Home Gardening in Chhattisgarh: How to Start from Scratch for Indoors, Terrace, Outdoors, Containers, and Apartment Balcony

Home Gardening in Chhattisgarh: How to Start from Scratch for Indoors, Terrace, Outdoors, Containers, and Apartment Balcony

It’s rare to find a community without a home garden these days. Home gardens are growing increasingly popular as people realize their benefits. It’s a frequent sight in many Indian cities’ homes. Chhattisgarh is one of the states that is home to many big cities. Some of these cities include Bilaspur, Raipur, Korba, Bhilai, Dhamtari, Rajnandgaon, Ambikapur, Mahasamund, Jagdalpur, Chirimiri, Simga, and Sarangarh.

Below we will learn about Chhattisgarh home gardening, how to set up a home garden in Chhattisgarh, different types of a home garden, how to set up a backyard home garden in Chhattisgarh, how to set up a balcony garden/container garden in Chhattisgarh, how to set up a terrace garden in Chhattisgarh, and the different types of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs for Chhattisgarh home gardens.

Home gardening in Chhattisgarh

Choose the type of home garden

Backyard home gardening/outdoor gardening 

First, choose an ideal location in your backyard 

A garden’s location is crucial for optimal plant growth conditions. A good location for a garden receives plenty of sunlight, has fertile soil with good drainage, and is close to a water source. Houseplants’ recommended sunlight is between eight and 10 hours each day. Plants grown in the shade are likely to have weak stems and leaves, resulting in a low harvest. Light levels are often sufficient for plants to grow thick, hardy leaves and thick, sturdy stems.

Although soil quality can be somewhat lower in a sunny location, it is essential to avoid planting a garden in an area often shaded by trees. Modern soil conditioners and fertilizers help the gardener improve the soil to take full advantage of the sunny location. Put the garden near to the house if you can. Then, the gardener can easily check on it whenever they have a spare moment throughout the day. Don’t uproot your garden before the soil has had enough time to become rich and filthy in its selected location. 

The soil’s fertility is diminished in severely eroded places. If you can, stay away from eroded areas. Soil moisture can be a limiting factor in vegetable yield. Therefore, locating the garden close to a water source is crucial. Plants need a readily available moisture supply to ensure successful short-seed germination, quick crop establishment upon transplanting, and ongoing growth even during dry seasons. Carefully consider the location of your garden, as the roots of surrounding bushes and trees can compete with plants for nutrients and moisture.

Soil preparation for your backyard home garden 

A soil test is a must for a rough estimation of the required amount of phosphorus. A rise in soil pH releases phosphorus from its inaccessible forms. Bone meal, easier to come by than rock phosphate, can be used in the spring as a phosphorus supply. Soil work is best done in the spring when temperatures are milder in Chhattisgarh and nutrients are more readily available. Treating mineral-deficient soil in the spring is possible, but fertilizer with a slower release of nutrients is required.

It’s not a good idea to till soils that are too moist. When gardening for the first time in a new spot, some people don’t bother to amend the soil. As long as you don’t have a weed problem, you can loosen the soil by wriggling a garden fork back and forth through it. Although burying green manure can significantly boost microbial activity in the soil, this approach is more practical for the gardener.

Plant your backyard garden 

A garden design should be drawn out before any seeds are planted. Details like row length, inter-row spacing, and crop placement should be noted. To prevent smothering small plants, arrange taller ones on the northern side of the garden. Avoid planting pest- and disease-sensitive crops close. Crop rotation is critical even in a small garden. Many plant diseases and pests can overwinter in the soil and potentially thrive if introduced to a new host each spring. Replanting the same crops yearly depletes the soil’s nutrients, reducing agricultural yields.

A plant can be grown inside and transplanted outside two or three years later. Rows on a flat surface are used by most gardeners, whereas some use raised beds. The typical raised garden bed consists of a stack of soil 3 to 5 feet wide and stands 6 to 12 inches above the ground. Beds typically range from 6 to 12 inches, although supported beds might go considerably deeper. Since the soil isn’t compacted by feet, bed maintenance is simplified, and drainage, aeration, and quick spring warming are enhanced.

