WHEN the government distributed seeds during the height of the quarantine, I together with a multitude started to garden, believing stay at home orders will result to success with soil.
I followed instructions, made sure the soil was right, not too much watering, sunlight and TLC. Checking on the plants daily, giddy with excitement like a first grader.
It started with pechay, which grew without much care, boosting my confidence and reinforcing my belief urban gardening can happen in my backyard.
Pechay success!
I moved to beans, which also grew without much care the catch was that I had to put poles to support the plant as it grew, so, Youtube I went and tried to do it on my own.
I took three bamboo sticks and tied them together in an effort to make decent support for the beans ... like jack and the beanstalk, I thought.
The beans grew didn't hold on to the poles I lovingly made, the rains came and they just slumped to the ground.
Failed beans.
I told myself not to worry, there are other seeds in the pack, like the fish in the ocean bit your friends would say after a painful break-up. I did not lose hope.
I tried herbs. The kind that you buy alive and grown.
I got my favorite herb, rosemary, I use that for cooking. I said it was going to be perfect, I would have a herb garden.
So I ordered seven pots of the thing and watered them every day.
Any expert will say this is wrong and as I am not an expert, I went on blissfully watering the bunch until the stems turned brown.
I asked help from an online urban gardening page. I posted the photo of my ailing rosemary and got varied comments, mostly from friends who apparently was amused by my new hobby.
One said my plant looked like illegal weed, with a smiley face attached to the message comment. One friend took pity and told me the thing was dead and said rosemary does not like daily watering. True enough, in a few days, the other plants withered.
Rosemary failed.
I am a Ginebra fan and it is with this "never say die" attitude that I continued planting.
I planted kangkong next, a friend said it is easy enough, just leave them be and you will be ready for the harvest in a few weeks... and they love water, he added, maybe remembering my rosemary drowning.
So I did plant the sinigang must have with less enthusiasm but lots of hope and lo and behold, it grew!
Kangkong success!
I took into stride the death of my rosemary, beans, lettuce and kale and said I can't have it all, temper my success and strive to plant another day.
Urban gardening will teach one to accept you may plant things that you will eventually kill.
Signs of the times I guess. Happy planting.