Pune: Home gardeners in the city are perfecting their kitchen gardens this monsoon. The rain and pleasant weather make it an ideal time to reconnect with nature and grow some herbs, microgreens and leafy greens. Many are even buying ready germination trays to speed up the process of growth. “I recently purchased a germination tray online to grow some microgreens. I would love to eat some fresh microgreens in my salads. I also purchased a herb kit to try my hand at herb farming,” said Neha Sharma, a resident of Wanowrie. Reema Shah, who lives in Baner, said, “Monsoon is the ideal time for germination and rooting. Many of my herb cuttings get roots within just a few days of immersing in water. I plan to grow basil and mint to start off with.”Building a perfect kitchen garden requires a space that receives only four to six hours of indirect sunlight and good circulation to prevent fungal growth. Saheli Singh Gupta, a resident of Pashan, replants her kitchen garden every monsoon to ensure healthy growth. “Maintaining a kitchen garden in the summer is difficult, and it often just dries up. I recently replanted my herb patch, and I can see good growth,” she said.Home gardeners said good drainage is also important as it allows oxygen to reach the roots. Many also prepare vermicompost and leaf manure at home and use it to grow the kitchen garden. “Pests are common during the monsoon, and it is important to regularly use neem sprays or other organic sprays to help the greens grow well. I never use chemical sprays because greens are something that we consume raw,” said home gardener and Bavdhan resident Sheetal Mehra. Natural soil enhancers like bone meal or neem cake provide additional nourishment and pest resistance.For home gardeners who wish to grow vegetables, leafy greens, gourds and beans usually thrive in the monsoon. “Even if you don’t have a garden patch, many of these vegetables can easily be grown in trays or grow-bags. Many of my friends use hydroponic towers in their balconies to grow greens,” said Mamta Srivastava, a resident of Kondhwa.
