Growing Vegetables in the Philippines – Calendar

Growing Vegetables in the Philippines

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

Introduction to Growing Vegetables in the Philippines

Now, you need to know the best vegetable plants to grow in the Philippines. There are many appropriate vegetable plants to grow in the Philippines. The country has a tropical climate in which helps the vegetables to grow very well. Vegetables usually require more sunlight to produce out and grow well.

Planting your vegetable plants can also help to supply you with fresh produce vegetables. More importantly, it is a high-fertile way for you to rest, relax, and unwind. If you are growing vegetables to help the gardeners, it can even become a bonding activity. Aside from the promise of a plentiful harvest, you reap the rewards of your patience and determination.

A Step-By-Step Planting Guide to Growing Vegetables in the Philippines and Planting Calendar

Philippine cooking relies on a variety of tropical vegetables paired with a more suitable place to grow vegetable varieties. Paliya is also called a bitter melon is eaten with meat and other vegetables. Pechay or pak choi, which is a soft-flavoured cabbage, is served in stews and soups. Sitaw, a different type of long string bean, and Talong, a type of eggplant, are normally eaten with meat, fish, and other vegetables. Philippine common vegetables are squash, taro root, sweet potatoes, spinach, and even white radish. Start growing vegetables in the Philippines by obtaining seeds or starter vegetable plants.

Having no limited space or vegetable garden at home does not mean one cannot grow vegetables at all. Growing vegetables in the comfort of your home are helpful not just for the body, as it can supply you and with nutritious vegetables produce, but it can also be advantageous to your mental health because it can decrease stress and anxiety amid any crisis. When planting vegetables, remember that there are two types of seeds that are the seeds you can plant directly on the garden ground like Kangkong and the seeds that you cannot plant directly on the garden ground such as tomato and other fruiting vegetables. 

Basic Things to Remember When Growing Vegetables in the Philippines

#1 choose the right location

Select a location for the vegetable garden in an area with at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight. Many Philippine vegetable plants like direct full sunlight exposure like talong are scientific name is Solanum melongena, which grows the very best in temperatures above 18℃. The well-drained soil must have good drainage. Flat areas are the very best, but vegetable plants survive well on sloping areas if the rows run across the slope to decrease rain runoff and soil erosion.

#2 prepare the soil

Shove up the well-drained soil to the depth of 12 to 18 inches with a shovel. Break up dirt clods with a garden hoe. Do not work the moist soil while it is wet. Add a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic substances such as organic compost or well-rotted organic manure to the soil. Work it into the top 6 to 12 inches and rake the surface smooth ground.

#3 Plant the seeds

Plant the seeds and starter vegetable plants in the prepared well-drained soil. Placed tall or trellised vegetable varieties on the north side of the garden so the partial shade these vegetable plants cast falls outside the planting area. Both bitter melon is scientific name is Mormodica charantia and sitaw is a scientific name is Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis grow the very best on supports like trellises or fences. Use the suggested spacing on the packages for each vegetable variety. For example, the perfect spacing for sitaw or yard-long beans is 6 to 12 inches apart with rows 4 to 5 feet apart.

#4 Add water

Water the vegetable garden whenever the well-drained soil starts to dry out. Do not let the soil become very dry or stay too overwatered. Water the vegetable garden in the morning so the leaves have time to drought before evening. Water the well-drained soil deeply to supports the development of strong roots, which helps the vegetable plants withstand drought conditions.

#5 Mulching

Spread mulch throughout the seedling when they are a couple of inches tall. This will decrease moisture evaporation from the well-drained soil and weed growth. Use clean organic matter, which gives the vegetable plants a source of slow-release nutrients.

#6 keep the weeds out

Weed throughout the vegetables so the vegetable plants do not have to compete for moisture and nutrients. Hand pulls or chop down with a digger before the weeds encourage seeds. Without the spread of vegetable seeds, the weed population falls.

#7 monitor the plants

Observe the vegetable plants for garden pest infestations. Many Philippine vegetables include the tomato and cucumber family, which are favourite vegetables of garden pests. If you notice any large bugs like cucumber beetles and then drop them into a jar of soapy water to drown. Sprinkle smaller pests like aphids off with a strong jet of water. Release helpful insects, which eat vegetable garden pests, in the infested surrounding area.

