ALL SEASONS

The Philippines is an agricultural country and a competitive producer and exporter of crops in the global market. Most farmers in the country focus on planting and harvesting rice, but there are still some who venture into vegetable farming, as the majority of the citizens enjoy eating them because of their health

During the pandemic lockdown, a lot of people were enticed by our agricultural wealth and suddenly turned themselves into plantitos or plantitas (a nickname given to someone who likes to collect and grow plants).

And if you are also a plantito or plantita, we listed down nine crops you can plant all year round.

AMPALAYA

If you enjoy eating pinakbet, you should have encountered bitter gourds or ampalaya. This vegetable tastes bitter but it has high nutritional and medicinal properties. It contains vitamins A, B, and C, iron, folic acid, phosphorus, and calcium.

You do not have to worry about the time and season of planting because you can grow and harvest ampalaya all the time and all season. A single hectare can accommodate around 20,000 plants.

TALONG

Eggplant or talong, is violet in appearance and an elongated or oval-shaped vegetable that is common in the country. You can fry it, grill it, or use it as an ingredient in a dish to enjoy its mild, subtly sweet taste even without seasonings.

Talong can be planted all season in the Philippines and you can harvest from 90 to 120 days after planting.

The volume of population per hectare can reach up to 11 tons.

KANGKONG

Water spinach or kangkong, is a fast-growing crop that is abundant with vitamins and minerals. Most on the market, you can expect to buy it at a low price.

Kangkong also competes with the given crops because you can also grow it from January to December. One hectare can grow 333,333 kangkong plants and you can harvest the vegetables 30 to 45 days after planting.

In 2024, we all hope for bright beginnings and a fruitful year, but we cannot harvest if we do not sow, right? This is your sign to venture into vegetable farming; it may be for your personal or family’s consumption, another source of income, or you just want to start a new hobby.

Source: Bureau of Plant Industry

LETTUCE

Lettuce is a high-value leaf vegetable that can be found in salad and consumed in Samgyupsal places. It can come in loose or compact forms of leaf arrangement. Most lettuce growers in the country are now using hydroponic systems.

You only need 30 to 45 days after transplanting to harvest your fresh lettuce. With hydroponic systems or without, you can still plant them all year round. The planting requirement is 25 cm, both in hill and row.

OKRA

Some Filipinos do not like the taste of okra. But this popular vegetable in the Philippines is a good source of protein, calcium, and iron.

You can grow okra all season, and our country exports this vegetable to Japan and Korea. A hectare can grow at least 55,556, producing six to 10 tons of harvest.

MUSTASA

Mustard can be eaten raw, pickled, brined, or cooked in soup and stews. Its leaves are rich in vitamins K and A, calcium, iron, and more.

You can grow mustasa from January to December, and you can harvest at least 33,333 plants per hectare. You can repeat planting after harvesting them from 25 to 30 short days after you planted the vegetables.

SITAW

Sitaw has long pods that are eaten as whole pods and require light cooking. In addition to its pods, the plant is prized for its tender leaves, tender shoots, and sprouting seedlings, all of which are edible.Like the other mentioned vegetables, sitaw can also be planted during the 12 months of every year. The vegetable will mature around 50 to 65 days after planting.

BATAW

Hyacinth bean, locally known as bataw, is a smooth, twining, climbing, or trailing vine with tender pods, young leaves, or mature seeds that are used in cooking. This vegetable is rich in protein, which is why some farmers use it as fodder for livestock.

When planting, you must remember to leave an 80-cm hill distance and a 100-cm row distance. On a single hectare, you can produce 10,000 to 15,000 tons.

PECHAY

Pechay can be used as an ingredient in our country’s famous dishes like puchero and nilaga, but it can also be served fresh, in soup, or stir-fried. Most Filipinos are appetized by its wide and dark green leaves and crunchy petioles.

This vegetable can also be planted all season and you can harvest them within 25 to 30 days after transplanting. In addition, you can grow around 333,333 plants per hectare.