What began as a hobby of growing exotic herbs and vegetables has blossomed into a thriving organic garden, brimming with fresh, healthy, and unique greens. His gardening journey is as inspiring as his dishes.

You can follow him @chef_subodh on Instagram.

Here's our quick Q&A with him:

How did you start gardening?

I started gardening at our resort at Saraca Resort & Spa Corbett in September 2021 when I decided to grow my own herbs for my kitchen. I was worried about the availability at the local market for fresh herbs and exotic vegetables and I thought it would be fun to try growing them myself. I started with a small garden of 2-3 beds in an open area, and I was surprised at how easy it was to grow basil, oregano, thyme, lettuce, and many more exotic stuff.

From there, my team & I gradually expanded our resort's organic garden to include other vegetables and edible flowers. I learned a lot along the way, and I now enjoy the process of growing my own organic stuff. Gardening is a rewarding hobby that allows me to connect with nature and produce fresh, healthy, and unique veggies.

What are some of your favourite plants to grow in the garden?

Being a chef, I see my garden as my pantry! I love growing tomatoes- different coloured cherry tomatoes, a variety of different Basils, colourful varieties of Chilies-From mild to fiery, all exotic varieties of Lettuce and of course Herbs- a variety like mint, thyme, Himalayan Chives, rosemary for endless culinary possibilities. These plants are easy to grow, productive, and add incredible flavour to my cooking.

What are some of the plants that you’ve not had as much success with?

I struggled with asparagus, oregano, celery, and berries, here are some other plants that were challenging for me - Chives, berries (blueberries, raspberries), wasabi, and kale.

Are there any new plants on your wishlist?

Yes! As a chef I am passionate about organic gardening, I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting additions to my culinary palette, such as goji berries, dragon fruit,  jicama, wasabi, and asparagus of course, growing these imported fruits and vegetables may require some extra effort and specialised techniques. But the reward of fresh, organic produce with unique flavours is worth the challenge.

What would you like to say to our new gardeners?

Gardening is incredibly therapeutic. It connects you with nature, gets you moving, and allows you to witness the miracle of life unfolding before your eyes. Treat your soil like the precious resource it is. Amend it with compost, aged manure, and other organic matter. Healthy soil equals healthy plants, which equals delicious food. Don't just plant things because they're "supposed" to be easy. Grow the herbs, vegetables, and fruits that excite you! The more you enjoy the process, the more likely you are to stick with it. Plant small batches of fast-growing crops like lettuce and herbs every few weeks to ensure a continuous supply for your culinary creations.

Any gardening hack you wanna share with us?

As a chef, I'm always looking for ways to maximise flavour and minimise effort my favourite hack is The Three Sisters Companion Planting which is planting corn, beans, and squash together. Corn provides a support structure for the beans to climb, beans fix nitrogen in the soil and the squash spreads along the ground, shading the soil and helping to suppress other unwanted grass and weeds.

Are there any Instagram accounts you follow for inspiration?

 Yes! @organicbazarofficial and @allthatgrows.in on Instagram​​.