#8 Harvesting

Choose the vegetable plant as they become ripe. Sitaw takes only nine to ten days to go from flower to harvestable bean. Talong fruit can be picked when small or grown-up-sized. Harvesting most vegetables support the vegetable plant to make more vegetables. Once roots plants are harvested, they are done for the season. Some Philippine vegetables can be reseeded for a continuous harvest for most of the year in a soft winter area. Clean up the summer vegetable garden by reducing plant debris. Most of the odd and ends leftover organic compost well, but do not compost vegetation infected by plant disease or infested with pests. In the fall after harvest, plant cool weather plants such as pechay. Plant these plants in full sunlight with wind prevention.

Weather Conditions to Growing Vegetables in the Philippines

The Philippines has a wet and dry season and the relationship between these suitable seasons creates the 4 different types of climate conditions in the country. Here are the 4 different types of climate conditions in the Philippines:

• Type One Climate

Two distinct wet and dry seasons are drying from November to April, wet season during the rest of the year. This area covers the western part of the islands like Luzon, Mindoro, Negros, and Palawan.

• Type Two Climate

No dry season with very distinct rainfall from November to January. The areas covered are Catanduanes, Sorsogon, the eastern part of Albay, the eastern and northern part of Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur, a very great part of the eastern part of Quezon, and the eastern part of Leyte, and a large part of eastern Mindanao.

• Type Three Climate

Season not very pronounced, adequately dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Areas covered are the western part of Cagayan or Luzon, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, the eastern part of the Mountain Province, the southern part of Quezon, the Bondoc Peninsula. And the area covers Masbate, Romblon, Northeast Panay, Eastern Negros, Central and Southern Cebu, part of Northern Mindanao, and most popular of Eastern Palawan.

• Type Four Climate

Rainfall is heavy or less evenly distributed throughout the year. The area covered is Batanes Province, Northeastern Luzon, and the best portion of Western Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur, Albay, Eastern Mindoro, Marinduque, Western Leyte, Northern Negros, and most of Central, Eastern, and Southern Mindanao.

Special Vegetables to Grow in the Philippines

• Pechay
• Ampalaya
• String Beans
• Malunggay
• Jute Mallow
• Green Amaranth 
• Chayote

#1 Pechay

Well, pechay or petsay is one of the very easiest to grow vegetables in the Philippines. This kind of vegetable requires just 30 days before you can harvest it. This variety of vegetables is very easy to grow. You will just require germinating it on a seed box and then transplant it to its designated suitable location after. After that, you require to water it twice a day continuously until 30 days of harvesting. The process of growing pechay is very easy. You require making sure your vegetable gardens plot. Using your garden’s tool like grab hoe, planting and prepare the well-drained soil. pechay seeds germinate inside the seed box or seed tray. When the pechay seed germinate and it has a few inches height and very few pechay leaves then you can now do transplanting.

After that, you can apply some fertilizer. Usually, gardeners buy fertilizer at the market, but we suggested using organic fertilizer which has no chemical content and it is good for health. After planting the pechay plant, applying fertilizer, watering, and warm-hearted for pechay, you can now harvest it in 30 to 45 days. Harvesting pechay can be done in two ways. If you have more pechay planted, then you can get each of two to four plant pechay and cook it. Or you can get older pechay leaves per plant and then harvest them. In that way, the pechay plants will continue to grow well and you can get more leaves.

 #2 Ampalaya

Ampalaya is also called a Bitter gourd is also one of the very best vegetables to plant in the Philippines. This kind of vegetables taste bitter but it has many vitamins and minerals which is good for our health. Planting this vegetable is very easy. You require getting the first ampalaya seeds. To get that you can buy seeds in store. You can also be asked for seeds from vegetable gardeners in your location as they will give you be improve seeds. When you have the seeds now, it is improved if you will grow them first on a seed box or a seed tray. But if you prefer to directly plant it on the garden ground it is also good. Just select whether you directly planted or indirectly planted it on the garden ground.

After you plant it you require applying fertilizer. Water it regularly and care for it. Just after 90 to 120 days then begin harvesting offspring and fresh ampalaya. Harvesting ampalaya is very easy. When you see the ampalaya with sufficient size and the skin is old sufficient, you can harvest it. Cut the ampalaya fruit to its base, the stretch-like on the fruit.

