vegetable garden at home: Homemade vegetable garden seems small in the beginning, but as the plants grow, they grow. You get a new happiness, a new satisfaction and an organic lifestyle.
In today’s time, when the use of adulteration, chemicals and pesticides in vegetables is increasing rapidly, people are again returning to home-grown organic vegetables. A small vegetable garden not only provides you with fresh and nutritious vegetables, but also makes your lifestyle healthy and happy. Even if you only have a 4×4 feet space, a balcony, a small terrace or just a few grow bags, you can easily grow your everyday vegetables at home. The best thing is that you don’t need to be a gardening expert for this! Just have to follow the right steps. This 6-step detailed process will make your first vegetable gardening 100% successful.
Choose the sunniest spot possible
70% of the growth of vegetables depends on sunlight. Choose a place that gets at least 6–7 hours of direct sunlight every day. Balcony Kitchen Window Rooftop (Terrace Garden) Backyard Window Grill Hangers are the best. The most sun-loving vegetables are tomato, lady’s finger, gourd, pumpkin, green coriander, mint, spinach, fenugreek, cabbage and can survive even in less sunlight.
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Different size pot/container for each vegetable
The depth of the pot will determine how big the plant will grow. The best container options are plastic pots, grow bags, clay pots, tubs, buckets, crate boxes. Choose this for the best container size.
- Tomato → 12–14 inches
- Bhindi → 12 inches
- Gourd/Pumpkin/Luffa → 15–18 inches (requires grill/mesh)
- Spinach/Methi/Coriander → 6–8 inches
- Chilli/Brinjal → 12 inches
Prepare soil consisting of 50% soil, 30% compost and 20% sand
The secret to a successful garden is loose, nutritious and breathable soil. For the best potting mix, 50% garden soil 30% old cowdung manure/vermi-compost 20% sand/cocopeat and 1 handful of Neemkhali (to protect from fungal) is perfect. Spread the soil in the sun for 2-3 days so that the germs die.
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Sow the right seeds in the right season
90% of plants get spoiled in wrong season. Always choose seeds according to the season.
Summer Vegetables (March–July): Tomato, Lady’s Finger, Bitter Gourd, Bottle Gourd, Pumpkin, Chilli, Brinjal
Winter Vegetables (October–February): Spinach, fenugreek, cabbage, radish, carrot, peas, broccoli
Round-the-Year Vegetables: Coriander, Mint, Lettuce, Green Chilli
Before sowing seeds: Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 30 minutes. This speeds up germination. Don’t press the seeds too deep, just 1 cm.
Right time of water and fertilizer is the secret of 100% growth
When to water the vegetable garden? Keep the soil moist in the morning or evening, but do not let it get waterlogged. Water daily in summer and every 2–3 days in winter. Now the question is when to give fertilizer. Add 1 handful vermi compost every 15 days, potash (banana peel water is best), neem oil (5 ml + 1 liter water) once a week, every 20 days, this will prevent insects.
Support, Trimming and Care for Healthy Plants
Creeper (Gourd/Pumpkin/Luffa): Install a stand made of net, rope and bamboo.
Tomato/Chilli/Brinjal: Provide stick support so that the stem does not break.
Trimming: Keep cutting dry leaves, this speeds up new growth.
Pest Control (Natural): Neem oil spray, buttermilk spray (1:3 ratio), garlic-ginger water, remove white flies/aphids with strong shower of water.