Picture this: it’s a sunny Saturday afternoon and you’re relaxing at home. You feel like having a salad for a late lunch, so you go to your garden (or balcony!) for some inspiration. With a little basket in hand you harvest some kale, a handful of cherry tomatoes, and some basil. You take them to the kitchen, chop them up and add some dressing. In less than 15 minutes you’ve made an organic, garden-to-table meal.
Growing your own food from seed might sound like a dream, but it is actually an extremely attainable one. The GCC region is blessed with one of the longest growing seasons in the world, beginning in September and going all the way through to May. Each vegetable or herb has specific windows within this season. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a large space to grow food. You can grow a meaningful amount even in pots on a balcony.
Here is a simple guide to get you started on your food-growing journey.
Sunlight
For maximum success it’s important to first understand the sunlight patterns at your home (these patterns will be different in summer and in winter). Plants need sunlight for optimal growth and some need more sun than others. A general guideline is 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day; however this number can be tweaked depending on the plant. Tomatoes and eggplants, for example, produce best with the maximum daily amount of sunlight. Herbs and salad leaves, on the other hand, can grow well even in shady areas. Understanding your home’s unique pattern of sunlight will help you decide what to grow.
Soil
A healthy soil is important for a healthy, productive plant. Soil is an ecosystem that needs to be consistently amended with rich, organic matter. Always begin with an organic potting mix rich in compost. For some plants (such as leafy greens and herbs) this can be enough; but others need a richer soil that is amended with chicken pellets or cow manure.
Consider adding perlite to your soil; perlite is a lightweight volcanic matter that loosens the soil to make it easier for strong root development and adequate water distribution among the soil. Vermicompost is also a beneficial matter to add to your soil; it is compost created by using worm castings. Both are available from a good garden centre.
It is recommended to begin with a soil mixture of 40 per cent potting soil, 40 per cent perlite, and 20 per cent vermicompost or chicken pellets/cow manure. Every 4 to 6 weeks, add some more vermicompost or chicken pellets/cow manure to the soil.
Liquid fertilisers are also an important soil amendment and these can be added to your watering routine once every 2 to 3 weeks. The smaller or younger the plant, the more diluted the liquid fertiliser should be. Seaweed fertiliser is a perfect, multipurpose liquid fertiliser to use, but if a plant is struggling to produce, potassium fertilizer can be helpful. For each type of fertiliser, instructions and measurements will be on the bottle.
What to grow and when to grow it
If you’re a beginner to gardening, always choose easy-to-grow plants to gain experience, confidence and motivation. If you prefer, for your first year you can buy ready seedlings from a plant nursery to learn how to take care of the plant and for the following year you can begin growing from seed.
Herbs and leafy greens
Basil, mint, and parsley are the easiest herbs to grow as they can be grown in containers, in shady areas, and early on in the season beginning from mid-September. By mid-October or November, you can begin planting spinach, kale and lettuce.
Vegetables
The easiest vegetables to grow are the self-pollinating ones. Food such as zucchinis, pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers need a male and female flower on the plant to create fruit, but tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, beans and peas have self-pollinating flowers. These can be planted outdoors in October. Root vegetables such as radish and carrots are also very easy to grow and can be planted in September.
Supporting pollinators and pollination
Bees (and butterflies) are a vital part of a healthy garden ecosystem and their presence can greatly increase your garden production. To support these important members of our environment, it is necessary to plant flowers that attract them. Zinnias, sunflowers, alyssum, cosmos and snapdragon are all brightly-colored flowers that are rich in nectar and are easy to grow in a UAE climate from September onwards. These flowers are also beneficial in pest-control.
Pest control
The biggest challenge in organic gardening is pest control. Luckily, there are many natural ways to mitigate the impact of pests. Consider adding netting (even fruit basket nets) to your plants to protect them from birds or bugs. Plant a healthy mix of flowers and herbs to act as natural pest-deterrents and read about the benefits of ‘companion planting’, which is the method of planting mutually beneficial plants together to ward off pests. If your pest problem needs more help, a diluted neem spray on the leaves is a good option, as is ‘spinosad’- an organic pest control substance.
With these tips, you can begin your food growing journey and reap the physical and mental benefits of nutrient-rich, organic food straight from your garden to your table.
