我怎樣決定種什麼菜？How Did I Choose What to Grow?

　　「在英國的田地，可以種植什麼香港菜？」帶著這個疑問，我自去年初春開始，在英國屋子的花園種菜，結果一年下來，合共種了三十多種食物。

　　我是如何決定種什麼菜的呢？我的首要條件是：種喜歡吃、在外面買不到或難買的。因此我的首選是菜心，因為街外賣的菜心很難吃，又粗又老（曾見過一個香港人這樣形容在英國買的菜心──「硬過條命！」）其次如芥蘭、油麥菜、唐蒿、青蘿蔔等，在我所住地區的超市不常見，也就自己種。至於容易買到的如合掌瓜、菠菜、西洋菜等，我就不種了，畢竟我的花園不大，自己亦不一定種得比農民種的好吃。

　　某些食物雖然在外面能容易買到，但我仍然自己種，多數是因為每次只用很少。例如香草，與其每次買一大包回來用不完，不如逐次摘少許來用。

　　除了這些，我也以自己的經驗、英國氣候、花園面向等去考慮種植什麼，卻也是邊走邊看。反正是新的氣候、新的農田、新的知識與技能，就予自己機會做實驗，什麼都試試，從經驗中學習。 結果我發現，這個與土地的互動，是一個落地生根的過程，令我與英國的新家園產生了連繫。

So I was like, “What Hong Kong vegetables can be grown in the UK?” From early spring last year, I started gardening in my backyard to explore this question. The result? I planted over 30 different kinds of food.

How did I pick what to grow? I primarily went for what our family love eating, and what is either unavailable or hard to find in the market. First choice was Choi Sum, because those sold in the market are too tough. Then came Kai Lan, Indian Lettuce, Garland Chrysanthemum, Green Turnips, etc – stuff I can’t spot in supermarkets near where I live. As for those vegetables readily available like Chayote, Spinach and Watercress, I didn’t bother planing them, I mean, my garden is not the size of a farm, and I don’t think I can outdo the farmers.

Some food, however, are easily available but I I still decided to grow them. Take herbs, for example. Why buy a large packet when you just need a pinch every time?

Besides these considerations, I also factored in the UK climate, my garden’s facing, and my own know-how. But let me tell you, it’s been a learn-as-you-go kind of process. The climate in the UK is entirely new to me, so is my garden, and I am not highly experienced in gardening before. So I allowed myself to experiment with it all and learn through trial and error. It turns out that this interaction with the land is a process of taking root, creating a connection between myself and my new home in the UK.