Best Tips For Growing Vegetables At Home - Part 8 ( Onion )

Onions are a cold season crop, easy to grow because of their hardiness. We recommend using onion sets, which can be planted without worry of frost damage and have a higher success rate than direct seed or transplants. Onions are a basic and essential ingredient in many meals.

Propagation

Onions can be grown from seed or sets (small bulbs). Sets are more costly but they are quick, reliable and a good choice for beginners.

Dig small holes, put sets into it exposing tips on the ground. You can lay a piece of string on the soil as a guide to make sure you dig the row in a straight line. Gently firm down the soil around the tips with your fingers. The sets should be planted with the tips pointing upwards and positioned about 10 cm apart. Each row should be 20-30 cm apart.

Onion seeds are short-lived. If planting seeds indoors, start with fresh seeds each year. Start seeds indoors about 6 weeks before transplanting. Move transplants into the garden as soon as the ground can be worked.

Soil

Avoid heavier soils such as clay and silt loams unless modified with organic matter to improve aeration and drainage. Onions are sensitive to highly acid soils and grow best when the pH is between 6.2 and 6.8. 

Sun / Temperature

Onions grow best in full sun, so be careful not to plant the them in a location which will be shaded by taller vegetable plants. The onion is adapted to a wide range of temperatures and is frost-tolerant. For best production  cool temperatures (55 F to 75 degrees F) prevailed over an extended period of time is required, permitting considerable foliage and root development before bulbing starts. A constant supply of adequate moisture is necessary for best results. 

Watering

Generally, onions do not need consistent watering if mulch is used. If you want sweeter onions, water more.Onions will look healthy even if they are bone dry, be sure to water during drought condition.

Fertilizer

Fertilizers of a 1-2-2 ratio (5-10-10, for example) are good for onion production. As the onion plant's root system is very limited, high soil fertility is essential for good production.

Harvesting

Harvest green onions when the green stems reach about 6-8 in height. Scratch away the mounded soil around the stem base, grasp stem near the base and pull the green onion straight up. Lay the onions on top of the garden soil for a couple of days to dry out, then gather them up for storage preparation.

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 4 ( Potatoes )

Around the world Potatoes plants are one of the most home grown vegetables.  They are very easy to grow.  They are mainly grown in spring but also can be grown in summer and in warm climates all year around. But they can’t be grown in winter as they are very sensitive to very low temperature

Propagation

Potatoes are propagated from stored tubers (potatoes) only, these act as seeds and called “seed” potatoes. Potato tuber is modified stem which store food (starch) in tuber. Cut a potato in half with at least 2 eyes and leave it for a week in the sun.  The potato will turn green; you are then ready to plant your seed potatoes.  These seed potatoes carry risk of fungal attack to new generation of plant. As a result, many people purchase what is known as "certified seed Potatoes"; this means that they are certified to be free of fungus and or plant virus.  You can buy these Potatoes from nurseries and seed stores. 

If you're short of space, try growing potatoes in an adequately drained container that's at least 30cm (1ft) deep and wide. Half fill the pot with multi-purpose compost or good quality, fertile garden soil, Insert two seed potatoes into the top of the compost and then top up with more compost or soil to within 2.5cm (1in) of the rim of the container.

You can grow potato in garbage bag filled with loose soil too. All you have to do is just put some tiny holes in bottom of garbage bag and fill with soil. Add more soil when seedlings start growing up.

Seed Potatoes placing

Plant seed potatoes one foot apart in a 4-inch deep trench and eye side up. Rows should be minimum 3 foot apart. Mid March or early April is ideal to start with potatoes planting.

Soil Preparation

Potatoes thrive in a loose, well-drained, slightly acidic soil (pH 5 - 6). Add farmyard manure or home garden compost to soil to enrich it with organic matter. You can also use Chicken manure to a lesser extent.  Don't overdo it with the Chicken manure, it is very high in nitrogen and will develop lots of foliage, but little in the way of potatoes. 

 Sun / Temperature

Potato plant requires a good amount of sunlight during the day for growth. The optimum temperature is 15-25 degree C for potato planting.

