NEWS ITEM ON TERRACE GARDENING

There is a news published in Times of India, dated 28-07-2014 on benefits of Terrace/Kitchen Gardening.  Please click the link and view the article.

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31807&articlexml=Terrace-gardens-fresh-greens-all-the-rage-28072014003052


21-06-2015

TNAU provides one day training on Terrace Gardening.

Fee for the training is ₹400. Lunch is provided foc. You get seeds also here.

For admission please contact 044-2628384

TNAU Information and Training Centre
U-30, 10th Street, Anna Nagar
(Behind Jaigopal Garodia School)
Chennai – 600 040

E-mail: chennai@tnau.ac.in

OPERATIONAL MANUAL - DO IT YOURSELF KIT

The Horticulture Department, Tamil Nadu Government issues Do it Yourself Kit to general public along with Operational Manual, which is in Tamil & English. Click here to view Operational Manual

New Terrace Gardeners, who do not want all the items in the Kit issued by the department, can purchase the required items mentioned in the manual from the open market and make the grow bags themself as per their requriement.

Happy Gardening!

Tamil Nadu Government Initiative - Update

Referring my post dated 29.9.2012 regarding Government planning to issue Do-It-Yourself Kit to General Public on the basis of specific request through application, I would like to update the news item published in The Hindu today. To read the new item click here.

21-06-2015

TNAU provides one day training on Terrace Gardening.

Fee for the training is ₹400. Lunch is provided foc. You get seeds also here.

For admission please contact 044-2628384

TNAU Information and Training CentreU-30, 10th Street, Anna Nagar
(Behind Jaigopal Garodia School)
Chennai – 600 040

E-mail: chennai@tnau.ac.in

Companion Planting

Many plants have natural substances in their roots, flowers, leaves etc. that can alternately repel (anti-feedants) and/or attract insects depending on our needs. In some

situations they can also help to enhance the growth rate and flavour of other varieties. In nutshell, companion planting helps to bring a balanced eco-system to the garden, allowing nature to do its' job. Nature integrates a diversity of plants, insects, animals, and other organisms into every ecosystem so there is no waste. The death of one organism can create food for another, meaning symbiotic relationships all around. By using companion planting, we can discourage harmful pests without losing the beneficial allies. There are many varieties of herbs, flowers, etc. that can be used for companion plants. We should open to experiment and find what works for us. Some possibilities would be using certain plants as a border, backdrop or inter planting in flower or vegetable beds depending on our needs. We have to use plants that are native to our area so that the insects we want to attract already know what to look for! Plants with open cup shaped flowers are the most popular with beneficial insects.

Companion planting can combine beauty and purpose to give you an enjoyable, healthy environment. There are many ways we can find to incorporate these useful plants in our garden, orchard, flower beds etc. 

To know more on Companion Planting click here.

Happy Gardening.

Source : http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

         http://twomenandalittlefarm.blogspot.in/2011/05/companion-planting.html

            http://houseandgardendesign.blogspot.in/

A Basic Idea-Soil pH

When any seed doesn't germinate with in reasonable time we blame the seed supplier, seed quality, climate etc. However we normally ignore whether the soil contains the required nutrients for the specific seed/plant.  To know the soil condition we have to measure soil pH level. The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or alkaline in soil. 

Plant roots absorb mineral nutrients such as Nitrogen and Iron when they are desolved in water. If the soil solution is too acid or alkaline some nutrients won't dissolve easily so they won't be available for uptake by roots. Soil pH is measured in a scale of 0 to 14. Where 0 being the most acidic and 14 is the most alkaline and 7 stands for neutral. To give you an example lemon juice can be of the range of 1 to 2 signifies very acidic where as soapy water can be of a pH of 11 to 12 which means it is very alkaline.

This pH is calculated on the logarithm scale so a difference between one point is equal to 10 times acidity. i.e, the pH of 6 is 10 times more acidic than pH 7 and 10 times less acidic than pH 5.

