A lesson on home gardening, anyone?

One of those social media groups floated the idea of growing vegetables and sprucing up your garden. Apparently, someone who knew stuff would share her gardening knowledge, and advice. Various members leaped up and said they were interested, and a trickle started, of ‘interested parties’.

At some point the intended teacher discovered the huge numbers that expected guidance and the gentle creature that she is, thought she couldn’t possibly deliver on such huge expectations. A case of stage fright, I’m sure. I empathised, thinking if I volunteered, for instance, what subject expertise I could deliver. I like to doodle through the growing universe, and have had a respectable amount of spinach, herbs, bok choy, tomatoes, and carrots to show through winter. But that took three seconds to read out. What will I do for the rest of the class?

How to turn the soil and prepare beds for planting? Sure, that’s important, but I do think anybody could muddle through that. Spend some time on removing weeds as they break through, otherwise they will take all the nutrients and moisture meant for your plants. Again, that is obvious, too.

But aha! There is a secret weapon. As part of the usual recycling effort at home, the kitchen and garden waste meet in a corner of the garden. Every peel, core, pit, seed, tealeaf and coffee ground(s) as well, end up there. “Meet me at the corner, commands the sharp blade of grass to the hollow cauliflower stem.” If you look at the compost heap, it does look like an alarming quantity of food has gone down. If I get any

Citrus trees invite butterflies to your garden — there’s a good tip. As do the clusters of Lantana flowers, which I thought was a weed

fatter, it’ll weigh on the bosom of the earth, Gaia, the mother. Tread softly. Make like a feather, and float. And one day, end up as compost. That looks like full circle, right?

But not just yet, we have a class to plan for. So the long trailing vines of money plant that burnt to a crisp in the scorching summer have been cut to base. Green tendrils are reaching out everywhere, so that would be a good input. The last week of September and the first week of October are ideal if you want to experiment and grow from seed. And if that doesn’t work as well as expected, there’s no shame in scooting across to the nursery and picking up pots of herbs that you want on your windowsill.

Citrus trees invite butterflies to your garden — there’s a good tip. As do clusters of Lantana flowers, which I thought was a weed, until I found it in a nursery with a smart price tag on it. A useful pointer would be to identify some hardy species that won’t sulk if you don’t pay proper attention to them. Bougainvillea is a fine example, and in fact requires less water to ensure that the flowers (which are actually variegated leaves if you remember some of your middle-school bio) bloom plentifully. A small, sharp pair of pruning shears, and you’re in business. And keeping the shears and other implements cleaned and maintained could perhaps feature in a second class. It looks like we have traction.

This is beginning to look like I might have enough for a conversation with like-minded neighbours. Perhaps it’s time to contact our shy friend and offer support, so we can jointly hold a class. And everybody can share what they know. What’s the harm? It will lead to a greener emirates with the bonus of perhaps making new friends in the neighbourhood, and also take care of one case of stage fright.

harveena@khaleejtimes.com