Noor Shahiran with some homegrown cabbages.
IN the heart of Tanah Merah, Kelantan, a simple gardening hobby has blossomed into a thriving business for a 33-year-old housewife.
Noor Shahiran Yusoff now cultivates over 70 types of vegetables, generating substantial income and inspiring her community.
She began gardening during the movement control order (MCO) to occupy her free time, planting around 30 vegetables such as chillies, ginger, turmeric and coriander leaves.
Vietnamese coriander among the 70 types of vegetables and herbs grown in her garden in Kampung Madu Jaya, Kelewek Hilir Kubur, in Tanah Merah. — Photos: Bernama
The produce was meant for personal use, and she invested just RM50 to cover the cost of fertiliser, soil and gardening tools.
“I never imagined this venture would yield such positive results, with the seeds I planted growing well and multiplying into seedlings.
“This success motivated me to pursue gardening more seriously,” she told Bernama at her home in Kampung Madu Jaya, Kelewek Hilir Kubur.
The mother of three said her crops began to attract attention from neighbours and relatives who showed interest in purchasing her seedlings.
“Some had tried to plant seedlings but were not successful, even after several attempts.
“So, most of them come to me to buy seedlings I have grown, to plant in their own homes.
Seedlings in small pots filled with coconut husk to stimulate growth.
“I began focusing seriously on cultivating essential kitchen plants and herbs two years ago, promoting them on my Facebook page and through WhatsApp.
“Now, I have over 1,500 different types of seedlings,” she said.
Noor Shahiran currently grows plants and herbs such as cherry tomato, bird’s eye chilli, eggplant, green chilli, turmeric, ginger, galangal, cabbage, sponge gourd, daun kesum (Vietnamese coriander) cekur hijau (Chinese ginger), ulam raja and Brazilian spinach, selling them at prices ranging from RM5 to RM30 per seedling.
“To produce these seedlings, I sow the necessary seeds, sourcing them from agricultural stores.
“To reduce the risk of disease or insect infestations, I only use treated seeds.
“The use of suitable soil such as peat moss during the sowing process is crucial to ensure successful growth, as this material absorbs water like a sponge and can also ‘bind’ to sandy soil,” she explained.
The seeds typically sprout within two weeks.
They are then transferred into polybags or small pots filled with coconut husk to stimulate growth.
“The shortest period for harvesting, provided there is sufficient water and fertiliser, is about 28 days, but it can extend to almost a month-and-a-half.
“So far, plants that are a bit more challenging to grow are green chillies and Kulai chillies, as they are prone to diseases,” she said.
Noor Shahiran sells her plants and seedlings via walk-ins at her home and online, the latter receiving orders from customers nationwide and even as far away as Sabah and Sarawak, earning her up to RM8,000 a month.
“For postal services, I pack the plants carefully as I am concerned they may get damaged.
“However, the feedback from customers has been positive, with the plants arriving in good condition,” she said.
