If you haven't tried growing vegetables in your garden yet, this winter season is the perfect time to begin. There's absolutely no comparison between the taste of a garden-fresh tomato and the one purchased from your nearby grocery store.

Although growing your own vegetables can seem overwhelming to some, it is actually much simpler than it sounds. It doesn't necessarily need a yard, all you require is a little space on your window sill and you'll be amazed at how many tomatoes or peppers you can grow out of a single pot.

The second part of this journey would help you begin with growing the easiest to grow vegetables!

Before we take the journey into creating this beautiful paradise around us, let's take a look at the basics you would require before you commence growing the greens:

1. Sunlight: Post sowing of seeds, ensure the plant receives at least 5-6 hours of direct sun

2. Potting: In case you're growing the plant in a pot, use at least a 3-4 inch deep pot per plant. This will give enough space for the roots to grow.

   In this day and age of the constant urban conundrum, we often change houses and prefer not to spend a lot on purchasing pots and the right kind of soil. Nursery plant polybags cater to that need of yours: it's highly economical, very easy to clean, and shift, too.

Nursery plant poly bag (Pack of 10 Bags)- 19 in x 16 in (DIA x H)

These black coloured nursery poly bags are mainly used for growing plants in their initial stage. These bags are extremely useful and economical for setting up your own nursery of plants.

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1. Soil: Vegetables need well-draining nutritious soil. The best way to prepare the same is by mixing equal quantities of cocopeat (helps retain water), regular soil, and compost (food for the plant).

Eggplant (Brinjal)

You might have come across gardeners usually claiming brinjal as one of those vegetables that will need a large amount of space for the purpose of their growth. Well, that isn't entirely true. It's actually easier to grow brinjal in a pot provided you keep in mind some pointers.

Healthy growth of brinjal requires four factors: direct sunlight, moist soil, seed spacing, and compost. The pot you choose must have a capacity of at least 20 liters and each brinjal seed should have 1 foot of space for the purpose of growth. Hence it is advised to not plant more than two seeds per pot to ensure adequate spacing.

Now make a hole of at least half an inch at the center of each pot with your finger or a pen's rounded end. Plant two seeds as this will improve the chances of at least one seed sprouting. Choose a space or a window area that receives direct sun for a minimum of 8 hours daily. The time period in which the brinjal can be harvested depends a lot on the variety of brinjal plant you have selected, but usually, your plant should be ready for harvesting within 2-3 months of sowing.

Eggplants are high in anthocyanins, may reduce the risk of heart disease, and aids in weight loss.

Okra (Bhindi)

Before you grow okra, it's important to prepare the soil first. If the soil is prepped right, you will be surprised with a full-grown okra plant in a month's time. All you need is some organic compost to be mixed into the soil in order to make it slightly acidic, which is ideal for growing okra.

Sow the seeds about half an inch deep and sprinkle some water on top of it. Keep the plants 12-15 cm apart from one another in order to ensure adequate spacing. The seeds are expected to germinate within 12 days of sowing and will be requiring about 5-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. The vegetable should be harvest-ready in about a month or two.

Okra is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

Note: Okra is known to attract beetles and worms that could damage the plant. The best way to protect that from happening is spraying the plant once every two weeks with Neem solution.

Neem Oil - 100 ml

Neem oil is every gardeners best friend. Regularly spraying neem oil, diluted as per instructions, keeps diseases and infections at bay. In case of infestation a more vigorous approach with the neem oil is beneficial. A completely organic solution to plant problems.

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Bell Pepper (Capsicum)

Capsicum germinates well when grown at a temperature between 18-35 degrees, which makes it very suitable for the Southern Indian states compared to the Northern side. Picking a sunny spot with a partial shade is recommended for placing this plant. The better your potting mix, the better your plant will grow. An ideal mix in the case of capsicum would be equal amounts of vermicompost, cocopeat (helps retain moisture), and sand.

Spread the seeds in the pot while maintaining a distance of 5-6 inches from one another and then cover them with a layer of soil. The seeds take around 3 weeks to germinate, but once they do, the growth is rapid. Normally capsicums can be harvested in about 2 to 3 months, depending on the kind. It's always best to harvest them when they are green.

Capsicum improves metabolism, lowers the risk of cancer, is rich in antioxidants, and improves immunity.

Spinach (Palak)

One of the best plants to grow in winters! Growing spinach at home not only enhances its nutritious value but is easy as well. Mixing garden soil with organic manure or vermicompost creates an ideal environment for the seeds of spinach.

Sow the seeds half an inch deep with 3 to 4 inches spaced from one another and ensure the soil is moist. However, overwatering can kill a spinach plant very easily hence it is advisable to water the plant in the mornings so that the plant has the entire day to absorb the moisture. The seeds are expected to germinate with 3-4 days and harvest-ready with 45 days from the plantation.

Owing to the high concentration of calcium, spinach is known for enhancing good bone health. The antioxidants found in spinach are lutein and zeaxanthin that help in providing good eyesight.

Lettuce

Lettuce loves cool weather which makes it an ideal vegetable to grow in winters. From your garden beds to patio containers, keeping a check of these few pointers will give you a bountiful supply of crisp salad greens throughout multiple seasons.

To begin with, make sure you use an ideal potting mix containing regular soil and vermicompost. Lettuce seeds are often quite small and only require a planting depth of 1/4 or 1/2 inch deep. It is advised to plant approximately 10 seeds per foot, spacing your rows 12-18 inches apart. The goal is to keep the soil moist. Avoid overwatering as that can caused to the roots to rot and stunted growth.

Most lettuce can be harvested within 30 to 70 days of plantation, depending on the kind; leaf lettuce usually takes a shorter span to get harvest-ready while romaine and butterhead takes a little longer.

The rich concentration of Vitamin K makes lettuce aid in bone health, improve vision and sleep.

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