The pole stars of your garden!

In one corner of my garden stands a mango tree, with a patch of betel vine beside it. Numerous branches of this vine climb the tree using their adventitious/aerial roots. They cling like tiny feet to the trunk and branches. As the vine ascends, its leaves grow wider and larger than those near the ground. The betel leaf produces its flowers on inflorescences called “spikes”, a pale white structure about 5–15 cm long, with tiny blossoms arranged along a central axis. I often find myself standing beneath the tree wondering whether it’s a mango or a betel leaf tree!

Just as a child discovers the world through its first wobbly steps, plants too need guidance to reach their full potential. Like the betel leaf vine, many plants benefit from simple supports — bamboo stakes, trellises, or frames placed nearby. You can also use wooden beadings or plumbing pipes to create sturdy frameworks. Nets, tags, and other accessories are readily available in the market, making it easy to customise a structure your plants need.

Among common garden crops, small plants like tomatoes, sunflowers, hollyhocks, and pole beans benefit from a secure support system. Sunflowers are often unsteady at the start. They need a three to four-foot-long pole to hold them together. Tomato plants require strong support. Position a stake next to each young seedling when it’s just a few inches tall. Gently tie the stem to the stake using soft twine or plant clips. As the plant reaches upward, add ties at different heights.

Pruning the lower branches directs the plant’s energy upward, leading to a healthier plant with abundant fruits. When planting several, consider creating a network of stakes woven together with twine.

Sweet pea benefits from an A-frame support draped with a stretched net. Their delicate, curling tendrils are actually modified leaflets. Instead of forming a broad leaf, these leaf coils help the plant cling to a support, enabling the vine to climb upward. I love Vicia faba — broad beans, known locally as chapradavare.

To guide their growth, I created an arch using beading sticks and a net. When I became busy with work and neglected the garden for a few days, the climber seized its chance, reaching over to the nearby Calliandra (Powderpuff) shrub, and spreading itself further. The first harvest was a basket full of beans, which thrilled our hearts.

Most of the climbers have colourful blossoms, making them popular features in any garden. They employ various strategies to reach greater heights.

For example, Clitoria ternatea (Butterfly pea), Pyrostegia venusta (Orange trumpet), and Thunbergia mysorensis are called “twiners” because they coil around supports, much like a snake wrapping itself around a branch. Their grip is so firm that they often leave marks where they cling.

Meanwhile, climbers such as Passiflora (Passion flower) rely on tendrils — tiny, curling filaments that firmly latch onto stems and branches. Once they’ve secured a hold, removing them is tricky, and any disturbance can cause the vine to pause its growth temporarily. Other climbers, like the Garlic vine (Mansoa alliacea), make their presence known through aromatic leaves.

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The author believes gardening is more than just cultivating plants. It’s also about the bees, butterflies, insects, flies, and bugs that make the garden their home. She posts as @all_things_in_my_garden.

Reader query

I love gardening and have a few plants on my balcony. My family and other families in the apartment discourage me from buying more plants, saying it will breed mosquitoes. Is this true?

You’ve raised an important question. As a practising gardener, I’ve learned that plants don’t breed mosquitoes. Also “popular remedies” like marigolds or neem oil will not keep them at bay no matter what those Instagram reels tell you. More reliable steps such as preventing stagnant water, regularly emptying pot trays and investing in self-watering containers to reduce moisture help keep mosquitoes away. If you’re open to it, consider repellent devices that use LED lights or gentle heat. Keep water from pooling, maintain proper drainage, and add a gentle breeze to discourage these pests. A small, quiet fan can also help since mosquitoes are weak fliers. With a bit of effort, you can enjoy your balcony garden in peace without any annoying buzz!

Have a gardening question? Send it to [e-mail] and I’ll do my best to ease your concerns, build your confidence, and help you leave those “black thumb” worries behind.