Heirloom Tomato Harvest 2016 From My Potted Garden

I would like to wish all my blog readers a very Happy New Year 2017, i would love to share my last blog article for 2016 that's my tomato harvest pictures with all of you , was so short on time that i could not watermark my pictures with copyright :( so since there is a time crunch i wont be writing much,i will let the pictures do all the talking and speak for themselves in this post,until  next time its Happy Gardening & see you all on the other side in the new year ☺ 

Growing Purple Cabbage From Seeds In Pots In India

I love Purple cabbages and i have always seen Purple Cabbages denuded of its outer leaves and buffed(waxed) to shine and ready to be sold in markets and neither were they organically grown,i had never grown cabbages before , so this year i decided to go ahead  and try and grow my every own organic Purple cabbage from seeds in  a pot on my terrace garden.It was a pleasure to see the humble yet exotic looking "Purple cabbages" grow and form heads,so beautiful,vibrant looking in their natural state and most importantly they were free of pesticides.Patience was the key to growing them waited for six long months before i could actually harvest my very first home grown organic Purple Cabbage.

Purple cabbage belongs to the Brassica Oleracea family,its a cool season crop and can be easily grown in pots or containers.Purple cabbages get their gorgeous distinctive dark color from anthocyanins and are loaded with antioxidants.As an amateur gardener if i could grow them anybody can !! The best time to grown them here in India is Mid of June.All you need is good hummus rich soil and your ready to grow ☺

So here's a step by step pictorial guide which will show you  how to grow purple cabbages from seeds in pots/containers.

Start by choosing the type of cabbage you want to grow,Cabbage seeds can either be hybrid or heirloom.I choose to grow a large heirloom variety of purple cabbage called Mammoth Red Rock Cabbage which produce large purple heads.

Purple Cabbage grows in soil that is rich in hummus so prepare your potting mix by mixing equal proportions of soil and composted cow manure,add half the quantity of compost or worm castings and a handful of ground Neem cake,you can also add dry leaves to the potting mix,mix all the components of the potting medium to incorporate,line the base of the pot/container in which you intend to grow the cabbages in,with dry hay/pieces of broken bricks/gravels.

Cabbage seeds need humid weather in order to germinate so i sowed the seeds in the last week of June on the 20th, i used the direct sowing method and sowed 3 seeds per hole and spaced the seeds 10 inches apart from each other,after a week tiny purple cabbage saplings emerged from the soil.

I had 100 % germination rate,using a pair of scissors i carefully snipped out 2 seedlings leaving only 1 healthy seedling per slot.I ended up with 4 healthy seedlings in a 2 1/2 foot long pot.

Within a weeks time the first set of true leaves appeared on the saplings.Soon enough new leaves kept on forming i watered the saplings very sparingly as the weather was gloomy and cloudy with frequent light showers,as i feared that the cabbage saplings would succumb to root rot or water logging.

Almost a month had passed by and the rains had arrived the saplings were growing but very slowly, i added a handful of homemade compost at this stage.

Since the potting mix was porous and light, rain water drained of easily also the drainage holes at the base really helped.The purple cabbages started changing their shape slightly.

Up until this stage the cabbage saplings grew really well,they were hale,hearty and healthy and showed no signs of pests.Every two weeks i poured a weak brew of vermiwash followed by a handful of compost.

3 months had gone by no major changes in the purple cabbages ,i would always make it a point to check the undersides of the leaves for aphids and other pests,they did not have any and i was so happy.

At the end of the third month  they were some visible changes in the cabbages the leaves started cupping or forming the head,The leaves were so glossy and large with beautiful purple veins.Now i fed the Purple cabbages with well composted cow manure,i simply spread a handful around each cabbage plant.

  

So far so good things were going well, until one fine day the aphids came knocking on one of the purple cabbages door,my  worst nightmare was staring  at me right in my face !! I immediately got cotton ball dipped it in some diluted soapy water and wiped away those nasty aphids from the undersides of the leaves.But the next day they would be back again with a vengeance and in double the numbers than the last time.Fearing that they would spread to the other healthy cabbage plants i had to remove it with a very heavy heart :((

Now out of 4 purple cabbages, i was left with 3 and as a precaution i sprayed the cabbages with vermiwash,just to be on the safer side, i also could not afford to lose them to any pests at this stage,It was almost 5 months and it wouldn't be wrong for me to say that i had been caring for the cabbages like my every own babies,this time i would not have the heart to lose a single one of them.

I then changed the location of the pot in which the Purple Cabbages were growing from a spot that receives full sunlight to a spot that receives partial sunlight (around 6 hrs of direct sunlight followed by shade) on my Terrace garden.

The Mammoth Redrock Purple Cabbages were getting huge now true to their name and baby cabbage heads started forming and taking on shape,they also seemed to like their new spot on the Terrace Garden and were growing happily much to my delight.

I continued fertilizing them with undiluted vermi wash,composted cow manure and compost by lightly digging in a handful around the base of the cabbages, be careful while doing this you dont want to damage the cabbage in any way.

