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 ☺

Growing Field Marrow/Madras Cumcumber / Sambar Cucumber In A Pot in India.

Field Marrows popularly known as Madras Cucumber or Sambar Cucumber belongs to the Cucurbit Family looks like a cucumber and feels  and tastes just like a gourd when cooked. Its a common and popular vegetable found in almost every home in Southern India.

Madras Cucumber or Sambar Cucumber is locally known by names such as Magge,Dosakaya,Bollari,Mangalore Cucumber,Mogem etc.

My plant grew as a volunteer plant, i make my own compost at home and i had added the peels and seeds into the composter. I had used the compost to fertilize my Curry leaf plant and a few days later a healthy seedling emerged.

I had no clue back then what would the little sapling turn out to be :)) I did not want to pull it out as the tiny little sapling looked so happy and healthy so i thought why not give it a chance to grow so i just let it  stay to see how it  grows from here on.

At First I thought its a cucumber then i thought it might be a gourd when the leaves got bigger....Its only when the first fruit arrived that i realized that its a Madras Cucumber.The seedling emerged during the Monsoon in June this year,it grew well without any pests attack or disease,which made it even more special.

In a 2 foot by 1/2 foot plastic pot,I had used Garden soil (red),Cocopeat,Compost and Neem cake as the potting mix in the container that originally housed the Curry Leaf plant and now it was home to the Madras Cucumber. And once or twice a fortnight i sprinkled in a handful of vermi compost and dry cow manure.I also mulched the top of the soil with some dry mango leaves,to help retain moisture and prevent soil splash.

Within no time the creeper started spreading out in all directions and the first bright yellow colored male flowers began to bloom it made such a pretty sight,the bees could not stay away from them and buzzed from flower to flower the whole day from morning to mid afternoon collecting pollen,which was a good sign for me, it meant better chances of pollination and cucumber formation later.

A week or so after the male flowers appeared,first female flowers started to show on the creeper,and another week after that i spotted the very first tiny little Madras Cucumber on the vine. It grew very fast and was ready to harvest within 2 weeks.

Some people like to harvest Madras Cucumbers while they are still green,some prefer to harvest it when it changes color to yellow and  the seeds get mature from within.I harvested mines mid way and used it to make Sambar.

After harvesting the first Madras Cucumber,two more cucumbers started forming.So in all i harvested 3 good sized Madras Cucumbers,the leaves slowly started to turn brown and wilted after which i removed the complete creeper and discarded it.

I also managed to save a lot of seeds,as i will be trying to grow them in my potted garden again next year.The only thing to remember while growing Madras Cucumber is that it needs a lot of water just like any other cucumber or gourd variety.Inadequate watering might cause the Cucumbers to turn out bitter in taste.

Another thing to watch out for is that the stems are very spiky with loads of tiny prickly hairs on them so be careful when handling the creeper or harvesting the fruits.

As the Madras Cucumber plant grew during the monsoons it received plenty of water, i feared that i might lose my curry leaf plant in the bargain, on the contrary they both did exceptionally well.

I was so happy that i gave the Madras Cucumber a chance to grow, from seed to seed it was a wonderful experience watching it grow and bear fruit.Growing Volunteer plants can be such fun,If any one of you have had a similar experience of growing a volunteer please do share it with me until next time.....

                          Happy Gardening To All My Friends ☺

How To Grow Green Bush Beans/Dwarf French Bean Plants In Pots Or Containers.

Green Bush Beans are also known as French Beans,String Beans,Snap beans,or Green Beans and can be easily grown in India in containers or in pots.Bush beans are ideal for small spaced balcony gardens and terrace gardens alike.Here's a step by step pictorial guide on how to grow Bush Beans from seeds in pots or containers.The best time to grow bush beans in India is from June to February.

You can choose any type of pot or container to grow bush beans,it can be made of plastic,cement,terracotta or even a grow bag.Make sure it is about a foot deep,start by lining the base of the pot with dry leaves,gravels,brick pieces or coconut coir,make sure there is a hole for water drainage.

Next is to prepare the potting mix for the beans.Bush Beans thrive in soils that are rich in organic matter.Start by mixing together good quality garden soil,cocopeat,composted cow manure/compost/vermi-compost in a ratio of 2:1:1.Then mix them together to incorporate,Make sure the potting mix is light and has well draining quality to it.

Fill the potting mix into the pot or container that you have chosen to grow your bush bean in.Never fill the pot or container till the brim, always leave a little bit of space by an inch or two from the top of the potting soil,like shown in the picture above.

There are many varieties of Bush Bean seeds that are easily available in gardening shops/stores,online etc.They can be Hybrids or Heirlooms.Bush Beans also come in various colors like green,yellow,purple,black,burgundy etc.Choose whatever you like and want to grow accordingly.

You can either sow the seeds directly into the potting mix, use the paper towel method or you can also transplant saplings when the first true set of leaves have appeared.If sowing directly into the soil, sow the seeds about an inch deep and about 10 cms apart from each other in rows,cover with soil and  then water well after sowing, till the seeds germinate and begin to sprout.The germination process can take anywhere between 3 to 10 days,depending on the temperatures and climate in your area at the time of growing.

Bush Bean plants are easily attacked by pests like white flies,black aphids and mites and powdery mildew,if you happen to see any ant activity around the bean plants,its a sure tell tale sign that the plants are infested with some pests.Always look under the leaves as many garden pests begin their life cycle there.

