Growing Vegetables In Hong Kong – Planting Calendar

Growing Vegetables in Hong Kong

Hello gardeners, we are back with a new topic today and the topic is all about growing vegetables in Hong Kong and the planting calendar of Hong Kong. Do you live in Hong Kong and do you want to grow your own vegetables? Well and then you will need to follow this complete article to grow vegetables in Hong Kong. In this article, we will also mention all the requirements for growing vegetables in Hong Kong.

Introduction to Growing Vegetables in Hong Kong

You will require keeping in mind Hong Kong’s two well-defined growing seasons from the starting of autumn to mid-spring is the cool season. Vegetables that work well in this time such as green leafy vegetables are Lettuce, Kale, and Spinach, along with Tomato, Beetroot, Cauliflower, and Broccoli. The warmer months, meanwhile, are improved for Pumpkin, Eggplant, Cucumber, and Chillies. Growing your own vegetables is increasingly popular, even in a city the bush like Hong Kong.  A balcony or terrace gardening is suitable for growing vegetables.  It suggests an opportunity for bees and other pollinators observe a home in the city to have a reason to come and show off their beauty.  

One packet of herb and vegetable seeds will likely set you back all over or so look on the packet for the time to grown-up of the vegetable plant. If you are anxious, go for something with a short growing vegetable cycle. You can also grow herbs and vegetables from existing potted plants or cuttings if you prefer just be make sure that you make a hole wide sufficient in your soil mix for the vegetable plants and all their roots. For a potted veggie, tap the plant out of the container, loosen some of the root balls at the bottom to supports the roots to expand outwards, and then place it in your well-drained soil and water.

A Step-By-Step Planting Guide For Growing Vegetables in Hong Kong and Planting Calendar

Looking to begin a home vegetable garden but not ensure how to go about it? We know many beginning vegetable gardeners have not yet flexed their green thumbs. Maybe you are suspended by Hong Kong’s dirty air or maybe you are impartial about how to grow anything in the limited space you have to play with.

It may seem apparent but the most important lesson new vegetable gardeners require to learn is what to plant and when. Don’t fall into the cut of attempting to grow what you want to eat even though it’s not in season or can’t live the Hong Kong climate conditions.

You can begin planting Chinese leafy greens and winter vegetables, such as Choi sum, Kai-Lan, Carrots, Broccoli, Beetroots, Tomatoes, Lettuce, and Peas. Note too that while Parsley and Coriander bear in the summer heat, you can grow most vegetables year-round in Hong Kong, inside or on window sills.

Basic Things to Remember When Growing Vegetables in Hong Kong

• Space matters

Once you choose your suitable place, you require planning what to grow. Since the area for our home vegetable garden is sufficiently very small, then select to follow the Square foot vegetable gardening procedure. The planting procedure allows the gardening beginner to vegetable plants many types of plants in a single garden ground made up of small divided square spaces. If you have the tools, you can make your own seedboxes using wood or any other plant-friendly components; use a 2 x 3 square feet pre-made self-gathering box.

• Suitable containers

Vegetables generally need more room than herbs, so you will likely require deeper planter boxes rather than small containers. Anything up to half a meter long and all over 20cm deep is very good. Because of this large size, the containers will be heavier when filled with well-drained soil and water. So, select your suitable location carefully as it will be harder to move things around. It’s also a very good and perfect idea to rotate your containers and pots from time to time this is especially true of balconies, where sunlight particular direction comes in at an angle completely than directly overhead like in an outdoor garden ground.

