Inspired by my friend Asha\’s thriving vegetable garden in her small townhouse in Quezon City, mom and I set out to transform the planters in our lanai– planted with flowering Birds of Paradise for years now –to our own \”vegetable backyard garden\” in the city.
![\"Our](\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/6946555474_f06e1beb1b_z.jpg\")
My brothers did their own herb garden project on one of our concrete planters/boxes a few years ago, shown below complete with the white picket fence, but mom and I thought to add actual vegetables and leafy greens to the garden.
![\"Our](\"http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5328/7092625231_c90e6ec226_z.jpg\")
We visited the Manila Seedling Bank on Quezon Ave. cor EDSA last week to check out what\’s there.
On day 1, we went through the columns of shops by the entrance/exit road and made this big greenhouse at the end our last stop:
![\"Manila](\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7196/7092607583_1fcaf54786_z.jpg\")
Herb and vegetable seedlings here went for 3 for P100, which we thought was a good deal already.
The next day, we went back and really looked for the Manila Seedling Bank office, and saw seedlings for sale at P10!
![\"Manila](\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/7092619837_bf6214b3cd_z.jpg\")
![\"Manila](\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7076/7092619957_035a2e0b76_z.jpg\")
![\"Manila](\"http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5236/6946537792_41849007bf_z.jpg\")
![\"Manila](\"http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5322/6946538358_fcc074be45_z.jpg\")
Inside the office, seed packets are also for sale at very reasonable prices. We got this assorted starter pack for P100:
![\"Manila](\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7078/7092611025_26197e86f5_z.jpg\")
We also bought garden soil (P50 per sack) and organic fertilizer/compost (P35 for 5 kilos).
![\"Manila](\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/6946551906_8779f5c643_z.jpg\")
![\"Manila](\"http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5456/7092612605_e0a8da3f25_z.jpg\")
![\"Manila](\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7092612691_3612a9837e_z.jpg\")
Care to guess our first guests in the garden, as of April 19, 2012?
![\"Our](\"http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5348/7092624677_f3985b50cf_z.jpg\")
![\"Our](\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7251/7092624805_6e2e363d1f_z.jpg\")
![\"Our](\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6946555270_7cc9cd1667_z.jpg\")
![\"Our](\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7274/6946555388_f80d31fa16_z.jpg\")
Our helper Criselda said they\’ve taken very nicely to their new home, with most of them already showing signs of visible growth.
Step 2 is to start seeding the dried seeds on the tray we bought, so we can plant more leafy greens and pluck leaves straight from the garden for our daily green smoothies!
![\"Our](\"http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5194/7092624215_5e1c70e9ea_z.jpg\")
Gardening is a new world to me, and I\’ve been wanting to get into it for so long. The move to Nuvali was meant to jumpstart it, but delays in house completion have also put plans like this on hold. Realized though that I needn\’t wait for the house to finish, I can already start experimenting with urban gardening right here in our small space in the city.
Would be glad to feature your home gardens too if you\’re willing to share your adventures and tips. 🙂
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Manila Seedling Bank is located on Quezon Avenue Extention Corner E. DeLos Santos Avenue, EDSA Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. For more information, visit their website, Msbfi.com, or contact:
Tel No. : (063) 2-924-7001 to 2
Fax : (063) 2-924-0116
Email : qualitytrees@msbfi.com