Starting a Terrace Garden
Do you love to have a garden? Have a passion for gardening? Lack ground space? Then, starting a terrace gardening is your answer.
A terrace garden can be established on your terrace or balcony. You will be surprised with what you can turn out in that little space of yours. Just follow some simple steps and you are good to go.
Get the space ready: A terrace of a house built as per the books, can be used to have a garden of any size. It can hold the weight of many pots and even big trees! If you have plans of a lawn, then waterproofing the surface is recommended to avoid leakage into the house. If you are settling for a garden with pots, then you can get started right away.
Get the soil ready: Having the right type of soil goes a long way in the growth of a plant. A mix of regular soil and compost provides the required nutrients for the plant.
Take small steps: Start with one or two plants in small pots. You can use other containers to; they should be strong enough to hold the soil and water. Start with vegetables like tomatoes and chilies that are easy to grow and do not require much care. Patience is the key here; it might be months before your plants start giving you results.
Expand the horizon: Once you get started, you are hooked! There is nothing that you cannot grow in a terrace garden. Use raised beds if you plan to grow many plants. From shoot vegetables or creepers like brinjal, okra, lime, cabbage, bottle gourd to root vegetables like potatoes, groundnuts, carrots and onions…everything can be grown. Fruits too. Guavas, bananas, watermelons; some adventurous gardeners have even tried growing a coconut tree on the terrace with success!
Watering the plants: Of course, watering regularly is a must but taking note of the proper proportion is also important. In summers, water twice a day. In winters, press the soil to check the moisture content and water as required. During the monsoon, you should leave the watering to the rains. It is recommended not to water even the next day after a heavy downpour as the excess nutrients may get washed away.
Importance of sunlight: Plants on the terrace require at least four to six hours of direct sunlight. In places where the sunlight is too strong, a sunshade should be used to avoid the plants from being scorched.
Caring for your plants: Use organic fertilizers to provide the right nutrition for your plants. You can also make your own compost. Check your plants every now and then for pests. You can make some natural pesticides to prevent as well as get rid of any infestation. Prune your plants regularly to keep them healthy and help them grow well.
Get started on your terrace garden. As you watch your plants grow, spread out and bear fruit, you will feel on top of the world in more ways than one.