#3 String Beans

String bean is also called a sitaw in Tagalog is also very best to plant in the Philippines. This kind of vegetable is long and growing. This is a ripe vine-type vegetable. To grow string beans, you require to directly plant them on the garden ground. As it does not apply to indirect plantings like growing it first on the seed box or seed tray, it doesn’t work. You require preparing your vegetable garden plot. After that, you require to get quality string bean seeds. Then using a stick or trowel make a hole on the garden ground, one inch deep, and then put the seeds inside. Cover it with well-drained soil after. Then apply water and it will start to seed germinate.

Then you require putting some wires or stretching so that it will climb on it. This will grow above the well-drained soil and it will hang on it. After three months you can now see some flowers and essentially turns into a young string bean. Harvesting string beans is very easy. To harvest string beans cut them to their fruit base. The shell of string beans is long and cut to the end of the fruit. Usually, the base where it is placed produces again more flowers so you require being careful in cutting the string beans so that it will supply more fruits.

#4 Malunggay

Malunggay is also known as Moringa is also one of the very best vegetables to grow. This has many vitamins and minerals appease in which it can help you to live longer. These vegetable plants also are easy to grow. You can grow malunggay through seeds or by stalks. If you are easy to grow this from malunggay seeds, you require to get those dry and grownup seeds. Observe a spot where you are going to grow malunggay, a place where there is direct sunlight will be very best. And sand as its soil. Malunggay grows to improve in the sand.

If you are going to very easily grow this using the Malunggay stalks, you can also do that. You require to get grow Malunggay stem cuttings and directly plant them on the garden ground. Also, try to make a little bit deep hole and then put some rocks through so that they will not be shaken. You require also avoiding watering it every day as it protects the Malunggay to grow. After few months it will produce the great leaves you required.

#5 Jute Mallow 

Jute mallow, is also called a Saluyot, is another favorite in backyard gardens. It is the jute mallow leaves of this plant that are consumed, and it is one of the primary ingredients in the Ilocano dish depending, which is a combination of vegetables seasoned with bringing about fish. I should acknowledge that Saluyot has a bit of a slimy characteristic, not unlike the okra plant. Jute mallow supply a very good source of calcium, iron, protein, and beta-carotene

#6 Green Amaranth 

Green amaranth, is also known as Kalunay, is a favorite vegetable of the Ilocanos region. This vegetable is also known as red spinach, most likely because the seedlings are reddish through this dim to green when the plant grown-up.

Kalunay is very easy to cook, and it works very well in virtually any Filipino dish. It can be simply get worked up with mung beans or sauteed sardines. It can also be used in salads. Some people consume the roots, too.

#7 Chayote

Chayote also called a pear squash and christophene is known locally as Sayote. It’s a pear-shaped fruit that grows on a ripe vine, and it frequently appears in the Filipino dish Tinola. In incorporation to the fruit, the leaves and the young shoots are consumable, as well. Sold in bundles in the markets, the pear squash leaves, and shoots can be steamed or added to dishes like Sinigang, Pinakbet, and Dinengdeng. Some people produce the roots, as well, which can be eaten like yams.

Planting Procedure for Growing Vegetables in the Philippines

Some quick-growing vegetables are upland Kangkong, Pechay, and Jute mallow, and herbs such as coriander and Thai basil.  According to, if you are replanting plants, you must select seeds that are open-pollinated, or non-hybrid, which means you, can plant them again and still have vegetable plants with the same characteristics as the parent plant with the same quality of supply. If vegetable seeds come from hybrid plants which are not open-pollinated, they cannot produce plants with the same quality as their parent vegetable plant. 

Prepare the substance that you will be requiring. The well-drained soil must have a combination of organic composts as fertilizer like coco coir dust, and a bit of gravel to create good soil consistency. 

Once prepared, create three equidistant lines in the well-drained soil for you to determine where you will be harvesting if your vegetable plants successfully grow. Spread the vegetable seeds on the soil following the three lines you created. Cover the seeds with a bit of well-drained soil and water them. Make sure you give it sufficient sunlight, water, air, and nutrients for its proper growth and development. After 30 days, the vegetable plants will now be ready for harvest. 

