Growing veggies & herbs in limited space of Phuket

With limited & ever reducing space on the tourist resort island of Phuket, with so much housing, hotel resorts, or property development going up, many may not be able to plant trees and flowers or make their own gardens. But even without a backyard space, you can still grow your own vegetables or Thai herbal ingredients for your home kitchen, as the provincial Agriculture office suggests. Here at the office the Agricultural Chief Somchai Hengwatcharapaiboon shows Andaman News how he came up with ideas and it has proved to have worked very well.

Used materials like old buckets or even safety helmets can be used as plant pots. If you do not have enough space around your home or on the ground, then they can grow up in the air. They can be taken as decorations and give green surroundings to your premises.
Somchai said the home garden would help save costs and expenses for families. In so doing, we can get fresh vegetables direct from the gardens to kitchens and its healthy too.

Being tropical plants, these vegetables and herbs are tolerant to the hot climate here. What they just need is water and a bit of care and then they can be productive. Furthermore, some plants with strong smells, like basil or lemon grass, can keep away insects or plant enemies without the need to rely on chemical substances and then family members can consume healthy organic vegetables. It can be something that family members do together as a hobby in their quality time thats the idea the Phuket authority tries to promote, apart from saving money in these difficult economic times.

Mr. Somchai suggests that people who are interested in the idea can consult the agriculture office in their district or near home.




Admitting that herbal plants are main ingredients for Thai kitchens, the provincial office of Agriculture in Phuket is demonstrating and urging residents to plant their own herbal plants at homes or at their premises. The Agriculture Chief suggests hanging pots of herbal or kitchen vegetables that can easily be planted even with limited space. The office staff demonstrate the new techniques in front of their office building. The plants include lemon grass, sweet basil, basil, morning glories and chillies. He suggests that it not only helps cut costs in the household budget, but is also organic and healthy for family members, plus it adds greenery to premises. Interested parties are invited to visit the Phuket Provincial Agriculture office on Narisorn Road, in Phuket City, to obtain some of the plant seeds, or telephone 076 212188 or try email phuket@doae.go.th




Special report for Andaman News NBT TV (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 7pm & 1am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & maybe Mazz Radio FM108 at 7pm in Phuket, Wednesday 4 March 2009 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ & www.YouTube.com/AndamanNews
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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Phuket
• Thailand
• herbs
• spices
• vegetables

[msskimbot]

I love the recycled helmet for a flower pot. I'm sufficiently inspired to set up a bar to hang plants from...

[lkbkr103]

This is a great video. It gave me some inspiration! Thank you!!

[Desaundrea]

I love this. Now to convince hubby lol

[EbolaV1rus]

Fabulous! Thanks for sharing this video..it has give me tons of ideas! 5 stars!