Prepare your own kitchen garden

With exorbitant prices of organic items, it becomes difficult to satisfy our taste and health together, while keeping the household budget intact. So why not grow our own food which is both fertilizers free and fun to grow even in a small room?

Pick up gardening as a hobby with these easy to follow tips:

Potatoes are the easiest plant to grow for a beginner, especially for people who live in areas where the temperature is generally high. There are two ways you can plant potato – with seeds or with a potato itself. If you do not have seeds then you can take a potato and soak it in water partially for a week until little buds are observed. And then, transfer it to a larger pot with manure and soil and water it regularly.

Herbs like coriander and mint are the most suitable plants for growing if you live in an apartment with less sunlight and limited space. "Herbs are shorter in size and gives great flavour to the food. It also helps in detoxification of the body by producing necessary enzymes." says botany expert. You can easily re-grow the herbs by planting them along with the roots and they will eventually multiply by growing.

Spices like ginger, turmeric and chilly are the main ingredients to any scrumptious dish. Ginger is often referred as the root which is highly effective for our throat and can be re-grown with the help of its buds (eye) that shoots up again to form new buds when it is planted.

Some crops can grow together in a single pot without affecting other's growth. "It should be kept in mind that crops which require same nutrients from the soil must not be grown together as it causes a deficiency of nutrients in the soil." suggests the Earthly Creations CEO, Harpreet Ahluwalia. Tomatoes, onions and marigold are the friendliest crops to grow together as marigold repels some tomato pests and onion, with different nutrient intake will keep the soil fertile for tomatoes to grow.

If you are living in a society or apartment, you may have to struggle with space issues. You can plant climbers such as grapes and cucumbers as they can find appropriate sunshine for themselves for their growth. "You can also go for hanging pots and jars to make it a bit handy. These can be easily shifted from one place to another," suggests Harpreet, or you can place these anywhere on window sill, balcony, gardens and near your kitchen area where you can cook as well as grow at the same time.

For any plant you choose, ensure that your kitchen garden is in a sunny spot and near a water source. They should be kept free from any standing water through proper drainage. Water should not stagnate and block the soil. Plants must be slightly raised in such a way so that water flows down and the moisture also stays. Also, you can create artificial water dripping can or pump to keep your plants hydrated and avoid them from drying up if you go on vacation frequently. So go ahead and be your own kitchen-garden expert.