My Start with Gardening
As a lover of food, I’ve always wanted to grow my own fruits and vegetables. Something about watching and caring for plants always seemed so rewarding and exciting. However, every time I tried, my poor pea sprouts or flowers would be trampled by squirrels, and possibly drowned by my incompetence. I was deterred for a while, but now I’ve decided to actually put in the work and start my own garden (or at least attempt to).
Early this summer, I decided to eat every bit of mango that surrounded the big seed. I was successful and grew attached to the furry seed. It was like a pet! After a while, I noticed that it was sort of cracked down the sides, and as I pried the sides of the seed apart, I realized that it was only a casing. Inside was the actual mango seed. Wow!
A quick google search showed that I could germinate the seed. I was discouraged because my prior experiences germinating cherry pits in elementary school ended in mold. But I ignored the doubt. I steeled my nerves and told myself, I can grow plants!? I was trying to manifest my success.
I got a damp paper towel and wrapped the seed in it and placed it into a small ziploc bag. Google told me that it would take WEEKS to sprout. Waiting took a lot of patience that I didn’t have. I checked almost every single day to see whether it had sprouted. After about 2-3 weeks it had final sprouted! I was so excited, and there was no MOLD!
With new confidence, I decided to eat two more mangos! They were delicious and once again, I pried open the casing and started germinating the seeds. In preparation of planting the seeds, I went out and bought potting soil and two pots. I am not sure why I didn’t buy three since I had three seeds. Anyways, it was a glorious and sunny day, and with Google as my right hand man, I figured out how much soil to put in the pot and how to water the soil. I had no idea that you had to water soil to make it more compact when you put it in the pot. Finally! My seed was planted!
I wish it were a happy ending.
I watered the seed when ever the soil seemed too dry. I was attentive. I was hopeful. But, even with all the enthusiasm in the world, I was unable to keep my mango plant alive. My worst enemy, mold grew. Mold thrived and spread throughout the top layer of soil. I was sad, but at least I had two other seeds to plant.
WRONG.
Mold infected them in their ziploc bags. They never had a chance to know what soil was like.
I probably should have done way more research instead of blindly jumping into gardening, but where’s the fun in that? I want to be RECKLESS!
I want this to be a happy ending, so . . .
I AM GOING TO GROW MORE THINGS! DEFEND THE DEFENSELESS FROM MOLD!
Rest in peace
<-This is the one I planted in the pot. I should have taken more photos of you.
