Was fortunate to have attended this workshop today. Sharing for reference.
Kitchen Garden Workshop @SGNP
Faculty: Anand Pendharkar, SPROUTS
1. Never throw food in the dustbin, recycle - feed the birds & animals instead
2. Reduce your carbon footprint - Purchase at source (farmers market)
3. Farming is a community activity. A farmer needs to learn to give n share. It's a win win
Repotting:
1. Soak the black plastic coated plant in a bucket of water to loosen the soil. The plastic can be reused!
2. If you plan to eat the leaves, prune the flowers as they release chemicals which make them unpalatable. E.g. remove the flowers from curry leaves or tulsi
3. Water your plants at dusk (4:30ish in winters, 5:30ish in summers). If soil is good, you can alternate days to water. Too much water will only help grow leaves, not flowers.
4. Soil mixture: compost 50%, red earth 20-30% (if plant is to be placed in a windy place, more earth), cocopeat 20%. For germinating - 100% compost or 70:30 compost: coco peat.
Tip: reduce the weight of your pots.
Tip: Baked earth doesn't decompose. The earthen pots aren't as eco friendly as I thought!
5. First watering after potting, has to be till brim so that soil settles n air gaps are removed. You can refill with soil now
6. Germinate some grains (legumes - anything goes, moong, Rajma, corn, chickpeas, mustard, methi, date seeds etc). These can be sprinkled around your pot together - they will provide much needed nitrogen and help each other grow well
Tip: Over watering is the most common problem. Light application of water during dusk is best. Alternate day watering is also ok.
Companion plants:
Brinjals n Marigold (helps avoid the worms)
Insect repellant plants:
Marigold
Pudina/ Mint - Ants
Lemongrass, Drumstick tree - mosquitoes
Natural pesticides:
1. Boil some red chillies/ powder in water and spray lightly on affected spots. Wait a day or two and repeat only if required
2. (Renee's bug-the-mealybug-recipe) Soak unflavored tobacco in water overnight (about 25gms in 1L water). Next day, add 2 drops of shampoo. Spray on plants AFTER watering. Repeat for 3-4 days
Kitchen Garden Workshop @SGNP
Faculty: Anand Pendharkar, SPROUTS
1. Never throw food in the dustbin, recycle - feed the birds & animals instead
2. Reduce your carbon footprint - Purchase at source (farmers market)
3. Farming is a community activity. A farmer needs to learn to give n share. It's a win win
Repotting:
1. Soak the black plastic coated plant in a bucket of water to loosen the soil. The plastic can be reused!
2. If you plan to eat the leaves, prune the flowers as they release chemicals which make them unpalatable. E.g. remove the flowers from curry leaves or tulsi
3. Water your plants at dusk (4:30ish in winters, 5:30ish in summers). If soil is good, you can alternate days to water. Too much water will only help grow leaves, not flowers.
4. Soil mixture: compost 50%, red earth 20-30% (if plant is to be placed in a windy place, more earth), cocopeat 20%. For germinating - 100% compost or 70:30 compost: coco peat.
Tip: reduce the weight of your pots.
Tip: Baked earth doesn't decompose. The earthen pots aren't as eco friendly as I thought!
5. First watering after potting, has to be till brim so that soil settles n air gaps are removed. You can refill with soil now
6. Germinate some grains (legumes - anything goes, moong, Rajma, corn, chickpeas, mustard, methi, date seeds etc). These can be sprinkled around your pot together - they will provide much needed nitrogen and help each other grow well
Tip: Over watering is the most common problem. Light application of water during dusk is best. Alternate day watering is also ok.
Companion plants:
Brinjals n Marigold (helps avoid the worms)
Insect repellant plants:
Marigold
Pudina/ Mint - Ants
Lemongrass, Drumstick tree - mosquitoes
Natural pesticides:
1. Boil some red chillies/ powder in water and spray lightly on affected spots. Wait a day or two and repeat only if required
2. (Renee's bug-the-mealybug-recipe) Soak unflavored tobacco in water overnight (about 25gms in 1L water). Next day, add 2 drops of shampoo. Spray on plants AFTER watering. Repeat for 3-4 days
Thanks a lot Manisha..the points are very well explained. Will get back to you if stuck.
ReplyDelete