AT A GLANCE
- Most vegetables need at least 5–6 hours of direct sun.
- Every container needs drainage holes — waterlogged roots rot.
- Use a light mix of soil, compost and cocopeat, and feed with compost every 2–3 weeks.
- Check your roof can carry the weight; keep heavy pots near walls and beams.
Containers and soil
- 1Leave 2–3 cm empty at the top for watering
- 2Mulch: dry leaves or straw to hold moisture
- 3Potting mix: 40% soil, 30% compost, 30% cocopeat
- 4Mesh or dry leaves over the hole so soil doesn’t wash out
- 5Drainage hole — essential in every container
| Plants | Minimum container depth |
|---|---|
| Leafy greens: spinach, methi, coriander, lettuce | 15–20 cm (6–8 in) |
| Chilli, capsicum, herbs | 25 cm (10 in) |
| Tomato, brinjal, okra | 30 cm (12 in) or a grow bag |
| Radish, carrot | 30 cm (12 in), deep and loose |
| Gourds and climbers | 40 cm (16 in) plus a trellis |
A good container mix is about 40% garden soil, 30% well-rotted compost or vermicompost, and 30% cocopeat. Cocopeat keeps the mix light and holds moisture; compost feeds the plants.
What to grow, season by season
| Season | Sow or plant |
|---|---|
| Winter (October – February) | Spinach, methi, coriander, radish, carrot, peas, tomato, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce |
| Summer (February – June) | Okra, bottle gourd, cucumber, chilli, brinjal, ridge gourd, mint |
| Monsoon (July – September) | Beans, gourds, chilli, brinjal, turmeric and ginger in deep containers |
Sun, water and feeding
- Sun: fruiting plants (tomato, chilli, brinjal) need 6+ hours; leafy greens manage with 3–4 hours.
- Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil feels dry. In peak summer that may be daily; in winter every few days.
- Water at the base in the morning or evening, not on the leaves in the afternoon.
- Mulch the surface with dry leaves or straw to keep the soil cool and moist.
- Add a handful of compost or vermicompost every 2–3 weeks once plants are established.
- In summer, a 50% green shade net over the afternoon protects plants from scorching.
Keeping pests in check, the gentle way
- Check under leaves twice a week — early pests are easy to remove by hand or with a strong spray of water.
- Remove yellow and diseased leaves promptly.
- Neem-based sprays, used as the label directs, control many soft-bodied pests on vegetables.
- Grow marigold and basil between vegetables — they attract helpful insects.
Not sure what your crop needs?Send clear photos of the crop — the whole plant, the affected leaves up close, and the field — with your crop and its age. Our team will reply in Hindi or English.
