Have you presumed gardening is too tough? Poonam Wadhwa from Ludhiana is asking you to reconsider. “It’s simple if you know what to grow,” she points out. Her terrace is proof. Coloured with vegetables, flowers, fruits and herbs — which find their way into the food — the garden has been nurtured by Poonam for five years now. A childhood fondness for plants led her to revisit her green exploits after marriage. “There was always the feeling that something was missing. The minute I added plants to my terrace, it felt right,” she smiles.
If you’re wondering when to begin, Poonam says the time is ripe. Summer is ideal to start a garden, grow luscious veggies and fruits and channel their flavours into salads. As for what you should attempt to grow, here are some ideas:
1. Chillies
Plump, vibrant, vivacious chillies pair well with any dish. And you can now grow them on your terrace! Sharing a few of her trade secrets, Poonam advises spraying the plant with neem oil every fortnight. Judicious watering can also work wonders. “Chillies are summer friendly plants and can thrive throughout the year. But in peak summers, you need to watch the amount of water you are giving them.”
When people wonder why their plants did not bear fruit (chillies) despite flowering, Poonam advises them to control the watering. “Excessive watering makes the flowers drop. Then there won’t be any chillies.”
2. Capsicums
Poonam’s harvest basket is a treat to both the eyes and the palate. While easy to grow, some tips will ensure that you get that juicy capsicum harvest you’re looking for. These include exposing the plants to six hours of direct sunlight and keeping a close check for any signs of leaf curl. “Capsicums are actually easy plants to grow. Unlike plants such as lettuce, where growing from a seed requires attentive care, capsicums are easy.”
The green capsicums require less maintenance than their ripened forms (yellow and red capsicums or bell peppers). The latter only develops 25 days after the green version has fruited. “During this time you must protect the plant from high temperature and humidity,” Poonam notes.
3. Bitter gourd
“On both my terrace and my father’s, we have a variety of veggies flourishing. Mint and chillies are year-round companions, while tomatoes may pose challenges in peak summers, particularly in North India. However, it’s a great time to grow other vegetables such as bitter gourd, pumpkins, gourds, okra (lady’s fingers), and capsicums. These vegetables thrive in the current season and offer a delightful addition to your home garden,” Poonam writes in one post on Instagram.
She is admittedly partial to growing the bitter gourd. “These plants are not prone to pest attack because of the smell the leaves give off,” she shares. Her only disclaimer is that the creeper should be given ample space to thrive and grow.
4. Barbados cherry
Once you plant the Barbados cherry tree, you’re laying the seed to an ecosystem. Poonam testifies. “I have seen bees, birds, butterflies, and insects come to my garden. The first cherry that fruited was eaten by one of the birds.” She adds, “I also had a sparrow and dove build their nests in my garden after I planted the tree. It’s a beautiful feeling when the birds choose your home to build their homes.”
But aside from the bright red fruit being a compelling draw for birds, the Barbados cherry proves easy to grow.
5. Mulberry
“One of the easiest fruit plants to grow, hands down,” Poonam says. “They don’t need any excessive care. They just need some time. Fertilise them once a month and prune them (and all your fruit plants) in March and they will thrive.”
Pro tip: Poonam wards off pests by spraying the plants with sour diluted buttermilk.
That being said, you can access more gardening tips by Poonam, here.
The garden is where she has enjoyed peace, she concludes. “So will you once you start.”
Edited by Megha Chowdhury
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