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The concept of terrace
farming is taking the country by storm, especially with even celebs
getting involved in organic farming on a large scale. The changes have
been quite visible, and you see at least one vegetable plant in every
other terrace. However, there are many vegetable garden enthusiasts who
are unaware that following certain simple steps can make a huge
difference to the yield. We visited some of the organic vegetable
growers, who shared some simple methods to reap a good harvest. Nirmala,
a homemaker and terrace gardener says that for about two weeks, the
grow bags should be kept in a shaded area and watered daily . “Later,
the bags can be shifted to the terrace.Make sure that the floor of the
terrace is painted so that water does not seep through the roof,“ she
says.
Here is a do-it-yourself (DIY) plan for seven days of the week that will give you optimum yield. Happy farming!
WHERE TO GET GROW BAGS FROM?
Grow bags are available at the various nurseries around the city and also with some private entrepreneurs. Grow bags are normally supplied with the sapling planted in the potting mixture. An organic vegetable grower says that one can get 25 bags for `500 at a subsidised rate or `2500; it varies according to the place one buys it from.
MONDAY
According to John Shery, an official at a veg etable and fruit promotion council, Monday's star is organic manure. Mix 10 kg of cow dung with one kg of powdered peanut oil cake and one kg of oil cake from neem seeds. Mix one kg of bone powder and dissolve it in water or cow urine. Keep it in a closed vessel and stir daily. After four days, the manure will be ready to use. Use this manure in the proportion 1:10 (one cup manure with 10 cups of water) and pour it, preferably during the evening, under the sapling.
TUESDAY
John adds that Tuesday can be considered a holiday and except watering the plant, nothing is required on this day.
WEDNESDAY
The speciality of this day is that one should use a friend ly bacteria, pseudomonas fluorescens, as the manure.
This is available in stores and costs about `70 per kg. John explains, “Mix 20 gram pseudomonas fluorescens in one litre water and pour it to the sapling base.The friendly bacteria help the growth and ensure more strength for the roots of the plant.“
THURSDAY
This day is meant to do some anti-pest activities, says Geetha Gopalakrishnan, a teacher, who is also an enthusiastic terrace farmer. She says that neem extract is an ideal biological pesticide. The ex tract is available in the market and costs about `50 for 100ml.Add 2ml of the extract to one litre of water and spray on the plant leaves.
FRIDAY
Fish amino acids can also be used to control pests. It can be made by mixing one kg of dried fish and one kg of jaggery. Mix well and keep in a closed container. Do not open it for 15 days and you will get a wine-like liquid.
Filter the liquid and add 2ml of the extract into one litre of water and spray it on the plant.
SATURDAY
Is a rest day and only watering is needed.
SUNDAY
The final day of the schedule is meant for sharing and caring. Just spend some time with the plants and try communicating with them.John and Geetha concur that like taking care of kids, plants too need affectionate care.They say that caressing and conversing with the plants will help reap a good yield.
Here is a do-it-yourself (DIY) plan for seven days of the week that will give you optimum yield. Happy farming!
WHERE TO GET GROW BAGS FROM?
Grow bags are available at the various nurseries around the city and also with some private entrepreneurs. Grow bags are normally supplied with the sapling planted in the potting mixture. An organic vegetable grower says that one can get 25 bags for `500 at a subsidised rate or `2500; it varies according to the place one buys it from.
MONDAY
According to John Shery, an official at a veg etable and fruit promotion council, Monday's star is organic manure. Mix 10 kg of cow dung with one kg of powdered peanut oil cake and one kg of oil cake from neem seeds. Mix one kg of bone powder and dissolve it in water or cow urine. Keep it in a closed vessel and stir daily. After four days, the manure will be ready to use. Use this manure in the proportion 1:10 (one cup manure with 10 cups of water) and pour it, preferably during the evening, under the sapling.
TUESDAY
John adds that Tuesday can be considered a holiday and except watering the plant, nothing is required on this day.
WEDNESDAY
The speciality of this day is that one should use a friend ly bacteria, pseudomonas fluorescens, as the manure.
This is available in stores and costs about `70 per kg. John explains, “Mix 20 gram pseudomonas fluorescens in one litre water and pour it to the sapling base.The friendly bacteria help the growth and ensure more strength for the roots of the plant.“
THURSDAY
This day is meant to do some anti-pest activities, says Geetha Gopalakrishnan, a teacher, who is also an enthusiastic terrace farmer. She says that neem extract is an ideal biological pesticide. The ex tract is available in the market and costs about `50 for 100ml.Add 2ml of the extract to one litre of water and spray on the plant leaves.
FRIDAY
Fish amino acids can also be used to control pests. It can be made by mixing one kg of dried fish and one kg of jaggery. Mix well and keep in a closed container. Do not open it for 15 days and you will get a wine-like liquid.
Filter the liquid and add 2ml of the extract into one litre of water and spray it on the plant.
SATURDAY
Is a rest day and only watering is needed.
SUNDAY
The final day of the schedule is meant for sharing and caring. Just spend some time with the plants and try communicating with them.John and Geetha concur that like taking care of kids, plants too need affectionate care.They say that caressing and conversing with the plants will help reap a good yield.
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