Home Gardening In India, How To Start, Tips, Ideas

Introduction on how to start home gardening in India, types of home gardening, Ideas, tips and techniques: Home Gardening can be called the process of growing plants and taking care of them in your own home for several purposes. Gardening can be considered an art and science. Gardening is encompassing the principles and methods of plant cultivation. It requires gardening knowledge, maintenance skills, ongoing nurturing of plants, and consistent improvement. In this section we also covered the below topics about home gardening in India;

• Gardening tips for beginners in India
• How to start a garden
• Steps to start gardening for beginners
• Home gardening tips and ideas to grow more plants
• How can I improve my gardening at home
• How do you start a home garden for beginners
• Good gardening tips for beginners

Starting to build a home garden can be an easy process. It all starts with you keep growing, it transforms into a beautiful garden with flowers, fruit trees, vegetable beds, raised beds, and garden art. Growing your vegetable plants can be fun as well as rewarding. All you want to get started is some decent soil and few plants and this way you provide fresh healthy vegetables. But if you want to become a professional vegetable gardener then you will have to learn and understand what it takes to keep plants healthy as well as strong. A good home gardening plan can include selecting the right location, determining the garden size, deciding upon the types and varieties of plants. Growing vegetables, fruits, berries, and herb plants have become increasingly popular for many people.

A guide on how to start home gardening in India, types of home gardening, Ideas, tips and techniques

Home gardening is good for a great many things. It’s a great method to relieve stress, set goals for you, and nurture something. Vegetable gardening is very rewarding particularly if you plant the right plants. Homegrown food is very healthy and different from store-bought food, and that is much easier to see when you’re used to homegrown veggies and go back to store-bought.

Home gardens have been identified as a strategy to enhance nutrition and household food security. It is an integral part of local food systems and the agricultural landscape of developing countries all over the world and that is widely adopted in various areas by local communities with limited resources and institutional support. These are an important part of the local tradition and values in most cultures around the world.

It refers to the cultivation of a small portion of land which can be around the household or within working distance from the family home. The practice is about making use of that small piece of land to cultivate a few essential farms produce to meet your family’s food needs. It mainly involves a mixed cropping system that includes vegetables, fruits, plantation crops, spices and herbs, ornamental and medicinal plants, and livestock that can produce supplementary income and food to the household.

Types of home gardening

Now that you know the history and the importance of home gardening, you can be thinking about the space in your home and the type of garden suitable for it. Different variety of gardens and plants can be customized to your backyard and the environment that you live in.

Here we discussed some of the types of home gardens;

Vegetable/Kitchen Gardening in India

Most vegetable plants need 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. There are a few vegetables mostly leafy vegetables that will tolerate some shade. This is a pocket-friendly measure to reduce monthly expenses.

Kitchen gardening is the process of growing several plants in the backyard by using kitchen wastewater. It is a structured garden space to grow vegetables and herbs for kitchen use. 

Flower Gardening in India

Flower gardening is another widespread type preferred for its aesthetic appeal. A flower garden is also called a floral garden, it is any garden where flowers are grown and displayed. For a successful flower garden, select the right location is another key factor. Many of the most beautiful flowers in the home garden are annuals, meaning they need to be planted every year. Trees, shrubs, and vines are all important additions to help give a garden architecture.

Raised Bed Gardening in India

In case if you miss this: How To Start Agriculture Business In India.

Raised bed gardening mainly involves growing plants in soil that is higher than the ground. A raised bed does not have to be deep to be effective and about 8 to 12 inches is usually adequate. Usually, vegetable beds must be 12 to 18 inches deep. Raised beds mainly provide you control over the health of the soil in which you are growing your plants. It is the best option if the soil conditions are not ideal. This home garden needs a little room and experimenting. The main supplies for these raised bed gardens are topsoil, compost, seeds, grass clippings, water, and a hand tiller. The Raised bed gardening setup cost is a little costlier than the other types. Plants that grow in raised bed gardening are Broccoli, Beans, Spinach, Pumpkins, and Asparagus, etc.

