My Story Of Setting Up A Terrace Vegetable Garden

Exactly a year ago, in May 2019, my interest in Terrace Garden (TG) started. Otherwise, at 64, I am an avid traveller, travelling almost two weeks a month either to spend time with my granddaughter in Mumbai or to places like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam and South Africa to help my husband in his projects. But last year, my travel slowed down and I developed a sudden interest in starting a terrace garden to keep myself occupied and make use of 1000+ sq ft on top of my house which we rarely visited.

Also Read: Five Reasons Why You Must Take Up Rooftop Gardening

I didn't know how to start...

I didn't know how to start except buying some pots from the roadside on ECR, Chennai. The next thing I did was to become a member of various TG Facebook groups. I posted asking for someone to help me in setting up my TG. Immediately, I got a response and with her consultation, spent close to 5K in buying potting mix, some more pots, grow bags, seeds, saplings, etc. Initially, I was apprehensive about things like how am I going to maintain, when the pests attack?

I also attended a gardening workshop in a neighbourhood place and learnt how to make compost from kitchen waste, how to prepare growth boosters at home, 3G (Ginger/Garlic/Green chillies) solution for pest control, other Dos and Don'ts, etc., which I started implementing. The results were amazing. And in-between whenever I travelled for a week or more, I used to miss my plants (as if I have left behind my kids at home). I would ask my husband or my boy, who helps in watering, to send me pictures. Whoever visits our home is taken to the terrace to see my garden.

Initially, I was apprehensive about things like how am I going to maintain, when the pests attack?

During the Lockdown...

I am focusing only on a few veggies like brinjal or eggplant (our family favourite), ladies' fingers (okra), green chillies, greens, tomatoes, etc. Just before the lockdown started, I had planned to replenish and also for expansion so I got some more grow bags, potting mix and seeds. Thankfully, just before 22nd March...

On a Sunday evening, when I went up to set up the additional pots, I got my husband to accompany me to the terrace to help me. First time ever, he was visiting my garden...ever since, till the Lockdown 4.0 he is taking care of my garden (with some coconut trees, banana tree, lemon tree, etc.), downstairs and I take care of my terrace garden, watering and cleaning the weeds.

The Way Ahead

While I have not reached the stage of meeting all my veggie requirements, there is a plan to scale up and make it self-sustaining. I am waiting for the lockdown to be lifted to expand my TG further. It's so refreshing and gratifying when I harvest the veggies and also share the pictures with my family members and friends. I have also started appreciating the efforts involved in growing the veggies which we normally take for granted. Even plucking the ladies' fingers or the brinjal from the plants involves so much effort, but the feeling is unparalleled when a dish is made with your garden produce. The taste is very special too.

PC: Uma Swaminathan

During the last two months, I have now become a consultant for terrace/balcony/kitchen gardening to my family and friends, giving tips to handle pests, and so on. Some of my family members and friends have started in a small way their own TG and BG (Balcony Garden), after having inspired by my showcasing of veggies/greens on the WhatsApp groups. I am so glad that I could influence them even if in a small way.

I have also started appreciating the efforts involved in growing the veggies which we normally take for granted.

Here are some of my tips:

Best pest repellent: 3 G solution: Grind few pieces of Ginger, Garlic and Green chillies, Hing (Asafoetida) in a mixer and add one glass buttermilk to make a solution, mix in 20ml of this 3G solution to one-litre water and spray on the plants to prevent pests like Mealybugs and aphids that attack the plants.

Also Read: Green Bite: Ten reasons why gardening is therapeutic

What to do when: Watering and harvesting should only be done in the morning. Everything else like seeding/sapling/pest spraying/manoeuvring, etc., to be done in the evening.

Happy gardening!

Picture Credit: Uma Swaminathan

The views expressed are the author's own.