What To Plant In A Tropical Climate

by Surama
(Kolkata, India)

Gardening is my hobby. I have a flower garden as well as a vegetable garden. I live in a bungalow style house, which has a lot of area in the front as well as in the backyard. So every year I sow new vegetable seeds according to the season.

As I am located in India, which has a tropical climate, during winters I grow cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes and peas regularly. In summers I prefer to grow ladyfinger, eggplant and cucumbers. I plan this accordingly so that we get garden fresh vegetables all the year round. My winter vegetables are over by now and I have cleaned up the area to sow new seeds for summer. The only things currently planted are mint leaves and corianders whose green colour gives a rich natural freshness to the garden.

My vegetable garden layout is approximately 20 feet by 30 feet. I have divided it into small patches according to the different varieties of vegetables to be grown and in between I have placed two rows of herbs like mint leaves and coriander leaves.

The area selected has good drainage and the soil quality is good. I added cow dung manure to it just before sowing the seeds. The seeds were sown in a small area and kept covered for few days. It was watered every alternate day. Once the seedlings were 15 cm tall, they were transferred to individual rows. I took care to water them slowly as the roots did not properly hold the soil yet. The pea plants were placed last in the row as they grow as creepers and need support. I used old dried sticks of trees as supports.

I avoid unnecessary use of fertilizers as they are harmful and sometimes destroy the vegetable plants. I normally use permaculture farming techniques. It is always good to use animal dung and dry leaves as compost, as they do not cause any harm to the surrounding environment.

Guests who visit me sometimes are envious of my kitchen garden. It gives me a sense of satisfaction when I get up early in the morning and do the rounds in my vegetable garden. I am very happy and satisfied with my home vegetable garden plan.