Things were going just fine until one fine day i happened to spot a cabbage moth larvae beneath one of the leaves,i squashed it then and there itself.It was time to make a dacoit moth to scare the real ones away☺

I used empty yogurt cups to cut out a butterfly shapes and then using a permanent marker i drew eyes and spots then poked a piece of copper wire through it and that's pretty much it,stuck it between the cabbages and work done !! 

Its only at this very last stage that i learned that cabbages love high doses of nitrogen,and they grow faster,will definitely keep this point in mind when growing them the next time. 

Another point to keep in mind is to water the cabbages every day,and do not let the soil dry out completely,you can add mulch to help retain soil moisture.

Cabbages are ready to harvest when the heads are firm,big and glossy and feel a bit heavy when you touch them,It was harvest time for my cabbages as the heads now were huge enough....

The long wait was finally over, the moment that i had been long waiting for was here !! It was time to taste the fruit in this case the (cabbage) of my labor !! Lol ☺simply cut the entire head and pulled the outer leaves and they just snapped off so easily,exposing the deep rich purple colored cabbage from within.

I turned the Mammoth redrock purple cabbage into a delicious Coleslaw, and enjoyed it with my family,It was by far the best tasting slaw we ever had, still have two more cabbages waiting to be harvested.

So my dear Friends i hope you like my post and experience on growing cabbages and also hope you find it useful,if you have any feedback or suggestion please do leave a comment below,Until next time "Happy Gardening ".

Growing scarlet globe radishes/red radish from seed in pots/containers.

Scarlet globe radishes are not only pretty to look at but they also taste amazing and are just as easy to grow from seed.They are perfect for growing in small spaced gardens,balconies,patios,and pots/containers.These lovely little bright scarlet colored beauties are a classic variety of round red radish,its a taproot that bulges and grows beneath the soil and its this root that is eaten it has a crisp, tender,and sharp tasting white flesh from within.A popular choice of vegetable to grow among home gardeners around the world.

Here's a step by step pictorial guide on how to grow your very own Scarlet Globe Radishes from seeds.

Begin by choosing the type of pot/container that you intend to grow your radishes in,since varieties like scarlet globe have shallow tap roots they don't need pots/containers that are too deep.You can use plastic,cement.terracotta pots or even grow bags.I choose a long wide cement planter that looked like a trough that was 1/2 feet deep  and about 2 feet wide.Make sure the pot/container has drainage holes at the bottom.

Line the base of the pot/container with any one of the following dry leaves/straw/pieces of broken bricks or terracotta pots,make sure you don't close the drainage holes when lining the inside of the pot.I used dry leaves as the base  and covered the inside of my pot base with it . 

Next you fill in your potting soil mix,i had taken equal proportions of garden soil and compost.Make sure that you use rich potting soil because once you sow your radish seeds and they grow, adding fertilizers later on does not help,so you  want to give the seedlings a healthy, humus rich growing base from the very start itself.One important point to remember when growing any type of edible tap roots like ( radishes, beetroots,carrots,kohlrabi etc) is that you want the soil to be free of stones or debris this way you get perfect shaped root if there are lots of debris or stones in the soil then the roots get deformed,you can sieve the soil and compost before using.

You can choose between hybrid and heirloom varieties of Scarlet Globe Radish seeds, i choose a hybrid variety called Radish Imp Scarlet Red Globe from an Indian seed company called Omaxe,costed me 65rs/- and there were about 100 plus seeds within the pack.The seeds come in a double seal pack.

Using your fingers draw small lines in the soil and care fully sow a radish seed in the groove,space the seeds 2 inches apart from each other and sow about 1/2  an inch deep and cover with a very thin layer of soil . Do not sow the seeds to deep or else they will not germinate properly.If you are a lazy gardener then you can go ahead and just scatter the seeds but then you will need to thin the seedlings later on once they germinate,for proper growth and formation,to thin out the unwanted saplings simply snip them with a pair of sharp  gardening scissors.

Depending on the climate and temperature the seeds may take between 3 to 10 days to sprout.Keep the soil moist at all times but not water logged to prevent damping off and root rot in the radish sprouts. 

Scarlet Globe Radishes are a cool season crop but they do need sunlight to grow,so place the pot/container that receives full or partial sunlight.

Retain soil moisture and make sure it does not dry out as this may cause the radishes to split.You can add some mulch like dried hay/straw or leaves.Radishes are ready to harvest when they have grown lush green tops with almost 6 to 7 leaves.You can pull one out to check the size,make sure you don't leave them to long or else they will turn fibrous and hard from within.So far i have not encountered any pests on my radishes,and it feels good for a change to grow something that is not attacked by pests or disease.

   I loved the color of the freshly pulled scarlet globe radishes,we had them in a salad.I Hope you all find this article helpful,until next time.....

                                    Happy Gardening To All 

                       

                                 

How To Grow Brinjal/Eggplants In Pots Or Containers In India.

Brinjals also commonly known as Eggplants or Aubergines are an edible species of solanum (nightshade) that are native to Tropical Asia.They are perennials. They are a popular garden vegetable and every country practically has its own  Eggplant recipe.They can be roasted,grilled,fried,stuffed,stewed and some times young tender eggplants/brinjals are even eaten raw.Eggplants/Brinjals are loaded with Iron and other minerals.Brinjals/Eggplants come in an array of colors and shapes.They can also be easily grown in pots or containers. Brinjals need at atleast 6 hrs of direct sunlight to grow.Below are a few tips and tricks on growing Brinjals/Eggplants successfully in pots or containers.

