Eggplant or brinjal is a vegetable that belongs to the family Solanaceae. It is related to other vegetables like potato, tomato and chilly. Eggplant is a tropical perennial that can grow up to 4 feet. Although eggplant has fewer nutrients it contains average levels of manganese and consuming eggplant can have certain health benefits. Growing conditions for eggplant Eggplant is easy to grow in tropical and subtropical regions. It grows…
Bitter melon or Bitter gourd is a tropical vine that belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. There are several varieties of bitter melon that vary in shape and size. This vegetable grows up to 5 feet. It grows in a warm and humid climate. It is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Folate. It contains small amounts of Potassium, Magnesium and Zinc. Growing Conditions for bitter melon It is easy…
Spinach is a leafy green plant that belongs to Amarathus family. There are several varieties of spinach plants and they differ in appearance. Most of them have oval-shaped leaves. There are large leaves at the base of the stem and smaller leaves at the top.Its leaves are edible and it can be either cooked or eaten raw. Spinach plants grow up to 1 foot. It has high levels of Vitamin…
Cilantro or Coriander is a herb that is widely used in a variety of dishes. All parts of the plant (seeds, roots, and leaves) are edible. Homegrown Cilantro is healthier when compared to what is brought from stores. Also, Cilantro is very easy to grow. By following a few steps, you can grow them in containers. Growing Conditions for coriander Cilantro does not grow well in extreme hot and cold…
Creating a diverse garden is a great way to create ecosystems that are sustainable and resilient. Diversity is used in sustainable farming practices such as agroforestry and polyculture. You can create diversity in your backyard gardens too. Growing a variety of herbs, shrubs, trees, flowers and vegetables has a lot of benefits. Benefits of a diverse garden 1. Improves soil fertility Growing different variety of plants leads to a significant…
Permaculture can be described as designing landscapes by replicating patterns that are found in nature that benefit man and the environment. The word permaculture is from “ permanent agriculture”. Bill Mollison and David Holmgren are the founders of permaculture. Permaculture designs can be used in various fields. They are more sustainable and benefit humans. There are 12 permaculture principles and they can be used in any field. Be it having…
Mulching is a process of covering the soil with a layer of material to improve soil health. It can be done using either organic or inorganic material. Organic material includes dry leaves, grass clippings, straw and wood chips. Inorganic material includes pebbles, plastic and rubber. Microorganisms feed on organic mulch and in turn improve soil health. Mulching can be done throughout the year. Mulching the plants during summer helps to…
Okra or lady’s finger is a flowering plant that is cultivated all year round in tropical climates. It is a drought-tolerant vegetable but not frost-tolerant. It is easy to grow okra from seeds. Growing conditions for okra You can grow okra in Sandy and Loamy soils. The minimum temperature needed for okra to grow is between 20 to 26°C (68°F to 80°F). You can start seeds indoors and transplant them…
Hot pepper plants or Chillies are commonly used as a spice to flavour dishes. They are easy to grow in containers and you can get lots of them from a single plant. They can be grown easily when you plant them at the right temperature and soil conditions. Hot pepper plants grow well when the weather is warm and dry. The optimum temperature needed is between 20 to 28° C…
The food that we eat today is grown by using tons of pesticides and has the potential to harm our health. Having your own garden where you can grow your own vegetables is not only healthy but also cost effective. If you are a beginner and don’t know exactly what to grow in your garden, then this article can help you. Easy vegetables to grow in your home 1. Chilies…