Common Vegetables to Grow in the Philippines

• Squash
• Peppers
• Eggplant
• Tomato
• Okra

#1 Squash

Squash is also called Kalabasa is also one of the very best vegetables you can grow in the Philippines. This vegetable supplies bigger size summer or winter squash and this will be great to grow in your vegetable garden. There are different types of varieties of squash which can give you very small and also there are big. It depends upon what variety of squash you have.

Meanwhile, in terms of growing summer squash, this will be also very easy. You require observing a nice spot where you are going to grow squash. A place where there is direct sunlight will be very good. And a good drain kind of soil will be best, loam soil is suggested

You require putting one to two seeds per hole and then watering it after. Put some fertilizer, organic fertilizer will be very good. You require applying water continuously while it continues to grow. After 3 to 4 months it will give you off flowers and turn to summer squash after. The squash can help you to have improved eyesight.

#2 Peppers

Peppers is also called chili is an ingredient commonly combine in dishes. This makes the food spicy and many people to be disposed to eat spicy food. Planting pepper is also very easy to grow in the Philippines. Like the three previous vegetables, you require also to grow them first on a seedbox. After that start transplanting it to its, designated place. The process of growing pepper is the same as those vegetables above. You just require following how.

In case if you miss this: Hydroponic Nutrient Chart.

This vegetable is stronger. It doesn’t require much care as it grows well after you cut the plant to its final location. After transplanting it, it will grow to improve and after four months, you can now harvest fresh peppers. It continues to bear peppers throughout the year. Harvesting peppers can be ripe or not ripe. Many cooks use green pepper and combine it with their dishes. The green pepper has a spicy taste but not as very spicy differentiate from the ripe one. Some green peppers are used in many great dishes out there.

#3 Eggplants

Eggplant is called a Talong in the Philippines is also one of the very easiest vegetables to plant in the country. As if you try to observe or try to monitor in the market, there are many vendors of eggplant. This means that if there is much produce in the market that vegetable is very easy to grow. More gardeners plant eggplant vegetables are because more people require them. More people put it on dishes that people cook. Planting eggplant is like also the Pechay and tomato procedure. Grow it first on a seedbox or seed tray, and then transplant it after. This variety of procedures is commonly used by gardeners because of its effectiveness.

Water it every day, apply organic fertilizer, and care for it continuously. After three to four months you can now begin harvesting fresh eggplant from your vegetable garden. Harvesting eggplant is easy. You just require cutting it on its base and leaving it one to two-inch-long. The eggplant should have purple or violet as it indicates the eggplant is already ripe.

#4 Okra

Okra is also called a ladies finger is also one very easy to grow vegetables in the Philippines. This has a stronger potential to grow in a tropical country. Growing okra is very easy, you will apply the direct planting and it will be easy to seed germinate. When the okra grows, it requires more sunlight to grow well.

You may also check this: Easy Fruits To Grow In Pots.

The more sunlight it gets, the improved outcomes will show. After three to four months, you can harvest more okra plants. Harvest okra at a young stage growth because when okra is old sufficient it is not slightly good to eat. To harvest okra, you require just cutting it to its base. Harvest offspring and fresh okra so that you can eat the flavourful vegetable.

#5 Tomatoes

Well, tomatoes are also known as Kamatis are also some of the very easiest vegetables to plant in the Philippines. This kind of vegetables requires three to four months before you can harvest them. Planting tomatoes are looking like a Pechay. You require growing the tomato seeds first on a seedbox and after that transplanting them to their designated location. In planting tomatoes, you require to plant the young tomato seedlings about 2-3 inches deep with a plant spacing of six to 12 inches apart. After that, you require to water it regularly essentially when it is a sunny spot. When you see that the soil is dry water it so that it will grow to improve.

Aside from that, you require also to apply organic fertilizer as usual. You require also caring for tomatoes because some pests or insects seem to destroy your tomato plants. Examine now and then so that you can reduce them immediately. As time goes you will harvest tomatoes after three to four months. Tomatoes bear more fruits and it quick to ripen. You can harvest it when it is old sufficient and green in color. Try to avoid tomatoes harvesting it when it is ripe if you are going to sell it in the market. But, you can harvest it when already ripe and orange in color.

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