Soil condition varies place to place.  Your garden soil pH could be different from that of your friend's garden across town.  Therefore you should know soil pH of your garden before choosing plants.  Most garden plants grow well in slightly acid to neutral soil (pH 6-7). You can alter your soil condition after determining soil pH level from the soil testing labs. You can also test soil pH yourself with a home soil test kit or portable pH meter.  How to alter the pH level, please take expert opinion.

I hope this gives you basic idea about soil pH and its effect.

I provide below list of preferred pH range of various plants for your immediate reference. Source : gardenexpress.com.au.

Plant Name	Preferred pH Range*
Abelia	6.0-8.0
Abutilon	5.5-6.5
Acacia	6.0-8.0
Acanthus	6.0-7.0
Aconitum	5.0-6.0
Acorus	5.0-6.5
Adonis	6.0-8.0
Aechmea	5.0-5.5
African Violet	6.0-7.0
Ageratum	6.0-7.5
Ailanthus	6.0-7.5
Ajuga	4.0-6.0
Althea	6.0-7.5
Alyssum	6.0-7.5
Amaranthus	6.0-6.5
Amaryllis	5.5-6.5
Anchusa	6.0-7.5
Androsace	5.0-6.0
Anemone	6.0-7.5
Anthurium	5.0-6.0
Anthyllis	5.0-6.0
Apostle Plant	5.5-6.5
Apple	5.0-6.5
Apricot	6.0-7.0
Aralia	6.0-7.5
Arbutus	4.0-6.0
Ardisia	6.0-8.0
Arenaria	6.0-8.0
Aristia	6.0-7.5
Armeris	6.0-7.5
Arnice	5.0-6.5
Arrowhead	5.0-6.0
Artichoke	6.5-7.5
Asparagus	6.0-8.0
Asparagus Fern	6.0-8.0
Asperula	6.0-8.0
Asphodoline	6.0-8.0
Aster	5.5-7.5
Astilbe	6.0-8.0
Aubretia	6.0-7.5
Avens	6.0-7.5
Avocado	6.0-7.5
Azalea	4.5-6.0
Azalea	4.5-6.0
Baby's Breath	6.0-7.5
Baby's Tears	5.0-6.0
Banana	5.0-7.0
Basil	5.5-6.5
Bean (Runner, Broad, French)	6.0-7.5
Beauty Bush	6.0-7.5
Beetroot	6.0-7.5
Begonia	5.5-7.0
Bergenia	6.0-7.5
Bird of Paradise	6.0-6.5
Bishop's Cap	5.0-6.0
Blackberry	5.0-6.0
Black-eyed Susan	5.5-7.5
Bleeding Heart	6.0-7.5
Blood Leaf	5.5-6.5
Bluebell	6.0-7.5
Bottle Brush	6.0-7.5
Bougainvillea	5.5-7.5
Boxwood	6.0-7.5
Broccoli	6.0-7.0
Bromeliads	5.0-6.0
Broom	5.0-6.0
Brussels Sprouts	6.0-7.5
Buddleia	6.0-7.0
Buphthaium	6.0-8.0
Butterfly Flower	6.0-7.5
Cabbage	6.0-7.5
Cactus	4.5-6.0
Calabrese	6.5-7.5
Caladium	6.0-7.5
Calceolaria	6.0-7.0
Calendula	5.5-7.0
Calla lily	6.0-7.0
Camassia	6.0-8.0
Camellia	4.5-5.5
Candytuft	6.0-7.5
Canna	6.0-8.0
Canterbury Bells	6.0-7.5
Capsicum Pepper	5.0-6.5
Cardinal Flower	5.0-6.0
Carnation	6.0-7.5
Carrot	5.5-7.0
Cast Iron Plant	4.0-5.5
