Joy

Author: Jaren

You would be surprised at how much you could do within the confines of Hong Kong's limited space. As it seems, having a little corner by the window dedicated to growing a tomato plant is becoming more and more prevalent in households, and especially so in this unprecedented time of a global pandemic. But there may be better reasons other than killing time as to why gardening at home is in fashion.

Other than being a form of simple activity, gardening may have a profound positive effect on mental health. According to a 2011 study conducted in the Netherlands, gardening lowers the body's cortisol levels, the primary hormone related to stress and does so effectively, medical professionals have recommended gardening as a form of therapy to alleviate anxiety and depression. The horticultural hobby also promotes mindfulness, encouraging people to focus on the task at hand and pulling them away from the stresses of life they may be experiencing.

Moreover, it was found that gardening can decrease the risk of dementia by 36%, as well as being a form of treatment for it.

Now, that you know the benefits of gardening, some crops you may be thinking of growing are tomatoes, basil, aloe vera and even pineapples.


 
Tomatoes are a common plant to grow. In addition to its versatility with dishes, its anti-ageing properties, high nutritional value, immune system support and many more health benefits, make it a rewarding crop in terms of keeping your health in check as well as your wallet. With rising produce prices, growing your own tomatoes is a definite economical decision. The love apple likes the fitting warm temperature of Hong Kong and can be grown in whatever container. They enjoy roughly 6-8 hours of sunlight and their soil to be moist. It takes approximately 60-80 days to reach maturity, so patience and diligence are needed, of course!

The basil plant is a common herb used in Italian, Mediterranean and Thai cuisines, but can also be used in a wide variety of dishes around the world. Basils are easy to grow, taking up less space but again enjoy moist soil and 6-8 hours of sunlight. The herb's optimal temperature is roughly 21 degrees, perfect for indoor growing. And the best part is you will see progress in a bit over a week as the seeds begin to sprout!



Pineapples are a fascinating plant to grow. You can grow them using an existing pineapple's top and planting it into the soil. Water it generously and on top of its leaves as the roots are yet to develop. In approximately a month, you will see much larger, greener leaves sprout. Forcing it to fruit, however, requires more than just water and 6 hours of sunlight. You may need to place apple slices between it leaves after a year of growing the plant to produce your very own pineapple. These exotic fruits come with a wide range of health benefits from easing digestion to reducing oxidative stress in your cells which gives rise to cancer.



Reference

Common Ground Garden

National Center for Biotechnology Information