Gardening in the tropics

In the tropics growth seems to leap with such alacrity one has to be determined to continue with the task of weeding.  It was with such determination that I cleaned out the noxious weed lalang from the upstairs balcony planter box.  I had to cut down the sharp edged long grass to about an inch above ground before digging out the roots and suckers.  As I was on holiday gardening took second place to recreation and when I returned a couple of days later the grass had grown, as shown in the picture.
My mother planted vegetables and flowers in the planter when she was able but as she was not even capable of climbing up the stairs I would describe my progress when I took a break to drink more water and wash away the stinging sweat.  My eyes felt the sting and it was a case of continual blinking.
I worked a small section at a time, digging out roots and soil until I could see the cleared floor of the planter.  The roots and suckers were removed and I painstakingly searched for the smallest bit of sucker in the soil to avoid another invasion.  By the middle of the second week of my holiday I had completely cleared the whole planter box.  I could have finished earlier if the thunder, lightning and rain of the late afternoon did not interrupt my progress.

Here is a picture of the planter box without the lalang.  I did not have compost to add to the soil so made do with a couple of small bags of composted matter I found at the base of the banana grove.  That should help the seeds I put in.  For mulch I chopped up twigs and banana leaves and dried up banana stems.  I sprinkled some fertiliser granules.

This is the planter with seeds of four angled bean, chilli, tomato, and choi sum.  At one end I planted a turmeric tuber, some shallots and garlic and a couple of seedlings of the pea eggplant (rimbang) and pennywort.  I can only hope for the seeds to germinate and grow to encourage some interest in the planter box, enough to help with watering, feeding and weeding.  It was hard work gardening in the tropics but if I could see the fruits of my labour it would be worth all the sweats and backaches.