Many of us dream of setting up a terrace garden. But only a few succeed.
This article will show you simple, traditional methods to help you realize your gardening goals.
Illaylvagai, a Namaavar group from down-south Tamil Nadu, recently showed Madipakkam residents the basics of terrace gardening. Their expertise and experiences are summed up in this article. For more details contact Ashok of Namaavar gardening at +91 9500125125. (Disclaimer: At Spirit of Chennai we do not do any paid promotions or articles. All articles are written by our authors without receiving any cash or reward in exchange.)
How to make a Terrace Garden
“Terrace gardening is neither a costly affair nor rocket science,” says Mrs. S. Alageswari of Illyalvagai. All that one needs is small but consistent efforts to set up the garden and grow them. The key to gardening is remembering Namazhvar’s saying:
Gardening is not about growing plants; it is about providing the right soil-ecosystem for plants to grow by themselves.” – G. Nammalvar
Mrs. S. Alageswari, also recommends growing plants from ‘country’ seeds and avoiding buying saplings from nurseries.
Making terrace gardening is a four step process, she says. Following is the time-tested four-step way to grow your own terrace garden:
- Making the right soil mix for the plant.
- Setting up the terrace ecosystem for optimal ventilation
- Pot Layering and Sowing the country seed
- Conserving the soil nutrient by watering and mulching
In this article, we can cover each of the four steps in detail.
What to mix in the soil for a vegetable garden?
Making the right soil mix for the plant is a critical prerequisite for farming or home gardening.
The ideal pot mix (base soil) will have three components:
- Two parts of Red soil
- One part of the Clay soil
- One part of dry Cow or Goat Dung
Mix Red soil, Clay soil, and dry Cow dung in a 2:1:1 ratio to make the base soil for your vegetable garden.
Quick tip:
Be sure to check the quality of red soil – many urban vendors adulterate the soil with brick powder with normal soil for the red hue…
One part Earth-worm Manure (மண்புழு உரம்) and dry leaves compost will be needed to further layer the pot along with this soil base.
Setting up the Terrace ecosystem for optimal ventilation
If there is one reason urban gardeners are failing in their attempts at terrace gardening, it would be failing to give the pot the proper ventilation.
A pot should never to kept on the terrace floor. It has to be placed on a ‘wooden’ plank raised above the floor.
An elevated plank, mostly wooden, must be set up with flat-stable supporters on either side: bricks or flattened tender coconut shells can make great supporters. The plank elevation aids in two ways: air ventilation and surplus water run-off from the pot. So, for your gardening efforts to succeed, place the pot on the elevated plank.
Quick Tip:
Ensure the plank’s surface is smooth and even, without nails or dents.
Quick tip:
Avoid iron and steel plant stands, for they emit heat that can impact root health.
Pot Layering and Sowing the country seed
Once you have set up the terrace ecosystem using an elevated wooden plank, place the pot(s) at a distance of roughly 5 meters between each other.
Layer the pot with 3-4 parts of soil base, prepared earlier, and one part of earth-worm manure. Place a country seed (just ONE SEED) on top of the earth-worm manure, and close the layers with two parts of dry leaves. Sprinkle water on the layered pot, and let the worms do the rest for nitrogen fixation and plant growth.
Quick Tip:
Layer the pot with earth-worm manure only when you are ready to sow the seed and close it with dry leaves. Earth-worms are sensitive to sunlight and may die within minutes if let out in the sun.
Did you know?
Putting too many seeds at once can end up in branches choking each other. One seed per pot is the best-kept secret of veteran gardeners.
The rule of thumb is one seed per pot. However, if you are planting greens or lettuces (கீரை), the seeds need to be mixed with soil in 1:1 ratio and spread over as a top layer on the pot.
Conserving the soil nutrient by watering and mulching:
As mentioned, earth-worms in your pots do everything to let your plant grow. After setting up the pot layers and sowing the seed, all you need to do is sprinkle water on them. Too much water may decay the root, and too less water may de-hydrate the soil. Following the quote of Nammalvar guide gardeners need to estimate the right amount of water needed for the plant:
“Plants don’t need water; they need dampness.” – G. Nammalvar
The best time to water the plant is during the twilight hours (early morning and late evening). Watering the plant while the sun’s light is at its peak can harm plant health.
