Is veggie gardening the answer to the food crisis?

MANILA, Philippines – Because of the fast urban development being done by the government, cities are rapidly expanding and getting bigger. This expansion is taking its toll on our agricultural land. As a result, our food supply is diminishing; food production cannot cope with the equally rapidly growing population.

The food shortage is a serious problem that must be addressed. Fortunately, some studies show that urban gardens make a significant contribution to the food requirements of city folk. A gradually increasing number of people living in the city are devoting time to beautifying their surroundings with trees and ornamental plants that are edible.

With new techniques and technologies available, urban gardening is becoming easier and gardeners more creative. It should be regarded as a way to beautify the urban landscape and at the same time provide supplemental food for our families. Urban gardening is a way to bring ecological balance and offset the effects of global warming.

As more people move to cities, urban gardening will definitely be the next trend in gardening culture. Numerous communities all over the country are discovering the many benefits of urban gardening; in Metro Manila, in particular, countless previously garbage-strewn vacant lots have been cleaned and converted into beautiful and lush vegetable, flower and ornamental gardens by civic and non-governmental organizations.

There is joy and fun in gardening, particularly vegetables — from the planning to the harvesting — says Chito Bertol, chairman and president of the Manila Seedling Bank Environmental Center Foundation in Quezon City, corner EDSA, Quezon Avenue, whether it be a simple plot of tomatoes, a row of eggplants and okra bushes or any array of veggies like pechay, mustard bush beans and sweet corn. You will find that the fresh harvest is the most delicious, not only because it is homegrown but also because you grew them yourself, Bertol emphasized.

Vegetable gardening is an activity that can involve all members of the family or community. Even if the members are busy, each one can take turns tending the garden during his or her free time. Bertol adds that, like any other garden, a vegetable garden can be therapeutic relief from the stress and pressures of everyday city life. A garden is also an antidote to dry, drab and polluted surroundings. And to top off the list of benefits, the crops produced will add nourishment to the table, not to mention save the money spent on buying costly food ingredients.

Careful planning a few months before planting will produce the best results. Whether you plan to plant in a large garden or a few containers on a patio, balcony or lawn, remember that less is more. Fewer plants will grow better and produce more vegetables than a crowded plot or row of plants. Make a rough sketch of the space and try different designs to find the most efficient and convenient layout. Think of what plants would be most suited to your garden and which ones would benefit your consumption.

Plant boxes, windowsills, the sides of walkways, tubs, pots, and containers can be used as planting spaces, but they must be placed where they cannot be disturbed or should not obstruct human traffic flow. New and improved varieties of vegetables are now easier to plant and grow anytime and anywhere; they are sturdy and disease-resistant.

For urban gardening, the following vegetables are ideal: pepper, eggplant, ampalaya, sitaw, tomatoes, squash, upland kangkong, upo, cucumber, mustard, okra and pechay.

Plot out your garden on a graphing paper for proper scaling. That way you can effectively visualize your garden. Avoid areas that are too shady or so enclosed that very little sunlight and air circulation can get in.

The ideal garden soil for vegetables is a mixture of compost, fine sand, rich garden soil, and for more nutrients, some organic materials and fertilizers. Here are tips for safe and correct gardening:

• It is safer to use organic materials for fertilizing and pest control over chemically prepared ones.

• Keep the soil, pots, tools and surroundings clean to prevent the spread of diseases and pests.

• Use a mixture of chili juice, detergent powder and vegetable oil to spray against aphids, white flies, and mealy bugs. Be careful not to spray against the wind or you might get your eyes hurt by the “hot” mixture.

• Plant tomatoes, garlic and cabbages together to keep insect damage down.

• Select seeds for planting. Check if the seeds are healthy and plant only healthy seedlings.

• Segregate or discard limp and sick plants.

•Plant your seedlings in a sunny, well ventilated but not drafty area.

• Get grown seedlings rather than starting them on seeds. This will shorten the waiting time and labor of sowing and replanting. Also, cucumber, ampalaya, squash, upo, patola, and sitaw are best if directly sown in a big container or planted as grown seedlings.

• Space your plants widely enough that they get the right amount of sunlight, good ventilation and room for growth so they don’t compete with each other for food.

• Use a hose nozzle or sprinkler with fine holes that has a misting or fogging effect to avoid damaging the plants.

• Check the drainage holes of your containers to prevent roots from over-soaking.

• Water early in the morning.

• Apply chemical fertilizer or pesticide after the plants have been watered thoroughly.

• Do not plant near air-conditioner exhausts or heat-producing motors.

• Keep the plants in an undisturbed area while growing. Do not move or transfer them too much.

• Aerate the soil lightly, but avoid disturbing roots near the surface.

For vegetable and fruit seedlings and more information about urban gardening, visit the Manila Seedling Bank Environmental Center or call 929-9312, 924-0166 or 924-7001 to 02.