Home gardening is an impeccable of adding fresh and healthy produce to your diet. It is not only a hobby to keep you productive, but also kitchen gardening takes you closer to a sustainable and healthier lifestyle. Just imagine that instead of rushing to your nearest grocery store or vegetable vendor and checking for any artificial colours or the addition of insecticides or pesticides, you can rely on your very own garden and reap the benefits of the harvest. So, if you are planning to start a home garden, taking the seasonal change into account is non-negotiable. While the monsoon is taking a back seat and the autumn season comes into play, here are some of the best veggie seeds that will thrive in this season.
Spinach
Spinach, or palak is a green leafy vegetable that thrives in the cooler temperature that autumn has to offer. You can directly sow the seeds of spinach into a well-fertilised soil and expect germination within a week of plantation. Once the plant is 4-6 inches tall, you can harvest and use the vitamin and mineral-rich vegetable in a typical Indian kitchen.
Radish
The root vegetable radish, also known as mooli is a fast-growing vegetable if planted in the autumn season and taken proper care with regular watering and fertilising. With well-drained soil and constant sunlight, radishes typically get ready to be harvested in a month or two for harvesting. You can then use the fresh produce to make a salad bowl, mooli paratha, or dry sabzi.
Carrot
The red-coloured ground vegetable carrot, or gajar is also perfect to plant in the autumn season. All you need to do to ensure a healthy harvest is to sow the seeds into loose, well-draining, and fertilised soil. This way, you can get the fresh produce of carrots in your kitchen garden in just 2-3 months. Just remember to harvest before the soil starts to frost in extreme weather conditions which can harm the vegetable.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower, or gobhi is one of the most versatile and popularly used vegetables in Indian households. Starting from breakfast dishes like gobhi paratha, lunch options like aloo gobhi sabzi, and even accompaniments like gobhi ka achaar, the vegetable has its own place in every kitchen. To have it in your home garden, you can plant the seeds in the autumn season and reap the benefits of the harvest with regular watering and the addition of a well-balanced fertiliser.
Peas
Just like cauliflower, peas, also known as matar is also a versatile vegetable that is widely used in a range of dishes in an Indian kitchen. You can sow the seeds about 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart once the autumn season starts. Once you see the pods are full and plump, you can harvest and use the vegetable in your day-to-day use.