Tips Gleaned from Gardening on the Front Porch Step-by-Step
In the heart of the city, a small garden bloomed on the front stoop of a rental unit this year. Its owner, a novice gardener, embarked on a journey of discovery, learning the ins and outs of growing their own food.
The adventure began with the planting of basil from seed paper and the propagation of more plants from it. The process of nurturing these tiny seeds into thriving plants gave the gardener a greater appreciation for produce in general. They also learned about the ups and downs of growing food for a larger population through their experiment.
The tomato plant, despite some yellowing leaves, grew well. One small tomato fruit even made an appearance, only to disappear while the gardener was away on vacation. Radishes were on the original list to be planted but were not due to the pandemic limiting trips out.
Lettuce, on the other hand, grew amazingly well. However, it eventually fell victim to aphids. The kale, unfortunately, did not grow at all.
The star performer of the garden was the cucumber plant, which grew very well and has produced multiple flowers. But, the gardener soon realised that hand pollination is necessary for cucumber plants to produce fruit. To ensure a bountiful harvest, they followed a simple process: identifying male and female flowers, transferring pollen from the male flowers to the female ones using a small paintbrush, and repeating this process during the flowering period.
The gardener also learned about suckers, small sprouts that grow in the corner between the main stem and branches of the tomato plant. They removed these as the plant grew, but pruning plants still feels above their gardening level.
Despite the challenges, the gardener feels more connected to their food after this little gardening experiment. They hope to grow more next year and learn more lessons from their garden. After all, every garden is a reflection of the gardener themselves, and this one is no exception.
References: [1] Hand Pollination of Cucumber Plants: A Guide for Better Fruit Production. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/cucumber/how-to-hand-pollinate-cucumber-plants.htm [2] Hand Pollination of Cucumbers: A Simple Technique for Bigger Yields. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.almanac.com/gardening/hand-pollination-cucumbers [3] Hand Pollination of Cucumbers: A Step-by-Step Guide. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/cucumber/how-to-hand-pollinate-cucumbers.htm [5] Hand Pollination of Cucumber Plants: How to Pollinate and Increase Yield. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/cucumber/how-to-hand-pollinate-cucumber-plants.htm
The gardener's home-and-garden lifestyle venture expanded from the simple act of planting basil seed paper, unveiling a world of food production that was more complex than initially anticipated. Amidst struggles with pests, sickly plants, and the realization of the importance of hand pollination, the novice gardener found a growing appreciation for gardening and its role in shaping their lifestyle.
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