Castor Oil Plant	5.5-6.5
Catalpa	6.0-8.0
Cauliflower	5.5-7.5
Celery	6.0-7.0
Celosia	6.0-7.0
Centaurea	5.0-6.5
Century Plant	5.0-6.5
Cerastium	6.0-7.0
Cherry	6.0-7.5
Chicory	5.0-6.5
Chinese Cabbage	6.0-7.5
Chinese Evergreen	5.0-6.0
Chinese Lantern	6.0-7.5
Chinese Primrose	6.0-7.5
Chives	6.0-7.0
Christmas Cactus	5.0-6.5
Chrysanthemum	6.0-7.0
Cineraria	5.5-7.0
Cissus	6.0-7.5
Cistus	6.0-7.5
Clarkia	6.0-6.5
Cleanthus	6.0-7.5
Clematis	5.5-7.0
Clerodendrum	5.0-6.0
Clivia	5.5-6.5
Cockscomb	6.0-7.5
Coffee Plant	5.0-6.0
Colchicum	5.5-6.5
Coleus	6.0-7.0
Columbine	6.0-7.0
Columnea	4.5-5.5
Convolvulus	6.0-8.0
Coral Berry	5.5-7.5
Coreopsis	5.0-6.0
Corn - Sweet	5.5-7.5
Coronilla	6.5-7.5
Corydalis	6.0-8.0
Cosmos	5.0-8.0
Cotoneaster	6.0-8.0
Courgettes	5.5-7.0
Crab Apple	6.0-7.5
Cranberry	5.5-6.5
Crassula	5.0-6.0
Creeping Fig	5.0-6.0
Cress	6.0-7.0
Crocus	6.0-8.0
Croton	5.0-6.0
Crown of Thorns	6.0-7.5
Cucumber	5.5-7.0
Cuphea	6.0-7.5
Currant - Black	6.0-8.0
Currant - Red	5.5-7.0
Currant - White	6.0-8.0
Cyclamen.	6.0-7.0
Cynoglossum	6.0-7.5
Cyperus	5.0-7.5
Daffodii	6.0-6.5
Dahlia	6.0-7.5
Damson	6.0-7.5
Daphne	6.5-7.5
Day Lily	6.0-8.0
Delphinium	6.0-7.5
Deutzia	6.0-7.5
Devil's Ivy	5.0-6.0
Dianthus	6.0-7.5
Dielfenbachia	5.0-6.0
Dipladenla	6.0-7.5
Dizygotheca	6.0-7.5
Dogwood	5.0-7.0
Dracaena	5.0-6.0
Dragon Tree	5.0-7.5
Dutchman's Pipe	6.0-8.0
Easter lily	6.0-7.0
Edelweiss	6.5-7.5
Elaeagnus	5.0-7.5
Elephant's Ear	6.0-7.5
English Ivy	6.0-7.5
Enkianthus	5.0-6.0
Episcia	6.0-7.0
Erica	4.5-6.0
Eucalyptus	6.0-8.0
Euphorbia	6.0-7.0
Everlasting	5.0-6.0
Fan Iris	6.0-8.0
Feijoa	5.0-7.5
Fennel	5.0-6.0
Fern - Bird's Nest	5.0-5.5
Fern - Boston	5.5-6.5
Fern - Button	6.0-8.0
Fern - Christmas	6.0-7.5
Fern - Cloak	6.0-7.5
Fern - Feather	5.5-7.5
Fern - Hart's Tonge	7.0-8.0
Fern - Holly	4.5-6.0
Fern - Maidenhair	6.0-8.0
Fern - Rabbits Foot	6.0-7.5
Fern - Spleenwort	6.0-7.5
Fig (Ficus)	5.0-6.0
Firethorn	6.0-8.0
Fittonia	5.5-6.5
Forget-me-not	6.0-8.0
Forsythia	6.0-8.0
Foxglove	6.0-7.5
Freesia	6.0-7.5
French Marigold	5.0-7.5
Fritillaria	6.0-7.5
Fuchsia	5.5-6.5
Gaillardia	6.0-7.5
Gardenia	5.0-6.0
Garlic	5.5-7.5
Gazania	5.5-7.0
Genista	6.5-7.5
Gentiana	5.0-7.5
Geranium	6.0-8.0
Geum	6.0-7.5
Ginger	6.0-8.0
Gladioli	6.0-7.0
Globularia	5.5-7.0
Gloxinia	5.5-6.5
Godetia	6.0-7.5
Goldenrod	5.0-7.0
Gooseberry	5.0-6.5
