This article is a re-post from 2014, but is especially relevant given Colombo’s weather this week I see it everywhere. Naked soil when now is the time to add more mulch. This is not a great situation in any climate, but especially not here in the tropics. The rains are beating down and the mud is splashing. The precious nutrients in your … Read More
Between Sri-Lankan holidays and freak illnesses, I have been in the process of filling out our new simple pvc planters which we have added all around the perimeter of the rooftop garden. We chose an 8 inch pipe and end-caps, and added 4 inch diameter openings along the top. The openings are about 4 inches apart to give plants a healthy stretch for … Read More
One of my favorite additions to the rooftop garden this year has been turmeric. Here in Sri-Lanka, and most of the region, turmeric (locally kaha) is used to add a warm flavor and rich yellow color to curries. It is also very good for dying fabrics and can create shades from sunshine yellow to burnt orange. Other uses include skin care and medicinal … Read More
Now a little over one year into our Intrepid Gardens experiments, we are re-assessing and implementing new designs before the monsoons in May. Before we get into the to-do’s, we have to be honest about what worked and what failed. The poly bag towers were complete failures on the scorching roof garden. This was obviously a disappointment after seeing great results in … Read More
While trying to adapt my garden knowledge to growing on a sweltering rooftop I have run into more than a few speedbumps. However, the initial garden implementation has still seen a few successes. Let’s celebrate them! An early step in any garden should be the start of a composting system. We used a simple plastic bin with a lid for our small … Read More