The flavour of fresh vegetables

It's December, the time of the year to setup kitchen garden of your own by utilizing backyard space, balcony, or kitchen windowsill. It is easy to start with growing herbs and leafy vegetables in containers or pots. Containers make it easier for you to control the soil, light, water, and fertilizer. Growing plants in containers also allow you to control weeds and pests easily.
There is nothing more satisfying and simple than enjoying the garden fresh flavour. The flavour of fresh garden vegetables is better than veggies that have been sitting for days at the grocery shops. Here is our quick guide for the beginner vegetable gardeners.
Pot selection:
The right selection of pot is important for the growth of plants. Drainage, porosity, and weight are three main features to consider before the selection of the pot. A pot should have a proper hole to ensure drainage of excess water and to ensure sufficient oxygen supply to plants. Although various types of pots are available at plant nurseries, clay pots are considered best for kitchen gardening. These pots have tiny pores to facilitate movement of air and moisture around the roots of the plant.
The disadvantage with clay pot is that it dries out very quickly So before planting anything in them , it is better to soak it overnight, because dry pot absorbs great amounts of moisture from the soil.
If you like, lightweight, flexible, and durable pots then plastic pots are best option. Plastic pots have variety of colours, shapes, and sizes. They can add ornamental value of your kitchen's windowsill and balcony. Plants in plastic pots require less amount of water because they hold water almost twice as long as clay pots. Plastic containers have disadvantage of fading colour because of sunrays. Further, dark coloured pots tend to wilt the plant. Lettuce, spinach and other greens have shallow root systems and thus do well in longer, flat containers.
Soil preparation: A well-prepared pot with fresh soil helps plant to thrive successfully. Soil provides the food, your plants need for healthy growth and development. The right mix of soil requires regular soil, compost coir peat (or sand) and vermicompost in equal quantities. It should be free from stones. You can get the prepared soil from the nurseries as well. To improve nutrition value of the soil adds organic matter such as homemade compost, and leaf mold.
Roots need to travel through the soil to access available nutrients, which are essential to plant growth. If the soil is thick and flattened, much of the plant's available energy is directed to the struggling roots. By lightening the soil, you will facilitate root growth and as a result vegetative growth.
Seed matters: Spinach, mustered, coriander, tomatoes are grown from seeds. Plants like tomatoes and chilies are easier to grow and do not require much care. Good quality seeds ensure satisfactory germination of plants. Moisten the soil in the containers before sowing the seeds. Drop seeds onto the surface of the soil, spacing them as evenly as possible (2/4 seeds per pot). Larger type seeds may be placed individually in the row.
Seeds are very sensitive to the amount of water they receive. Too much water or too little water will greatly affect the germination process. Cover seed containers with plastic or place them inside a plastic bag to keep the moisture levels constant. Remove the cover when the seeds have germinated to prevent plant diseases such as damping off. Use scissors to snip off only the largest leaves and you can keep your harvest going for several weeks. Then pull out the plants and re-sow.
Insect or pest control: It is important to keep the veggies pest and insect free. To deal with pest never use chemicals, instead, give preference to natural pest control sprays. For example, water boiled with neem leaves can be sprayed to keep insects at bay. Garlic/chili-based spray is effective for small sucking insects such as aphids as well as caterpillars. Combine crushed garlic and chili (powdered chili will do if you do not have fresh) with one tablespoon of vegetable oil and a small amount of dishwashing liquid or soap flakes.
Choosing plants: Coriander: Sow your coriander seeds just before the onset of winter to have a healthy yield all through winter. Crush a handful of coriander seeds from your spice jar, spread it evenly in a pot, and cover lightly with soil. Drench the soil regularly until you find signs of germination. The seeds germinate quite fast; however, Make sure that the soil never dries out, as coriander does not like drought-like conditions.
Mint leaves: Homegrown pudina is fragrant, flavourful, tastes better than what you get in the market. The best time to plant is late in the day or in the evening after sunset. Before planting the stalks, keep the stems in a glass of water. Before planting wet the soil. Plant some stalks in an independent pot to yield a lush plant. Sprinkle water well after planting. Make sure you do not over water the plant.
Fenugreek: Methi grows best in winters. Sow the seeds before the onset of winter by spacing them out in a pot. Cover lightly with soil. Sprinkle and drench the soil generously with water and soon you will find signs of germination. In a couple of weeks, the tiny seedlings will mature into pretty bunches.
Spinach: Spinach is a very easy to grow leafy green vegetable. The seeds are big and thus, very convenient to handle. Sow them in a deep container and space out the seeds - sow one or 2 seeds at a time. The seeds germinate fast. Scattering too many seeds will result in crowding /bunching and the young plants will soon die of suffocation.
Dill/ soya: One of the easiest herbs to grow, dill can be cultivated in containers. Sprinkle seeds over your soil-filled container and cover them with a light dusting of potting soil. Keep the soil moist; the seeds will germinate in a few days. Seeds take up to three weeks to germinate. Dill dislikes being transplanted, and is best sown directly. Dill likes well-drained, sunny spots and shelter from wind. Use stalks to lend support to the plant.
Lettuce: The green leaves of lettuce need a consistent supply of moisture, as they are almost 95 percent water but cannot tolerate wet roots. A clay pot provides a permeable surface that can evaporate any excess water and prevent soggy roots. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes in whatever container you chose.
Usually the lettuce seeds take 3-5 days to germinate and will have light green leaves. Once the germination begins, the lettuce saplings need more sunlight for at least 3-4 hours in the morning. If they do not get this, they will tend to become lanky and will tend to be weaker and susceptible to excessive shock while transplanting.
Cherry tomatoes: These small round, bite size and red variety of tomatoes are easy to grow, and Beginners can grow cherry tomatoes in pots with great success. Seeds and seedlings can be purchased from a nursery. You should dig a small hole into the center of the soil of a container. Put the seed into the hole. Planting from seedling requires inserting it deep enough in the hole so that only four or five leaves are left showing once the hole is covered. The seeds should be completely covered, and the seedling should only be showing about four leaves. Make sure the surface of the soil is even when you have finished covering. Choose a spot with easy access so you can monitor containers regularly, water plants and check for pests. Keep in mind that tomatoes need 6-8 hours of full sun a day.