Fruit and vegetable crops are planted on the open spare land around the house, lawn, roof or balcony. It is called kitchen gardening. As vegetables are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, it is essential to use vegetables in the daily diet of everyone to maintain health. Like milk and fruits, vegetables are also an important protective food. Leafy vegetables are high in water and cellulose or fibers.
Soil type is very important for growing vegetables in house compound. If the soil is stony and its surface soil is shallow, bring good soil from outside and add 20 to 30 cm. Up to what height should be done. Where there is less space in the compound, vegetables like tomato, cabbage, flower, lettuce, cucumber, milk, oregano etc. can be easily grown in wooden boxes, pots and large earthen tubs. In general, the soil for growing vegetables should be level, loose and rich.
In some varieties of vegetables, their stems are raised first and later transplanted into seedlings. These varieties include tomatoes, cauliflower, cauliflower, chillies, brinjal etc. Dharoo can be grown in earthen pots, wooden boxes or baskets when less quantity is desired. Trees are usually ready for planting in three to four weeks.
Benefits of Kitchen Gardening :-
- The spare land around the house can be put to good use and kept beautiful and clean.
- A kitchen garden can enhance the beauty of the home.
- Household waste water can be used properly.
- Favorite, fresh and pesticide-free vegetables can be produced seasonally as per the family’s needs.
- Working in the kitchen garden provides physical exercise. So health can be kept healthy.
- Different plants, crop identification, cultivation methods and their uses can be explained to the children at home.
- Household expenses are reduced.
Important points for growing vegetables at home:-
- The place for growing vegetables should have enough sunlight throughout the day.
- For the kitchen garden, excess water from the kitchen is used for vegetables. But it is not advisable to use the soapy / chemical water that comes out from bathing or washing clothes in the bathroom for the kitchen garden.
- Drinking facilities and sanitation should be arranged. (Drip irrigation method can also be adopted).
- A system whereby excess water from the kitchen or house is collected in a cistern or tank and used only when required rather than flowing directly into the sewer. Because plants need moisture, not water.
- Weeding (excess grass) around the plants in the kitchen garden with a weeder.
- Harvest fruits and vegetables only when they are ready to eat.
- At the end of the season, the plants should be uprooted as soon as the crop is complete. Collect pest-damaged residues and dispose of them properly or burn them.
- Vines of vining vegetable crops can be planted on trees, agashi or by making a sheltered porch.
- Root vegetable crops like onion, garlic, potato, radish, carrot, beet should be planted in crop rotations. So that land can be used efficiently.
- Fenugreek, Coriander, Spinach and Alvi can be grown in a shaded area.
- Sargava and sweet neem plants can be planted in the kitchen garden.
- Keeping the vegetable crop area as per the requirement of the family members.
- Plantain, papaya, lemon, guava, sitafal etc. should be included in the kitchen garden.