Written by Ray Zhang
During quarantine I’ve picked up a few different hobbies, my favorite being gardening. Not only is gardening a relaxing pastime, but it is also highly rewarding. My mother and I first started to garden in early May, growing tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, and even peppers.
The trick to having a bountiful harvest is to regularly fertilize your plants. Without enough essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, your plants will soon wilt and die. Additionally, providing enough water for your plants is essential during the hot summer days. I recommend giving your plants at least 2-3 inches of water every 2 days. But be sure not to overwater your plants during noon. If you do, the water will gradually rise in temperature as it travels to your plants roots, which may lead to irreversible damage.
For beginner gardeners, I suggest starting out with plants such as potatoes. They are easy to grow and require little to no maintenance. Just remember that you should start to harvest the potatoes when the plant’s leaves begin to turn yellow (this means that the potatoes underground have reached their full sizes).
Tomatoes are slightly harder to grow and require a lot more care. These plants love sunshine, so when your tomatoes’ fruits grow to an optimum size, you should cut nearby leaves that may block the fruits from sunlight. This will allow your fruits to ripen a lot faster.
If you plan on gardening next summer, I encourage you to start early. The perfect time to put your sprout into the ground is around early May, allowing your plants to produce the highest amount of yield before autumn. Good luck, and be sure to have lots of fun!
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