Ask the Plant Doctor! Beginners’ guide to growing vegetables

Eggplants love heat and bear fruit in 3-4 months. Photo: 123rf

In our tropical climate, a variety of vegetables and herbs can be grown easily. Leafy greens, such as kangkung (water spinach), bayam (Chinese spinach), bak choy and kale, are fast-growing and thrive easily. Kangkung and bak choy can be harvested in 4-6 weeks, while bayam takes approximately 3-4 weeks. Kale is also a suitable option.

For fruiting vegetables, chillies adapt well and produce for months, okra (ladies’ fingers) thrives in hot weather and fruits quickly, and long beans are prolific climbers, ready for harvest in 45-55 days. Cucumbers are fast-growing and can be harvested in 50-70 days, eggplants love heat and fruit in 3-4 months, and cherry tomatoes perform the best in our climate.