The Window Box Gardening in India

The main supplies for window box gardening are a window box or a hanging box, garden soil, seeds, and water. This home garden is cost-effective. These are simple but effective ways to add visual interest to your home. These are popularly grown by residents who don’t have access to a garden or a roof to grow plants. It can be made of wood, brick, metal, fiberglass, vinyl, and cellular PVC, with wood being a popular material of choice. Select a location for the window box which is wide and receives at least 3 to 4 hours of daily sunlight.

For window box gardening, easy-growing flowers are Angelwing Begonia, Purple Passion Plant, Coleus, Hoya, Swedish Ivy, Wandering Jew, and Gardenia among other types of small-sized annuals or perennial plants.

Perfect Window Box Vegetables are Lettuce, Spinach, Radish, Carrots, Chives, Bush Beans, Tomatoes, Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, and Spinach.

Perfect Window Box Herbs are Basil, Bay leaf, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, and Thyme.

Tire gardening in India

You can recycle old used tires from vehicles to create flower beds. This is a simple method to recycle tires in an aesthetic yet straightforward way. Tires can be used to plant herbs, small flowers, and also some vegetables that do not root deeply. It is the art of reusing worn-out tires to make beautiful garden structures.

Hydroponic gardening in India

How about this: Fast Growing Vegetables.

Hydroponic is a process for growing plants without using soil, but instead of soil, we are using water and nutrients. Hydroponics is soil-less, water-based farming process. Hydroponic plants are fed nutrient-rich water, negating a lot of the baggage that comes with soil-based systems. Hydroponics system requires far less space compared to plants grown in soil.

The benefits of Hydroponics are;

• Maximizes Space
• Conserves Water
• Facilitates a Micro-Climate
• Produces Higher Yields
• Require Less Labor
• Needs No Soil
• Produces Higher Quality Food
• Reduces Supply Chain

Container gardening in India

Container gardening is also called pot gardening. It is the process of growing plants in containers instead of planting them in the ground. It can take the form of a pot, box, tub, basket, or hanging basket. It is an easy way to grow vegetables when you lack yard space. Basil, chives, thyme, and other plants also are happily growing in pots.

Container gardens are convenient for people who don’t have the space to plant big gardens. It is the best type of one that has limited space. The supplies that one needs for this garden is seeds, containers, gardening soil, water, rake to place the containers, and compost. Some vegetables like Carrots, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Lettuce, and many more grow well in containers.

Wall/Vertical Gardening in India

Vertical gardens are the latest trend nowadays and it is very profitable. These vertical structures can be freestanding or attached to a wall. These are a wonderful alternative to potted plants in the office space.

Steps to start home garden in India

If you’re new to gardening, start building your home garden with some easy steps;

Learn your environment for a successful home garden

Many people choose a spot, start planting, and wait for food to grow. Plants have some preferences though, and gardeners shouldn’t ignore them. Before you start home gardening in India, you must analyze your location and consider what kind of plants you’re trying to grow. Check catalog descriptions for details on ideal conditions for sunlight, water, and planting zones, etc.

Choose a location to start your home gardening

It is better to take small steps towards big wins in home gardening. Choose a small space to start building your garden. Ensure that the selected space receives 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight. Avoid a place that receives strong winds, it can knock over your young and budding plants. Think about the accessibility of your garden space for watering, picking, and caring for your garden plants.

Most plants need full sun, with a minimum of 5 hours of direct sunlight. Greens, herbs, flowers, and root vegetables will grow in partial shade. Northern gardens likely need all the sun they can get, whereas southern gardens can benefit from late afternoon shade. Carefully think about how you will access the home garden for picking, watering, and caring for your plants.

Good size of the home garden

Start a small garden is helpful for many people. One of the common mistakes made by new gardeners is making the garden too big. If the home garden is small, you will simply manage it. While finding the size of your garden, consider the below-given factors;

Reason for gardening – It is a successful activity for a container or flower bed garden can be big enough. But if you want to grow vegetable plants for canning or freezing purposes then it will require a bigger area.

