Nursery Bags Sizes

Size (in inch) 

• 4 x 6
• 5 x 7
• 6 x 9
• 7 x 10

The Fastest Growing Vegetables

Majority of Vegetables require the heat of summer or a long, leisurely growing season to ripen and reward us, but there are a handful that virtually pop out of the ground and are ready to harvest within weeks

Bush Beans

You'll have to wait until the soil warms a bit in late spring, but once your bean seeds are in the ground, stand back. Pole beans need time to climb and grow tall, but bush beans start setting flowers and pods within weeks of poking out of the ground. Succession plant for an even longer harvest and you'll have a steady supply of beans throughout the season. Days to harvest: 50-70.

Green Onions

Bulb forming onions take weeks to plump up, but you can start harvesting the greens within a month and the plants will continue to fill in and produce more. Or you can pull the whole plant to use as a green onion, or scallion, and succession plant more. Days to harvest: 20-30

Peas - An Early Spring Treat

Peas are the easiest plants to please, but if the spring weather will oblige us with some cool, rainy days, we can celebrate with snap, sugarpod or shelling peas in only about 50 days. As with beans, the shorter varieties start producing earliest, since they don't have to put all their energy into growing tall. Whatever variety you grow, you can get an even earlier treat by indulging in some pea shoots and tendrils. Days to harvest: 50-70

Radishes - Quick and Easy to Grow

Radishes need to grow quickly, or they will turn hard or pithy. But give them the conditions that promote rapid growth, succession plant every other week and you'll be enjoying some tang with all those salad greens you're harvesting.  Days to harvest: 20-30

Salad Greens - An Almost Instant Harvest

By salad greens, I mean lettuce and so much more. These are the perfect crops to start your season, since many of them can withstand a little frost as seedlings and if you plan on starting from seed, you can get started before your last frost date. Most are ready to pick within 2 months. If you are truly impatient (and I am) plant at least a few starts and/or grow a super quick maturing green, like arugula. You'll be harvesting baby greens within 3 weeks.  Days to harvest: 21-55

 Turnips - Two Crops in One

For a double-duty fast grower, sow some turnips seeds. While the bulbs are growing fat, we can harvest some of the leaves to eat fresh or toss in a side dish. We can even munch on the plants we thin out, to make space for the bulbs to fill out. And once again, you can succession plant for a continual supply of speedy plants. Days to harvest: 40 – 60

 

House gardening as per Vastu Shashtra.

Astrology and plants are associated with each other. Trees and vegetation not only protect the environment but are also capable of affecting human life by subsiding the ill effects of planets. In this way plants play an important role in the planetary remedies.

Trees are worshipped like Gods in Indian culture. It is a general belief that there are representative trees for every zodiac sign under whose protection the subject is blessed with favourable fruits.

If you want to fill your life with positive energy, happiness and prosperity then you are suggested to plant a tree according to your zodiac sign. 

These specific plants/trees can remove obstacles from one’s life.

Some auspicious trees according to Vastu good for the residents are described below along with their usefulness:

PEEPAL TREE – Research shows evidence that oxygen is produced in large amounts by the leaves of this tree and it is found in high concentration under the branches, probably due to the thick foliage. Hence, it is considered very healthy to stroll around and near this tree in the mornings. For this reason, it is considered a sacred tree and is worshiped in India. It is usually found near temples or temples are also constructed near these trees. It has a very long life and can survive for centuries. However, it is not suitable near a house, since it has far spreading roots which can affect the foundation of the building.

NEEM TREE - This tree has great medicinal value and its extract is used in pesticides. Its twigs can also be used to brush one’s teeth and neem oil is used in physiotherapy. Since neem leaves are very bitter, a mixture of neem leaves, tender green mango and jaggery is eaten on New Year in South India as a symbolic gesture gearing up to face the sweet, sour and bitter experiences of the coming. Therefore, this is a good tree to have in a house garden.

MANGO TREE – Most parts of the mango tree have medicinal value. Its leaves are used in religious rituals. It is considered very auspicious if the dead are cremated using mango tree fire-wood. Mango trees also have a very long life and can survive for 400-500 years. Obviously, this is also a very useful tree to have in your garden.

