Are you limited by a small garden or lack of outdoor space? Don’t let that stop you from enjoying a bountiful harvest of fresh and delicious bhendi (okra). With the right techniques and a little creativity, you can successfully grow bhendi in containers and small gardens. In this post, we will explore the steps, tips, and benefits of cultivating bhendi in limited spaces, ensuring a small space yields a big harvest.
Selecting the Right Container: When growing bhendi in containers, choose containers that are at least 12-18 inches deep to allow the roots to develop properly. Khloroz’s 12 x 12 growbags best suitable for growing one bhendi plant. It has drain holes to prevent waterlogging, and also lightweight containers if you need to move them around.
Choosing the Ideal Bhendi Variety: Select compact and dwarf varieties of bhendi that are suitable for container gardening. Khloroz’s Bhendi Seeds best suitable for home garden made. It is made for small spaces, dwarf okra or spineless variety, which are more manageable and produce abundant yields.
Sowing: Unpack the Khloroz’s Bhendi Seeds and soak the seeds over night in a bowl. Discard the floating seeds if any in the bowl. Take out the sunk seeds for planting. Before planting ensure potting mix are ready. One seed per Khloroz’s 12 x 12 growbags is sufficient. Gently press the seeds inside the potting mix for an one inch. cover the seed with potting mix and water it using rose cane. Khloroz’s Bhendi Seeds takes 5-7 days for germination. Water the container daily in the morning (Preferably 6-7 AM) so that seeds can imbibe water and starts to germinate. Dont flood the pot. Ensure soil has enough moisture. After sowing cover the growbag using wet cloth. Dark inside the pot helps to root fast. After germination irrigate the growbag two days once.
Providing Adequate Sunlight: Bhendi thrives in full sunlight, so place your containers in a spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. If you have limited sun exposure, consider using reflective surfaces to maximize the available light or invest in grow lights for indoor gardening.
Preparing the Soil Mix: Use a well-draining potting mix enriched with organic matter to ensure healthy growth. Khloroz’s Potting Mix provide essential nutrients for your Bhendi plant. Avoid using heavy garden soil, as it can lead to poor drainage and hinder root development. Apply Biofertilizer Azospirillum @ 5-10g/Plant 5days after germination. Biofertilizers will colonise the root zone and restricts harmfull pathogen to enter into plant. Also apply Phosphobacteria @ 5-10g/Plant to solubilize available phosphosurs in potting mix to the plant.
Watering and Moisture Management: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your bhendi plants deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Container-grown plants may require more frequent watering, especially during hot summer months. Mulching can help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
Providing Support: Bhendi plants tend to grow tall and can benefit from support. Place stakes or small trellises in the containers to provide support for the plants as they grow. This helps prevent sprawling and improves air circulation around the foliage.
Fertilizing and Nutrient Needs: Feed your bhendi plants with a balanced organic fertilizer or compost every 3-4 weeks to ensure they receive adequate nutrients. Be mindful not to over-fertilize, as it can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of fruit production. Use Khloroz’s Vermicompost to provide organic fertilizer. Enriched with macro and micro nutrients, it supplies plant nutrients which can be observed by plants easily. Apply organic nutrient in 15, 25, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 days after germination. 50g/plant is sufficient for one plant. One plant will require 5Kg of Khloroz’s Vermicompost for its life span of 120days. Also apply Micro nutrient to ensure plants grow healthy.
Pest Management: Monitor your plants regularly for pests like aphids, spider mites, or fruit borers. Use organic pest control methods such as neem oil or insecticidal soap to address infestations promptly. Practicing crop rotation and maintaining good garden hygiene can also help prevent disease issues.
White fly:
Symptoms of Damage: Chlorotic spots on the leaves which latter coalesce forming irregular yellowing of leaf tissue. Severe infestation results in premature defoliation. Development of sooty mold. Vector of yellow vein mosaic virus
Control Measure: Spray Neem oil (3% – 3ml in one liter) on 10, 20, 30 days after germination. Use Yellow Sticky trap 3 per plant. Maintain plant distant between plants.
Aphids:
Symptoms of Damage: Infesting tender shoots and under surface of the leaves. Curling and crinkling of leaves. Stunted growth. Development of black sooty mould due to the excretion of honey dew
Control Measure: Spray Neem seed kernel extract 5% on 15, 25, 35 days after germination.
Harvesting and Enjoying the Bounty: Bhendi pods are ready for harvest when they are about 3-4 inches long and still tender. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to harvest the pods, taking care not to damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continuous production and ensures optimal taste and texture.
Growing bhendi in containers and small gardens is a rewarding experience, even in limited spaces. By following these steps and implementing proper care, you can enjoy a big harvest of fresh, homegrown bhendi throughout the growing season. Don’t let space constraints hold you back from the joys of gardening and the pleasure of savoring your own delicious okra dishes. Embrace small-scale gardening and relish the abundant rewards it brings!