• Sunlight Requirement

Herbs and vegetables require sunlight and completely a bit of it. So, if you are in an apartment, you will require a balcony or an indoor area that receives at least four hours to five hours of direct sunlight for most vegetables, and they require also six to eight hours for garden vegetables. In Hong Kong, this can be a tough task, as even a sunny windowsill can have light blocked by the surrounding garden for much of the day. So, before you locate to begin, it’s a very good idea to test out a likely growing limited space by checking a few times around the early morning and late afternoon to see how bright it is. If the light is too enormous in the middle of the day or early afternoon, use a partial shade cloth or fabric to cut out a percentage of rays. Also, on balconies or rooftops, be ensure your containers are protected from the wind and aren’t placed in an area where water can run off from above after heavy rain. It’s very easy to drown a new vegetable plant this way. If you don’t have a small space that gives you the needed hours of sunlight, there are some solutions are Microgreens grow well even in partial shade, for example. Also, there are a lot of vegetable varieties that aren’t as dependent on direct sunlight as other fast-growing vegetables should have you sorted.

• Soil Secrets

This is very important to retain your garden ground as keep in well-drained soil. The soil requires tolerance to keep moist, grow the roots, very easy flow of water, and rich in nutrients that feed the vegetable plants. To observe the mix-based well-drained soil is very good, is made by using an equal volume of 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 organic compost. Observe some soils already that have a similar structure and work very well. Look at the end of the resources section. Your best bet for a potting component is a mix of a regular soil potting mix along with what’s known as lightweight enlarges clay aggregate. These are porous pellets that help water to drain away from your growing substances, which means the roots dry out fastly after watering. Add a little organic compost from kitchen scraps, if you can, and you have a great base for growing vegetables. Composting plastic buckets for your kitchen are readily available and easy to use. If you are growing climbing vegetable plants, then you will require adding stakes to the soil. Bamboo stakes work well. Tall vegetable plants are more susceptible to wind, so you will require being vigilant in typhoon season.

• When to water

Most vegetables should be watered once a day if they are in a particularly sunny or breezy location, you may require to do more. However, different plants need different quantities. Basil and mint to be disposed to require more water, for example. So, before watering, feel the well-drained soil and potting mix with your fingers for moisture below the surface. Only water when it’s moderately on the dry side.

How to Sow the Seeds and Planting Seedlings Directly Into the Garden Ground

Before you shove in, be mindful of which all direction the sun is coming from you don’t want your taller vegetable plants to partially shade out anything behind them. You want to ensure the heat-loving fruit and vegetables that your plants such as Tomatoes, Melons, Cucumbers, Squash, etc. are going to get at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day preferably near to eight.

Whether you are sowing seeds or planting seedlings are directly in the garden ground, be sure to read the seed packet or plant tag carefully, so that you know what climate conditions the plants require to thrive. When sowing root vegetables, for example, you will want to follow the directions for thinning once the sprouts start to interfere through the soil. While it seems to appear like a waste when you are pulling them out, beet sprouts, for example, can be saved and tossed in a salad. Carrot seedlings, on the other hand, should be secreted, as explained in this around thinning Carrots. Thinning roots vegetables such as Beets, Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, and other root veggies, will support healthy root growth and larger vegetables.

For some plants, like Tomatoes, you want to give them sufficient space so that air can circulate between the vegetable plants. This prevents diseases. You also want the sunlight to reach the plants and fruit. However, you don’t want to confined space Tomatoes too far apart, which can tolerate weeds to creep in. Keep these tips in mind for other nightshade vegetables, such as Peppers, Eggplant, and Tomatillos. Be sure to set up a daily watering schedule so that you don’t forget to hydrate your edible young plants. Cloches or row covers can be used to prevent them from a late-spring frost.

The Best Time to Plant Warm-Season Vegetables in Hong Kong

Warm-season vegetables, like Tomatoes, Peppers, Sweet Corn, and Okra, are originated in exotic climates. Technically, they grow edible as a substitute for edible roots, stems, leaves, or buds, as cool-season plants do. These tender plants are killed by cold and won’t perform well if temperatures drop below 10℃. Don’t bother to plant before the well-drained soil and air temperatures have warmed up above this point in spring or early summer because the seeds and vegetable plants simply won’t grow. Wait until about two to three weeks after the average last frost date for your zone to plant warm-season plants.

