Advice for Struggling Gardeners
Summer Vegetable Favourites
By Sue Patchell
My garden has taken on a whole new personality since the rains came and now the heat. The tomatoes succumbed to some kind of fungal disease, the alpine strawberries grown from seed (they were planted on the roof) disappeared, and the purple sprouting broccoli, which never sprouted, has been ravaged by caterpillars. I should have known better. Dr Arthur van Langenberg, author of Urban Gardening: A Hong Kong Gardener's Journal recommends against trying to grow purple sprouting broccoli in Hong Kong as it needs cooler weather. I received the book from my dear, wonderfully perceptive husband after I'd planted four containers of the stuff.
The book is an inspiration. It takes you through soil preparation, plant propagation (including taking cuttings and air-layering), fertilizing, mulching, pruning and pest control. A special section on gardening hints for Hong Kong follows, discussing the weather and use of space. The main section of the book looks at plants from A-Z, most of which he's grown himself and is full of photos, illustrations and anecdotes with a few recipes thrown in.
But the book's hidden treasure, for us struggling gardeners, is the appendix at the back titled "Plant selection guide" which includes lists of what to grow when and where.
In an interview, he told me his four favourite vegetables to plant in summer were Chinese spinach, Ceylon spinach, okra and string beans.
Chinese spinach (Amaranthus tricolor) is vulnerable to heavy rains but can do well grown in containers that can be moved under shelter if necessary. It is quick growing with the seeds germinating in about three days and leaves ready to eat in six to eight weeks. If the spinach is snipped rather than pulled out by the roots (as it is usually presented in the market), a second and third crop may follow on. Dr. van Langenberg cautions not to sow the seeds too thickly if planting them in pots.
Ceylon spinach (Basella rubra ) is an "acquired taste as it is a sort of 'slimy vegetable'", he explained. "It's a vine… don't let it get everywhere. Cut the plant when it gets to eight to nine feet tall," he recommended, adding that the leaves are usually harvested before the plant begins to climb. The seeds can be sown from April to September. The leaves are best used in light summer soups with chicken stock or in stir fries.
Okra (Hibiscus esculentus) can stand up to the summer's heavy rains and fierce heat and is Dr. van Langenberg's absolute favourite summer crop. "The hotter the weather, the better," he said. Okra seeds are slightly smaller in size than a pea, and three seeds can be sown to a pot. The plants will grow to six or seven feet tall and are quite "robust", not needing to be staked unless they look like they might topple over. And, as a bonus the flowers are beautiful. In the book, there is a recipe for an okra curry.
String beans (Vigna sesquipedalis) come in green and white varieties. While the green one should be sown from March to May, it is the white one which can be sown later, between May and August. The seeds sprout in about three days, and the beans should be ready in about six weeks, and are at their best when 45cm long (35 cm for the green ones). Like okra, it is a robust plant, but should be grown up a bamboo trellis. As long as beans are continuing to be produced, the leaves (which can also be eaten) should be thinned out to give the purple flowers light and space.
Dr van Langenberg buys all his seeds locally, mostly from stores "beyond Western market".