Ask the Plant Doctor! Beginners’ guide to growing vegetables

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

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Q What are the easiest vegetables to grow for beginners? – ST

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.

Root vegetables, such as turmeric and ginger, grow easily, with roots ready after 8-10 months.

Alliums such as onions, garlic and shallots are also viable; onions grow easily from sets, garlic should be planted during cooler months, and shallots require similar care to onions and are ready in approximately 90 days.

Herbs, including celery, coriander, mint, lemongrass, sweet basil and curry leaves (Murraya koenigii), are excellent choices.

Celery prefers cooler, shaded areas; coriander grows quickly and can be harvested in 3-4 weeks, mint spreads easily and is great for containers; lemongrass is pest-resistant and ready in 4-6 months, sweet basil grows quickly and should be harvested regularly; and curry leaves are easy to care for and drought-tolerant once established.

For successful growth, ensure good drainage to prevent waterlogging, use raised beds or containers if the soil quality is poor, water regularly, especially during dry spells, and apply organic fertilisers to healthier plants and soil. While most of these vegetables and herbs are easy to grow, some, such as garlic and onions, require more attention.

Assoc Prof Dr Christopher Teh heads the Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia. His field of specialty is in soil and water conservation. The views expressed are entirely his own.