Terrace Garden (மாடித் தோட்டம்) - A beautiful way to grow your mind and vegetables

Roof Garden (மாடித் தோட்டம்)

Concept: 

A garden on the flat roof of a building, especially one which is found in an urban setting is called a roof garden. The roof garden is also known as terrace garden.

In modern times, individual homes with a compound and a lawn are becoming rare in cities and towns and skyscrapers are replacing such homes. As a result, the private home gardens are vanishing and the only places left for gardening are the roofs of houses. 

A spacious well planned roof garden can be a place of joy and recreation. In bigger cities of India, many of the large hotels and public buildings are developing this type of gardens.

Soil preparation:

Soil is prepared by mixing manure with peat Or else it can be done through organic by mixing the cow dung Or goat manure. The peeled skin of the vegetables can also be added to the mixture. This mixture is usually allowed undistributed for few days before it's use.

Creation of raised beds:

Raised beds is a practical way to grow vegetables. Plants remains thrive with less care and maintenance. The raised bed on the terrace does not differ fundamentally from those will see in a regular garden. Just ensure before installing it that the surface of the home terrace below it is waterproofed efficiently or not.

Containers for terrace garden:

Containers of all different sizes, shapes, whether of plastic, ceramic, metal or mud can be used. Your coke bottles, take away plastic boxes, old sacks, coconut shells, old broken buckets, UV treated grow bags, cement pots, your dented kitchen pots, just about everything can be recycled and used as containers. 

Containers are the key to setting up plants. Whatever containers you use, they want to have a small opening at the bottom to release any excess water that pours for the plants. However, this small hole must be blocked with a small piece of flat stone to prevent the soil from draining away as well.

Vegetables suitable for Terrace gardening: 

Tomatoes: 

Tomatoes don’t always need sprawling spaces to grow. They can grow well even in hanging baskets, planter pots, window boxes & many other types of containers. You can easily produce them in any sized container, almost throughout the year. Make sure that the container is spacious or large enough to grow your tomato plant without hassles. Start with tomato seeds or starter plants, whichever you like. Also, you can add a cage to the outside of the container for additional support as the tomato plant gets taller.

Radishes: 

The best part of growing radishes is that they can develop well, even in small-sized plastic or wooden planter pots. You must scatter the seeds at the top point of a container. Make sure to water them religiously, which helps in maintaining the soil moist diligently. To get the best results, emphasize on using the organic soil conditioner.

Potatoes: 

Potatoes are probably one of the easiest planter vegetables to grow on the terrace. It is always fun to develop potatoes in a planter pot. You need a container, which is about 10/12 inches deep. In these pots, you can easily plant three to four potatoes. Since potatoes require adequate water, plastic planter pots are advisable. Therefore, make sure to water them adequately, so that potato plants grow healthy and start to produce soon. Moreover, make sure their stems are fully covered with soil. The potatoes will grow within a couple of months.

Onions: 

Onions usages are uncountable. From making salads to spicing up a dish, onions top the priority lists of many cooks. Onions are small in size and can easily fit in your terrace. Especially, green onions are known to develop well in small containers. All you require is a planter pot or container, which is about 5/6 inches deep. Within the size, you can develop onions with ease.

Carrots: 

Another brilliant option for home terrace grown vegetables is the carrot. Just like tomatoes, the carrots can be grown in planter boxes or small containers. Carrots have different varieties such as short & sweet, little fingers, Thumbelina, etc. If you religiously water the plant, you are more likely to produce healthier plants. If you are looking to have longer plants, then make sure to choose spacious planter pots or containers.

Cucumber: 

If you are interested in rising cucumber in containers, then always go for “Salad Bush” or “Bush Pickle” varieties.

Capsicum: 

With a little patience & care, you can grow capsicums in a planter box. Start with a pot or container of good seeding mix. Tickle the top of the soil with your finger, and then sprinkle the seeds over the top of your container & add up a little more soil to get it fully covered. Give it a little water, just enough to obtain the soil damp. However, make sure the soil is not too wet.

Tips for home terrace gardening:             

1. Salt water must not be left on the plants.  
2. Well mixed mixture of red soil, sand and manure should be used in pots.
3. Plants should be irrigated in the morning & evening. 
4. If the plants grown with natural fertilizers, it tastes good with quality.

Water quantity: 

Watering is the key factor. Water the vegetable plants regularly, as and when needed. Excess water often causes damage & decay to plant roots and it also washes away the nutrients of the soil. Include manure to the soil after every heavy rainfall.

You can use a hose to water the plants in your terrace or buy a small watering pot or kettle if you prefer. Alternately, you can simply fill a bucket of water, carry it around the terrace & pour water using a smaller container. If you travel often and don’t have anyone to help with the watering, you can consider drip irrigation. Again, you can go creative and use plastic bottles to set it up or buy a ready-made system & have a professional set it up for you.

Pesticides: 

Pests are going to be visiting your garden no matter what type of protection you take. And the best way to combat them is by using pesticides, not the dangerous artificial ones existing in the market, but natural ones you can prepare at home yourself. A mixture of baking soda, cooking oil & water can be sprayed on plants to avoid fungal infections; beer is an easy distraction for slugs & neem oil is the aphid’s nightmare. Don’t forget controlling pests in home vegetable terrace gardening is an utmost priority.

Cost of home terrace gardening: 

A 500 sq.ft terrace garden can be set up with an initial investment of Rs 10,000 to 15,000. This also includes the cost of fertilizers which can be alternated with homemade compost. Within this space, one can develop a dozen vegetables.

Maintenance of the garden: 

An hour in your garden is enough to stay it maintained once it is established. It is quite therapeutic working in the garden, tending the plants & benefitting from it. The freshness of the garden will fill you with fresh energy.

Government Schems for terrace gardening:

1. The State government under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas scheme is offering 50 per cent subsidy on seeds, fertilisers and farming equipment. House owners with a minimum of 50 to 100 square foot space in their balconies or backyard are eligible for availing 50 per cent subsidy.

2. Roof top garden/ kitchen garden kit scheme:

Highlight of the Scheme:

• Light weight growing medium.
• Light weight containers.
• Hybrid seedlings.
• Water soluble fertilizer.
• Bio pesticides and fungicides.

Total Cost of the kit: Rs. 522.10/kit

Subsidy Cost of the kit: Rs. 200/kit

If you want to know more about the Roof top garden kit, please Click the link below👇

Roof top garden kit

3. Home vegetable garden:

Department of Horticulture, Government of Tamilnadu shall provides bags, manure, seeds,and 6 Coco peat under 890 rupees and here subsidy 356 rupees reduced u can pay 574 rupees to get the kit.

For irrigation facilities to construct the drippers , 1120 rupees valued tools under subsidy u can pay 800 rupees to get the tools.

For any queries you can contact your nearest Horticulture office.

Courtesy: NITHIYANANTHAM S