Plants have a way of adding some spice to the home. I feel like they’re one of the things that make a space come alive. But I haven’t always loved plants. I used to think, “They’re just plants, no biggie.” But my mom has always been passionate about watching something grow. She would get so excited showing me new seeds she wanted to put into the soil, and somehow, I became interested. Thankfully, we had enough space in our compound to grow whatever we wanted. During the planting season, my mom would get some corn seeds — corn is one of the most popular things to plant during that time. I would help her weed the little garden while she placed the seeds into the soil. Not too long after, they would sprout, grow, bear fruit… and when harvest came, we had corn to eat from our own garden. That’s one of the beautiful things about growing plants , getting something valuable at the end of the day. We also grow some vegetables and natural spices, which come in handy when I’m cooking.
At some point, I had to live with my aunt for a while. She was a full-time farmer with large farms and a home garden where she planted a few smaller things. That’s where I learned how to nurse seedlings, transplant them properly, and watch them grow. I used to be so curious about how a tiny seed could push out a shoot and not die off when moved. We had to water them regularly, especially during the dry season when rainfall was rare. We used a hosepipe connected to the tap to water the farm. Sometimes we added manure or fertilizer when the plants weren’t doing well. The first time my aunt let me handle fertilizer on my own, it didn’t go well. I didn’t apply it correctly, and before long, the leaves turned yellow and died off. But with time, I got better at it and more confident too.
One of our biggest challenges when growing plants has always been pests. I remember one time we planted some seeds, and by the next day, we discovered squirrels or whatever it was had dug them up and eaten a lot of them. Another issue was soil erosion , whenever it rained heavily, the soil would wash away. My mom eventually figured out a good alternative: planting in pots and buckets. That way, the soil stays in place, and the plants are safer. It also gave us the freedom to move them around depending on the season and weather.
Aside from how beautiful plants make a space look, they’re really useful in everyday life. Having fresh vegetables and herbs at home makes cooking more convenient and flavorful. There’s a big difference between using dried, store-bought spices and stepping outside to pick fresh scent leaf or pepper from your own garden. Beyond food, plants also help purify the air, and males a place look more inviting. Imagine walking into a space filled wih flowers, their presence alone can uplift the mood in ways we don’t always realize.
Looking back, I might have learnt a thing or two growing plants. Patience, care, observation, and consistency, those are valuable life lessons. You don’t always see results instantly, but with steady effort, something beautiful eventually blooms. Even the failed attempts taught me some few good lessons.
This is my entire experience with growing plants, and yes, I definitely want to have my own garden one day when I finally get my own house. I can’t imagine living without one. I want to keep growing my own food,and add color and life to my space.
Images are mine
