Sometimes it's best to let nature take its course

Post date: 06-Sep-2015 04:57:10

Last year, I attempted to grow some peas from seed. I followed the instructions on the back of the seed packet. The seedlings struggled to emerge and then had to battle the pesky pests that have taken residence in my vegie patch, knowing they are safe from chemical warfare. Cut out plastic pots failed to protect the seedlings from slugs, earwigs and other pests and those that did survive never fully recovered and did not procreate. I had failed miserably.

This year, I threw the remaining seeds I had into an empty patch in my raised garden bed hoping I would at least get some green manure out of the seeds. I then forgot all about them. Surprisingly, the seedlings emerged stronger, and with no help from me, withstood their enemies, thrived and produced masses of pink and white blossoms. They looked so pretty I couldn’t bring myself to turn them into green manure and left them to blossom. I’m now harvesting my first crop of homegrown peas.

This is not the first time when nurturing failed but nature triumphed. For example, early this year, I sowed some Malabar (climbing) spinach in a pot with a view to have it climb up an olden wooden ladder that I’ve made into plant stand.

Well here is the seedling on the left, several months on, refusing to grow any bigger. On the right is the one that reseeded itself from last year! Sharing tenancy with the blueberry plant and befriending the hoya in the basket above for support.

I’ve also had great harvests from reseeded tomato and chilli plants. So maybe this spring, I will put crop rotation and companion planting on hold and instead scatter a handful of seeds into my vegie patch and let nature takes its course.