Organic Terrace Gardening22 FEB 2016

WARNING Gardening is a serious addiction and creates enormous joy and pride beyond description. Your body, mind and soul goes through a fantastic experience which in turn may create jealousy and anxiety in your neighborhood. You may end up talking too much about your plants and create unexpected levels of interest among your friends, family and peers.

Please exercise caution and build this hobby very quickly and sturdily to enjoy life to the fullest.

MythsImposed Excuse: The Space I have very less or no space. How can I grow?

Executive Excuse: The Time. God! It is going to take hell of my time. Forget it.

Intellectual Excuse: The Experience. The cow belongs to the farmer, The Tea estate owned by the TATAs and the ceramic belongs to the earth. Therefore neither the ceramic cup nor the tea with milk in it is mine. In short - gardening is not my cup of tea.

Things to consider | Container / PotSize

Drainage

Material

Pot Materials Conventional

terra-cotta or clay and ceramic

caste concrete

plastic or fiber glass

wood

metals

Pot Materials Un-Conventional

plastic bottles

cans and paper cups, carry home food containers

Rice bags, cardboard boxes

Fruit and vegetable cartons

Cane baskets and many more ..

Preparing your containersDecide where to place the pots

Is it necessary to cover the holes with pot shards?

How does pot size make a difference?

Preparing the potting mixture For vegetables which have up to three months cycle

VermiCompost + CocoPeat/ Sand + Soil – 45 % : 45% : 10 %

For annuals and perennials

VermiCompost + CocoPeat/ Sand + Soil – 1 : 1: 1

Some pointers on Pot sizes 10 inch diameter pots

Larger plants / perennials and annuals. Eg. Lime, Sugarcane, Papaya.

Rice bags/ huge pots / Large Grow Bags Gourds, vines, climbers.

6 inch diameter pots and smaller Leafy greens, Herbs and micro greens. Eg. Corriander, mint, palak.

What about sun light ?Plant type Full shade* Partial shade Full Sun

NO direct sunlight but presence of indirect sunlight

3-4 hours of sunlight 6 -10 hours of sunlight

Vegetables Spinach,Methi, Coriander,Beans, Amaranthus

Beans , beetroot, Mustard greens, radishes

All Gourds,lettuces onion,okra, brinjals, tomatoes

Herbs Parsley,Turmeric, Mint, celery, Basil

*Under trees, in balconies or the shadow of house and trees, not indoor

Filling the pot / containerBe sure your potting mix is uniformly moist

Cover the root ball to the same level as it was when you took the plant from nursery

Prune the plant if necessary after placing it into the pot

Firm the planter mixture gently

Don't fill the pot up to the rim, leave some space for watering and later for composting

Precautions while preparing potso Work outdoors in a well ventilated space.

o Wash your hands thoroughly, change cloths and wash them to avoid asbestos in the VC from entering your house.

Caring your garden Watering ( never let the soil dry out completely).

Mulching & weeding out.

Regular addition of VC / organic fertilizer.

Pest control ( organic way).

Organic Pest Control Grow your pest repellents

Marigold, Garlic, Herbs, Onion.

Organic Pest Spray3 ml Neem Oil + drop of herbal shampoo + 1litre water.Spray in evenings for 2-3 days.

Plant sowing calendar SEED NAME JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

COW-PEA

GINGER

TUMERIC

CHILLIES

GARLIC

CORIANDER

POTATO

ONIONS(FOR BULBS)

ONIONS(FOR SEEDS)

RADISH

CARROT

BEET ROOT

CABBAGE

CALIFLOWER

FENUGREEK

LITTLE GOURD

BOTTLE GOURD

RIDGE GOURD

CUCUBMBER

BITTER GOURD

TOMATO

BRINJAL

LADY'S FINGER

CLUSTER BEAN

How to startMake a list of all vegetables, herbs, and flowers you want to grow.

Prioritize your list and choose the plants suitable for theseason.

Draw out a plan for your space and no of containers.

Decide the type of containers and sizes.

Calculate the soil requirements and mix ingredients.

Place the containers where you have the most sun.

Fill the containers with the soil mix and wait for a week.

Plant the selected seeds maintaining the spacing.

Make sure regular watering and fertilization are taken care off.

Resources Lalbagh / Local Nursery – Seeds / Soil / Containers / Gardening Tools.

Namdari Fresh – Seeds.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrganicTerraceGardening/

Online Containers / Grow Bags – Amazon / Snapdeal Seeds / Saplings – www.nurserylive.com