11 EASY TIPS TO START YOUR INDOOR KITCHEN GARDEN

Eating organic and pesticide-free food is one of the key ingredients to living a healthy life. It is a win-win situation as you get fresh food on your plate and cause lesser environmental damage. However, the soaring market prices and lack of availability of organic food have made this endeavour a far-fetched reality for many Indian families. But with your kitchen garden right under your roof, you can ensure that your family is eating right and is able to save money. Read on for some useful tips to start your indoor kitchen garden.

Before going into the details, let’s first understand what is kitchen garden.
A kitchen garden is a small, productive garden designed to grow edible plants specifically for household consumption. It’s like having your own personal farm-to-table source of fresh ingredients!

Starting Your Own Home Kitchen Garden: A Guide

Pick the right spot

Pick a sunny spot that is partly covered for your indoor kitchen garden. The amount of sunlight your herbs feed on has a direct effect on their flavour and fragrance. High-intensity sunlight also aids their growth. Make sure your plants are exposed to sunlight for 6 to 8 hours to keep them healthy and fresh. It is also important to ensure that there is no water stagnation in the area. If you are planning to set up a garden on your balcony or rooftop, you can do so by opting for potted plants.

Leave equal space between crops.

Spacing out your kitchen garden plants is vital for a good harvest. Choose from rows, squares, or even triangles, depending on your preference and the amount of space available. Ensure all the crops get adequate sunlight and soil space. Refrain from cramming the plant bed with too many saplings, as that may hamper their growth. Another important factor to focus on while placing your plants is air circulation. Make sure the roots and leaves get enough oxygen for a good yield.

Start easy

Begin with vegetables and herbs that are easy to grow and maintain. Choose from common plants like tomatoes, spinach, mint and parsley, to name a few. Once you master these plants, you can try growing advanced crops that need more attention and care, such as onions, cauliflower, carrots, and cabbage.

Use seedlings instead of seeds.

Give your kitchen garden at home a head start by planting seedlings instead of seeds. This will speed up the process and also help the plants overcome the initial setback of the seed adapting to the soil. Seedlings adapt faster to the plant bed and spare you the wait of watching them grow.

Maintain a compost pile.

Make sure you opt for compatible crops while setting up your kitchen garden at home. Companion planting helps increase your yield and speed up the process due to the same set of requirements needed by each crop. You can pair tomatoes with carrots and basil or even try growing cucumbers with peas and onions.

Do not forget the walls.

If you do not have enough space for your  kitchen garden at home, think out of the box and use the walls instead. You can use hanging pots or wall units to grow crops vertically and enhance the aesthetics of your home. This will also help you locate the fruit or vegetable easily and keep fungal infections at bay. Choose from tomatoes, melons and peas that easily climb on walls with the support of fences.

Care for your crops

Gardening is a passionate hobby that demands a lot of care and attention. Once you set up your kitchen garden at home, maintain your crops by watering them regularly. At the same time, make sure the soil is just wet and not clogged with water. You can also spray the leaves with water to keep them fresh and moist. If you are stepping out of town, pass the responsibility of watering your plants to a neighbour or relative to ensure they are healthy even after you return.

Opt for raised beds

If you do not have enriched soil near your home, choose the best plants for kitchen and then opt for a raised bed to nurture your crops. Raised beds improve the quality of the produce and also help speed up the process of plantation since they are rich in nutrients. Additionally, they help keep weeds and pests away.

Fancy it up with flowers.

Who said an kitchen garden needs to be all about herbs and vegetables? Decorate your nursery with gorgeous flowers in vibrant hues. You can also grow edible flowers like pink jasmine and rosemary to enjoy the twin benefits of beautiful and healthy produce.

Invest in gardening tools.

Even if you are a beginner, it is a good idea to invest in a basic set of gardening tools to set up and maintain your kitchen garden at home. Tools help you strike the right depth and are also a great way to introduce your child to the beautiful world of gardening. They are a one-time investment that will help you grow a green thumb.

Now that you know all about how to make a kitchen garden, here are the best plants for kitchen (vegetables)  that you can grow in your home garden.

10 Vegetables Ideal for a Kitchen Garden

1. Tomato (Summer): A juicy and versatile fruit (yes, a fruit!) that thrives in warm weather and comes in various sizes and colours. Perfect for salads, sauces, curries, and even eaten fresh. Tomatoes are a staple across India, featuring heavily in regional dishes like Punjabi curries, Maharashtrian salads (achars), and South Indian curries & chutneys. They are most widely grown in the hotter regions of Central and South India.

2. Brinjal (Eggplant) (Summer/Monsoon): The beautiful purple or white egg-shaped fruit with a soft, spongy interior. Popular in curries (Baingan Bharta), roasted dishes (Bharli), and stir-fries (Aloo Gobi). Brinjal adds depth of flavour and plays a key role in vegetarian cuisine across India. Eastern states like West Bengal and Odisha heavily utilise brinjal in their dishes.

