Tips for growing healthy vegetables in pots

Nowadays, at times it becomes difficult to get organic, nutritional and healthy vegetables. At market we may get vegetables having pesticides and which may wilt fast. To get fresh healthy vegetables, we can grow some vegetables in pots in our balcony or roof top. Beside which vegetables to grow, it is necessary to know what all is required to start with. Following are some tips which would help you in making a healthy start of growing vegetables at home.

·         First thing to decide is what to plant. Keep in mind which vegetables are mostly consumed in the family. Start small and work your way up as you gain knowledge.

·         There are 2 types of vegetables: short term (harvested in 1 to 1.5 months and long term (harvested in 2-3 months).

Short-term vegetables:

Spinach, methi, coriander, mint, lettuce, radish

Long-term vegetables

Tomatoes, brinjal, capsicum, chilly, cauliflower, cabbage

·         Sunlight – Most of the vegetables need 5-6 hours of sunlight. For locations which receive 4 hours or less sunlight, salad greens can be the option. Fruiting plants like tomatoes, brinjals can be placed in south or west facing balconies.

·         Soil – Do not use ordinary soil alone, but a mixture of top soil/red soil, cocopeat and vermicompost or manure in equal quantities. You can get potting ready mix also.

·         Water – It would be easy to water the plants if they are placed near a water source. Watering should be done either in the morning around 8 am or in the evening around 4 pm. In summers can water the plants two times if required. Avoid overhead watering. Wet leaves and stems are more prone to diseases.

·         Size of the container – For leafy greens and salads, a container with 12” diameter and 10-12” height is recommended. This can grow about 3-4 plants. For bigger plants like tomatoes, brinjals, chillies a container of 12” diameter and 12” height is enough for a single plant. 

·         Budget – Plan your budget for your kitchen garden. It can be from zero to several thousands of rupees. A container filled with potting mix can cost between Rs. 200 to Rs. 400, depending on size and quality of the container.

·         Type of container – It should have at least one drainage hole to easily drain out the water. The container can be of terracotta, which is eco friendly. But if weight is an issue, you can use plastic or wooden ones. Grow bags can also be a good alternative. They are light enough to be moved around.

·         A handful of manure or compost should be added once in 10-15days to keep the soil healthy.

·         Seed sowing – For germination, the seeds need to be sown at the right depth. The thumb rule is, the seeds need to be buried twice as deep as they are wide. As soon as the seeds germinate, they must be exposed to sunlight.

·         Pruning – Pruning is not necessary unless plants are grown very close. Prune tangling branches that are blocking the air flow and penetration of the sun. Also, remove emerging stems up to 6-8 inches under each plant. This will improve the productivity of the plant.

·         Pests – Identify pests by checking hole/cuts in the leaves. Most pests can be controlled by using neem oil spray. Mix well 10 ml of neem oil in 1 liter of water, plus 5 ml of liquid dish-washing soap.  This spray has to be applied weekly only, on both sides of the leaves.

·         Tools – Sooner or later, you will need a set of garden tools to weed, mix the soil, prune the plants. Always wear gloves before you put your hands in the soil.

·         You can start with these 5 vegetables to grow in containers/pots all round the year. Coriander, mint, beans, tomato, chili/peppers/capsicum.

Sources: Organic farming blog by Geekgardener.

 Happy gardening!