Because of the limited space and the elimination of the need to replace paths that link the beds permanently, soil supplements may be administered with much greater efficiency. Compost, loamy soil, rotting manure, and other amendments promote healthy growth when worked into the bed once a year. When crops are grown too closely together, they increase the risk of being infested by pests and disease. It is often advised that amateur gardeners get transplants from nearby gardening supply stores in Chhattisgarh.

Home-grown transplants need at least four hours of sunlight daily or the equivalent of supplemental artificial light. In any other case, they’ll likely become overweight and sickly when they reach maturity. Growing your transplants has several advantages, including a wider selection and eliminating the need for artificial fertilizers, fungicides, and pesticides. Growing good transplants need both enough light and soil that is fertile and free of diseases.

Synthetic soil combinations have several advantages over their natural counterparts, including greater water retention, less disease retention, lower weight, and increased air circulation. These sorts of mixtures may be found at garden supply stores. Artificial mixtures must provide all essential nutrients. Most commercial fertilizer blends use synthetic fertilizer.

The problem is that it’s not contained in everyone. Synthetic fertilizer can be substituted weekly with manure, compost tea, liquid fish, or seaweed products. Seedlings can’t wait for nutrients to be released from organic fertilizers like rock powders.

Water your backyard home garden 

From April to September, plants require 1 inch of water each week. However, this varies by crop, development stage, and weather variables. In dry seasons, most soils only need 65-130 gallons of water per 100 square feet per week. There’s a certain time of day when you should water each plant kind. Most plants need the most water in their first few weeks, after transplantation, and during flowering and fruiting.

Young plants have greater watering needs at shallower depths than their mature counterparts. In most cases, watering plants directly from the ground is the most effective and eco-friendly option (sprinklers or hoses). Because it waters the roots rather than the soil. Sprinklers and hand hoses are examples of approaches that fall under the category of overhead watering methods.

Using a hand hose to water your plants can avoid spreading foliar diseases by soaking the roots instead of the leaves. Morning watering also aids disease prevention since the leaves have all day to dry. Reduce the amount of water that washes away by using an overhead sprinkler system at a rate of 0.5 inches per hour.

Fertilize your backyard garden 

Plants need the three nutrients N, P, and K indicated on the package in the appropriate proportions. The “20-20-20” on a bag of all-purpose fertilizer means that nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium each make up 20% of the total formula. The component percentages can be tailored to the needs of certain fertilizers by selecting from a range of available ratios. A high-phosphorus fertilizer blend, such as 15-30-15, is ideal for increasing flower production.

To get a lush green backyard, use a fertilizer blend with a high nitrogen percentage, such as 25-6-4. Different fertilizers are used for plants, such as roses, bulbs, and vegetables. Since a generic fertilizer can have the same nutrient percentages yet cost less than the exact fertilizer you’re searching for, it’s essential to verify the N-P-K ratio on the package. Applying the proper fertilizer at the right time is just as crucial.

Fertilization is useless if done incorrectly when the plant won’t absorb the nutrients. Most annuals, perennials, veggies, and lawns benefit from an early spring feeding with a well-balanced granular fertilizer. It’s best to wait till after the spring rains have passed before applying fertilizer since doing so will merely wash the nutrients away. Applying three to four more treatments of a high-phosphorus, water-soluble fertilizer to annuals during the growing season is recommended, while a granular fertilizer treatment in the early autumn is beneficial for lawns.

Balcony gardening/container gardening/indoor gardening 

Choose an ideal container for your balcony container garden 

Plants can be housed in just about anything, from a simple pot to a barrel dug out from the basement. A drainage system is an essential component. You can avoid root rot by letting the extra water drain into the ground and evaporate. If a balcony container doesn’t have holes for drainage, you might perhaps drill them or place a huge nail in it to make them. The balcony container should allow for enough root growth, plant expansion, and air circulation.

Before settling on container dimensions, consider the eventual size and number of plants you wish to grow. A single plant or flower can flourish in a small space. In addition, landscape maintenance and aesthetics are affected by the plants’ containers. The production procedure employs a wide variety of materials. Materials like wood, moulded plastic, fiberglass, metal, and moulded plastic are further examples. 