Chilies are a popular ingredient in many cuisines around the world and can add a kick of heat and flavor to any dish. Growing chilies in your home garden is not only a great way to have a fresh supply of this versatile spice, but it can also be a fun and rewarding experience.
Here are some expert tips on how to successfully grow chilies in your home garden:
Choose the Right Varieties: There are many different types of chilies, each with its own unique flavor and level of spiciness. Choose a variety that suits your taste and the dishes you want to make. Some popular varieties include Co1, Co2, Co4, KKM 1 etc. Khloroz Garden Center’s Chillies Seeds are best for beginners to start. Having good germination it helps to grow healthy seedlings at your home garden.
Prepare From seeds: Sow the Khloroz Garden Center’s Chillies seed in protrays @ 1 seed per cell. Cover the seed with cocopeat and cover with a Wet Gunny sack till germination starts. Water with Mist Sprayer everyday upto seed germination. After 6 days germinated seedlings will come up from trays. After that no need to put wet gunny sacks during night hours.
Transplanting: After seedlings emerge water using mist sprayer till it reaches 30 days. Before irrigating ensure pro-tray media is so wet. Stagnation of water will make chillies seedlings to wilt due to root rot. Spray Neem oil 3% during 15th day, 25 day to keep sucking pest away. Also on 20th day spray Seaweed extract or any plant nutrient with micro nutrients to nourish young seedlings. On 30th day the plant will be ready to transplant. Check for any wilt in seedling before transplant. Transplant during early hours or late at evening. Avoid during bright sunny hours. Just press the bottom of the pro-tray to lift the seedlings. Then catch hold the seedlings plug and dip it inside Bio-fertilizer nutrient mix. (Pls check the Biofertilizer nutrient mix preparation here) This helps to make seedling healthy and to avoid from soil borne pathogens. Insert the seedling plug into growbag where already a hole is been made at centre of the potting mix. Ensure there is no gap between the plug and the potting mix. After transplanting water the potting mix media.
Provide Plenty of Sunlight: Chilies need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive. Make sure to plant them in a sunny spot in your garden.
Use Well-Draining Soil: Chilies prefer soil that is well-draining, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Amend your soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve its quality. Use Khloroz’s Vermi compost about 25-30g per plant after 15 days of sowing.
Water Regularly: Chili peppers need regular watering to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on the weather and soil conditions.
Fertilize Properly: Use a balanced fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Apply it every four to six weeks during the growing season.
Control Pests : Chilies are prone to pests and diseases like aphids, spider mites, and powdery mildew. Keep an eye out for signs of infestation and treat them promptly to prevent damage to your plants.
Thrips infested leaves develop crinkles and curl upwards. Spray Neem oil 3% from downward of leaf with powerfull hand sprayer.
Mite infested leaves develop crinkles and curl upwards. To control mites spray spray Fish oil Rosin Soap. For Other Pests like Whitefly, Aphids spray Neem oil 3%.
Flower Drop : Chilies are prone to high flower drop. Spray NAA 10 ppm (10 mg/lit of water) on 60 and 90 days after planting to increase the fruit set. Also Spray Micronutrient mix to control flower drop in chillies.
Harvest at the Right Time: Chili peppers are ready to harvest when they are firm, shiny, and brightly colored. Use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut the peppers from the plant, leaving a small stem attached.
Growing chili in your home garden is a great way to add some spice to your life and enhance your culinary skills. With a little bit of care and attention, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of fresh, flavorful chili peppers right from your own backyard.
Sowing, Growing and Harvesting your own produce is a simple solution to numerous health, environmental, and economic problems. Freshness of Produce grown not only add motherly taste to your Recipe, but also a bond to Mother Nature. The food we feed to our family plays a key role to unlock healthy life.
From a Nascent Seed sprout, a life originates at your door-side which grows into a Green leaf…. Hurrah…
Welcome to the world’s largest Primitive natural industry.
When I search plant nutrients for my garden, I found IFFCO Urban garden products. Bundle has Plant nutrient supplements, Vermi compost, Plant protectants, Decomposer etc.
IFFCO Urban Garden Products
1) Magic Soil – Magic soil is a premium potting soil, rich in Bio-Available Macro & Micro Nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium etc. The product ensures healthier vegetative and reproductive growth of the plant throughout the growing period by enhancing the proper nutrient uptake of the plant, while providing the right aeration and moisture.
Ready to use soil mix
Provides all essential nutrients in balance
Customized Blend suitable for all products.
Improves Nutrient Efficiency
How to use
Fill 3/4 Pot with Magic Soil, and re-pot your plants.