JACK-FRUIT TREE - Like the ‘mango tree, the jack-fruit tree also produces delicious, seasonal, fruit in large numbers. The yellow juicy kernels inside the jackfruit are used to make different types of sweets and pies. The beautiful yellow coloured wood from this tree is used to make furniture, doors, windows etc. Its leaves are considered auspicious and are also used in religious ceremonies. Therefore, it is useful and can be planted in a garden.

BANANA TREE- lot of illnesses can be treated with concoctions made from the roots, stem, flowers, and leaves of this tree. 

COCONUT TREE - Every part of this tree is useful. The tender coconut water is a very healthy, cool, low fat drink. The oil extracted from coconut is used in cooking as well as hair oil. Coir is a very useful by-product which is used in making mats, carpets etc. The leaves of the coconut tree are weaved and used as roofing for huts by the poor. Its dry leaves are also used as fire-wood. It has a long life of about 100-150 years and is prohibited from being cut. Due to its usefulness, it is considered a sacred tree.

SANDAL WOOD TREE- Sandal wood is very expensive as it is used to make exquisite handicrafts, and its oil is very fragrant. Sandalwood paste when applied on the forehead, cools the head, and so is used in temples and in hot places like Kerala, India. It is also used to make incence sticks. 

JASMINE - In general, plants with sweet smelling flowers like jasmine, red lotus, blue lotus etc are good in the house compound as they release a pleasant fragrance and can also be used in daily worship. Moreover, as these flowers are produced round the year, they are always available.

THORNY PLANTS - Thorny plants should not be planted near the house. Cactus should not be planted at all. Thorny plants other than roses have a negative energy. Ideally, all thorny plants should be pulled up and destroyed. The reason could be that the thorns can hurt you when you brush past them so be careful.

CREEPERS – Creepers or other plants should not be grown along-side the building wall as support their clingers slowly creep into tiny cracks in the walls and gradually widen them as they grow, causing damage and seeepage of water through the walls. Creepers should only be grown in a garden, and they should have their own independent supports. A creeper like a money plant can be grown within the house but should not be grown outside, using a tree for support.

FLOWER POTS - Flower pots should not be kept on the compound wall facing the North, East or North-East as they will block the useful morning sunlight coming in from these directions. Flower pots and decorative plants can be placed on the ground in these directions, but they should not grow taller than 3 feet.

LAWNS AND WATER BODIES- Lawns should be in the East or the North.  A small water-fall of three to four feet can be constructed in the East or the North leaving the North-East corner. If there is a swimming pool in the garden, it should be in the North or North-East direction, so that people using the pool benefit from the sun rays and also, the water will get purified by the direct rays of the Sunlight.

Tips

The following points may be kept in mind while planting flowers and plants:

1. Champak, Mogra and Parijat should not be planted in southwest, northwest or east directions.
2. Flower pots should not be kept on the east, north or northeast wall of the building.
3. The trees which bear fruits should be planted in the east direction of the garden.
4. Tall trees should be planted in the southwest direction. It will give stability and progress.
5. A dead or leafless tree in front of the house is not considered good. It should be uprooted.
6. If a tree on the opposite side of the road has only two branches, it is not good.
7. Trees should be planted in even numbers.
8. Coconut treebrings good luck. So, it is good to plant it in the garden.
9. Money Plant in the house brings wealth and good luck.
10. Mango, lemon, banana and papaya trees should not be planted in the east or north direction.
11. Coconut and lemon trees should be planted in the south or west direction of the garden.
12. Do not cut trees in the month of Bhadrapad or Magh.
13. Trees in the North, East and North East directions of the house should not be taller than the height of the house.
14. If the shadow of a tree falls on the house in the first or last quarter of the day it will prove beneficial to those living in that house.
15. However, if the shadow of a tree falls on the house continuously for 8 to 12 hours it will be troublesome for the inmates of the house.
16. A tree in the middle of the main door/gate of the house is not auspicious.
17. Bonsai plants should not be kept inside the house. They can harm the owner and his children.
18. As far as possible cotton, tamarind, Imli and gum plants should not be planted in the house.
19. Bargad and Peepal like trees which extract milk are also nor considered good. They cause pain those living in the house.
20. Peepal Tree should not be damaged or cut. However if due to unavoidable circumstances it is required to e cut, do it only after prayers and offering of rice and curd.
21. Thorny plants like Cactus etc. should e avoided because they provide negative energy. They can cause prolems related to lungs and kidneys. However Ashoka trees planted etween the the Cactus plants consideraly reduce the ad effects of Cactus.
22. Planting of dwarf plants i the garden brings quarrel in the house.
23. Chandan brings prosperity, happiness and longlife.

