Introduction: Hello gardeners today we are here with a good information of small space vegetable gardening ideas and tips in India. Vegetable gardening is a practice of growing and cultivating vegetable plants as a part of horticulture which involves in active participation of growing vegetables. It is labour intensive and differ from farming. It is advisable because it nurtures us mentally and physically and favours benefits in improving health, healing and act as de-stress.
A guide a small space vegetable gardening ideas and tips
You don’t need a large enough area to have a vegetable garden, if your garden is limited by space there is a chance of growing vegetables at your own houses at window sill, a patio, a balcony, or in a container, at the roof side or at terrace. Choose a good location which is preferably close by home. It is growing popularity because it is easy to get started and enables any amateur to become a successful.
Advantages of Small Space Vegetable Gardening
- It keeps us stay healthy
- Cheap and affordable
- Harvest fresh and eat fresh
- No hazard
- Year round production
- More food per square foot
By following some simple techniques you will be able to grow vegetables in reduced area.
General considerations: sunlight, growing media, water, nutrients (fertilizer), and tools.
Vegetable seed selection in India
Almost any type of vegetable that will grow in typical backyard gardens will also do well in a small space you selected or in a containers you select. Vegetables which are ideally suited for growing in containers include tomatoes, peppers, brinjal, green onions, beans, peas, lettuce, squashes, radish, carrots, cabbages, cauliflower, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, celery, parsley, amaranthus, cucumbers, melons, gourds like bitter gourd, bottle gourd, sponge gourd and pumpkins but usually they require larger space because of their vining growth habit. Variety selection is of much importance . most of the varieties will also do well or perform good when planted in a garden as well as in a containers.
Grow vegetables that may usually takes up little space or crops that bear fruits over the period of time such as, tomatoes. indeterminate tomato types may vary in length and bear fruits at every nodes and gives high yields.
Dwarf crop plants often mature and bear fruits early, but do not produce a good healthy sized fruit. The amount of sunlight that your garden may receive will determine the type of crops to be grown. Root and leaf crops can tolerate partial amount of shade. Fruits generally needs a day length or sunlight duration of more than 6 to 8 hours.
You should not miss the Organic Tomato Fertilizers.
Soil preparation for Vegetable Gardening in India
The soil which is used for raising vegetables must have some common characteristics as a filling material. The soil must have the capacity to hold water and nutrients very well. The soil must be free from weeds and diseases, which are more prone to growth of plants. Use clay soil, or sandy loam soil which are in microscopic in nature and has a good retention of water and nutrients.
If you use raised beds in your kitchen garden of 120-150 square meter area, make them in a separate lines with a length of your own convenience and height should be 15 cm. Plant accordingly in raised beds with rich soil and by regular turning out the beds planting should be done in triangles which can afford high density.
Growing media for Vegetable Gardening in India
A good growing media must have sufficient moisture retaining capacity, porous in nature, support good drainage and must be free from other debris.
The soil mixture must be in a ratio of 1:2:1 ratio of FYM, red soil and sand
Soil less media:
- a) Saw dust
- b) Peat moss
- c) Perlite
- d) Vermiculite
- e) Sphagnum moss
these are having light in weight, ideal pH, absorb high water holding capacity. They are used in a ratio of 25 % soil +75 % compost / 25 % soil les media + 25 % soil + 50 % compost.
Containers used for Vegetable Gardening
Different types of containers are used for growing vegetable crops. For example we can use pots, barrels, plastic milk jugs, plastic crates, plastic bottles and wooden boxes etc. the size of the container will vary accordingly to the type of crop we select and the space available with us. Pots of size 5-10 inch size are much satisfactory for green onions and parsley, lettuce.
Other vegetables like tomatoes, chilli, brinjal we have to use big sized pots. Irrespective of the size or type of container used, adequate drainage is necessary for a selected good container and the bottom of every container we use make sure the bottom of that container or pot is filled with sand or small stones for easy drainage. A good characteristic of a container is that it should hold soil tightly. In cases such make a hole at the bottom of a selected container leaving a sum of space 5 cm for regular discharge. The drainage holes are best located at side of the container.
