With urban jungles taking over open spaces and constrained space at home, people utilize the terrace space. Hence, the name Terrace Kitchen Gardening.

Why Terrace Kitchen Gardening?

Gardening has evolved over the ages. Earlier, people used to have a house with a huge backyard. They could pursue gardening to their heart’s content. With space availability depleting, people started kitchen gardening in their kitchen but evolved to a terrace for more space.

People are embracing terrace kitchen gardening to shift to a healthy lifestyle. Organic is the new buzz word. People are getting more and more conscious about the kind of food they consume. It has made kitchen gardening a hit not just in India but around the globe.

How To Get Started With Terrace Kitchen Gardening?

You can start with the following to build your terrace kitchen garden:

• Find the right place to have your garden - Find a place where the sunlight is available for at least 4 to 6 hours for the plants.
• Get nutrient soil to grow your vegetables - The best mixture comprises - regular soil, compost and vermicompost.
• Scout for containers - You can use milk cartons, plastic containers,  as pots (or buy pots), use raised beds, etc., as per your plant.
• Accessibility to water - It should be easy for you to water and maintain your garden with ease.
• High-quality vegetable seeds - You can find a variety of them on our website.
• The kitchen terrace garden can be different from your backyard kitchen garden. Learn about terrace gardening.

Learn more about the basics of kitchen gardening with our detailed beginners’ guide to kitchen gardening in India.

Vegetables To Grow

You can grow a variety of vegetables in your terrace kitchen garden. You can grow most of the vegetables but listing a few down with tips for your ease.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes do not require too much space to grow. They grow well in pots, containers, hanging baskets etc. You either use tomato seeds or starter plants. Tomatoes grow all year round and hence, one of the most common choices to grow in a kitchen garden. Cherry tomatoes are the easiest to grow.

Chillies

Chillies are the second and most common choice too. They can grow basically in any container. Chillies require sufficient water to grow. Pro-tip: Place the chilli seeds evenly on a napkin and sprinkle little water.

The next step would be to leave it in a warm place a few hours before sowing. Also, wear gloves while handling chilli seeds and refrain from touching your face, especially your eyes.

Brinjal/Eggplants

Brinjal plants can be grown in your kitchen garden but require a pot with at least 5 inches of depth. Brinjal is a perennial vegetable that can be planted and enjoyed at any time of the year.

You can take brinjal seeds in a cup filled with soil and keep them in a warm place till the seedlings grow. You need to water them at least once for 6 to 7 days. The next step would be to transform the seedlings into a bigger pot. The brinjal is ready to eat in 15-20 days after the formation of fruit.

Okra/Lady Finger

Okra is known to us as Lady Finger. To start growing them, you need to soak okra seeds in water for 12 to 18 hours. The seeds need to absorb the moisture. Okra can grow in various type of soils, but fertilized soil works best. Okra is beneficial in your kitchen garden as it can help other plants from common pests and bad weather conditions.

Terrace kitchen garden can be the perfect spot to grow carrots, capsicums, beetroots, kale, cucumbers, and so many vegetables. So get started on your terrace kitchen garden with ease. Check out all types of seeds available and more information here. Happy Gardening!