Experimental Malaysian gardener tends to 127 plant varieties in KL home

Quah spends at least two hours a day in the garden, watering, pruning and trying to keep pests such as grasshoppers at bay. Photos: The Star/Azlina Abdullah

Amidst the uncertainty and isolation during Covid-19, Eunice Quah, 48, was someone who found purpose and joy in transforming the lawn of her family home into a lush oasis of greenery and life.

Within her 1,600sq ft (148sq m) garden located in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, she cultivates a diverse array of local and exotic herbs, vegetables, tropical fruits and edible flowers. Her garden boasts an extensive selection, including seven varieties of mint, three types of sweet potato, and 40 different flowers, with 19 of them edible.

Altogether, Quah tends to a whopping total of 127 plant varieties in her green haven. Yet, what sets her apart is not merely her green thumb and perseverance, but also her artistic vision and adventurous spirit. Through curated layers of plants, her garden is a living canvas of colours and textures against a backdrop of rich, nourishing soil.

Quah has also spent countless hours growing plants for community spaces such as TTDI Edible Garden, Kebun-Kebun Bangsar (KKB) and Free Tree Society.

In this feature, we endeavour to unravel the secrets behind her gardening success, exploring the solutions she uses to nurture her garden.Quah with edible flowers and other produce harvested from her garden.

From battling pests to experimenting with unconventional plant varieties, she reminds us that the act of gardening is a celebration of life itself, and that there are no rules, only endless possibilities.

What do you enjoy about gardening as a hobby?

I find pleasure in both growing and sharing my harvest. I often lose track of time; it’s so relaxing and therapeutic. Witnessing a tiny seed blossom into a 16kg winter melon brings immense gratification. And the delight of distributing my vegetables and receiving feedback like, “Your vegetables are the freshest and nicest ones we’ve had and the sweet potatoes the creamiest and sweetest we’ve tried,” or “Your winter melon is so firm and long-lasting,” fuels my motivation to continue. I call it an ikigai (a reason for living) – it’s something I like to do, that I’m good at, and something I can help people with.

What do you do with all the produce?

I have enough produce to feed myself every day but I don’t eat everything I grow, so I give some away to friends and sell some edible flowers and exotic herbs to fine-dining restaurants to help pay for the materials for the garden.

Can you tell us something interesting about your garden?

I enjoy experimenting with exotic plants to discover which thrive in a hot tropical climate. Friends often remark on the size of my harvests, which tend to exceed common expectations. Also, I take pleasure in changing my garden landscape every quarter, employing techniques like layering, staggering my plants, and companion planting, unlike many gardeners who prefer set lines.Edible flowers like pentas, dianthus, chives, dill, water parsley and French marigold grace every layer of Quah’s garden.

I introduce flowers for a little pop of colour and to also attract pollinators. Edible flowers are also very popular these days.

Half of the flowers in my garden are edible varieties such as pentas, dianthus and chive flowers. Additionally, I utilise plants like alternanthera and Brazilian spinach as bed edges, as their fast and dense growth helps to suppress weeds effectively.

How do you get inspiration and select what to plant in your garden?

I gather seeds from all over during my travels, and find inspiration from platforms like the Malaysia Gardeners Facebook group or Instagram. When I see gardeners cultivating exotic plants – like kohlrabi, savoy cabbage and turnips – traditionally deemed unsuitable for our climate, it ignites a sense of challenge within me.

What is the key to a successful edible garden?

Soil quality is paramount in gardening. Investing effort in improving your soil is key to avoiding disappointment, especially for beginners who may struggle to understand why their plants fail.

Enhancing the soil translates directly to better produce. Simply buying compost and soil and layering it on top is not sufficient. I recommend using organic soil amendments – humus, manure, compost, mushroom compost, green manure – before planting time. It is important to note that after the first initial use of soil purchased at nurseries, the soil’s nutrients become depleted. It is crucial that you replenish to maintain its health and fertility over time.Quah tends to a total of 127 plant varieties in her 1,600sq ft (148sq m) garden.

Do you have a special formula to get healthy compost, soil and plants?

I approach soil preparation with whatever materials that are available. There’s no rigid formula – it’s akin to cooking, where ingredients can be substituted based on what’s on hand.

However, understanding the basics, such as drainage and nutrient content, is essential. While some opt for sand and perlite for drainage, I find perlite problematic as it tends to float, discolour over time and can be costly. Sand also raises concerns, as it may harbour nematodes and you may not know its origin.

In my experience, cocopeat is the optimal choice – it’s sustainable, affordable and effectively promotes drainage.

Any other gardening tips to share?

Mulching is beneficial year-round as it maintains soil moisture, keeps the area cool, deters weeds and prepares the ground for propagation.

Continuously adding compost ensures that the soil becomes looser and softer, making it easier to remove weeds.

When using or purchasing compost, it is important to consider its texture. Avoid overly fine compost, as it hinders water absorption and may repel water instead. Additionally, fine compost tends to clump up and harden when left unused for extended periods.

For fertiliser, I prefer goat manure due to the diverse diet of goats compared to cows or chickens.Harvest of the day: winter melon, butternut squash, selom, ulam raja and edible flowers.

Do you have issues with pests in your garden during rainy or dry seasons? What solutions do you have to protect your plants against them?

During rainy seasons, it’s important to remain vigilant for snails, especially since I refrain from using pesticides. They can decimate your entire plot very fast. I manually remove them when spotted.

Also, an overabundance of nitrogen can attract aphids, which I address by simply plucking off affected leaves.

While I’ve successfully used neem mixed with dishwashing liquid to eliminate aphids in the past, I’ve found that companion planting confuses pests and mitigates the issue.

I plant beans with cucumber, dill or parsley with asparagus, cabbage with leek and marigold with most plants.

Being diligent and observant is crucial. It’s essential to watch for telltale signs of pests and regularly check for caterpillars to prevent them from damaging plants.

If spotted, immediate action is necessary – either by removing or exterminating them. Personally, I swiftly snip them with my secateurs whenever possible. Organic solutions lose efficacy after rainfall, requiring frequent reapplication by spraying directly onto insects rather than preemptively onto leaves.A healthy pot of pineapple mint.

What have you learnt from your gardening experiments and journey?

Gardening may not be as complex as rocket science, but it still involves scientific principles. When unsure, a quick online search can often provide answers. Experimentation in gardening knows no bounds. While traditional advice may caution against planting too densely or watering at certain times, I’ve found success in challenging these norms.

Books on composting often offer specific ratios and instructions, such as a 30:1 ratio of materials or cutting them into smaller pieces for faster breakdown.

However, in my experience, even whole cabbage heads break down rapidly in my compost bin due to the abundance of microbes present. Despite not aerating my compost, it still turns out crumbly and rich, resembling dark soil.

Learn from your mistakes and don’t be afraid to make them because that’s where you learn. Do not be afraid to experiment. If they die, grow again. Plants are forgiving, just start another batch.

To find out more about Quah’s gardening methods and her upcoming book on edible gardening in the tropics, follow her on Instagram.

Ready, Set, Grow! is a column brought to you by Eats, Shoots & Roots, a social enterprise with the aim of connecting people to nature through growing food. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook for growing tips and more.