Before starting anything it’s important to know what exactly you expect from your work. Many of us are passionate about gardening as it is fun and engaging. It helps release stress and rewards bountiful. A home garden is convenient to work on without much hassles and schedule. It’s a sustainable way of producing fresh food and purifying the air around. We closely interact with nature which helps us feel fresh and relax. Today most people reside in apartments where they don’t have much access to gardening. Many enthusiasts practice home gardening using small spaces like window sill & balconies. Any sunlit corner of your house is ideal for growing some veggies or herbs.
- Try to know why do you want to do gardening:
If you are doing because its trending than you better don’t do it. Always try to find a strong reason to do anything even if it’s gardening. Plants require adequate attention and care. We all know the goodness bought by gardening. It increases rainfall, reduces pollution, protects the earth from UV rays and many more. Gardening can be done for self consumption as well as to sell the extra produce. Gardening is a hobby which rewards you with fresh food and sweet fruits.
- Get a right spot:
Now if you have decided to start a backyard or home garden, start by picking a right spot. The spot should get enough sunlight for six to seven hours daily. Few plants may do well with just 4 hours sunlight. Sunlight is very essential for proper plant growth. Your garden should be started at the right spot as per the requirement and availability of sunlight. If you plan to start a backyard garden then you must consider planting fruit saplings too. They attract butterflies & other insects which participate in building a healthy ecosystem. In apartments you may start with small plants like herbs or bonsai. Planting lavender, marigold, aloe Vera, creeping rose etc works well indoors. Plants like tomatoes, spinach, potatoes, basil, mint, sunflower, radishes etc are easier to grow and produce good nutritious food. Some plants thrive well in shade hence it’s advisable to research and plant accordingly. A well planned garden will always grow better and provide consistent harvest. Watering your plants is equally essential hence your garden should have easy watering facility. In backyard gardens we have easy access to water as it can be altered as per our convenience. Use of hose pipes, spray jets and other fixtures felicitates the watering process. Similarly in indoor gardens use of shower buckets or water sprayers proves beneficial. Once the spots are finalized you can go ahead with erecting garden beds or pots, containers etc. This will make the garden look attractive and easy to manage. Once the plants start growing it wont be convenient to maintain your garden effectively. Proper planning will not only help beautify your place but also make things easy to handle and maintain.
- Pick the type:
Now as you have finalised your spot you should proceed with your plant choice. Gardeners may choose vegetable garden, fruit garden, herb garden, flower garden or mixture of all. Here your knowledge about local plants will prove beneficial. The atmosphere and change in climate plays a big role in growth of plants. Locally grown plants have better tolerance to climatic conditions and regional diseases. Plants are classified as annual, biennial and perennial. Annual plants are seasonal, they grow and complete their life cycle in a single growing season or a small specific period then die. Plants like mustard, corn, lettuce wheat, watermelon are few examples of annual plants. Biennial plants may take more than a year or couple of years to complete their life cycle. In the first year stem, roots and leaves develop then in second year they start producing buds, flowers or small fruits and then die. Plants like spinach, carrots, onion, cabbage, petunias radish are some examples of biennial plants. Perennial plants are the ones that live long. They produce fruits flowers even after two years and keep regenerating. Plants like rose, hibiscus, milli, lantana, ixora, bougainvillea, tomatoes etc are the examples of perennial plants.
- Get the proper soil:
Plants need proper soil to grow. Your local nursery can provide nutrient rich organic soil. You may start making your compost and add to the soil when required. This will enrich the soil even further. You should determine your soil texture, good soil should easily shovel and crumble with your hands. The pH of the soil must be appropriate for the growth of the seeds and plants you intend to grow. A pH metre can be used to check the soil pH. The pH of soil can be altered as per your plant requirement however it will need expert advice and guidance. Food scraps and peels make very good compost. This compost can be easily made at home using compost bins. Compost provides nutrients, makes the soil fluffier and keeps it well aerated. This enhances root growth and helps draining excess water.
- Grab a few basic gardening tools:
Must have: Every gardener should have basic tools and safety gear. Gardening gloves and shoes are important while working on soil and plants. Basic tools include pruning scissors, hand shovel etc. Pruning is an important gardening activity hence use of optimum tools is recommended. Trimming dead parts of the plant helps in better growth.
