If you haven't heard about my second garden, I'll give you a brief overview. This second garden is located in a housing complex that was previously unused land.
The housing complex refused to use this land because it was close to an irrigation source. Therefore, it couldn't be developed for construction. Instead of creating a garden, they cleared the area. So, since I rented a house in this housing complex, my husband and I have asked for permission to use this land for gardening. Thankfully, they allowed me to use it for free.
I felt compelled to turn this land into a garden. There were compelling reasons in my heart and mind. Of course, the water flow is excellent next to this plot. So, I don't have to worry about watering my plants. Even during the dry season, I still have access to abundant water.
Besides the important issue of water, there's another important aspect: the view. This plot is in a prime location. It offers a view of three mountains at once. On a clear day, all three mountains are visible. So, it would be a shame to leave this land empty.
I started planning to cultivate this land around May of this year. Then, I hired two workers to clear the area.
At first, it looked like a jungle filled with piles of material from previously built houses. Then, in June, I started to see a good spot in this area.
In the June post, the land looked a little better. But it needed more work. I also started making compost from the trunks of wild banana trees that had been cut down on the land, as those banana trees were no longer productive.
In September, I was able to harvest my first harvest on this second garden plot. You can see it in post updated last September.
Last September, the plants in the raised beds still looked small. I planted eggplants and chilies. The flowers I used as borders also looked small and hadn't yet grown thickly.
before
after
Then at the end of October, you can see the latest update on my second garden. I wrote about this second garden update as a record of my struggles with this garden. I'm very proud of what I've done because this is a learning process for myself, before I later cultivate a larger plot of land for commercial purposes.
So, before I have a larger plot of land, I have to learn to cultivate a smaller plot. I know nothing is impossible, and I'm working towards my dream.
And before I think about the commercial things that can be produced from this land, I have more to learn, especially about adapting to the weather.
The reason why my second garden update seems slow is because I'm still I was surprised by the weather in this area, which is very different from where I used to live. It's because we're on different islands.
So far, I've planted chilies, eggplants, shallots, basil, and papaya. The chilies and eggplants don't do well in full sun all day, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the basil is growing luxuriantly, and I've harvested it several times.
The zinnias I planted have flourished and bloomed beautifully in the hot weather.
But the challenges don't stop there. Besides the heat, it also rains heavily in the afternoons. So I'm still learning what plants are suitable for my second garden.
I'm still considering shallots, watermelons, pumpkins, and bitter melon. They seem to be quite capable of surviving extreme weather. Do you have any recommendations for plants that can tolerate both heat and rain?
So far, I'm grateful for the results. More updates next month. I hope you enjoy the views from my second garden!
Best Regards,
Anggrek Lestari
Anggrek Lestari is an Indonesian fiction writer who has published two major books. Now She is a full-time content creator. She has a goal to share life, poem, and food content that makes others happy and can get inspiration.
Contact Person: authoranggreklestari@gmail.com
Discord: anggreklestari#3009