Types of vegetables to be grown – Some vegetable plants take a lot of space whereas others don’t. Most of them require at least 3 feet of space between the rows. So if you are planning to plant 10 rows of vegetables, your garden should be 30 feet wide.

Plant the seeds

Place your seeds or plants into the soil, and carefully follow the depth and spacing directions.

Make sure to plant in the garden at the right time

Most plants will be planted in the spring season just after your last frost and again in the fall a few weeks before your first frost. Many vegetables take 90 to 120 days to produce fruit. Before you plant, make sure you are checking that there’s still time for your plants to mature.

The best fertilizer for a home garden               

Most gardeners use a complete fertilizer. An example would be 10-20-10 or 12-24-12. These fertilizers are easy to find. Avoid fertilizing plants during the mid-day heat and sun. Fertilize plants in the early morning or late evening.

Access to water

Fr home gardening, make sure that you have access to water nearby. If you do not have a tap that is right next to your intended garden space, you will want to invest in a long hose with a control nozzle. Watering your garden plants daily is important, and if you plan to do all you are watering with a watering can, you might get frustrated with all the back and forth.

Plant enough but not too many plants

Make sure you must have a realistic idea of how many plants you need per person. Remember to think about how often you eat these vegetables and be realistic about how much preserving you can accomplish. A lot of first-time gardeners aren’t trying to grow plants for an entire year. Maybe you want to produce enough food to eat fresh vegetables through the summer.

What soil is best for home gardens?

The best soil for growing plants includes lots of compost and organic matter. Plants always advantage by the nutrient-rich gardening soil. Add organic compost made of tea compost, vegetable peels, to the soil to improve its quality.

Soil can be sandy, clay, or loamy, which determines how well your plants grow and how prone you can be to experiencing plant diseases and root rot. To find what you’re working with, grab some soil, wet it, and try to form a ball. Plants do best in loamy soil, which has a proper balance of clay, silt, and sand and then provides good drainage. If soil is clay or sandy, add soil amendments like compost or peat moss, to add nutrients and correct its structure. Also, consider container or raised-bed gardening with purchased soil. Plant roots require good garden soil to produce good vegetables and fruit. Once you start a garden, you will gain a new appreciation for healthy soil as it improves year after year.

Invest in basic garden tools

Once you have a plan in place, you will need some basic gardening tools to get started. We’re listing a handful of gardening tools required.

You will require;

The must-haves – One gardening tool that every gardener should own is a pair of pruning scissors. You will be using these to cut back plants and bushes, as well as keep their health by cutting off the dead parts of these plants.

Tools for digging – You will want a couple of tools for digging and preparing your soil to start planting your greens. You will want a spade, a trowel, and a garden fork. The spade and trowel are used to dig the holes for growing your plants, whereas the garden fork is used for breaking the large clumps of soil or for clearing the roots of old plants.

Tools for watering – The best tools for generously watering your home garden plants are a garden hose (pipe) and a watering can. The Garden hose is perfect for bigger tasks like watering trees and larger areas.

Tools for weeding – To tackle the weed problem and get rid of these unwanted plants, you will need a forked trowel and a gardening knife. These handy tools will allow you to keep the invading plants away.

Plan your garden beds for successful gardening

Once you know where you want your home garden, decide on the type and size of garden beds. Raised beds are attractive and can make it easier to work in your garden, but they also dry out more quickly. In very dry regions, sunken beds can be used to gather available moisture. Place different plants in rows or a grid pattern within the garden beds. Work with companion plants to attract beneficial insects and improve crop yields. Start small, and give each plant enough room to grow in the garden. Overcrowded plants have difficulty thriving.

Choose easy to grow plants in your home garden

Some vegetables are easier to grow than others. Among the easiest vegetables to grow are Onions, Garlic, Potatoes, Lettuce, Chilli, Tomato, Brinjal, Coriander, Bitter gourd, Cucumber, Mint, Spinach, Broccoli, and Asparagus.

Flowers that are easy to grow in the home garden are Rose, Marigold, Daisy, Hibiscus, Catharanthus Roseus, Dahlia, and Chrysanthemum, etc.