The container’s construction and design determine its longevity, resilience to temperature changes, watering rate, and portability. Plastic containers are widely used because of their portability, versatility, and low cost. The size and shape of the balcony container can have a significant impact on its portability and weight.

Choose an ideal potting mix for your balcony garden 

It’s important for plant growth that the soil be well-aerated, nutrient-balanced, and retain moisture without becoming waterlogged. Due to its high thickness and density, commercial garden soil deprives plants of oxygen. Decomposed garden soil is recommended as a result. Many components come together to form potting soil and other types of modified or soilless media. These combinations might include peat moss, pine needles, perlite, and vermiculite. Certain things’ ability to hold water via crystals might come in handy.

Soil mixes often include slow-release fertilizer. While fertilizer added to potting soil can give plants a kick start to the growing season, it won’t be enough to sustain them throughout the year. To avoid using chemical fertilizers when growing organically, it is recommended that you look for mixtures that contain acidity-adjusting substances such as bone meal or lime.

There are a lot of possibilities, so it’s important to think about the needs of your balcony container plants and how much water they’ll need. Annuals, perennials, and herbs thrive in soils high in perlite, sand, or bark. Tropical plants and leaves require more peat and less coarse substances to thrive. To get the desired effect of your floral arrangements, it is important to select a high-quality medium that allows you to alter the composition and texture.

Plant your balcony container garden 

Plant seeds in a hole twice as wide as the seeds themselves. Only healthy seedlings from a reliable source should be used when purchasing and caring for transplants. Plants grown in containers on balconies may require more fertilizer than those planted in the ground. However, the slow-release fertilizer they’re using once a year could be all that’s needed.

If applied in liquid form, the Fertilizer should be added every three weeks at the very least. Keep in mind that salt accumulation in balcony containers is a danger. The salts in soil can be “leached away” by rinsing the soil. You can clean the water in the pot by placing the hose over it and letting it run for a bit. 

Water your balcony container garden 

When growing plants inside containers, water is a must. Container-grown plants lose more moisture than ground-grown plants. Remember to regularly check your plant water levels to ensure they receive enough. Plants in containers placed in direct sunlight may need to be watered twice a day during hot, dry spells. 

The ideal method for ensuring water reaches the balcony container’s lowest points is to water until it comes out of the drainage holes after feeling the soil to see whether it’s dry or moist. Clogged drainage holes can cause waterlogging, which can cause root rot. 

Fertilizer requirements for your balcony container garden 

If fertilizer were already incorporated into the soil, it would be quite some time before more was needed. Additional growth and flowering-promoting fertilizers might be put into the soil at that time, benefiting annuals. Whether using homemade compost tea or store-bought plant food, it’s important to avoid giving your plants too much fertilizer. A plant can suffer more harm than good if given an overdose of fertilizers.

Terrace gardening

Before starting a terrace garden, consider the following

Terrace load: Determine whether the load is too heavy for the terrace. Achieve your goals with the help of a skilled expert. The soil and pots are under a lot of pressure now, and that pressure will only increase as the plants expand. You probably already know that water adds weight to everything if you have attempted to lift a container full of wet soil.

Shade: How much of your rooftop or terrace is in the shade when the sun goes down? The concrete can be so strong that even the sun’s heat and light are too much for the plants.

Heat: The ambient heat of urban areas is created when sunlight strikes the terrace and is reflected by nearby surfaces such as buildings, street vehicles, metal exhaust systems, and utility structures. You will probably want some shade to protect yourself and your plants.

Access: When do you anticipate having the necessary items and materials, and how quickly can you remove them? Whether you reside in a home or an apartment complex, always double-check your access card before stepping on the elevator. 

Waterproof your terrace 

Waterproofing your terrace is a must if you plan on growing plants there. Applying a polymer coating that acts as a waterproofing barrier is simple on concrete. The opposite is happening with concrete, which is now being covered. After a polymer coating has been put in to keep water out, a terrace garden can be designed.