Bush Bean plants like all other bean plant varieties are great Nitrogen fixers they take in nitrogen from the air and fix them in the soil,bush bean plants  make great companion plants for Eggplants,Cucumbers,Okra,Tomatoes etc.Bush Beans are light feeders so its always advisable to use low nitrogen organic fertilizer to fertilize them,high nitrogen levels will only encourage lush green growth,delayed fruiting and it will also inhibit the nitrogen fixing ability of rhizobia bacteria.   

Bush Beans are early producers the first flowers begin to show when the plant has about 5 to 6 true leaves or when it reaches to about a foot in height . You can provide the plant with organic fertilizers,like home made compost,vermi compost or manure,you can also mix a tablespoon of epsom salts with a lire of water and water the bean plants.

Bush bean plants have a shallow root system,and they need daily watering or else the flowers will drop if the soil remains dry.

Keep on harvesting the beans so that the plant remains productive and keeps on producing more flowers which will turn into beans,the flowers are edible too.You can start a second batch of beans to that the growing season last longer.

Happy Gardening To All ☺☺☺

How To Grow and care for Yardlong Beans In Pots Or Containers.

Yardlong beans also known as Snake Beans,Sitaw Beans,Butong,Asparagus beans, or Noodle beans belongs to the Cowpea family and is known as Vigna Unguiculata.Yardlong beans dont really grow upto a yard, they just get their name because they are very long in size.Its grown for its striking long pods. Yardlong beans are cultivated and widely used in Asian cuisine. The beans range in colors from pale green.dark green to red and deep burgundy.

                                                       Purple Yardlong Bean Flowers 

                                               Green Yardlong/ Sitaw Bean Flowers 

Yardlong beans plants have pale pink to violet blue flowers,these beans can be grown from seed,Yardlong beans can also be easily grown in pots or containers.Its a reliable crop to have in any garden . They no not require much care and pretty much produce all season long.Yardlong beans can be grown as both a garden ornamental or as a vegetable.

To begin with you can either directly sow the seeds or you can transplant them once the saplings are about 5 to 6 inches tall.Sow the seeds about an inch deep in good potting medium.A mix of garden soil, cocopeat and cow manure, or compost/ worm castings/ vermicompost can be used.The seeds generally germinate within 2 to 10 days depending on the climate and temperature. The best time to grow Yardlong beans in India is from June To January,The plants do well in warm weather,however there are varieties that are suitable for rainy season and winter seasons too.Yardlong bean plants require regular and heavy watering,its important that you don't let the plants dry out,also make sure that you use well draining soil in the potting mix.

Yardlong beans are annual and indeterminate plants with a twining habit,they can reach a height of 8 to 12 feet.hence providing the Yardlong bean plants with a trellis,pole or wire support is  very important.Pinch out the flower buds and side shoots that sprout under one foot this helps the plant focus its nutrients on growing and producing longer beans and higher yields .There is no need to provide the plant with extra fertilization as long as you use  a good potting medium in the start that is full of rich organic matter. 

At about 60 to 90 days of planting, flowers start to appear on the Yardlong bean vines,These flowers attract various pollinators like Bees,Yellow Jackets and Ants.Depending on the variety sometimes if the temperatures get too hot the flowers tend to drop,however once the temperature cools down and gets back to normal the flower drop stops and the plant start producing beans.The flowers bloom  early in the morning and close by mid afternoon. Yardlong bean flowers are self pollinators ,so they do not require any help in pollination.

Once the flowers drop after blooming a tiny bean emerges,Yardlong beans grow very fast they can grow about a 3 to 4 cms each day.The beans reach a suitable picking length within 5 to 6 days.The beans appear in pairs of two at times.

Its important to pick the beans while they are young and tender or else they tend to get hard and chewy in no time at all also the seeds from within mature and swell,early picking ensures that the plant remains productive.

Since the stems are tough always make use of a pair of clean scissors or a knife to cut the pods of the vine to ensure that there is no damage done.

Yardlong Beans are similar to green beans they are crunchy and retain their shape and texture after being cooked they can also be eaten raw or steamed.The purple,red or burgundy beans have an earthy,mushroom type flavor where as the green yardlong beans have an asparagus type flavor to them.They are a great addition to stir fries,curries and salads.

Yardlong Beans are highly susceptible to black aphids,mite,mealy bugs and fungal attacks,ants love this plant they play host to attracting various pests and diseases.These pests can be hard to spot as they generally hide under the young tender leaves,they can infest the entire plant in no time.Hence checking the plants for any pests especially under the leaves and new growth is very important.

If the plant is not severely infested with pests you can try and remove the infected parts of the plant manually,and hose it down with water.For plants that are severely infested you can make an organic herbal spray by boiling together 2 fresh marigolds,1 handful of fresh Neem leaves,1 tsp of turmeric powder,and 1 Piece of charcoal in a liter of water,boil it till it reduces to half the volume,cool,strain through a sieve or muslin cloth to filter and then spray it all over the plant,repeat if necessary. 

When growing Yardlong bean plants make sure you dont add too much of cow manure as excess nitrogen will lead to more foliage growth less bean production.Yardlong bean plants are great natural nitrogen fixers.

To Save seeds for your next growing/replanting season,Leave the pods till they reach full maturity by allowing them to dry on the vine itself,once the outer skin is dry enough you can snip them off the vine,peel the pods and save the dry seeds from within into a clean zip lock pouch,paper envelope or a bottle and then label it with the type and date and then store it in a cool,dark and dry place until use.

                                                      Happy Gardening To All  :)