippines
25 Jul 12
Thank you yoyo1198, and yes, I did not forget to poke holes. I even took them in a covered area when it was raining hard so as not to get them immersed in too much rain water, at the same time they get a little of the sunlight that they need. :)
@Bhebelen14 (5194)
• Philippines
25 Jul 12
Like you I also live in the city and using formula cans for my vegetables and flowers. I love gardening since I am living in the city and condo where I only have limited space for my plants. I converted my veranda to a small garden where I can put my plants and vegetables. When i decided to put some plants in our place I get some seeds from my home town and soil since it really hard to find good soil in the city. Now I have different kinds of roses and orchids, and different kind vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant,chili, okra and saluyot (jute leaves). I am happy that my husband watering my plants when I am not around and busy with my work. I am happy when I harvest my our vegetables because it is very fresh and insecticide free.
@annacelle (91)
• Philippines
26 Jul 12
Wow, you do have a quite a garden there! I wish there is some place near for me to get good plant soil. Actually, I don't even know where the kids got the soil, not that good for planting but it doesn't matter as long as the seeds were able to germinate hahaha I think I would need some fertilizers though.:)
@playswithfood (61)
• United States
25 Jul 12
I love container gardening. I grow peppers, tomatoes, strawberries and herbs in small containers on my small front and back porches. The small container keeps the fruit size small enough that I never have an over-stock of my goodies, but fresh produce always tastes better in my opinion. Way to go for finding a way to make it work for you!
@annacelle (91)
• Philippines
25 Jul 12
Yes fresh produce tastes better and I guess we get more nutrients from them. Plus the fact that we get to taste the fruits of our labor! :)
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
8 Aug 12
I live in the city and container garden. I'll admit my yields aren't as high, but am getting lots of tomatoes. I'm considering canning tomatoes, as no way can I eat all the tomatoes and my neighbors only want so many tomatoes.
@dorisday1971 (5657)
• Philippines
28 Sep 12
I do have pechay plants in my front yard. It is not actually a real garden because I also live in the city.
I used styrofoams from apple containers and filled it with soil.
I was able to buy the peachay seeds from an agrivet store , a store for animal feeds.
