Korean Job Discussion Forums

dulouz · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Uranus

This post is intended to start a gardening craze among ESL teachers in Korea.

Since you are here for a year, I recommend gardening as a pasttime.
Many plants ca be bought on a curb for a few dollars so the shopping is easy.

Dongdeamun has the best gardening supplies availble.

Orchids are very interesting flower plants and a challenge to grow.

You can grow vegetables and sell them on the curb.

FAQ
Q: Isn't gardening kinda sissy?
A: Yes it is. Its very sissy and most people will will not share your enthusiasm with your plants when they visit.

Regardless, I love my garden and the excitement of what each new day brings ie blossoms, diseases or new cat poop.

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Gardening post

dulouz · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Uranus

Really aphids?

I think i had those on my corn. No big loss, the corn crop was pretty bad. How are you taking care of that?

I lost my very healthy crop of watermelon due to disease. I was discouraged from pursuing the matter due to the language problem so I pulled them all out.

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 9:32 pm Post subject:

Right now, going through several insecticides for the tiny-leaved flowers. However, larger leafed plants (such as sunflowers) I am using water and a bit of liquid dish soap and rubbing/rinsing the leaves and wherever needed.

!shoosh

Ryst

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I have a garden, too.

My snow peas turned out great, but my other veggies have been a bust. My corn was a major disappointment. The problem was it getting knocked down by typhoons three times. My green beans so far have produced a total of 3 beans. The bugs are eating up the leaves something awful. And my giant pumpkin plant puts out a couple of leaves, then the bugs eat them. No luck there at all.

My hunger for real sweet corn and a mess of green beans and bacon is still unsatisfied.

However, my herbs are doing just dandy. The Italian basil has turned into a forest. I swear. The stuff would be head-high if I hadn't kept cutting off the tops to make tomato soup. My dill was wonderful earlier in the year. I just planted some more on the balcony today. Hope it does as well in a pot as it did in the garden. The parsley, sage, thyme, marjoram and oregano are all doing fine. For some reason, the rosemary doesn't grow for me.

Thanks for the tip about using soap. I'll give it a shot.

VanIslander · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 12:18 am Post subject:

I have five plants.

Not quite a garden.

More like my pets.

You do touch them and talk to them, don't you?

desultude · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 1:19 am Post subject:

manlyboy · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 6:54 am Post subject:

Is it too late in the season to start a vege or herb garden?
Is there somewhere I can get some info on the how/what/why/when of vege & herb gardening in Korea?
I'd like to get something started out on the balcony over Chuseok.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 9:25 am Post subject:

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Most of my packs of herb seeds say that you can plant them anytime of the year. I got my seeds thru the internet. Keep in mind that you have to keep the herbs inside during the winter. And they need sunlight, so if you live in a place with limited direct sunlight, you are out of luck.

I did check into getting a grow light, but could only find a place that sells them to farms, not to individuals. In other words, they sell them in lots big enough to light up a green house, but wouldn't sell me just one. Sad

Mr. Ryst:

What is the dilution of dish soap in your solution?

(My garden plot supervisor says we can't use insecticides or fertilizers.)

insamsaram · Joined: 16 Jul 2004

I have been breeding plants for 5 years... left all of them in the US of course but will go back to make an early retirement out of it sooner or later.
my school is going to plow a space and let me do some stuff here.
anyone know a source here for korean native perennial wildflowers? i'll plan to introduce some to US gardens when I return. May just have to hook up with some local botany folk and head to the mountains....

manlyboy · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 4:09 am Post subject:

So my mother-in-law came out for a visit this afternoon, and I asked her what would be suitable to grow out on the balcony this time of year, and she suggested tangerines. What do you think? Has anybody else done this?

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003

coolsage · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 5:27 am Post subject:

It's the wong time of the year here to be planting anything, unless you're considering growing winter wheat. Hold off until spring before planting, and meanwhile nurture the plants that you posess. The first frost will hit in about three weeks, so prepare to bring your plants inside.