Tips from an expert

Reem Yateem, Founder of Learn to Grow, a Holistic Permaculture Education Program centre, says the most important thing about growing a successful garden is observing and interacting with nature. You want to work with nature instead of against it. Some good questions to ask are:

· What direction does the wind come from?

· Where is your main water source?

· How can you use your water (including grey water and rain water) more effectively)?

· How can you rejuvenate the soil to restart the food web (bacteria, fungi, microorganisms)?

Step 2: Determine what to grow

Understanding your garden’s conditions is key to success. Consider how much direct sunlight and square footage you have when you determine what kind of plants you will grow.

Vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and cabbage are easily cultivated in Bahrain. Depending on the season, fruit such as watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, papaya, mango, lemon, oranges and dates are good options.

Step 3: Pot your plants

Prep your containers by adding drainage holes large enough for excess water to drain out. Use

She adds that Bahrain has really sandy soil, which can make it difficult to grow healthy produce. In order to improve your soil there are three important strategies you can use.

1. Plant trees and grow a canopy because shade is very important during the hot summer months.

2. It’s vital to have a proper ground covering because it keeps the soil moist, prevents any evaporation and it gives nutrients to the soil. A ground covering can consist of dead leaves or live plants. Purslane is a great plant to use as ground covering because it takes out the salt from water.

3. Once your soil is healthy, decide where to plant your crops and design your garden.

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