About Garden Setup & Soil Formulation

My Soil-First Approach

Gardening is my stress-buster, but I won’t sugarcoat it—sometimes it’s tough. I’ve lost seedlings to peacocks and made plenty of mistakes. But over time, what stuck with me is this: if you want healthy plants, you gotta start with the mitti (soil). A good terrace garden soil mix really sets the stage.

Soil Mixes That Actually Work

I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. I use different organic potting mix for vegetables, leafy greens, and even for starting seeds. My go-to for starting seeds is half cocopeat, half compost, with a bit of haldi (turmeric) to keep fungus away. For most sabjiyan (veggies), I use a mix of compost, garden soil, river sand or cocopeat, plus neem khali (neem cake) and bone meal. For leafy greens, extra compost keeps them happy.

Making Terrace Gardening Lighter

Weight’s a big deal in terrace setups. I use a ‘bottom-fill’ trick for big pots—dry leaves, cardboard, or empty bottles go at the bottom. They break down slowly, making the planter lighter and feeding plants from below. My raised beds are also DIY—old tin sheets or plywood, filled with lighter stuff first.

Feeding Plants Organically

Plants get hungry. I stick to all-organic—neem khali, bone meal, vermicompost. Even kitchen scraps work: dried banana peels for flowers, eggshells for calcium, haldi for fungal issues. Monthly, I top up with my ‘growth booster’ mix.

Patience Pays Off

It’s not all instant results. Gardening takes time. Ahista ahista (slowly, slowly), you’ll see the rewards—trust me, the first homegrown tomato is worth every bit of effort.