Best Tips For Growing Vegetables At Home - Part 7 ( Garden Pea / Sweet Pea )

Beans and peas are relatively easy to grow, making them a good choice for a first-time gardener or a new garden plot. These legumes also have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, meaning they actually improve the nutrition of the soil they’re in.Also known as garden peas, shelling peas, snap peas, sugar peas, sugar snap peas, snow peas, Chinese peas, edible-podded peas,Pisum sativum .Like sweet corn, peas are at their tastiest immediately after harvest. Whether you choose shell or edible-pod peas, they grow best during spring and early summer when temperatures are between 60 F to 75 F.

Propagation

Peas are propagated by seeds. Seeds are peas themselves. Use fresh pods for obtaining seeds. In case of dried seeds, test them first. Soak some seeds in water then put them in damp paper towel. After 2-3 days open it up, if there is sprouts poking out of peas then it’s good sign that they are healthy. You can go ahead with those seeds. Sow  in spring, about one month before your last frost date. Sow seeds on soil beds ½ inch deep in the ground and minimum 18 inches apart in a row. Distance between two seeds is important here otherwise tendrils of sweet pea will lock with each other hindering the growth.

Soil

You need about 6 inches of loose, rich soil. Or buy some compost and top soil ,mix it up with dirt you dug up in 50-50 ratio. Plants association with Nitrogen fixing bacteria like rhizobium increases soil fertility over the time.

Sun / Temperature

6 hrs of sun light is required for good growth. For germination , Optimum temperature is around 75 F. 

Watering

Water them regularly. Or better is whenever you see the soil dry, water them. but remember that too much water is as harmful as too little. . Heavy watering during flowering, which can interfere with pollination.

To test the soil, push your finger into the ground. If it gets it wet/muddy, you’re using too much water; it should be damp to dry.

Fertilizer

Fertilize at planting and then every three weeks with a mixed seaweed and fish emulsion liquid fertilizer. Stop when they start flowering.Do not use high-nitrogen fertilizers. Too much nitrogen will result in lush foliage but poor flowering and fruiting.

Trellising

Most peas and beans are twining plants. You will therefore need something for them to twine on: a fence, a net strung between two poles, individual poles for each plant,  It's best to have a support ready to "plant" while you plant the seeds. The supports can also help mark your seed locations. Or  Erect trellis for tall-growing, vining types at planting using chicken wire, brush or other suitable trellis material. If trellising, increase row spacing to 4 to 6 feet.

Harvesting

When green peas are ripe, harvest them daily, preferably in the morning. For best flavor and yields, allow peas to change from flat to plump before picking them. Gather sweet green shell peas when the pods begin to show a waxy sheen, but before their color fades. Immediately refrigerate picked peas to stop the conversion of sugar to starches and maintain the peas’ crisp texture. Promptly blanch and freeze your extra peas. It is recommended to use peas as soon as they are harvested.

Best Tips For Growing Vegetables At Home - Part 6 ( Bitter gourd / Bitter Melon )

Bitter gourd / Bitter Melon is a fast growing warm seasonal climbing annual, native to South Asia. It is known as 'Karela' in Hindi. It tastes bitter due to a compound known as quinine and  this is only reason that it is used as a treatment of malaria. Apart from that bitter gourd has many other medicinal properties like high calcium, potassium and phosphorous and fiber content. Vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C are also found in it.

Propagation

Seeds are best way to start bitter gourd plants. Soak seeds in water for at least 24 hrs before sowing for best results. 2 or 3 seeds can be sown together ½ inch deep in soil. Seeds will germinate in 2-3 days. The germinated seeds can be replanted on raised beds 18-24 inches apart.

If you are using transplanting method then do take care while rooting out seedlings to avoid disturbance to root system.

Soil

Bitter gourd grows well in a sandy loam soil. Use well drained soil, pH ranging from 5.5 – 6.7 enriched with organic matter like compost, dried manure. 

Sun / Temperature

This plant thrives in heat and humidity. As temperature rises, it grows quickly. Minimum 6 hrs of sun light is required. Extreme low temperature can hamper growth.

Watering

Regular watering is essential for good growth of the plant but do not overwater the plants.

Fertilizer

If you worked compost into soil before planting, you can still add some slow release vegetable fertilizer like 14-14-14 at planting time. Feed plant with another dose of fertilizer in growing season. Water plants immediately after fertilizing.

Trellising Plants

As bitter gourd grows as a vine so it is necessary to save fruits from getting in touch with wet or moist ground. Make the vine climb on fence or any other support, this process is known as trellising. You can mulch the ground with dried leaves, straw etc thus avoiding any direct contact of fruit and soil.  