3. Chilli (Year-round): Available in all shapes, sizes, and spice levels, adding a kick to your curries, chutneys, pickles, and stir-fries. Chillies are an essential ingredient, forming the base of spice blends (masalas) and chutneys throughout India. Green chillies are used fresh, and whole-dried red chillies are used to add smokiness and depth. Andhra Pradesh and South India, in general, are known for their fiery cuisine featuring the prominent use of chillies. This is the most common kitchen garden vegetables in India.

4. Ladyfinger (Summer/Monsoon): Known for its unique pods with a slightly slimy texture, commonly used in sambar and other curries, adding subtle flavour and thickening properties. Ladyfinger is a key ingredient in sambar, a South Indian lentil curry, and is commonly used in vegetable curries across the country. South India and some parts of West Bengal are known for their extensive use of ladyfinger as a side dish.

5. Bitter Gourd (Summer/Monsoon): An acquired taste but highly nutritious, used in curries and stir-fries. This climbing vine grows fine in warm weather. Bitter gourd, though not for everyone, is a popular vegetable in North India, featuring prominently in curries and pickles. Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan are known for their use of bitter gourd in regional cuisine. In South India, people dry this vegetable and make fritters as a side dish for rice.

6. Spinach (Winter): A leafy green vegetable rich in nutrients, perfect for salads or cooked into dals, curries, or parathas. Grows well in cool weather. Spinach is a winter staple in North India, featuring various preparations like palak paneer and parathas. It adds essential vitamins and minerals during the colder months. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab are known for incorporating spinach into their winter dishes.

7. Carrots (Winter): Add a touch of sweetness and vibrant colour to your dishes. They require loose, well-drained soil and cooler temperatures. Carrots lend a touch of sweetness to winter curries across India. They are also popular raw in salads and raitas (yoghurt-based dips). North Indian cuisine utilises carrots more prominently, featuring them in dishes like gajar ka halwa (carrot pudding).

8. Cabbage (Winter): A cool-season crop forming a compact head of leaves, enjoyed in salads, stir-fries, or fermented. Needs well-drained soil and plenty of moisture. Cabbage, though not native to India, has become a popular winter vegetable. It features in North Indian curries like cabbage curry and salads. Eastern states like West Bengal also utilise cabbage in their winter dishes. In South Indian states, cabbage poriyal and cabbage thoran are very common delicacies.

9. Beans (Varies by type): One of the top choices for kitchen garden vegetables, this is available in various types like French beans, green beans, and lentils. Improves soil fertility as they are nitrogen-fixing plants. Enjoy them fresh or dried for later use. Beans are a vital part of Indian cuisine, offering protein and dietary fibre. Green beans are popular in summer curries across India, while lentils (dal) form the base of many stews and dals throughout the year. Maharashtra is known for its variety of lentil dishes, while South India utilises lentils heavily in sambar and rasam.

10. Bottle Gourd (Lauki) (Summer/Monsoon): A popular climbing vine used in curries, stir-fries, or turned into a delicious soup. Prefers well-drained soil and full sun. Bottle gourd is a versatile summer vegetable used in light and refreshing curries and soups across India. South India, particularly Kerala, is known for its extensive use of bottle gourd in dishes like erissery (lentil and bottle gourd stew).

Final Words

These tried-and-tested tips and tricks are guaranteed to help you set up your indoor kitchen garden without the need for professional help. It is time you utilise that empty backyard of your villa or the well-lit balcony of your apartment to create a state-of-the-art garden and enjoy some organic produce for you and your family. Head out to Sterling Developers today and find your dream home in Whitefield, Hebbal and other growing corporate hubs of Bengaluru.

FAQs

1. Where to put up a kitchen garden?

In India’s warm climate, your kitchen garden will thrive with at least 6-8 hours of morning sunlight. Choose a spot close to your kitchen for convenience, ideally with some protection from the afternoon sun and strong monsoon winds. Well-draining soil is crucial to prevent root rot during heavy rains.

2. What is an ideal layout for a kitchen garden?

Raised beds are great for Indian gardens as they offer better drainage and keep soil temperatures warm in winter. Square foot gardening allows you to grow a surprising amount of variety in a small space. Traditional rows work well for leafy greens and some vegetables.

3. Which are some of the best plants for a kitchen garden?

Indian cuisine relies heavily on fresh herbs and spices. Plant staples like curry leaves, coriander, mint, fenugreek, and chillies. Leafy greens like spinach, methi (fenugreek leaves), and mustard greens are perfect for quick curries. Tomatoes, okra, brinjal (eggplant), and beans are popular choices for vegetables. Dwarf varieties of mango and guava trees can even be grown in pots for a taste of homegrown fruit.

4. How much area is required for a kitchen garden?

Even small balconies can house a kitchen garden! A 10-20 square foot space is enough for a few herbs and greens. 20-50 square feet lets you expand to vegetables. With a dedicated 50+ square foot area on a rooftop or terrace, you can grow a significant amount of fresh produce for your family.

5. What is the difference between a garden and a kitchen garden?

A general “garden” in India could be a large plot for crops or ornamental flowers. A kitchen garden, however, is a smaller space specifically designed to grow herbs, vegetables, and fruits for daily cooking. Located near the house for easy harvesting, it’s a way to enjoy fresh, flavorful ingredients right from your home.