Let me be frank. I don’t have a green thumb. Nor do I have a lot of time on my hands. Yet, I have managed to raise a kitchen garden and have been quite successful at that. If a gardening novice like me could do it, why not you? Believe me, it’s fun and relaxing too.

It all started when some common herbs and greens I bought from the market starting losing colour and turning brown in no time. Following an aunt’s suggestion, I planted mint, coriander and curry leaves in pots and was quite pleased with the result. That was just the beginning. I then slowly expanded my garden to include tomatoes, chillies, brinjal, ginger and cowpeas. I haven’t stopped as yet, and hopefully, will not. A little patience and a dint of hard work is all that is needed to raise a kitchen garden. But the effort is worth every penny.

A visit to our local fruit and vegetable market helps us realise the importance of having our own kitchen garden. Sparkling brinjals, extra dark green peas, gleaming tomatoes... really make us wonder whether it’s safe to buy them for they don’t look natural. Moreover, a green patch of land can work wonders to our homes and health.

Though a regularity in most houses outside our famous City, kitchen gardens are fast emerging as the favourite past time of many within City limits too. Space is no longer a constraint with most people opting to grow greens and veggies in pots and containers.

Reserve space
However, if space is not an issue, then demarcating at least 200 sq m of land around our homes is just enough to accommodate a lavish kitchen garden. In fact, reserving space for the kitchen garden even before the house is constructed is even better, as it can be planned close to the kitchen. The closer the garden is to the kitchen, the better it is. For, tea decoction, fruit and vegetable scrapings and similar decomposable kitchen waste can be conveniently dumped in the kitchen garden as they are believed to make the soil nutritious for plants. It also pays to direct water from the kitchen sink to the kitchen garden.

Another crucial factor to be considered before deciding upon the location of the garden is sunlight. The garden should get an ample amount of sunlight since most plants need substantial sunlight to grow. And, of course, rainwater.

On deciding upon the area meant for the garden, the next step is to prepare the soil. The soil needs to be loosened with the help of a garden fork and the looser the soil, the better it is. According to gardening experts, it is always advisable to leave patches of hard soil between rows of loose soil as this arrangement will help soil retain water and nutrients better. If the soil doesn’t look healthy enough for plants to grow, a little red earth should be added to make the soil rich. Further, a liberal dose of good manure or organic fertilisers is recommended to improve the health of soil.

Sow the seeds
Once the soil is ready, decide on the fruits and vegetables of your choice, depending on your family’s taste and requirement. While sowing the seeds, care should be taken to see that they are not too close to one another. Sufficient gap between seed varieties is a must to ensure a good yield.

Careful planning is required at the sowing stage itself as taller plants need to be planted closer to the compound walls, followed by shorter plants, so that all the plants in the garden receive adequate amount of sunlight.

Once the sowing is done, the next big requirement is watering. The garden needs to be well watered for the first ten days and then occasionally thereafter. However, care should be taken to see that the soil never goes dry. But a gardener’s work doesn’t end with just sowing and watering. For, weeds will slowly start raising their ugly heads, gobbling up all the nutrients meant for the plants of our choice. So, weeding should be a regular exercise and, if done on a regular basis, it will not take more than a few minutes.

Another major problem that crops up at this stage is that of insects and pests that pose the threat of eating up our carefully tended garden.

Go for organic
Though experts suggest companion gardening to handle pests and insects the natural way, not all of us are familiar with the right combination always. Sometimes, the only way out seems to be pesticides bought off the shelves. If so, it is always advisable to avoid synthetic pesticides and opt for organic pesticides that are now a rage everywhere. A word of caution though - anything that comes with the label ‘organic’ may not be really organic.

As days and weeks roll by tending to our kitchen garden, it’ll be time to reap the fruits of labour. The sense of pride a gardener experiences at this stage is beyond words. Though the numerous steps taken to reach this juncture seem quite long, it’s worth the wait. It’s no less joyous than watching your child grow. Isn’t it about time you picked your gardening gloves too?

Green tips

For the best harvest, give plants full sun, ample water and regular pruning.

Give creepers and climbers good support to help them grow strong.

Go in for seasonal fruits and veggies.

Ensure that the soil is constantly moist.

Luck fruits and veggies as soon as they ripen to avoid rotting.

If your kitchen garden is in pots and containers:

Opt for open holders.

Ensure that the pots have an outlet for excess water to  flow out.

Place mud or plastic plates under the pots to avoid muddy water from staining the floors.

Old, broken mugs and buckets can also hold plants.