[FreakOil]

Hello folks. I'd like to start up a garden but I don't know how. This isn't that simple because I live in a small apartment in a big city. There's no land in the immediate vicinity.

However, Hong Kong is a rather unique place in that it's made up of densely populated areas surrounded by protected land or land owned by villages. There's plenty of good ground within an hour by subway/bus/ferry. I shouldn't have any trouble straying off one of the hiking trails and finding a spot.

The only trouble is that I've never gardened before so I have no idea what I'm doing. Can somebody direct me to a website that can help me get started? I would like to keep this as simple as possible. I can't tend to the garden every day since it's too far from my home, only on the weekend, and I could pay the occasional visit at night after work. I have a nifty headlight that I use for nigh-fishing. I also need to know what to grow in a sub-tropical climate.

I'm not planning on ever living off of this garden, or even staying in Hong Kong for the long term, I'd just like to develop some useful skills. Growing vegetables is a very big priority, and it seems like fun, too.

If this post looks naive, it's because I have no experience gardening. Don't insult me if I've said something stupid.

[RonMN]

You might have a tough time with this if it needs watering (which it probably will).

It doesn't sound like a place that has a garden hose.

Maybe you might want to try planting tubers of some sort, they wont need to be tended the way seed will.

Perhaps sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes) or something hardy like that.

Or maybe garlic (if your winters get below freezing). But it doesn't sound like it.

[mercurygirl]

Well, if the land is protected or owned by villages, you probably shouldn't trespass. I suggest traveling around a little bit, ask some locals who may need some help with garden work or even advertise if possible that you are willing to do a few hours of work per week in exchange for some gardening lessons.

Perhaps you should post this on the Planning for the Future forum, you may get some more ideas from some smart folks.

There are lots of online gardening resources, so surf around. One I like is Gardenweb.com.

Good luck.

[RedStateGreen]

If you have a balcony and/or a window that gets sun, you can do container gardening and not have to leave home. I've heard the EarthBox is really good for container gardening, and there's instructions on the internet on how to make your own.

[FreakOil]

I don't have a balcony. I have a window in my kitchen, but it's directly above the counter where I keep my dishes and things, so it's not suitable. I asked our security guard if I could grow some flowers and vegetables on the roof, which is easily accessible and totally empty, but he said that the owner "does not like people growing things on the roof." What a jackass.

My colleague just told me that her family has a small farm way up near the border with mainland China. I'm going to ask if I can do some work for them in exchange for gardening lessons. The only problem is that I don't think they speak English, besides my colleague, and I don't speak Cantonese.

I'm still considering planting in containers on the roof, out of the spirt of rebellion. It's not illegal, as far as I know. What's the worst they can do? Evict me? I could give a damn.

I don't know how this ended up in the Open forum. There was no option to choose forums when I made the original post. Am I missing something?

[jasonraymondson]

Gardening is for sissy's . An AK47 is for real men.

[FreakOil]

Guns and gardens are not mutually exclusive. Guns and gardens is the mantra of PeakOil.com. Guns are illegal where I live, but I do have some very dangerous fishing tackle. Back off or you're gonna get a knife in the gut and a baiting stick in the eye!

[jboogy]

buy a book or go to the planning for the future forum