Fill balance pot with Magic Soil and moisten mixture.
Use 5Kg of Magic Soil per 12” dia pot, or Cover 5 Sq.Ft with ½ inch depth
Be careful to not disturb the roots structure while transplanting.
2. Nutri-Rich (Seaweed Fortified Vermicompost)- 5 kg
Nutri-Rich is a premium vermicompost manufactured at a state of the art facility with patented processes. This turns pure cow dung into Vermicompost ensuring a standardized product with global quality standards. It is an active biological mixture of bacteria, enzymes and also rich in bio-available plant nutrients such as concentrated nitrates, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, etc. it also contains seaweed nutrition which builds plant immunity from abiotic stress.
Composition:
Vermicompost, seaweed & additives
Benefits:
Improves soil aeration.
Enriches soil with microorganisms.
Increases water holding capacity of the soil.
Improves soil quality and structure.
Help plant achieve luxurious growth.
Directions for Use:
Make 1-inch layer of nutri-rich over the soil in the pot and mix up with the help of a small shovel.
500 Gm of nutria-rich is recommended for 3 kg of soil..
3. Protect + (Neem Based Plant Protection)- 5 kg& 2 Kg
Protect + is a unique product designed to provide protection to the plant from soil-borne pathogens, nematodes and fungus, it is tailor made product which contains neem and other bio pesticides for natural crop protection. This product also acts as a natural soil conditioner and contains organic nutrients for the plants.
Neem cake, seaweed, beneficial microbes & additves.
Benefits:
Natural protection from pests and diseases.
Builds plant immunity.
Help in systemic release of essential nutrients.
Provides resistance from abiotic and biotic stress.
Safe for earthworms, bacteria and other beneficial microorganisms.
Ideal for use in the kitchen garden and house plants.
Directions for Use:
For potted plants, take 75 grams of protect plus per 3 kg soil.
Sprinkle and mix with the topsoil.
Use 25-40 gram of protect plus after every 10-12 days.
IFFCO Urban Gardens Sea Secret is Seaweed based granules, made from red & brown seaweed grown in the Indian Ocean. Sea Secret is or organic plant growth regulator and constitutes of Auxins, Gibberellins and Cytokinins that aids in the healthy plant growth while boosting its immunity against stress and diseases.
Composition:
Seaweed, calcium , Sulphur and additives.
Benefit:
Enhances nutrient uptake capacity of the plant from the soil.
Promotes root growth & tillering in plants.
Activates soil microbial population and improves soil health.
Stimulates growth and development process of plants.
Direction for Use:
Add 25-30 gram of granules on the top layer of soil per pot and mix it well.
Water the plant as per it’s requirement.
Repeat after every 15 days
5. Green Diet (Instant Plant Food)- 500 ml
IFFCO Urban Gardens Green Diet is a gentle spray of nourishment to be applied on the foliage of the plant weekly. It is an ideal assortment of all necessary macro and micro nutrients that act as an instant plant food for the plant and provides them an all round development with boosted metabolism. It ensures lush, healthy and green plants.
Composition:
Seaweed extract powder, macro & micro nutrients from natural sources, water & preservatives
Directions For Use:
Shake Well Before Use.
Unlock the nozzle and uniformly spray on the plant leaves.
Repeat after every 7-10 days for better results.
Green Diet
6. Bokashi – It is made using rice bran and mixed with a group of highest quality bacterial cultures that is teeming with billions of live microbes. Ready to ferment and compost your food scraps.
Benefits
Accelerates aerobic composting of organic, kitchen and garden waste
It turns your kitchen waste into organic superfood for your garden, lawn and home plants
Controls unpleasant foul odour
Easy Application
Re-Sealable Pack for multiple use
Composition:
Rice bran, fungi, bacteria and additives
Add food waste into bokashi bin after placing the sieve inside and press the waste down tightly and cover the lid.
Sprinkle bokashi on the waste ensuring complete coverage and press down again
Repeat above process whenever making a new layer of food waste
Keep full compost bin aside for 4 weeks and drain the liquid accumulated at the bottom of the bokashi bin every 3-4 days
Dilute this liquid with water in 1:100 and use as foliar spray on plants for better growth
Create a small layer of soil/coco peat in a pot and add few inches of fermented compost and repeat cycle till pot is full. Leave aside for 2 weeks
Plant in bokashi enriched soil for green & healthier plants
Our strict production process ensures that the Bokashi bran is always of optimal quality and fresh, before delivering to your door.
Bokashi – waste decomposer
Has given good output in my garden. Tiny quantity sufficient to each plant. I use to put 10g vermi compost every week and water it. Also Decomposer Bokashi converts my kitchen waste into organic manure for my potted plants.