You can support many warm-season plants to slowly continue growing into fall by preventing them from frost with row covers cold frames and other season-expand devices. Warm-season plants can be sown indoors from seeds. An early start inside gives them a jump on the vegetable growing season, but remember to slowly accommodate them to outdoor life by placing them in the partial shade instead of full sun and tolerating them to adjust in a short time to outdoor temperatures over a few days. These most popular plants do best during the warmth of summer vegetables such as Artichoke, Beans, Sweet Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant,  Okra, Peanuts, Peppers, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatillos, and Tomatoes.

Seasonal Vegetables to Grow in Hong Kong

The weather condition is cooler and drier, which are more favourable conditions for most species to variety in. You can observe a wide and impressive variety of local organic vegetables to select. Such varieties as roots and tubers like Beetroots and Carrots are in the winter season, and their planting and quality are very high. Moreover, the quality of Lettuces like romaine and salad mixes are also at their normal during winter, not to mention those local cooking greens includes Choi sum, Pak Choi, and Kai-lan. We also have fabulous vegetables like heirloom Tomatoes and Pumpkins to look forward to. And finally, and perhaps most surprisingly, we have sweet, juicy local organic vegetables that will be a good time to harvest in January. Winter is always the greatest period for the local gardeners.

#1 Water spinach

Water Spinach, also called morning glory, Tung Choiand Kan Kun, is a good time to harvest in the summer months and is frequently enjoyed in stir-fries through fermented bean curd and Garlic. 

#2 Amaranth

While technically observe as a weed and sometimes grown as flowers, some species of Amaranth greens yin Choi are normally eaten this winter season. They are generally cooked in a savoury broth, which turns reddish-pink due to the shade from the leaves.

#3 Choi sum

This Choi sum is a leafy vegetable that is distributed year-round, but did you that it is very tastiest in the summer months? Boiled, braised, steamed, or stimulate-fried, there are just so many different ways to like the now world-famous Cantonese greens.

Vegetables to Grow in the Winter Season in Hongkong

Ensure you are growing what’s in season. Hong Kong has two seasons. The cool-season one lasts from September to April and the warm-season one is the rest of the year. These vegetables are Kale, Lettuce, Cauliflower; Broccoli, Radish, and Spinach survive in the cool season.

#1 Kale

Mild, kindly, cool-season Kale is nothing like the bitter material you may have tasted from the store. Allowing down to 17℃, this resilient plant is perfect for cold climate conditions gardens. You need to plant Six to eight weeks before the first frost. Although Kale is completely versatile, there is a proper way for planting Kale in the garden to obtain the healthiest growth. Kale prefers well-drained soil and they require sunny locations but will allow partial shade too. This means you should select your garden ground area carefully, as Kale grows very best when planted after the well-drained soil reaches temperatures of 16-18℃. However, a hot weather climate can turn it bitter, so you may want to organic matter the ground to protect from too much heat and to retain down weeds. Likewise, you can choose for a somewhat shadier location in regions where exposure heat may be an issue, or even where the sun just isn’t that plentiful. When planting Kale, start the vegetable plants indoors to get a jump in early spring in the season. Growing Kale isn’t too demanding. Simply sheath the Kale seeds with 1/2 inch or1 cm. of soil and retain them moist to germinate. After all chance of frost has passed, transplant the seedlings into the garden ground.

#2 Cauliflowers

Cauliflower is a cool-season vegetable from the Brassicaceae family, which such as Broccoli and Cauliflower is frequently referred to as heading Broccoli. Unlike Broccoli, however, which supplies multiple side shoots, Cauliflower only produces a single head which means you have one chance to get it the right time. The main thing to remember is that the Cauliflower plant lives in temperatures around16 to 18℃ and no higher than 24℃. Of all the Cole plants, Cauliflower is the most susceptible to temperature. When temperatures exceed 23℃., the plants tend to button and fasten. The best time to plant most varieties of Cauliflower is in the spring so they grow and supply their flower heads before summer’s hot temperatures raise.

