As the plum rain season approaches, 17 urban farmers joined our training of summer gardening in a rooftop garden, built and maintained by the gardening expert Kylie from New Zealand.
Why do plants thrive in spring, only to develop yellow leaves and drop their fruit in summer? This is one of the most frustrating challenges for urban growers.
On the afternoon of June 7, Shanghai Roots & Shoots once again invited Kylie to host a special summer special edition of the 'From the Beginner to Urban Farmer' training at her magical rooftop garden.
This time, the goal was not to teach participants what to plant, but to help them protect the plants they had planted in spring.
🌞 Summer, A Chanllenging Season for Fruits and Vegetables
Heat, strong sunlight, heavy rain, pests, and diseases—summer is often the most challenging time for growing fruits and vegetables. Without proper care, tomatoes may crack, cucumbers may wilt, and leaves can quickly become infested.
'Help! why are my eggplant leaves curling?' 'It’s the plum rain season now – should I still water the plants?' Before the training even began, participants were already asking one question after another to Kylie.
Kylie smiled and reassured everyone: 'Don't worry, today we're here to solve these problems. '
🧠 Theory Session: Kylie Breaks Down the Summer Challenges
Unlike the first training session, which focused on the basics, this workshop addressed common summer issues:
- In Shanghai's plum rain season, high humidity and poor ventilation create an ideal envrionment for pests and diseases
- How to tell whether a plant lacking water or suffering from root rot?
- Which vegetables tolerate intense sunlight, and which elses require shade?
- For home gardening, how should you choose between physical pest control and chemical one?
The participants listened attentively, taking photos and notes as if they were in a classroom.
👀 Garden Tour: A Look at Kylie's Summer Garden
After the theory session, Kylie guided everyone through her rooftop garden. Cute daisies, fresh mint, and basil released a gentle fragrance into the air… even in midsummer, the rooftop garden remained vibrant and full of life.
'This is my first time growing cotton in Shanghai. To prevent pests and diseases, I planted marigolds alongside it.”
As she walked, Kylie shared her practical planting approach—companion planting, using microclimates, and techniques for retaining soil moisture.
✋Hands-on Practice: Sweet Potato Stem Cuttings
'Because summer heat makes it difficult to grow many vegetables from seedlings, cuttings are often your best option.'
Under Kylie's guidance, each participant tried making sweet potato stem cuttings by hand-cut a stem, insert it into the soil, water it, provide shade… and new roots can grow in just one week.
'So it's that simple!' many participants exclaimed in surprise.
At the end of the session, everyone left with their own cuttings and a head full of practical tips, happily heading home.
Growing vegetables isn't just a springtime hobby—it's a commitment that continues through the summer.
We hope that this autumn,everyone can still enjoy a bountiful harvest on their balconies and in their gardens.