tips for a kitchen garden
Back in Kuwait, we had a few plants in our balcony. It consisted of only flowering plants grown with seeds purchased from the supermarket (jamaiya). They grew, they flowered and then they died. We dismissed it thinking they were contaminated seeds and left them behind when we shifted to another house. I didn’t dream I would ever have a kitchen garden someday.
After I became a mother to two babies, my friends inspired me to have a green balcony. One told me to fill my huge balcony with garden decoration. Though I thought it was an awesome idea, I did nothing about it at the time. Another friend said that having plants around was beneficial in many ways and insisted that I kept the small Aloe Vera plant she gifted me for two reasons: it purified the air and I did not have to water it regularly. Yet another friend gave me a Tulsi plant (both perished after a while). Then when some friends left our apartment complex, they gave me another huge Aloe Vera plant, Snake plant, a Hibiscus plant, Money plants, Basil plants, Jasmine plants, Lemongrass and more.
Looking at me do the sowing, shifting of pots and watering by myself, the husband felt the urge to buy a number of flowering and fruiting plants to make the garden colourful. In the midst of this, my mom came on a holiday and encouraged me to sow seeds of tomato, chilli, mint, avocado, Malabar spinach (valchi bhaji/basale) and more. Some thrived, some died, some gave fruit and then died.
While I was excited to plant every seed I got my hands on, some birds thought it was their birthright to destroy the little sprouts peeping out of the mud. They also plucked at the leaves of the big plants. So, we covered the whole balcony with a nylon net in order to keep the pesky pigeons and monkeys away. Slowly, my one plant balcony tuned into a mini garden.
Here is how we take care of our small but flourishing kitchen garden:
You can always start with simple air purifying plants that do not need a lot of care. Then slowly grow plants from the seeds of vegetables you are consuming anyway. And you will notice the fruits in your garden are way smaller than the ones you get from the markets. So, you know that it’s healthy and not artificially induced.
Unless you have a garden to yourself, planting fruit trees won’t be possible but you can always plant the seeds just to see it germinate and click pictures of the beautiful leaves. I loved the shape of the leaves of the bitter gourd (karela) plant but it just gave one fruit and died. I’m surely trying to grow it again with better care.
12 air purifying plants for your home
You can use Aloe Vera is several ways – Head to toe!
Once you have your plants sorted out, you can go ahead and decorate it. I haven’t decorated the garden but I’m planning to get stools for my plants so we can clean the balcony without shifting or harming the plants. Also, more decoration for colour. What do you think? Do you have a garden? How do you maintain it?
This blog is a part of the #LBWP – Let’s Blog with Pri, Season 2. You can check out the various ways to use fenugreek seeds in Surbhi’s blog here and 15 must-have foods during the Monsoons in Arti’s blog here. Enjoy!
HOW TO MAKE COMPOST AT HOME? CLICK TO KNOW MORE
56 Comments
I love gardening. I’ve grown bitter gourd and lady finger in my terrace. Planning to plant tomato plants. These tips is going to help me a lot
Wow bitter gourd grew well? I’ll try that again…
I love people who do to gardening because my mama is a big fan of kitchen garden and she does Chilli and tomatoes and coriander and I will definitely give this tips to her
These are such beautiful tips you have shared. Right now BLR weather is such that it’s not quite good for tomato or chili! Both my plants died. Now I am growing potatoes!
Wow potatoes !!! Let me look into it…
I too have a small kitchen garden in my place and my loved ones are the coriander and mint, they just make me so happy with all the greens. Reading your posts, I am so motivated to get some more green babies soon!
We have this love for gardening Cindy and yes I too have figured out after a lot of hit and trial how much to water, how much sunlight etc is needed by every plant
OH I never thought it did. LOved your ideas on home gardening. I am a big fan of green thumb and I’ll try growing the chillis next now
You have such a lovely home garden. I’ve been trying and growing my own greens too. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Chillies have grown well. Takes some experience.
Home gardening is not easy! We have a huge Terrace garden with almost all vegetables , but the care plants need is immense! Good to know these tips!
Wow would love to see your garden!
I had been planning on starting my own home garden and all of these pointers are going to be super helpful.
Very informative post, Though I love having plants in my house but Didn’t get enough time to take care. But planning to have some home grown vegetables now as I have plenty of time now.
Yup, never too late to start!!