#3 Swiss chard

Swiss chard in the garden is very easy and the plant survives when given suitable weather conditions. Chard likes the suitable place and they require full sun to partial shade. Your well-drained soil should be loose adequate to drain well. Make a row in the well-drained soil and plant your seeds about a half-inch or so deep, with eight to ten Swiss chard seeds per foot. Keep about 18 inches or 20 cm of confined space between your rows. When the Swiss chard plants are together of inches tall 5 cm, thin them so that they are four to six inches apart 10-15 cm. Chard is normally very easy to grow. It just requires enough room, water, and perhaps a bit of fertilizer. As part of your spring garden, you will want to get Swiss chard seed into the ground in early to mid-spring, or at least when you are sure there’s no more chance of frost. A good rule of thumb is to make sure the well-drained soil is at least10℃. If you want to make sure steady produce of chard, you can use succession planting, sowing new seeds every couple of weeks, to lengthen the harvest time. If you prefer growing Swiss chard through the winter season, get your seeds into the ground at least a month before the first fall frost. As a winter vegetable, chard grows well with other root plants, such as Carrots, Turnips, and Parsnips. It also grows very well with the aforementioned Spinach and Kale. This likely and highly nutritious vegetable is happiest when the temperatures of spring and fall are cool and slightly moist. It will still do well in summer weather conditions, but the warmth will make vegetables grow a little more slowly.

#4 Broccolis

As a cool-season Broccoli plant, knowing when to plant Broccoli is very essential. If harvesting Broccoli plants in midsummer is desired, it’s best to begin Broccoli indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date. Sow seeds ¼ to ½ inch or 6 to 13 mm. deep in an essence seed-starting mix or soil pellets. As a rule of thumb, Broccoli seeds germinate within 4 to 7 days when surroundings temperatures remain between 7 to 29℃. For a fall plant, Broccoli can be direct-seeded into the garden ground in midsummer.

#5 Spinach

Spinach is a cool-weather plant that does best in the spring and fall. It prefers well-draining, rich soil, and they require a sunny location. In region zones of higher temperatures, the plant will helpful from some sunlight shading from taller plants. Soil should have a pH of at least 6.0 but, perfectly, it should be between soil pH is 6.5 to 7.5. Before Spinach planting, amend the seedbed with organic compost or organic manure. Direct sow seeds when outdoor temperatures are at least 7℃. Confined space seeds 3 inches or 7.6 cm apart in rows and covers moderately with soil. For sequence plantings, sow another batch of seeds every 2 to 3 weeks. For fall plants, sow seeds from late summer to early fall, or as late as 4 to 6 weeks before the first frost date. If require be, provide a row cover or cold frame to protect the plant. Spinach planting can also occur in containers. To grow Spinach in a container, use a container that is at least 8 inches 20 cm deep.

Vegetables to Grow in the Summer Season in Hong Kong

Cucumber, Squash, Eggplant, Sweet corn, Tomato, and Peppers are warm-season plants. If you plant at the wrong time, then you will fail. The Rooftop garden puts a lot of effort into educating people. Seasonality is the way to go, even though we can get herbs and vegetables all year round from all over the world. Seasonal is very good.

#1 Tomato

In case if you miss this: Easy Fruits To Grow In Pots.

Tomato is one of the most popular vegetables in the garden ground, but they are technically grouped as fruit. For best production, plants usually require to be confined or even staked to prevent damage to the fruit. Tomatoes grow very well in the warm soil, so not using organic matter or covering the soil early in the season with clear or black plastic can warm the soil more fastly. Enough and consistent water is required to keep Tomatoes from established a physiological problem called blossom end decay, where the top is ground and rounded but the bottom is flat, black or brown, and leathery. This could happen because of a lack of water or frequent watering, or the Tomato is growing in too small of a container, so roots cannot spread out sufficiently to get moisture.

