Winter in India brings the perfect season to plant the fruits and vegetables that require a cooler temperature to grow, offering you a fresh and healthy home-grown harvest. Just imagine picking out fruits from your own home garden, peeling them, and savouring each bit whilst enjoying the warm sunlight in your garden.
Whether you’re living in the Northern plains or near the coaster areas, there are a large number of fruit varieties you can grow well in your kitchen garden. So, if this winter, you want to fill your garden with vibrant and vitamin and mineral-rich fruits, here are some of the best picks that will yield nutritious produce.
Oranges
Rich in vitamin C, oranges are a beloved winter fruit. Since oranges typically grow well at 10-20°C, the onset of the winter season is the perfect time to plant its seeds. Just ensure that the soil is sandy with a pH of 6-7. Also, keep adding a citrus fertiliser or well-rotted compost every 3-4 months to ensure the best yield.
Strawberries
Strawberries are one of the most popular berries that have now found a place in the heart of Indians. The vibrant-coloured fruit is not just nutritious but also thrives in the winter season. The best part is you can also grow strawberries in containers or pots, making them perfect for your terrace. All you need to do is maintain the pH of the soil, slightly acidic, around 5.5 to 6.5, water regularly, and monthly fertilisation.
Guava
Guava, or amrud comes in a range of varieties and flavours, but all of them are low-maintenance, making them an ideal choice for home gardeners. They prefer mild winters with temperatures around 15-25°C, so don’t plant them in mid or late winters as the frost or extreme weather conditions can impact the quality of the fruit. Some of the other requirements include well-drained soil, neutral pH, and a well-spaced area.
Pomegranate
The iron-rich fruit pomegranate, is also a great option to plant in an Indian home garden during the winter season. Since they prefer sunny winters, make sure you plant them in a spot that gets sunlight. While pomegranates can be grown through seeds, try to get stem cuttings as they will yield faster and better produce.
Lemons
Lemons are versatile citrus fruits that are fairly easy to grow. So, if you are a beginner, you can start by planting lemons in your kitchen garden. All you have to do is take sandy loam soil and maintain its pH around 5.5-7.5. You can plant them in well-drained pots or soil beds, as per your preference and fertilise regularly and you’ll get full-grown home-produce of lemons.