Topic started by Kamakshi Subbiah (@ 213.42.2.21) on Tue Mar 9 06:59:18 EST 2004.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Would really appreciate any responses explaining the correct way to set up a kitchen garden? What herbs & veggies grow well; sunlight, water requirements; seedlings or cuttings; all info. is requested. Thanks in advance.

Responses:

• From: P (@ pcp02677103pcs.ewndsr01.nj.comcast.net) on: Tue Mar 9 14:52:31 EST 2004
  
  Does anyone know how to start growing Kovakka plant and pudhina(mint) plant. Thanks
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Tue Mar 9 22:28:14 EST 2004
  
  You wish to set up a vegetable bed in your garden? Are you going to plant them in planting boxes or pots? Are these pots going to be place out in the sun or in the kitchen where it gets semi-sun for half a day? Which part of the globe are you growing them - tropics?
  
  
• From: Kamakshi (@ 213.42.2.29) on: Wed Mar 10 10:55:43 EST 2004
  
  Hi Idiappam,
  I am presently residing in Dubai - UAE, where it is HOT..HOT..HOT! I want to grow a vegetable garden in a patch of land, just in front of my house. Is it better to plant them directly in the soil or in pots? I'm also keen on growing herb plants like coriander, mint etc. in boxes, on my kitchen sill. Advise/ suggestions please.
  Thanks.
  
  
• From: Anna (@ 138.238.5.202) on: Wed Mar 10 14:07:55 EST 2004
  
  Hi
  I live in Washington DC. I am interested in setting a vegitable garden on the deck of my house. I really appreciate if somebody could give me directions.
  Thanks
  
  
• From: Keya (@ rrcs-midsouth-24-199-167-22.biz.rr.com) on: Wed Mar 10 15:15:39 EST 2004
  
  Check this link....
  www.gardenweb.com
  it has pretty much info that you need..
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Thu Mar 11 11:55:28 EST 2004
  
  Kamakshi said:
  
  //Hi Idiappam,
  I am presently residing in Dubai - UAE, where it is HOT..HOT..HOT! I want to grow a vegetable garden in a patch of land, just in front of my house. Is it better to plant them directly in the soil or in pots? I'm also keen on growing herb plants like coriander, mint etc. in boxes, on my kitchen sill. Advise/ suggestions please.
  Thanks.//
  
  1. Greens like coriander and mint grow better in shaded light. You have to grow them under shade nettings. The naturual response of plants - bigger, juicier leaves in shade. Smaller, harder leaves in direct sun - they don't need big leaves to trap 'more light'.
  
  2. Fruiting plants fruit better under strong light.
  
  3. Plants prefer a well drained soil, but not sand - it does not hold moisture and nuitrients well. If your garden is sandy - mix compost with the sand 50/50% and make a vegetable bed.
  
  4. So if you grow brinjals - space them at half a metre interval and plant mint or corriander under them.
  
  5. MINT
  The common asian variety Pudhina (botanical: Mentha arvensis) will perform well in hot hot hot climate under shade. Grow them from fleshy stem cuttings - they tend to shoot runners that will root and spread all over the bed.
  
  The temperate varieties - Pepermint (Mentha peperita) and Spear Mint (Mentha spicata) - I have seen them grow from seeds only. I have not tried cuttings!
  
  6. Corriander
  Grown from seeds. Don't use those seeds that you buy from stores for cooking - they are very weak seeds - they sprout and die afer a few days. Buy the seed from seed shops. Split the seeds before sowing. Sow them in seed trays to germinate then tranplant them to the garden after the second leave appears. You can sow direct to your garden if you can monitor them carefully till they become sturdy. You can also sow them direct if you are planting in boxes or pots.
  
  7. Watering has to done once a day when they are small and twice a day when the plants are bigger (they drink more water then). Look out for signs of dehydration - leaf tips will dry out! Maybe you need to water thrice if the soil can't hold much water - seeps off too fast.
  
  8. Nutrients - fertiliser. Ask the local nursery to recommend - High nitrogen for leafy vegies, High pottasium for fruits. Don't overdose. Give them small quantities every week - they grow well. Larger quantity every month results in slower growth.
  
  9. Pests and Fungal diseases - may be a problem - we will tackle them when they come!
  
  More questions welcome!
  
  
  
  
• From: Kamakshi (@ 195.229.241.169) on: Fri Mar 12 17:55:59 EST 2004
  
  Many thanks to you, Idiappam.
  
  I would like to know which plants should & shouldn't be grown together like, they say brinjals can't thrive beside tomatoes etc. And approximately how long would it take for the first yield of the vegetables ?
  
  
• From: Selina Chan (@ wks39.hiwaay.net) on: Sat Mar 20 13:38:43 EST 2004
  
  // From: Kamakshi (@ 195.229.241.169) on: Fri Mar 12 17:55:59 EST 2004
  
  I would like to know which plants should & shouldn't be grown together like, they say brinjals can't thrive beside tomatoes etc. And approximately how long would it take for the first yield of the vegetables //
  
  Sounds like old wive's tale.. Last year I grew them side by side and I had abundance. Second Questions between 50 to seventy days. Depending on where you live makes the diff.
  
  Selina
  
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Tue Mar 23 03:34:08 EST 2004
  
  //Sounds like old wive's tale.. Last year I grew them side by side and I had abundance. Second Questions between 50 to seventy days. Depending on where you live makes the diff. //
  
  Interesting Selina! Can you tell us more! what are the vegetables you grew and where are you?
  
  
• From: Ted Rowney (@ 61-27-30-191.home.ne.jp) on: Thu Jun 17 01:36:34
  
  Hi my name is Ted. Last year on my balcony i tried to grow Corriander which i bought from a nursery. Well, all went well for the first month till th plant stopped producing the nice larger leaves and started producing much smaller leaves that resembled Dill almost. Is there a prunnindg method i can use to keep the plant from going to seed?
  
  
• From: Yolande (@ rba-cache1-vif1.saix.net) on: Tue Aug 31 13:37:28
  
  Hi I have a friend living in Dubai (she moved there about a year ago) she complains that it is too humid for veggies like tomatoes etc. to grow succesfully, and if it is not too humid the sun gets to the veggies. What veggies and herbs do best in Dubai and where can one purchase the seeds?
  
  
• From: Cindy (@ ppp79-66.dsl-chn.eth.net) on: Tue Sep 7 02:26:24 EDT 2004
  
  Keep a bigger pot in a corner of your garden with 3/4 mud. Put all your degradable garbages in this. Each time u can dig a corner and cover these biodegradables so that u see only mud above..keep this always wet. biodegradables are tea left over, egg shells, fruit and vegetable skins...etc...add this mixture when u prepare your pot for planting and see the difference in crops next time...Enjoy gardening!!!
  
  
• From: Kz (@ bgp528531bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Thu Sep 9 11:27:10 EDT 2004
  
  Hi,
  Grow mint ( pudhina) in pots, if planted in ground it will spread and take over the whole place. I got a bunch from a grocery store used all the leaves and planted those stems and it grew very well.
  you can grow chillies in pots, aloe vera and curry leaves.
  Marigolds and tomatoes can be planted to together.
  
  Kamakshi, check out what plants are sold and doing well in ur local nursey shops and u could grow the same at home,that way u wont feel disappointed later when they dont grow well.
  Good luck
  Kz
  
  

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