#2 Squash

Summer Squash and Winter Squash are vining plants that can take up wide areas of the garden ground. However, it may be to grow bush zucchini and bush Yellow Summer Squash in a much smaller area. Summer Squash is harvested when the skin is kind and soft and is cooked with the skin on. If your thumbnail can easily pierce the skin, it is kindly soft. Winter Squash is left in the garden as long as possible but choose before the first frost. Their skin requires being hard so it can live in winter storage.

#3 Eggplants

The initial Eggplant fruit was white. This is how the name was selected. Now there are many kinds from purple to striped external. Pick Eggplant vegetables when small. If you go for the giant ones, frequently the interior is soft and mealy. Like their Pepper and Tomato cousins, Eggplants appreciate and require full sun and enough water to make fruit.

#4 Cucumbers

Cucumbers are best directly seeded into the garden ground. If the soil is warm, Cucumber seeds can be up to around a week. Cucumbers supply best when trained onto a fence or trellis. Fruit will not be damaged by being in contact with the warm soil and is less attainable to critters like slugs. Retain them watered because Cucumbers that do not have sufficient water can be misshapen and bitter.

#5 Peppers

You may also check this: How To Grow Organic Spinach.

There are many Peppers varieties available from tender to wild. A relative of the tomato, their growing requirements are very close. It is my be to grow hot and Sweet Peppers next to each other in the garden and the fruit will not choose up the flavour or hotness of its neighbour. However, if seeds are saved, they will be a mix-and-equal of pepper neighbours.

#6 Sweet Corn

Sweet corn is mainly pollinated by blow. It is very important to grow sweet corn in a block of at least four rows. Sometimes the super sweet corn varieties do not germinate as well as they should. Plant them near than the label suggests. As soon as very small leaves are out of the ground, carefully transplant those that are too near to places where there are gaps in the rows. Sweet Corn is the only vegetable where you are consuming the seeds. Because of cross-pollination issues, do not plant Sweet Corn close to plants, popcorn because it can negatively influence the taste of the Sweet Corn.

Vegetable Planting Calendar in Hang Kong

Here is a good gardening and seed sowing calendar for the Hong Kong climate condition.  Observe one that has a very good definitive list of western and eastern vegetables. Because the garden will receive special care and attention most popular vegetables can enlarge beyond their normal growing times. As seen below specific vegetables are suitable for all-year-round growing.

• Strawberry Farming in Containers: Grow Fresh Berries Anywhere
• Growing Cayenne Peppers from Seed at Home: A Comprehensive Guide
• 9 Cheap Ways to Fence Your Home Garden
• 10 Mulching Practices for Terrace Garden
• The Role of Watering in Preventing Drying Moringa Pods
• Best Liquid Fertilizer for Flowering Plants
• How to Set Up an Efficient Watering System for Home Garden
• How to Mulch Tulip Bulbs: Expert Tips Best Tulip Blooms
• Common Problems with Potted Figs and How to Solve Them
• How to Prevent Flower Drops in Pomegranate Trees: Effective Tips
• How to Boost Ridge Gourd Flowering and Yield: A Beginner’s Guide
• Effective Pollination Techniques for Maximizing Gourds Yield
• Composting Techniques for Manure in Home Gardens
• A Step-by-Step Guide on Propagation Techniques for Jasmine Plants
• How Do I Make My Garden Less Cluttered: A Beginners Guide
• Growing Red Currants at Home for Beginners
• Gardening Techniques in Planting Vegetables
• Where to Place Indoor Plants in Your Home
• How to Grow Tomatoes Organically at Home: A Comprehensive Guide
• Organic Gardening on a Budget: Low-Cost Methods and Materials
• Gongura Seed Germination and Planting Methods
• Cabbage Seed Germination and Selection
• Broccoli Seed Germination and Selection
• Asparagus Seed Germination and Variety Selection