Certain vegetables thrive well even in pots. You can grow them in deep pots of 14″-18″ size or use planter boxes. It all depends on choosing the right vegetables – the ones whose roots don’t grow very deep. Get started with me if you want to grow your own vegetable garden.

1. Chillies and Peppers – Take two or three chillies. Slit them open and spread the seeds in the pot filled with potting soil. Ensure the seeds don’t go too deep. Cover it with little potting soil and water it. It took about a week for the seeds to sprout. I can see about 10 plants now. If the pot is not large enough, you can replant the sprouts into a bigger pot.

2. Tomatoes – Roots of a tomato plant grow deeper into the soil. Not ideally suited for pots. You can either choose the country-side tomatoes or cheery tomatoes. You don’t need to invest in buying the seeds or a small plant to get started. Just cut a tomato into four pieces and bury it about 1/2 inch into the soil. Wait for 3-4 weeks for the seeds to start sprouting into a plant. The plant grows taller and needs support to hold it together.

3. Coriander – This without doubt is my favorite herb to grow. Less maintenance and quite easy to grow. Recycle used cans or tins and fill it up with soil. If you can’t make a drain hole at the bottom of the can, fill it up with gravels for about 2 inches and then put the soil on top. Once you have the container ready, take a handful of coriander seeds and rub them with your sandals (footwear). Pour the crushed seeds into the can, cover it a layer of soil, water it and forget it. Ensure it gets enough sunlight. You should have a bunch of coriander leaves within a month.

4. Mint – Mint needs a small contained like coriander/cilantro. Alternatively, you can grow the herbs together in a big container. How about using a old kadai you’ve been thinking of disposing for this? Paint it, plant it and keep it on the windowsill.

5. Beans – Sow the seeds in pots a few inches apart. The plant grows into a vine so train them on the grill or a tall pole.

Nitrate manure is available in most nurseries. Put about 25-30 gms of organic manure to the vegetable pots once in 30 days.

Common vegetables to grow at your home garden

1. Ridge Gourd

Known as angled loof / Luffa acuntangula, Ridge Gourd is grown through out the year by seeds or transplanting.  Its hard dark green fruit is eaten as vegetable. Ridge Gourd’s health benefits include high fiber and water content, rich in vitamines, blood purifier etc. It is locally called by these names –  turai (Hindi), Beerakai (Telugu) , Peerkangai (Tamil)

2.  Beet Root

Beet root (Beta vulgaris) is crimson red root vegetable. Its tap root are used as vegetable. It can be grown any season in the year through seeds.

3. Bitter Gourd

Popularly know as Karela, Bitter Gourd is grown through seeds through out the year. It’s juice is very good for the body.  Check out its detailed growing tips here –

4. Brinjal

Another popular vegetable in Indian cuisine, known as Baingan in Hindi. Eggplant, Aubergines are some of its other names. It is also very easy to grow and take care. Its color ranges from purple, white to green yellowish white. This vegetable’s growing technique can be checked outhere.

5. Potato

Known as Aloo in Hindi, Potato is world’s most home grown plant. It is a tuber type vegetable means food is stored in tuber shaped roots. Best season to cultivate potato is October to March. Potato is grown through potato seeds which are small sized potato parts having at least one eye (growing point) on them. If you are planning to grow potato at your place then check out this post.

6. Tomato

Tomato / Tamatar is used to enhance the taste of food. It can be grown easily in container/pot in balcony or roof top through seeds in any season of the year. Here is its detailed growing technique.

7. Beans

Bean ( Vigna sesquipedalis ) is another popular vegetable grown through out the years from seeds. Its long, green to red fruit is used as vegetable.

 

8. Pumpkin

Popularly called as Kaddu, is very good for health. Pumpkin is very rich in fibre, vitamins like A,K,C and minerals (iron, magnesium, potasium). It is cultivated through out the year with seeds.