Harvesting

Harvest the crop after 2 to 4 months of planting. Mature fruits are light green and juicy but bitter. Pick the fruits every 2-3 days when they are still at the tender stage. Regular picking is important as fruits will become bitterer as they mature and it can also hamper the growth of new fruits.

Leave some fruits to reach full maturity if they have to be reserved for subsequent crops. When fully mature, the fruits will break open and release brown or white seeds which can be collected.

Best Tips For Growing Vegetables At Home - Part 5 ( Cauliflower / Phool Gobhi )

Cauliflower can be grown with minimal care and limited space like containers. Cauliflower's health benefits include vitamin C and fiber. It is sensitive to extreme temperatures. Primarily a cool-weather crop, cauliflower won’t produce heads in hot weather. Try below tips for success.

Propagation

Cauliflower is grown by seeds. It can be propagated by seedlings purchased from garden centre / nursery also. If you are willing to grow in container then container sized 12 inch deep 12 inch wide should be used. Container bigger than this would be great.

Sow seeds half inch deep in soil bed. Maintain spacing of 18 inch in all direction.

Soil

Soil pH should be in range of 6-7.  Cauliflower requires trace elements like Boron for growth and an alkaline soil is boron deficient so alkaline soil should be avoided. Good source of trace elements is rock phosphate and granite dust. Or use soil rich in organic matter as it is hardly boron deficient.

Sun / Temperature

Cauliflower plant should receive 6-8 hrs of sunlight each day.

Watering

Provide at least 1 inch of water a week, soaking the soil to the depth of 6 inches. Cauliflower needs constant moisture to produce large, tender heads; soil that dries out between watering will cause heads to open up and become ‘ricey’. Use a thick layer of mulch  to cut down on evaporation and weeds and cool the soil. Be careful not to disturb roots when weeding as damaged roots produce uneven growth.

Fertilizer

Give young plants monthly light feedings with fish emulsion or compost tea. To speed up growth feed every 2 weeks.

Blanching

Process of shading  out the sunlight so that cauliflower heads do not turn yellowish or brownish. Prepare plants for blanching on a sunny afternoon when the plants are totally dry as damp heads tends to rot. Just bend some of plants’ own leaves above head and tuck them in on opposite sides. Keep some room for air circulation for heads to grow.

Blanching is not needed when you are growing lime green, orange, purple heads or ‘self blanching’ varieties.

Harvesting

Mature heads can range in size from 6 inches to 12 inches across. Harvest when the buds are still tight and unopened. With sharp knife cut them off just below the head.

Caring Tips

Use 1 cup flour + 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper and sprinkle all over the garden. The mixture will keep worms away from plants.

Best Tips For Growing Vegetables at Home - Part 2 ( Okra / Gumbo / Ladyfingers/ Bhindi )

Ladyfingers are the edible seedpods of the okra plant (Abelmoschus esculentus) and are also known as gumbo. The plant is related to cotton and hibiscus and is originally from Africa. Indian lady fingers (Bhindi ) is another name for the vegetable known as okra in the U.S. and gumbo in parts of Africa. Lady fingers are a common ingredient in several Indian dishes. The plant is an annual that produces large ornamental flowers.

Propagation

It is propagated from seeds. Wrap the seeds in a moist paper towel the night before you are planting them. This overnight soaking will speed up the germination process. Plant the seeds in the garden, sowing them 1 inch deep. Space the seeds 4 to 6 inches apart and keep rows 3 feet apart. When the seedlings have sprouted, thin them so that individual plants are spaced 12 to 15 inches apart.

Soil

Ladyfinger can be grown in any place with good drainage system. The pH of soil should be 6-6.8. Cover the soil with a 2-inch layer of organic compost and mix it into the soil with your shovel at a depth of 6 inches.

Watering

Water the ladyfingers immediately after planting and water it once or twice a week when soil gets completely dry. Irrigate your plants during dry spells, aiming to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Water the plant in the morning to allow them to dry out.

Sun / Temperature

Long, warm and wet climate is considered to be the best. For seed-growth 25-30 degree centigrade temperature is suitable, below 16 degree centigrade the seeds do not grow. This crop can grow both in summer and winter.

Fertilizer

Feed plants with more fertilizer when they reach 6 inches tall and again 2 or 3 weeks later, if desired. Dig a trench 6 inches deep along the plants’ drip line. Cover the fertilizer and water thoroughly.

Harvesting

Harvest ladyfinger pods once they are 2 or 3 inches long and harvest regularly as leaving large pods on the plant reduces overall yield.