Digging tools: Gardening involves lot of cleaning, scrapping and digging. Gardeners need digging tools like trowel, spade, garden fork etc. Trowel, spade are used for digging holes whereas garden fork helps in breaking clumps of soil. These tools are essential for maintaining and cleaning dead roots or weeds from your soil.
Watering tools: The best tools for watering your plants are garden hose or watering can. Other watering tools like spray jets can also be used for water conservation specially while watering over garden beds. Large areas can be watered using sprinklers. Pipes can be used for supplying water to these sprinklers. Home gardeners can use water cans or sprayers as container plants don’t need much water.
- Make a plan:
Planning: Now that you have decided which plants to grow, do decide their places before you plant them. As discussed above few plants need more sunlight while others grow well in partial sunlight or even in shade.
Organizing: Its human nature to forget things so it’s advisable to label plants on pots or beside the pot. This will help monitor and observe them better. Watering and other processes can also be executed effectively if your garden is organized.
- Plant do require care:
Once you have planted the seeds you should take utmost care. Once the seedlings are out they are extremely vulnerable to diseases and pests. Watering should also be regulated as and when required. Avoid watering with pressure as this may cause damages by weakening the plant roots. Sprinkling water such that it moistens the soil is enough. Providing regulated dose of proper plant nutrients will enhance its growth. Once the plant starts growing it will shed its seedling leaves. Trim your plants once a month depending on its growth. Trimming plants increases air circulation in them which result in better growth of it. However over trimming should be strictly avoided.
- Nurture with organic fertilizers:
Don’t dump your wet waste as it can be a great organic fertilizer for your plant if you follow the right procedure. The wet waste of your kitchen is much better than other chemical fertilizers available commercially. Organic waste is completely natural hence it won’t cause any damage to your plants. Sprinkle organic pesticides on plants to protect them from insects. Always use organic soil, compost, fertilizers, pesticides and even seeds. Organic products can be easily produced at home using kitchen scraps, peelings and other organic waste. Compost piles can be started in your garden side or it can also be done using compost bins. Using organic products will aide in developing a healthy ecosystem throughout your garden. This will attract beneficial microbes, insects etc which will also attract natural predators. All of these organisms will live their life cycle and continue to enrich your garden soil. Excess dosage of organic fertilizers may damage the plant completely hence it’s use should be regulated. Weeding is also necessary for proper upkeep of your garden.
- Do get some mulch:
Depending upon the type of plant you are growing you may consider mulching. This helps in keeping plants healthy protecting against soil erosion. Mulching also helps in keeping weed away and keeps soil moisture intact.
- Pruning your plants:
You won’t see most gardeners trimming their beautiful plants, but pruning helps in keeping plants healthy and encourages new growth. You should study well what type of plants require regular pruning and what type requires seasonal trimming. For instance, flowering and fruiting plants prefer to be pruned in late winter or early spring. Few plants even require regular pruning. So, get your scissors or cutters in place.
- Be consistent:
Consistency will always prove beneficial. Gardening is enjoyable only if you are consistent. Plants are living things and they need care. Plants will grow healthy with dedication and interest. Schedule your gardening in ways which are consistent. Though plants don’t need constant attention still they need to be watched. With consistent efforts your garden will bloom and produce delicious fruits.
- Changing the pot:
Now, as your plants grow you may have to change their pots or containers as it may require more space as the root grows. Be very careful while changing pots as rough handling may cause severe damages. Carefully remove the plant without damaging the roots. Once transplanted your plant may take some time to adjust. Once it has lived the initial days your plant will thrive. Any kind of haste should be avoided as the plant may die due to improper management.
Few plants which you can get started with:
- Microgreens:
They grow quickly. In 7-10 days, they are big enough to harvest. Once harvested it will regrow.
- Coriander:
This versatile herb used in various cuisines can be easily grown as they germinate within 7-10 days.
- Tomatoes:
Since, tomatoes are easily available you don’t even need to grab the seeds. Just bury a slice of tomato in the soil and see them grow. They are ready to harvest within 3 to 4 months.
- Green onions:
Green onions are very easy to grow. Cut off the top of an onion and plant it under the sun. Within few days fresh green onions would be ready to harvest and regrow.
Likewise, there are many other plants that can be grown indoors. You can be a proud home gardener earlier than you think.
Gardening with love and care will make your plants healthy. A beautiful healthy garden will provide you healthy harvest and make your experience pleasurable. So start by preparing, sowing, growing, harvesting and then again regrown. Good luck gardeners!!