I just love to grow veggies at home but somehow it’s not getting done nowadays…Loved the way you have done this and shared the tips
I have also started a small kitchen garden. And make my own compost for it. I am sure to be successful with your help and tips
I love home gardening and your points are so helpful on this. I must say you have a beautiful home garden .
This is such a lovely post. My mom has a terrace garden where she grows various vegetables like bottle gourd, bitter gourd, okra, chili, beetroot, beans, eggplant, ridge gourd, tomatoes, fenugreek & coriander. She inspired me to have my own small garden in the balcony. Though I am not growing veggies the greenery is what keeps me happy. I have also written a post on it – http://growingwithnemit.com/balcony-garden-boring-into-interesting-garden/
Gardening is so satisfying. Nothing can replace the feeling of seeing your plants blossom and grow. Thank you for this wonderful post. Will follow your tips – they are really useful
We do have some plants in our backyard. And it feels so satisfying to consume home grown vegetables. Whenever I pluck fresh mint leaves for chutney, that happiness is different.
I started adding chillies to my salad only because they are grown in my garden 😁
Wow Cindy ty dear for information looks great even I am planning for home Garden .. And I already have mint and tomatoes… Definitely will be planting for chillis..
You have a lovely balcony garden Cindy. Will use these tips for my kitchen sproutlings.
My husband is equally enthusiastic about the home garden like you. He loves his plants like kids and now our kid is following the same steps. For me, having greenery in the house adds calm and fresh air. Looking at the blossoming flowers makes everyone happy! Great tips to maintain home garden.
I have made it a ritual to water my Tulsi plant. It refreshes my mind a lot. Never knew about chilli plant and such planting facts.
Complete coincidence that I planted my first one today.
#tmmreads
Great post Cindy… even I have done up my kitchen garden with lods of love and care and now I’ve basil, lemon, chillies, aloe and mint leaves growing beautifully.
This is such an inspiring post.. Now I am definitely planning a mini garden on terrace where I can plant some beautiful roses and some of favorite vegetables 😍. Thankyou for sharing such awesome gardening tips.. saving your post and sharing further with my friends
Thank you so much. Do click pix and send to me.
Do the air-purifying plants really work? I like how these look but sceptical regarding their efficiency.
It’s NASA approved so it should be good for the air to some extent.
This will come handy for me as I am planning to start one of my own.
Awesome. Do send me pictures.
I have always wanted to help my mom in gardening but I have never been motivated enough. Your post has triggered enthusiasm and now I feel I should help her taking care of her plants.
Wow I loved your post its so detailed and handy for new beginners .I too love gardening and do kitchen gardening too.
I love the idea of a green garden and kitchen garden it is interesting to read about your experience in journey and notes
This is super helpful as I am thinking of setting up a kitchen garden at our new home. And I have started to research on the plants that I can keep and how much sunlight is required for each of the plants.
Glad to be of help dear.
Thanks for sharing an amazing post for people like me who have no knowledge about plants and how.one should take care.
Im not that good at gardening and the tips you have put down break it down into simple things to follow. Wil surely try them.
Yeah just needs care that’s all.
Must i say im crushing over your Kitchen Garden; i am an enthusiast taking slow steps into Gardening & need To say i got a lot if information about it.
Yeah its pretty easy if you know the dos and donts.
What a detailed list of must reads and tips for those with home gardens. So well detailed and compiled . Great work
You actually have a great garden. I loved your pick for the beautiful plants.
Thank you so much.
Loved the post. I have hibiscus, money & aloe Vera & at my mom home chilli & tomatoes.
wow loved the post. we are also planning to have a kitchen garden and i was telling my husband that we need to do some research before planting. after reading your post, got an idea that we need to take care of various factors. thanks for sharing useful tips.
I’m sure your garden will flourish! All the best.
I so wish to have a home garden and lot to learn from you. These gardening tips I am going to implement for sure.
You can start small.
I am so happy to read this post…more so bcos I have lots of aloe vera and Money plant in my house that cleans the air…. Great tips on home gardening
Thank you so much.
My green chilli plant has grown considerably still no fruit, will try tips from your blog. I love to have a small vegetable garden in my balcony.
Yes, depending on the type of chillies, they take their own time.
This is just amazing 😍😍I want to start a home garden but i know nothing. This is very helpful!