The Tender Gardener

City

Where to buy plant fertiliser in Singapore

If you’re wondering where to buy plant fertiliser for your edible or foliage plants in Singapore, read on for a list of places in-store or online.

Fertilisers provide plants with three main nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), and contain secondary nutrients like magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) and sulphur (S) as well as micronutrients like zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and boron (B).

Fertilisers are essential for plant growth and development. Not only do they provide plants with the essential nutrients they need, they also improve the soil structure, water-holding capacity and aeration. Fertilising your plants is therefore a very important task that you should not fall behind on.

What kind of fertiliser should you buy for your plants?

This depends on what plant you are planning to fertilise, how often you prefer to fertilise, and whether you prefer organic or synthetic fertiliser.

The best fertiliser for your plants depends on what type of plant it is meant for, which is usually indicated on the product label e.g. vegetables, flowers, foliage plants. When buying fertiliser, also look for the NPK values so you will get a better idea of which plants it is more suitable for.

For example, a high nitrogen fertiliser that is suitable for your green leafy vegetables may not be suitable for cacti or fruiting vegetables. If you are growing green leafy vegetables, opt for a fertiliser with high nitrogen, while fruiting vegetables require more phosphorus and potassium to encourage fruiting.

houseplant fertilisers Singapore — *Photo by Cottonbro*

June 21, 2022 by Olivia

City, Guides

How to grow asparagus in Singapore and the tropics

Asparagus is a delicious and healthy vegetable that is relatively easy to grow in Singapore. If you live in a tropical climate, these tips are relevant too. If you are interested in growing asparagus in your garden, read on, I will teach you everything you need to know about growing asparagus.

Asparagus is a member of the Asparagaceae family and is a perennial plant, meaning it will come back year after year. In the tropics, asparagus can take about 7-18 months to mature, depending on which variety you grow, and once mature it can produce for up to 20 years!

You can grow asparagus from seed or from crowns (roots). Overseas, it is common for people to procure crowns that are as old as 3 years old because it cuts the waiting time for asparagus plants to mature. In climates that experience winter, it takes around 3 years for asparagus plants to become productive. In Singapore, however, plants mature in half the time or less so people are more likely to grow it from seed instead.

Asparagus plants are either male or female. Male plants are sometimes preferred over females and more prolific at producing asparagus spears because female plants expend more energy producing berries. These are poisonous and should not be consumed. Female plants also do not live as long as male plants. This is why some people prefer to grow F1 male dominant hybrid cultivars.

growing asparagus singapore — *Asparagus berries*

How long does it take to harvest asparagus?

I used to think that it takes around 2-3 years to grow asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) to maturity in Singapore, but realised that because of our tropical climate it can take as little as 7 months for edible asparagus spears to begin forming. This depends on the variety you are growing.

Horti retails Mary Washington asparagus seeds which takes approximately 18 months till harvest, while Baba sells an F1 (hybrid) cultivar which produces edible spears as soon as 7 months. Once established, the plants can produce spears from 8-20 years.

In cooler climates, it takes longer because of the changing seasons. It goes dormant in winter while its peak growing season begins in spring. Therefore the first harvest can take a few years.

May 22, 2022 by Olivia

City

Plant Nursery Tour: Little Botany in Punggol

For plant hobbyists, Little Botany needs no introduction. Many plant enthusiasts started their journey at their cosy Punggol plant nursery in Singapore, which had everything a new plant lover needs, coupled with friendly and helpful advice.

Little Botany recently moved their plant nursery to 90 Jalan Lekar, but this is where it all began. Here, Fendi Sani showcased a wonderful collection of aroids, snake plants and many must-have foliage plants and presented them beautifully. He is known to promote the work of local ceramicists and is caring and values inclusivity, supporting persons with disabilities, as well as animal welfare organisations. But most of all, he is known to be a nice guy.

May 15, 2022 by Olivia

City, Country

DIY: How to Make Kokedama

Have you been wondering what a kokedama is and how to make your own kokedama? Kokedama is a type of Japanese bonsai, which literally translates to “moss ball”. It is a plant that is continually growing in popularity due to its unique and minimalist appearance.

Also known as ‘moss ball’ and ‘string garden’, kokedama is a variant of bonsai cultivation, where plant roots are wrapped with soil and moss. It can be suspended using string, or left to sit on a piece of pottery, to be admired.

If you’re interested in making your own kokedama, do read on for easy to understand step-by-step instructions.

kokedama plants — *Kokedama made by participants during one of my workshops*

May 6, 2022 by Olivia

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