Waterproof coatings cannot be applied to tiles. This implies that after tiling the terrace, it can’t be waterproofed. The waterproof coating will be removed if the tiles break or come loose. Therefore, there will be problems with water seepage. You just need to treat the top of the concrete with a waterproofing material.

Tar, bituminous coating, etc., that has been applied to the terrace must be scraped off before it can do further harm. The first step in waterproofing is to treat the concrete with a polymer. The polymer covering on this item is around 2 millimeters thick. The polymer coating is available as a paintable liquid. After being blended with cement, this polymer is then applied to a concrete surface. Since cement is often used in construction, the polymer takes on the color of the mortar when combined.

Winds

Wind gusts can be rather strong on urban highways that are perfectly straight. You should seriously consider erecting a fence or wall at this spot. Verify compliance with all height and structural safety standards by consulting the relevant building codes. Important while erecting fences for the protection of infants and pets.

If you want to protect your terrace furniture and plants from the full force of any storm, consider installing a pergola over the area; this will redirect the wind’s path so that it doesn’t blow straight over the surface. In addition, plants in vertical gardens benefit from being supported by a trellis.

Select plants for your terrace home garden 

Terrace gardens are best suited to hardier plants that can withstand the high winds and intense sunshine found in Chhattisgarh. These characteristics improve a seedling’s chances of survival in its first year. To add more delicate plants, you must ensure they are adequately shielded from the wind and the sun. If you pick plants adapted to Chhattisgarh’s conditions, your garden might become a refuge for insects. However, native plants have a greater capacity for acclimatization than others. As a result, your plants will survive much better in the high heat and wind. 

More plant life on a terrace means less area for furniture. Smaller trees and shrubs work well in terrace gardens because they can be grown in containers and sheltered from the wind by using windbreaks. Plant two to four trees or plants to make the most of a small area. Plants in terrace gardens are particularly vulnerable to the high winds, especially those with broad, flexible leaves. Winter burns are more probable as the temperature drops. Vegetables and other plants with little leaves thrive on terraces.

Soil preparation for your terrace home garden

Equal parts of soil, vermicomposting, and sand make for a great mixture—the soil changes depending on the plants. Find out how much soil each container needs according to the plants you want to grow. Despite its low price, this pre-mix is available at several different nurseries.

Buying individual parts and putting them together afterward is the best option. If the soil is healthy, the plant will develop regularly and vigorously. Keep in mind that if this happened, a lot of the necessary nutrients would be lost in the wash. It’s important to replace these nutrients. Do not plant in chemically altered soil. In addition, it eliminates both beneficial and harmful microbes.

Water your terrace home garden 

After deciding on containers and amending your soil, the next step is to look for a nearby water supply for your garden. It’s a pain to haul jugs of water up from the basement only to water the plants on the terrace. A watering can is an easy and effective way to water plants in a garden without needing a watering spigot or pump. Just sprinkle little water over the soil instead of watering the whole thing.

This is why it’s so important not to water the plants. If your balcony faces the sun or is subject to wind, choose containers that don’t need watering. For your potted plants’ sake, mix in some water-retaining grains. They take gulps of water and then exhale it slowly. This reduces the frequency with which you will need to water. Put down some mulch in your terrace home garden.

Best vegetables for Chhattisgarh home gardens

Beans, ivy gourd, potatoes, bottle gourd, chilies, onion, radishes, bitter gourd, peas, okra, carrots, eggplants, cucumber, tomatoes, and lettuce, are among many vegetables that can be grown in Chhattisgarh home gardens.

Best fruits for Chhattisgarh Goa gardens

Watermelon, figs, Indian gooseberry, sapota, banana, papaya, pineapples, musk melon, mango, pomegranate, custard apple, mulberry, and guava are among the many fruits grown in Chhattisgarh home gardens.

Best flowers for Chhattisgarh Goa gardens

Marigolds, lilies, roses, daisies, jasmines, hibiscus, chrysanthemums, dahlias, and gerberas are among the many flowers that can be grown in Chhattisgarh home gardens.

Best herbs for Chhattisgarh Goa gardens

Cilantro, fennel, coriander, chives, basil, mint, and oregano, are among the many herbs that can be grown in Chhattisgarh home gardens.