Sowing the Seed

Getting the best seed is a bit of a gamble. Living in Hessarghatta, my first obvious choice for seeds was IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticulture Research). Some did really well and I kept going back for more (large red onions, okra, french beans, peas and gourds), but tomato specifically has been a flop. A lady close by runs a small operation from home where she germinates vegetable seeds in trays and sells each tray (about 90 saplings) for Rs 100 – Rs 200. I have tried the cauliflower, cabbage and capsicum from her and it was reasonably successful, owing to the fact that it was my first attempt and I was being obstinate to the use of insecticides, so the pests had a field day! I have also bought seeds from the retail outlets in Nelamangala on market day, mainly greens and spinach. Except for the coriander that flowers too fast, the fenugreek, palak, dill did really well. Also the carrot and white radish seeds he gave me were great! Had a bumper cucumber crop – yielded so much (as i planted a full packet, not realising yield) that I had to instill a rule on the farm that other vegetables may be consumed only if 4 cucumbers were eaten by all staff daily. As a fancy, got friends and family to bring some seeds from foreign lands to try...except for the herbs (basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley) and a few vegetables (coloured capsicum and large aubergines), I would recommend to stick to native seeds. Namdhari Seeds and Indo-American I am trying out this season. And I also managed to collect seeds from the past 2 seasons, which have given me a decent produce. Once you have established a few reliable sources for seed procurement, next is deciding what you want to grow and ofcourse then referring to a sowing calendar to make sure you match environment factors to sowing. An urban terrace/balcony organic (container) enthusiast (geekgardener.in) has had some amazing success in his endeavours and has posted a super sowing chart for Indian conditions (available at - http://geekgardener.in/sowing-chart/). Vegetables can be grown all year round in Bangalore, with adequate water and maintenance (manure, weeding, pest control), but even then winter and summer distinction has to be made. I have noticed vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, peas do better in winter but the sowing in June (monsoon) can take care of most other vegetables. Harvesting times vary, some are up and ready in 30 days (greens and spinach) and some make take upto 4 months (potatoes, onions, garlic), while others like okra, the plants tend to grow upto a height of 6 – 7 feet and still yielding.