Gourd	6.0-7.0
Grape Hyacinth	6.0-7.5
Grape Ivy	5.0-6.5
Grapefruit	6.0-7.5
Grapevine	6.0-7.0
Grass - Bent	5.5-6.5
Grass - Clover	6.0-7.0
Grass - Fesau	6.0-7.5
Grass - Meadow	6.0-7.5
Grass - Pampas	6.0-8.0
Grass - Rye	6.0-7.0
Grevillea	5.5-6.5
Gypsophllla	6.0-7.5
Hawthorn	6.0-7.0
Hazelnut	6.0-7.0
Hedera (Ivy)	6.0-7.5
Heliotropium	6.0-8.0
Hellanthus	5.0-7.0
Helleborus	6.0-7.5
Hens & Chickens	6.0-7.0
Herringbone Plant	5.0-6.0
Hibiscus	6.0-8.0
Holly	5.0-6.5
Hollyhock	6.0-8.0
Honeysuckle	6.0-7.5
Hop	6.0-7.5
Horseradish	60-7.0
Hoya	5.0-6.5
Hyacinth	6.5-7.5
Hydrangea (Blue)	4.0-5.0
Hydrangea (Pink)	6.0-7.0
Hydrangea (White)	6.5-8.0
Hyperitum	5.5-7.0
Ice Plant	6.0-8.0
Ii Never Never Plant	5.0-6.0
Impatiens (Busy Lillie)	5.5-6.5
Inch Plant	5.0-6.0
Indigofera	6.0-7.5
Iresine	5.0-6.5
Iris	5.0-6.5
Ivy	6.0-8.0
Ivy Tree	6.0-7.0
Jacaranda	6.0-7.5
Japanese Sedge	6.0-8.0
Jasminum	5.5-7.0
Jerusalem Cherry	5.5-6.5
Jessamine	5.0-6.0
Juniper	5.0-6.5
Kaffir	6.0-7.5
Kalanchoe	6.0-7.5
Kale	6.0-7.5
Kalmia	4.5-5.0
Kangaroo Thorn	6.0-8.0
Kangaroo Vine	5.0-6.5
Kerria	6.0-7.0
Kohlrabi	6.0-7.5
Laburnum	6.0-7.0
Lace Flower	6.0-7.5
Lantana	5.5-7.0
Laurel	4.5-6.0
Laurus (Bay Tree)	5.0-6.0
Lavender	6.5-7.5
Leek	6.0-8.0
Lemon	6.0-7.0
Lemon Plant	6.0-7.5
Lentil	5.5-7.0
Lettuce	6.0-7.0
Liatris	5.5-7.5
Ligustrum	5.0-7.5
Lilac	6.0-7.5
Lily of the Valley	4.5-6.0
Lithospermum	5.0-6.5
Lobelia	6.0-7.5
Lupinus	5.5-7.0
Lychee	6.0-7.0
Magnolia	5.0-6.0
Mahonia	6.0-7.0
Mango	5.0-6.0
Marguerite	6.0-7.5
Marigold	5.5-7.0
Marjoram	6.0-8.0
Marrow	6.0-7.5
Melon	5.5-6.5
Millet	6.0-6.5
Mimosa	5.0-7.0
Mind Your Own Business	5.0-5.5
Mint	7.0-8.0
Mollnia	4.0-5.0
Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)	5.0-6.0
Moraea	5.5-6.5
Morning Glory	6.0-7.5
Moss	6.0-8.0
Moss, sphagnum	3.5-5.0
Mother-of-Thousands	5.0-6.0
Mulberry	6.0-7.5
Mushroom	6.5-7.5
Mustard	6.0-7.5
Myosotis	6.0-7.0
Myrtle	6.0-8.0
Narcissus	6.0-7.5
Nasturtium	5.5-7.5
Nectarine	6.0-7.5
Nephthytis	4.5-5.5
Nicodernia (Indoor Oak)	6.0-8.0
Nicotiana	5.5-6.5
Nicotlana	5.5-6.5
Norfolk Island Pine	5.0-6.0
Oleander	6.0-7.5
Olive	5.5-6.5
Onion	6.0-7.0
OpIisemenus	5.0-6.0
Orange Plant	6.0-7.5
Orchid	4.5-5.5
Oxalis	6.0-8.0
Pachysandra	5.0-8.0
Paeonia	6.0-7.5
Painted Lady	6.0-7.5
Palms	6.0-7.5
Pandanus	5.0-6.0
Pansy	5.5-7.0
Papaw	6.0-7.5
Paprika	7.0-8.5
