By ZAC B. SARIAN
May 12, 2010, 9:14pm

Whatever you plant, take good care of them, please. We recently came from a piggery where the owner had planted about a hundred calamansi trees in a vacant space not far from the pig houses. They must be about five to seven years old. Some have very small fruits but they are not expected to grow much bigger because the trees are so emaciated. They have small yellow leaves and they are suffering from extreme drought.

They looked totally neglected. Had they been taken care of properly (fertilized and irrigated), they should be producing a lot of juicy fruits. It could not be said that they don’t have water because the piggery has enough water. Neither could it be said that there is no available fertilizer because pig manure is plentiful.

The problem is that the owner has planted the trees but he has been leaving them to fend for themselves. He has left them to the mercy of mother nature. Sayang, because although they are just about a hundred trees, they could be providing a good side income for the piggery owner.

In our going around, we have also seen plants that are very productive because they are well taken care of. For instance, we have just come from the farm of Gil and Prime Quizon in Brgy. Inarawan, Antipolo City. We were really impressed by the rambutan trees that are laden with a lot of fruits that are starting to ripen. The trees are lush because they are watered regularly. The early-maturing fruits are sure to command a good price at the Sta. Lucia market where the couple sell their harvests.

Some people that we have met can’t seem to take care of their plants for a number of reasons. One is that they have planted such a wide area that they can’t seem to manage their project properly. They may not have enough cash to provide their plants the inputs they need. That’s why it is important to have proper planning. Plan to plant only what you can take good care of. You will be glad you did.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/257087/take-good-care-your-plants