There are many different types of containers based on usage;
- Clay /ceramic pots
- Wood
- Plastic
- Metal cans
clay /ceramic : it is very attractive, usually don’t rot even, dry out easily and hold the soil tightly.
Wood: easily available and looks natural
Plastic: these are very light in weight and very cheaply available in cost everywhere but not high durable may have easy wear and tear.
Metal type: very high durable and but easily rust out and looks attractive
Seedling and Transplanting in Small Space Vegetable Gardening
The vegetables like tomato, brinjal, chilli, onion, lettuce, celery, cabbage, cauliflower etc. are suitable for raising in a portrays and after a period of duration depend up on the crop they are transplanted.
Other vegetables like peas, beans, cucurbits like cucumber, melons and some other squashes are directly sown in a suitable containers or in a area in which you preferred to be for sowing. The space or growing pattern must be in a triangle motion to ensure optimum space for planting.
Transplanting purpose seedlings are either directly purchased from local nurseries or else grown at our own home by using plastic pot trays, pan or a pot. Fill the containers with good media such as above discussed and cover most of the vegetable seed to a depth of 2-3 cm to insure good germination.
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The pot trays are kept under moisture and in a area where they receives optimum sunlight about a period of 4-8 weeks prior to the transplanting date in to the final container or in a selected small space area.
Most of the vegetables are transplanted in to suitable containers when the seedling develop their first two to three leaves stage. Transplanting should be done carefully to avoid the damage to root system. After planting, gently soak the soil with water being careful that may disturb or washout or displace seeds.
Fertilization of Vegetable Gardening
The best method of adding fertilizers to plants in growing containers is by mixing nutrient solution and pouring over soil mix. The basic requirement may be completed by the basal dose of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium. There are many other commercial fertilizers available in the market and utilise them as per the label mentioned on it. Also use water soluble fertilizers containing iron, zinc, boron, manganese. Do not add more than the recommended dose of fertilizers, since they may cause the plants to burn or kill the plants.
Irrigation for Vegetable Gardening
The plants need to watered carefully and the nutrient solution made is made available in early growth of the plants. The frequency of the irrigation may vary from one crop to the other usually once a day is admitted. However poor drainage will make rot and slowly kill the plants therefore maintain proper drainage facilities to ensure a better healthy plant.
Vegetable Plant Care
Protect the plants from very high heat caused by sun scorching by adjusting it under a shade net construction so that it may protect the plants from sun, a sort of rain and wind.
Vegetable Plant Diseases
Vegetables grown in a containers can be attacked by various types of diseases that are common to any vegetable gardening. Plants should be regularly inspected at the foliage and at the base of the stem.
Fundamental things for plant care is first the seeds are treated before sowing with some fungicides. Seed treatment with thiram and captan @ 2-3 gm / kg is advised. For bacterial infection use pseudomonas and streptocyclin. For bio control or organically use trichoderma @ 3-4 gram/kg.
Vegetable Plant Insects
Plants should be periodically noticed on foliage and fruit/ shoot feeding insects. Its better suggestible to use Neem oil spray as abio control agent. They can be applied in every regular intervals of 15 days at a dose of 5 ml / litre.
Harvesting of Vegetables
Harvest the vegetables at their peak stage of maturity when vegetables are matured and full flavour or colour develops. This will yield maximum and makes excellent taste from immediate harvested fruits and tender green beans and peas and crispy lettuce and other leafy vegetables.
Go for Organic: organic vegetable gardening may improve the soil through regular addition of organic matter, biological and diversifications to manage insect pest and diseases. nowadays many are interested in buying and growing organic produce to reduce usage of pesticides and chemicals.
For most of the gardens, “Organic” means no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Its very easy to grow small space or container gardens organically this ensures us in saving money, and put nutritious food on table for consumption by this we advice everyone to “eat healthy and live longer”. Hope you enjoyed the article of small space vegetable gardening ideas. Keep gardening.
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Very useful…thank you for your valuable information sr..