Parsley	5.0-7.0
Pasque Flower	5.0-6.0
Passion Flower	6.0-8.0
Patient Lucy	5.5-6.5
Paulownia	6.0-8.0
Pea	6.0-7.5
Peach	6.0-7.5
Peacock Plant	5.0-6.0
Peanut	5.0-6.5
Pear	6.0-7.5
Pea-Sweet	6.0-7.5
Pelagoniums	6.0-7.5
Pellionia	5.0-6.0
Penstemon	5.5-7.0
Peony	6.0-7.5
Peperomia	5.0-6.0
Pepper	5.5-7.0
Peppermint	6.0-7.5
Periwinkle	6.0-7.5
Petunia	6.0-7.5
Philodendron	5.0-6.0
Phlox	5.0-6.5
Pilea	6.0-8.0
Pineapple	5.0-6.0
Pinks	6.0-7.5
Pistacio	5.0-6.0
Pitcherplant	4.0-5.5
Pittosporum	5.5-6.5
Plantain	6.0-7.5
Plum	6.0-7.5
Plumbago	5.5-6.5
Podocarpus	5.0-6.5
Poinsettia	6.0-7.5
Poligonum	6.0-7.5
Polyanthus	6.0-7.5
Polyscias	6.0-7.5
Pomegranate	5.5-6.5
Poppy	6.0-7.5
Portulaca	5.5-7.5
Potato	4.5-6.0
Potato-Sweet	5.5-6.0
Pothos	5.0-6.0
Prayer Plant	5.0-6.0
Primrose	5.5-6.5
Primula	6.0-7.5
Privet	6.0-7.0
Prunella	6.0-7.5
Prunus	6.5-7.5
Pumpkin	5.5-7.5
Puncia	5.5-6.5
Pyracantha	5.0-6.0
Pyrethrum	6.0-7.5
Quince	6.0-7.5
Radish	6.0-7.0
Raspberry	5.0-6.5
Rhododendron	4.5-6.0
Rhubarb	5.5-7.0
Rice	5.0-6.5
Rose - Climbing	6.0-7.0
Rose - Hybrid Tea	5.5-7.0
Rose - RamblIng	5.5-7.0
Rosemary	5.0-6.0
Rubber Plant	5.0-6.0
Sage	5.5-6.5
Salvia	6.0-7.5
Sansevieria	4.5-7.0
Santpaulia	6.0-7.0
Saxifraga	6.0-8.0
Scabiosa	5.0-7.5
SchizanthUs	6.0-7.0
Scilla	6.0-8.0
Sea Grape	5.0-6.5
Sedum	6.0-8.0
Selaginella	6.0-7.0
Senecio	6.0-7.0
Shallot	5.5-7.0
Shrimp Plant	5.5-6.5
Snapdragon	5.5-7.0
Snowdrop	6.0-8.0
Soapwort	6.0-7.5
Sorghum	5.5-75
Soyabean	5.5-6.5
Spanish Bayonet	5.5-7.0
Spearmint	55-7.5
Speedwell	5.5-6.5
Spider Plant	6.0-7.5
Spinach	6.0-7.5
Spirea	6.0-7.5
Spruce	4.0-5.0
Star of Bethlehem	6.0-8.0
Stock	6.0-7.5
Stonecrop	6.5-7.5
Strawberry	5.0-7.5
Succulents	5.0-6.5
Sumach	5.0-6.5
Sunflower	6.0-7.5
Swede	5.5-7.0
Sweet William	6.0-7.5
Syringa	6.0-8.0
Tamarix	6.5-8.0
Thunbergia	5.5-7.5
Thyme	5.5-7.0
Tobacco	5.5-7.5
Tomato	5.5-7.5
TrillIum	5.0-6.5
Tulip	6.0-7.0
Turk's Cap	6.0-7.0
Turnip	5.5-7.0
Umbrella Tree	5.0-7.5
Velvet Plant	5.5-6.5
Venus Flytrap	4.0-5.0
Verbena	6.0-8.0
Viburnum	5.0-7.5
Vinca	6.0-7.5
Viola	5.5-6.5
Violet	5.0-7.5
Violet Flame	6.0-7.0
Virginia Creeper	5.0-7.5
Wallflower	5.5-7.5
Wandering Jew	5.0-6.0
Water Cress	6.0-8.0
Water Lily	5.5-6.5
Watermelon	5.5-6.5
Weeping Fig	5.0-6.0
Weyela	6.0-7.0
Winter Creeper	5.5-7.0
Wistine	6.0-8.0
Yucca	6.0-8.0
Zebra Plant	5.0-6.0
Zinna	5.5-7.5

