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
The holidays and family visits are over, garden goals for the new year have been set, and after nearly four months of constant precipitation the plants are feeling the shock of a sudden shift to the dry season. In the tropics, our work never ends. On our rooftop, we have a mix of containers with unglazed terracotta pots making up the majority. Plastic … 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
On a recent trip to Kandy I enjoyed an evening boat ride during which I was surprised by what at first appeared to be mostly jungle on the riverbanks. On closer inspection I discovered they were actually gardens deliberately planted and maintained along the muddy banks. The crops were mostly tarrow and banana for home use, but others included green and yellow … Read More
After struggling through the monsoon seasons last year, I set out to find a green(ish) veg crop for our rooftop garden that would not suffer from overwatering as our tomatoes and pumpkins did. Enter okra, which was until recently my least favorite vegetable. I don’t know why I did not consider okra sooner because we actually eat it somewhat regularly. Popular back home … Read More