The brinjal, which is commonly known as the eggplant or aubergine in the western world, is closely related to tomatoes and potatoes as it lies in the same Solanum family. It is a staple part of many cuisines all over the world, and used in many popular dishes, with one of the more famous ones (thanks to Disney) being ratatouille. Growing brinjal is easy - read on to find out how.
Celery is a crunchy, watery vegetable that is extremely healthy for the human body, due to high vitamin content, and its seeds are used in homeopathic medicine to treat a wide array of diseases. However, as they say, there is no gain without pain, and this plant is quite difficult to grow and propagate. It takes a lot of time and effort, and proper care and maintenance to pull off a successful celery harvest. The seed must be planted and germinated indoors before moving the crop outside. Once harvested though, it will definitely be quite an achievement. Before we look at how to get there, let’s see some of the basic features of the plant.
Crown division is the easiest propagation method that amateur gardeners can utilise to show off their skills. It is a form of plant propagation in which new plants are not grown from seeds or bulbs but are rather separated from the parent plant. The crown of a plant is where its stem meets the roots. The idea is to divide the plant at its crown so that each separated plant has its own shoot and root system, and is capable of producing new plant. This propagation technique has long been used to propagate bulbs such as garlic and saffron. Flowering plants like Orchids, Carnations, Rose plant, Daylilies and Dahlias are also commonly propagated by this method.
Leaf propagation is a really cool propagation method that every beginner gardener should at least try once because it is like watching a science fiction movie come to life; you can actually see little plantlets emerging from the mother leaf and developing their own support system, the root system.
Stems that are attached to their parent plant are capable of forming roots on coming in contact with a rooting medium. Layering exploits this property of stems. It involves development of roots on a stem while the stem is still attached to its parent plant. A layer is the rooted stem following detachment from the parent plant.
You don't need a green thumb to grow a bounty of fresh vegetables right in your backyard or balcony. Whether you're a gardening novice or just want to start a vegetable garden with the least amount of time and effort, here are the top-10 easy to grow vegetables to give you a jump-start to grow delicious, fresh and inexpensive vegetables and fruits in your own backyard.
In North India, carrots are mainly known for the sweet delicacy, ‘Gajar Halwa’, but when carrots were first cultivated, it was for their leaves rather than their roots. However nowadays, with the numerous health benefits associated with the root part, it is the main part which is consumed. They are said to improve vision, promote healthier skin, slow down the aging of cells, and even prevent cancer. Carrots are one of the most produced vegetables in the world, with almost 50% of the production coming from China. Let’s take a look at this worldwide plant’s main features.
Gardening is the best antidote for stress and boredom. It works like a magic-potion. But it can prove to be heavy on pocket especially if you are a newbie green thumb as you will need to buy seeds, pots, fertilizers, insecticide, tools and what not! An easy and economical solution would be to start building your own garden by recycling household trash and using them for gardening purposes.
Chives are a member of the same family which includes onions and garlic. They are known for their pungent smell and distinctive taste. They are a staple in European cuisine, and are also a very nutrient dense food. Chives are also said to have properties which can prevent cancer. The plant has certain properties which repel pests, which make it a valuable addition to your garden regardless of the yield. So let’s take a look at this plant’s main features.