Herbs that are easy to grow in the home garden are Bay, Chervil, Chives, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Mint, Sage, Tarragon, Basil, Thyme, and Lavender, etc.

Some fruit trees you can grow in your home garden are Apples, Pomegranates, Plum, Cherries, Figs, and Lemons, etc.

Best time of day to water garden

The best time to water the gardening plants is the early morning (5:00 to 9:00 am). Seedlings must never be allowed to dry out, so water daily. Taper off as the plants get larger. Transplants need frequent watering that means every other day until their roots become established. After that, how you need to water depends on soil, humidity, and rainfall, though once a week is a good place to start. Clay soil dries out more slowly compared to sandy soil, so you won’t need to water it as often. Feel the soil about 3 to 4 inches below the surface. If it feels dry, and then it is time to water slowly and deeply, so the water soaks in instead of running off. To minimize evaporation, water in the early morning time is the best time for your garden plants.

The goal of watering your garden plants is to give them enough water to sustain but overwatering plants can lead to waterlogging which can damage your plants. The best method to water your garden plants is slowly, allowing the water to reach deep into the soil. The soil gets moist at about 3 to 4 inches beneath the surface.

At different stages of development, plants require different dosages of water. To encourage the growth of the plant and healthy roots, young plants will need to be watered every day, whereas developed plants will need to be watered once every 2-3 days, depending on the weather conditions.

Protect your home garden with mulch

Mulching is one of the important things to do in your garden. Spreading mulch will not only decrease your fight with weeds but will help the soil retain moisture and decrease watering needs through the summer season.

To help keep weeds out, cover the soil with a couple of inches of mulch. By preventing sunlight from hitting the soil, you will prevent weed seeds from germinating. Select from a wide variety of mulches that includes shredded bark, straw, and river rock. For a vegetable garden, select mulch that decomposes in a few months.

What are the problems of gardening?

Insects can be extremely detrimental to your garden plants. Below are some important problems in the home garden;

• Aphids
• Stinkbugs
• Squash bugs
• Japanese Beetles
• Slugs
• Ants
• Cutworms
• Spider mites

Diseases in home gardening are;

No one likes to look at diseased plants or eat the vegetables that come from them. There is a great way to prevent disease and it starts at the beginning with practical management. These are common diseases home gardener’s face. Some of the diseases are;

• Powdery Mildew
• Blossom End Rot

Some other problems in home gardening are;

• Seeds not sprouting
• Plants too ‘leggy’ or weak
• Leaves drooping or turning yellow
• Bugs and other insects
• Plants not flowering
• Flowers dropping without growing into fruits
• Fruit is too small
• Plants dying/drying out

Home gardening tips for beginners

It gives you instant access to fresh produce so people are not forced to visit the grocery store or market to find it. Depending on the vegetable variety you plant, you’ll also save money on the food itself.

Below are a few home gardening tips to help you along the way:

• The best time for starting a home garden from seeds is at least 2 months before you plan to transplant plants to the outdoors. It is easy to start many plants in your apartment, but some plants take a shorter time to grow, and you can plant those outsides from the start.
• Find how much sun exposure your garden gets before you decide where or what to plant.
• You can start your home garden by using seeds, seedpods, or starter plants.
• By placing cardboard keep your pathways weed-free along with them, watering them heavily, and then laying straw over them. This must keep weed growth at bay.
• Begin garden by choosing plants that are simple to grow. If you select the most sensitive or complicated plants to grow in the beginning (while you are still finding your feet), you might struggle.
• Consider making a drip irrigation system to cut back on water wastage and save money at the same time. 
• Educate yourself on every plant that you select to grow. The more you know, the better care you can give your garden plants.
• Follow some care and skill for growing your plants are needed to protect your plants and attain maximum yield.
• Take pest control seriously. Think about installing a deer fence if you have wildlife. If you have bugs and insects, but do not want to use chemical pesticides, and then make your own environmentally friendly pesticide with Epsom salts and water.

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