Gardening: An attractive kitchen garden can be created even in a small space

Dr. Ashish Srivastava

There is often a big difference in taste between vegetables grown in India and those available in the market. Many times the vegetables available in the market are sprayed with pesticides etc. in abundance. However, with a little effort, vegetables can easily be grown at home without the use of pesticides, which are not only nutritious but also very tasty to eat. Cherry Tomatoes: Tomatoes and Sun Gold tomatoes are easy to grow in tomato pots. Tomato plants need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight, so don't plant them in the shade. The plant starts bearing fruit in 60-70 days after planting, so tie the plant with a support of bamboo sticks so that it does not fall due to the weight of the fruit. Eggplant: Small green eggplant, Indian eggplant, pink round eggplant can be planted in eggplant pots. Keep them in sunlight as they need enough light. Also keep the soil moist. Lettuce: Currently, the trend of using lettuce in the kitchen has increased. The price of this lettuce is also high in the market and it is not easily available. Many varieties of lettuce like lettuce lolo, red rose lettuce, oak lettuce can be planted in pots. Keep them in shade and water them adequately as they require more water to grow. If you are so careful, you can grow enough lettuce in your home kitchen garden. Chillies: Two varieties of chillies sweet pepper and hot pepper can be easily grown in pots. Due to the use of organic fertilizers, these chillies are more spicy and tasty than market chillies. Keep this pot in the sun so that the plant gets enough sunlight. Spinach: Spinach is very beneficial for health. It provides enough nutrients to the body. There are many types of spinach. Savoy spinach and baby spinach can be easily grown at home. Plant or grow them in large pots because their roots are very deep. Keep them in light shade for better growth. If you want, you can install green net. Coriander : To grow coriander seeds, split the dry coriander seeds into two parts and put them in the moist soil of the pot. Then place the pot in a place where it gets enough sunlight for 4-6 hours. (The author is an agricultural scientist and consultant)

Special Tips If you want good plant growth, weed every 15-20 days, so that weeds do not grow around the plant. It is also essential for protection against pests and diseases. So, periodically use organic pesticides, neem oil or cow urine. Mix it with water and spray. Water the plant regularly.