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Home Ideas

How To Grow Herbs & Veggies Successfully In Your HDB Flat

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How To Grow Herbs & Veggies Successfully In Your HDB Flat

Want to grow your own edible garden? Here’s what you need to consider, plus hydroponic systems to make the job easier

July 2, 2020
How To Grow Herbs & Veggies Successfully In Your HDB Flat 1

Credit: Yana Gayvoronskaya/Canva

Learning to grow your own herbs and vegetables may come easy to those who enjoy gardening, but for those who have only (unsuccessfully) kept succulents at home, hydroponics can be a big challenge.

The idea of having what you need grown in your own home is enticing though, and can be a cute addition to your home’s overall aesthetic. While it is hard work, remember that you literally reap what you sow.

Here are five things to consider to make your hydroponic journey more smooth-sailing.

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https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/style/home-ideas/tips-growing-vegetables-hdb/
How To Grow Herbs & Veggies Successfully In Your HDB Flat
1. What type of produce are you growing?
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Herbs are one of the easiest to grow, and useful to boot, because you can simply snip off what you need without having to harvest the whole plant. Thai basil, sweet basil, and mint are some examples of good herbs to grow, because these are relatively low-maintenance and are used in plenty of dishes.

Apart from herbs, you can also grow leafy vegetables. “Asian leafy vegetables, like cai xin and bak choy, are easy to grow,” says Darren Tan, an urban farmer with rooftop farm Comcrop.

Each individual variety has its own preferences for light, heat, and water, though, so it’s best to seek care advice when purchasing the seeds. For example, while kale is also another increasingly popular option among DIY gardeners, it requires a cool environment to flourish.

Olga Miltsova/Canva
2. How much does it cost to set up?
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Home growing systems, while compact, may not come cheap – especially if they are sophisticated systems. Simple ones can cost $20 to $30, while the more expensive ones can cost up to $700 – it depends on factors like how many plants they can take, how large the systems are, and how much automation there is.

If you’d like a smart system that can measure out nutrients and switch on its lights at regular cycles, for instance, costs will fall on the higher end of the spectrum.

Credit: pixsfile/Canva
3. How regularly do you need to maintain your vegetables?
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Regardless of how sophisticated your system is, some level of hands-on maintenance will be required. All gardeners get their hands dirty, and hydroponic systems are no exception.

When deciding on a system, it helps to think about how much time you can allocate to essential maintenance such changing the water, cleaning the pipes, and checking regularly to prevent mosquitos from breeding.

Credit: m-gucci/Canva
4. The sources you purchase from
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Liquid nutrients are essential to hydroponic systems, as they provide the necessary minerals for growth that are usually found in soil. When sourcing your nutrients, though, purchase them from a safe source.

“Getting nutrients from a reliable source is crucial,” says Darren. “These plants are meant for your consumption, so you have to ensure what they are consuming is not harmful.”

He advises purchasing nutrients from an established plant nursery, or any reputable retailer who can verify where the nutrients are sourced, instead of getting them online.

Credit: Dmitrii Kniaginichev/Canva
5. The placement of the plants
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While most people purchase seeds or plants first, and then look for a suitable place to house them, it should be the other way round, Darren says.

“Look around your home and find a suitable place, then gauge the amount of sunlight and heat that reaches the area.”

Subsequently, you can look for plants that are suitable for the conditions – sun-loving plants will thrive in a bright, sunny area such as the common corridor, while those that prefer a cooler environment without much sunlight can do well in a shaded place like the living room.

Feeling inspired? Get started with one of these smart plant-growing kits:

Credit: hamik/Canva
The Smart Garden 3, from $169, from Click And Grow
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This smart planter makes growing fresh herbs like basil and parsley at home effortlessly easy, as almost everything is automated. The smart technology used works to control exactly how much air, water, light and nutrients (or fertiliser) the plant requires. A starter kit comes with a free set of basil seeds to kickstart your herb growing journey. Plus, it comes in three colours to suit your home theme.

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Hydroponics Indoor Smart Garden with LED Grow Light, $55.90, from Shopee
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Grow your own lettuce for making salads or adding to sandwiches with this easy-to-use hydroponic system. It’s built with a smart auto water level system that reminds you when it’s time to water. The system comprises a 1.5L basin, two planting pots (with vermiculite or), an LED light, adapter and English user manual. It also comes with a free packet of lettuce seeds and a 25ml bottle of fertiliser!

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Self-Watering Indoor Herb Garden Planter, $46.08, from Cole & Mason
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A self-watering herb planter is perfect for busy folk who may tend to forget watering their plants. Plus, a smart self-watering system reduces water wastage, as it can control exactly how much water the plant needs at any point of time.

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Amazon
LED Herb Hydroponics Kit, from $60.10, from Shopee
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Here’s another self-watering system that lets you grow everything from flowers to herbs, vegetables and fruits like tomatoes. It can run for 16 hours straight, with eight hours of rest on an automated timer. The water shortage alarm will alert you once water levels in the tank are below 10 per cent.

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Aerospring Standard, from $580, from The Aerospring Garden
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If you’re planning to get serious with urban farming, consider getting a bigger set-up like this one from The Aerospring Garden. It features nine sections that can hold up to 27 different plants, tomatoes and more, perfect for making fresh, organic salads! Best place this in your balcony if there is space.

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Hydroponic Planting Rack, $250, from Lazada
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This planting rack comes with a separate water tank that pumps water through the ladder system via a timer. It claims to be very easy to assemble, and with 36 holes, you can plant all kinds of fruits and vegetables to feed the whole family. Plus, you get a free packet of lettuce seeds and 120ml fertiliser, as well as a one-month warranty for the water pump.

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Hydroponic Mini Garden LED, $120, from Easi Grow
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This hydroponic pot with an LED grow light also features a self-irrigation system and makes a lovely addition to your indoor garden. Its water tank is also fully enclosed, so you don’t have to worry about mosquitoes breeding. Available at Easi Grow.

Read Next

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The Easiest Herbs To Grow At Home And More Tips From Local Experts

10 Versatile Herbs To Always Have In The Kitchen

All products are carefully handpicked by our editors, and we may earn money from links on this post. 

Text: Melody Bay/Home & Decor Singapore / Additional reporting: Elizabeth Liew & Cherrie Lim

This post was updated on July 2, 2020. 

 

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A post shared by Easi Grow (@easigrow) on Jul 18, 2017 at 11:40pm PDT

  • TAGS:
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