Another exhibition area in the Singapore Garden Festival 2008 (SGF) that attracted much attention was the one put up by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority Singapore (AVA). The AVA this year showcased a range of vegetables and culinary herbs that can be grown under local conditions. All the edible plants were displayed inside fluorescent light lit, modern-looking, plastic troughs.
Many of the elderly folks who passed by the AVA exhibition area were fondly reminded of the days when they lived in the villages in rural Singapore and were involved in vegetable and herb farming. Many were seen sharing their experiences with both the AVA officers on duty and fellow visitors.
The younger crowd were intrigued to see the living specimens of the herbs and vegetables that they encounter their dinner plates. Some were inspired to grow and asked where they could buy the seeds so that they can try to grow some at home.
Besides the vegetable and herb showcase, the AVA also offered “a Plant Passport Service” which gives the necessary phytosanitary certification for plants that are bought during the SGF by our overseas visitors. Plant doctors were on duty in the “Clinic Botanica” section where visitors can ask and learn more about the pest and disease problems they face in their gardens.
In one of the sections of their display, the AVA offered some ideas to public on how they can showcase our edible plants in their home gardens. The first involved the planting of vining vegetables such as sweet potato vines or the Ceylon Spinach inside window boxes that is shown below.
Another example the AVA showed was how one can incorporate edible plants into a landscape – look at the clever use of the riot of colours that ornamental sweet potato vines and the nice contrast they can offer!
Various common leafy vegetable were on display and the most striking and beautiful one was perhaps the Chinese Flowering Cabbage. The dainty, bright yellow flowers that were produced high above the plants are highly decorative and difficult to miss!
The succulent-looking Chinese Kale, Chinese Mustard, Loose Leaf Lettuce and Red Chinese Spinach plants also attracted a lot of attention! Many visitors wondered how did the AVA managed to grow such healthy plants using containers!
Chinese Kale
Chinese Mustard
Loose Leaf Lettuce
Red Chinese Spinach
The selection of fruiting vegetables also “wow-ed” the visitors to the SGF. The fruiting vegetable plant that particularly got the most limelight were the corn plants that borne white shiny kernels. In the market, we often see the ones with yellow kernels.
Many visitors who saw the hot chilli plants were surprised with the high yield of fruits. Many of them asked the AVA how they managed to grow such healthy plants that did not show any signs of blemish.
The AVA also exhibited two types of Chinese eggplants – one bears long and green fruits while the other produces round, purple fruits. I have grown these before and I got the seeds from Known You Seeds Distribution previously.
Long, green Chinese Eggplant
Chinese Eggplant with round, purple fruits.
Last but not least, the display of culinary herbs was also equally impressive. For the first time, I saw Globe Basil plants with my own eyes. Although it is not a basil that I am not familiar with, I saw these only on pictures found on the Internet.
Chinese celery was one of other culinary herbs being showcased. A specimen was seen flowering and visitors who have never seen this herb flowering learnt something new.
The AVA also had some highly ornamental Purple Ruffles Basil plants on display. These plants are very difficult to grow nicely under local conditions. For reasons not known to me but I speculate that it could be due to the heat of the tropics, this variety of basil has a high tendency of its leaves to revert totally green and also losing its ruffled leaf margins.