Best time to start seeds in in the first week of June.I had used 50:50 mix of cocopeat and garden soil as the seed starter mix.I filled a seedling tray with the mix and sowed different types of eggplant seeds.Do not sow more than 2 seeds per cell.I watered with a spray bottle and the seedlings sprouted after 10 days.You can also try direct sowing method,sow the seeds directly into the container or pot about 2 cms deep,remember that tiny seeds like eggplants/brinjals should not be sown too deep or else they will not germinate.

When the saplings develop their first pair of true leaves they are ready to be transplanted into bigger pots or containers.Loosen the soil around the edges of the cell of the seed tray and slowly and carefully scoop out the sapling using the back of a spoon, take your time and don't rush this way the chances of causing any damage to the delicate roots of the eggplant/brinjal saplings is lessened.

You can prepare the potting soil by mixing cocopeat,garden soil,compost manure and vermi compost in equal quantities.Make sure the pot or container has water drainage holes at the base.Line the base with straw or dry leaves you can also use brick pieces,then fill the pot or container with the potting soil,always leave two inches or so of space from the top,never fill the soil till the brim.Now carefully plant the saplings into the pot or container.Space the saplings 10 inches apart from each other.Place it in a spot that receives full sunlight.Water everyday and remember that Eggplants/Brinjals have a shallow root system,if you skip watering your plants they might develop root rot,blossom end rot or leathery fruit later on,also water logging will kill the saplings so make sure that water runs or drains off easily,or else the saplings may succumb to root rot and other fungal diseases.The soil needs to stay moist at all times.Best way to check is by sticking your finger almost an inch or two into the soil to see if its dry or moist,you can then water accordingly.

Once your plants are well established they will grow and flourish in a matter of time depending on the variety of seeds you choose.Some varieties fruit early while some take a lot of time.When watering the young plants make sure you stay away from the leaves,to prevent disease.

Eggplants/Brinjals are heavy feeders however avoid adding fertilizers with hight nitrogen levels in it as this will result in more green foliage rather than the fruit itself.You can fertilize the plants with liquid fertilizers once the first blooms start to appear on the plant.Seaweed ,Vermi wash,Fish Emulsions are great liquid fertilizer options to choose from.

Flea beetles and borers  are the most common pest that infects eggplant/brinjal plants they make holes in the leaves and fruits,other pests that attack the plants are spider mites,aphids,white flies and mealy bugs,they usually hide under the leaves so always make it a point to check the underside of the leaves for any sort of pest activity.Diluted vermiwash or cow urine can be sprayed on the infected plants,make sure you spray the plants before sunrise or after sunset to avoid sunburns on the leaves. 

Eggplants/Brinjals are self pollinating which means that the plants has both male and female flowers.Eggplants/Brinjals need to be harvested when they are glossy and shiny once the color gets dull or the fruit stays to long on the plant the seeds from within will start to mature,so its important to pick the Eggplants/Brinjals while they are young and tender,picking also ensures that the plant keeps on producing more flowers and more eggplants/brinjals.Always cut close to the top stem away from the calyx using a clean and sharp scissor/knife/cutter etc.Be careful of varieties that have thorns on them or else you may poke yourself.

Bees love the beautiful delicate star shaped flowers of the eggplant/brinjal and are easily attracted by them,bees help in pollination.So a good tip to keep in mind is to not plant different varieties of eggplants in one spot or place the pots or containers close together to avoid cross pollination in case you tend to save seeds for your next growing season from heirloom varieties.

You may consider staking and training you eggplant/brinjal plants depending on the type/variety that you choose to grow.Some varieties produce a bountiful number of eggplants on each stem ,which may cause the stems to bend and break with the weight so you can stake such plants to avoid any damage or breakage.Eggplants/brinjals don't really need to be pruned,you can remove yellow leaves from the bottom of the plant to keep it looking neat, tidy and green.

Mulching the plants can help retain soil moisture and prevent weeds from growing ,but i skipped mulching my eggplants/Brinjals and they are doing just fine but the choice is yours.Loosen the soil and add  a handful of compost or composted cow manure or any other fertilizer, after every harvest and each time the plant puts out new sets of flowers.

To save seeds simply leave the last eggplant/brinjal on the plant to mature and turn yellow, once the eggplant/brinjal has matured cut it using a pair of garden scissors,slit the eggplant/brinjal in half and gently scrape out the seeds using the back of a spoon into a mesh or sieve,wash under running tap water to remove traces of flesh or pulp, spread the seeds on a tissue paper allow to air dry, then store in a clean dry zip lock bags or bottles in a cool and dry place and  label with the date and variety. 

Below is a picture of my little harvest of organically grown eggplants/brinjals from my potted garden.I have three varieties purple long, purple and white stripes and green eggplants/brinjals growing.

                                      Till Then Happy Gardening ☺