CHENNAI: Gardening isn't as easy as it seems. It's not just about digging a hole and dropping a seed in. It requires a lot more effort and time, which is how one can ensure good yield and healthy plants. Here are some basic tips for beginners.
Sowing
Usually, a beginner does not use all the seeds in the packet. So its a good idea to sow 2-3 seeds at once, so that at least one of them will germinate. Transplanting
When you transplant a sapling into the final container/pot, place a handful of cow dung before placing the sapling. This will give the plant an extra dose of nutrition. It is generally advised not to transplant root-based veggie plants such as beets, radish and carrot. These should be sown directly in the final container. Similarly, seeds of delicate plants like methi, coriander, palak and kale should be sown by scattering the seeds.
Pests
I usually suggest using just a jet of plain tap water from the hose pipe to thoroughly clean up affected areas of the plant. If the problem persists, use a concoction of 20ml neem oil + 1 litre water + 5 drops of dish wash liquid.
Nursery
One common complaint is that nursery bought plants dry up or die. Usually, nursery folk add chemical fertilizers so that their plants/saplings are 'sell-able'. Over a period of 1-2 weeks, the power of these chemicals wears out. That is when the plants start drying up and die. It is advisable to re-pot soon after buying them. Remove the old soil as much as you can around the roots without disturbing/exposing them, add organic compost and place it back in the pot.
Drainage holes
Every pot used for growing veggies / flowers needs drainage hole(s). Pots for succulents/cactii do not need a drainage hole, but very limited and controlled watering, mainly because they grow just with the moisture available in the air. Pots for orchids need more drainage holes, since there should be hardly any water content around the roots.
Companion planting
This is a concept where two or more plants are grown in the same container, and one plant helps the other. For example, you can grow 2-3 onion plants in the same pot along with tomato, so that the strong smell of the onion stalks keeps pests away from the tomato plant. In general, adding a tulsi plant and/or a marigold plant helps in keeping pests away.
Space utilisation
Usually, in a pot/container of size 12+ inches, one plant of either tomato, brinjal or chilly is grown. Since there is only one stem coming out of the potting mix, the rest of the surface area is not used. One can grow quick growing plants like methi, coriander in this space. Do take due precaution, as these delicate and small plants need very careful watering in their earlier growing stages.
Composting
In aerobic composting, it is important to maintain the right moisture levels. If moisture is less, the microbes will not survive due to excess heat. Too much moisture, and it will give rise to maggots. Maggots are not harmful and they do help in the composting process, but they add to the 'eeww' factor. Over a period of time and experience, you will learn the nuances of aerobic composting. In case of high moisture content in the composting bin, you can add more browns, like grass clippings, dry leaves, cocopeat, shredded newspaper/cardboard. Basically, something that will soak up the excess moisture. Avoid adding kitchen waste for a few days and keep monitoring the bin.
Caterpillar
On an average, a terrace garden maintained by a decently well-established gardener, has about 100+ containers, covering vegetables, greens, herbs, flowers, etc. This creates a micro natural environment by itself, and if one is lucky, various insect and small birds become a part of this. The first sighting is usually the green coloured caterpillar. Though these caterpillars chomp off the leaves, once the caterpillar completes its growth cycle, it helps the plant bounce back with more vigour. It's a good idea to learn by observing, especially to show kids how a butterfly emerges.
Micro natural ecology
Garden creates a micro natural environment and various insects and small birds may become a part of it. The first sighting is usually a caterpillar. Though it chomps off the leaves, once it completes its growth cycle, it helps the plant bounce back with more vigour.