Find a Space

You could place a line of rectangular pots along the walls of the terrace or balcony. This way there won't be any wastage of space.

But if you don't have either, use the space in the grill outside your kitchen or living room window. The two feet width of the grill is more than enough to grow your veggies.

Buy Seeds

There are so many vegetables that you can grow. Besides, there are a number of varieties of each of them. So don't hesitate to ask the salesman for that specific variety of chillies or brinjals you want.

Always buy the seeds from a reputed plant nursery. They give you a 70% guarantee of germination.

Also check the expiry date on the packet. Don't buy seeds after nine months from the date of manufacture.

Start Growing

You can grow vegetables like tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce.

A couple of seeds of each in a 10 by 12 inch pot are ideal. Use a slightly smaller pot for tomatoes, as it is a much lighter plant.

If your garden is in the window, creepers will grow well around the grills. Try cucumber, dhoodi (bottle gourd), ladyfinger and sweet corn too. And if you enjoy your morning cereal with fruit, you could even have a sugar baby watermelon creeper or a small papaya palm.

For plants like coriander, coriander seeds and curry leaves, small pots are fine.

Add a little colour with red and yellow bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and brinjals.

Nurture the Plants

Most vegetable plants have a lifecycle of just one to two months. So you don't have to worry about changing the potting mix (manure).

In case of plants like curry leaves that can keep growing forever… change the soil every two and a half months.

Purchase an organic fertiliser from your local nursery and sprinkle it in the pots at least once a month.

Make sure the plants get ample sunlight.

Water them once a day to keep the soil moist. Mornings and evenings are the best time to do this. During the monsoons, avoid watering the plants and in winter every alternate day would be just right.

(With inputs from Mahrukh Kajotia, Owner of Green Grower, Mumbai)