As the world shifts towards sustainability, home gardening has emerged as a modern trend for all the right reasons. Home gardening makes you self-sustainable and acts as a therapeutic and healthy choice. But a gardener might face a number of dilemmas, one of them being which vegetables are the right choice for the environment and home they plan to grow in.
Well, this kitchen gardening guide lists the top 5 most common and low-maintenance vegetables you can grow in your home garden.
Tomato
Tomato is a must-have ingredient in almost every Indian household dish. Homegrown tomatoes will take your taste buds on an exquisite journey due to their high nutrition level. The optimum pH levels for tomatoes range between 6 and 6.8. They need well-drained soil with good soil organic matter. Tomatoes thrive in full sunlight. Once the plant grows 6 to 7 inches indoors, it should be transplanted outdoors, where it can get direct sunlight for 7 to 8 hours.
Brinjal
Brinjal needs full sunlight for 5-6 hours. The ideal place to grow brinjal is on the terrace or window sills receiving adequate sunlight. For better results, you are supposed to sow brinjal seeds in sandy-loam soil. Also, ensure they are planted at a depth of 0.4 inches. For them to yield the best produce, you must keep them indoors. Water them daily to keep the soil moist.
Chilli
Chilli seeds must be germinated indoors in a warm climate before you sow them outdoors in a pot. Place the plants where they get plenty of sunlight. Water the plants regularly to moisten the soil and ensure good air circulation. Don’t overwater them to avoid wilting.
Spinach
It grows best in partial shade and requires moist soil. Sow seeds directly in pots and keep the soil moist. Harvest leaves regularly to encourage new growth. Spinach leaves can be harvested after 6-8 weeks of planting. Spinach is a rich source of iron, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Onion
Onions are best sown between August and October. To get a fresh supply of homegrown pesticide-free onion, sow the seeds in a sunny spot in well-drained and fertilized soil. Sow the seeds 1 inch deep in the soil or keep a distance of about half an inch or more between each seed. Onion seeds usually take 7-10 days to germinate.
Herbs to Grow in the Kitchen Garden
Coriander/ Dhania
Coriander has been used to treat digestive issues since ancient times. Apart from giving fresh flavor to food, you can now sow coriander seeds and grow them in your backyard. It needs proper sunlight and water to grow.
Peppermint
The best time to sow these mint seeds is from February to April. They can be grown indoors or outdoors. Ensure the soil is well-drained, and you’ll have the ‘pudina’ to harvest in less than two months. The seeds start germinating well in two weeks, and then choose a sunny spot to keep them.
Basil
Basil has multiple varieties, such as green basil seeds, purple basil seeds, basil Greek ball seeds, and Thai basil seeds. It grows well throughout the year, so you can sow it anytime. It germinates in 7 to 10 days and can grow indoors or outdoors as long as it receives proper sunlight.
Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Kitchen Garden
To maintain a thriving kitchen garden at home, you need to keep the plants in a certain way so they have enough space to grow and thrive. Another tip for maintaining your kitchen garden is to prune the plants periodically to ensure healthy production. It helps improve the plants' health and makes them grow faster. The more you harvest the plants, the more vibrant they will become.
Pro Tip: It is best to use pliers or clippers to make a quick cut.
Effective Watering Techniques
Using the proper watering methods is crucial to the health and vigor of your kitchen garden. Watering profoundly is essential because it promotes the development of robust roots.
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Give your plants a good soak every few days instead of watering them sparingly. This will allow the water to reach the roots, where it is most required, by penetrating deeply into the soil.
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If you overwater your plants, they may die from fungal diseases or root rot. Achieving equilibrium and preventing the soil from being overly wet is essential.
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One method to avoid overwatering is checking the moisture content before rewatering.
Pro Tip: If your finger feels dry after sticking it approximately an inch into the ground, it's time to water. Hold it if it still feels wet.
Maintaining the kitchen garden is one thing; making it better is another. Don't dump your kitchen waste if you want your kitchen garden to climb the ladder of success. Instead, utilize it to give your plants the needed nutrients.
Winding Up
Navigating through this kitchen gardening guide lead to an important parameter i.e, the importance of soil for a plant. Having a good potting mix like Plantify is essential for your plant. FirstBud’s products are specifically formulated to cater specific requirements of your plants, making your kitchen garden a thriving ecosystem.