The nutrient conservation of the soil needs to be maintained by mulching. Dry leaves or non-citrus organic waste can be topped as a ‘thin’ layer once a week. Mrs. S. Alageswari recommends terrace gardeners use the process of mulching, or home-made soil compost, instead of buying commercial ones.
Quick Tip: Coco-peat and sugarcane peat are great alternatives to dry leaf mulching.
Harvesting Crops:
It takes anywhere between 3 days to up to 2 weeks to see the first tender shoots breaking through the mulched dry leaves layers. Continue to water and mulch the plant the way we told you, and you will soon be able to harvest your crops.
While harvesting, it is crucial to set aside the seeds. Country seeds need to be stored not just for consecutive harvesting but also for the food sustainability of your lineage.
Our additional information on where to buy country seeds and methods of storing country seeds can give you deeper insights into the importance of seeds and terrace gardening.
Where to buy country seeds for gardening?
The country seeds should be bought from subsistence farmers; who grow their own food. Sidda and Ayurvedic organizations and Namaazvar groups also sell country seeds for a nominal price. Prices usually range from Rs. 20 to Rs. 80 (as of 2023).
Country seeds are once in a lifetime investment. Once bought, they can be used for generations. All that one needs to do is save the seeds from each harvest and sow them for consecutive harvests.
Did you know?: Traditionally, Tamil families habitually stored seeds for the next generations, just like they saved property and assets for them?
Avoid buying seeds from nurseries, online, or other commercial establishments. Though they are sold under local or regional names, they are highly genetically modified (GMO) and thus may not yield the desired results. GMO seeds will not help you reap vegetables/fruits, cannot be reused for successive sowing, and will have stunted growth.
How to store country seeds?
Dry the seeds set aside from the first harvest out in the sunlight for about a day or two.
Categorize the seeds by their breed and variety, and mix them with Lime-Calcium organic powder (சுண்ணாம்பு) and store them in an air-tight glass or mud containers.
The stored country seeds need to be sustainably used: The rule of thumb is one seed per pot.
Where to buy garden tools in Chennai?
TN Horticulture Department is the best place to buy gardening tools in Chennai. However, we also learned that Pallavaram Market is a great place to buy gardening tools at a throw-away price.
The author also finds Santhosh Super Stores in Anna Nagar to buy gardening tools in Chennai. (Remember we are not paid for our commercial recommendations here!).
Where to get garden soil in Chennai?
Gardening soil is vital for plant growth. Hence, it is essential to check the quality of soil with bare hands before deciding to buy them. TN Horticulture Department is a great place to buy gardening soil. However, directly buying soil from veteran horticulturists or farmers can prove a learning experience, too.
Nurseries from urban city centers of Chennai do not follow gardening best practices: fertilizers, soil adulteration, and GMO seeds are the norm among ultra-modern nurseries. However, few good nurseries follow traditional and conventional methods while growing their saplings and selling nutrient-rich red soil. Therefore, buyers are recommended to use prejudice before buying products from nurseries.
The author was told that MyOwnGarden in Medavakkam is a nursery where unadulterated red soil is sold for a reasonable price.
Fertilizers of Terrace Gardening:
Mulching and home-made compost will make great fertilizers for your plants. However, if you are moving to medium or large-scale plantations, the following organic methods is recommended:
- Fish Amino Water (மீன் அமினோ அமிலம்): Fish wastes stored in country sugar (நாட்டு சக்கரை) water for about a week.
- Coconut Milk or pure buttermilk during summer.
- Home-made organic soil compost
- Plain country sugar (நாட்டு சக்கரை) water
Avoid citrus peels (Orange or lime), tea or coffee wastes, cooked or steamed food wastes, and chemical fertilizers, for they can harm plant growth.
Pesticides for Terrace Gardening:
For your terrace gardening produce to be fully organic, try to use organic pesticides like Neem oil or Neem Leaves Cake ( வேப்பம் புண்ணாக்கு).
It only takes very little money to pursue your organic gardening goals. Setting up a terrace garden in Chennai will only cost you time and effort.
Follow these recommendations, and we are confident that you will be excited enough to share pictures of your harvests in the comment box!
(Disclaimer: At Spirit of Chennai we do not do any paid promotions or articles. The website does not receive any cash or reward or benefits for writing articles. )