Watering

Maintain moderate soil moisture levels throughout the season. Temporary imbalance in soil moisture level can result in rough-skinned and/or knobby tubers. Potato roots do not grow well in wet conditions. Over-watering washes fertilizer out of the root zone and promotes root and tuber decay.

Fertilizer

Feed potato plant with organic or non organic fertilizer. Animal manure like cow dung etc or garden compost works well for potato plant. In case of non organic fertilizer, add them to soil before planting as chemical can harm the seed potatoes.  Epsom salt also acts as fertilizer for potato plant.

Harvesting

New potatoes will be ready for harvest after 10 weeks, usually in early July. You should harvest all of your potatoes once the vines die (usually by late August), or the potatoes may rot. Brush off any soil clinging to the potatoes, and then store them in a cool, dry, dark place. The ideal temperature for storage is 35 to 40°F. Don’t wash them until right before you use them. Washing potatoes shortens their storage life.

Caring Tips

Hilling should be done before the potato plants bloom, when the plant is about 6 inches tall. It helps plants from getting sunburned by, in which case they turn green and will taste bitter.

Many fungal diseases are spread through water. Avoid walking through the garden while potato leaves are wet. Apply water in the furrow between raised potato beds. These methods will reduce the amount of water standing on the leaves and lower the chances of disease. Planting certified clean seed potatoes can also help keep your plants free of disease. To reduce possible sources of disease, destroy piles of rotten potatoes, plants, and other crop residue. Pesticides are available to help control certain diseases. Follow all label instructions and cautions when using pesticides.

Best Tips For Growing Vegetables at Home - Part 3 ( Tomatoes)

Tomato is most favorite and easy to grow vegetable at home. It is a cold season plant and grown for red and juicy fruits. Used in almost every possible dish, it is an important kitchen vegetable. So what would be better than growing your own tomatoes !! Try  following tips for best results.

Propagation

You can use good quality seeds bought from online sites or purchase healthy seedlings from local nursery.

While starting plants from seeds , sow 2-3 seeds per pot (¼ inch deep in soil ). Store the container or pot in room of 70 -80 degree Fahrenheit until germination. It will take around two weeks for seeds to germinate. When the seeds germinate, move them into full sun or under grow lights. Mist the seeds daily for the first 7 to 10 days. When you start to see sprouts, you can water less frequently. More plants are killed by too much water (that rots the roots) than too little water so water sparingly after the plants sprout.

Soil

Fill containers with equal parts planting mix and potting soil. Combined together, the two provide an aerated, medium density environment for roots to expand and access nutrients. Dig a hole deep enough to cover all but the top three to four inches of the seedling. It's okay to bury the lowest leaves. Those fuzzy white hairs on the stem will form a sturdy adventitious root system.

Sun / Temperature

Tomato plants thrive in 6-8 hours of daily sunshine. Containers can be moved throughout the growing season and are a great choice for home growers who have limited garden space. Be sure to provide enough room for each plant's growth. One tiny seedling can reach an astonishing height of ten feet and will need at least two cubic feet of soil.

Watering

Water deeply and regularly while the plants are developing. Irregular watering, (missing a week and trying to make up for it), leads to blossom end rot and cracking. Once the fruit begins to ripen, lessening the water will coax the plant into concentrating its sugars. Don’t withhold water so much that the plants wilt and become stressed or they will drop their blossoms and possibly their fruit.

Fertilizer

Fertilize with fishmeal, chicken manure, or a premixed low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus organic fertilizer and water thoroughly. You will need to repeat the fertilizing process each year. A weekly dose of liquid seaweed will increase fruit production and plant health, as will side-dressing with compost two or three times during the growing season.

Pruning and Pinching

Pinch and remove suckers that develop in the crotch joint of two branches. They won’t bear fruit and will take energy away from the rest of the plant. But go easy on pruning the rest of the plant. You can thin leaves to allow the sun to reach the ripening fruit, but it’s the leaves that are photosynthesizing and creating the sugars that give flavor to your tomatoes.

Harvesting

Harvest the fruit at its peak. Fruit should appear about 60 days after transplanting. Check the plants daily once they begin to ripen to ensure peak flavor. Gently twist the fruits and avoid pulling at the vine.

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.