* The table above is not an exhaustive list of plants. Although the suggested preferred range is believed to be reasonable accurate, it should only be used as a general guide and a professional should be consulted if necessary for advice on the requirements of specific plants in a specific soil type.

 Do post your comments.

Do It Yourself Kit, Horticulture Department, Tamil Nadu Government

Referring to my earlier post dated 29-3-2013 regarding initiative of Tamil Nadu Government to provide "Do It Yourself Kit ", which may contain 20 UV sterilized 200 micron thickness polythene bags, 15kg of coir pith and manure, seeds for vegetables and greens, besides instruments, organic fertiliser and a 20sqm polythene sheet, so as to encourage the residents of Chennai & Coimbatore to start Kitchen / Terrace Garden to cultivate their own vegetable. The kit make 20 bags available for each person at a subsidised price.

To apply for this kit click the following link and provide all necessary personal information & provide your nearest collection centre http://tnhorticulture.tn.gov.in/horti/application-do-yourself-kit



  

My Green House

You all know that Chennai's climate is too harsh to grow cool climate plants like carrot, cabbage, cauliflower etc.  Therefore, I made green shade at my terrace to try out cool climate plants.

I covered 850 sq.ft. of my terrace space with green shade net.  To cover all the sides, I needed 1400 sq.ft. of net (appx. 75% sunlight reduction net.  There were 50% & 90% shade nets also available).  One bundle of standard size (3 mt. X 50 mt.) net costed me Rs.2.16 per sq.ft.

To support the shade net, I erected bamboo structure first.  The cost of one medium size bamboo pole(around 16 feet long) was Rs.65. There were various sizes bamboo poles available ranging @ Rs.65-130.

It costed me around Rs.8000/- for covering 850 sq.ft. terrace space. The requried material were bamboo poles, shade net, ropes, stay wire, clamps, nails etc. Since I did the labour work myself, there was no labour cost added.

Hope I can now able to grow my dream vegetables.  Wait and see for my next update. Bye.