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Growing vegetables or fruits in your kitchen garden is an incredibly fulfilling experience. Instead of worrying about artificially grown, pesticides, or even coloured dyes, you can have the best harvest in your backyard, terrace, or even in a container. So, if you want to move towards a sustainable lifestyle and enjoy a healthy harvest right in your kitchen garden, this is your sign to opt for methi, or fenugreek leaves.
Considering the typical Indian climate, methi leaves are perfect to sow as they require little care. However, as the saying goes, “As you sow, so shall you reap,” every plant requires regular watering, fertilisation and maintenance. So, if you want to get the benefits of a healthy harvest, here are some of the best ways to grow a methi plant in your kitchen garden.
Use High-Quality Seeds
The first step towards ensuring you get a healthy harvest is investing in high-quality seeds. You can buy organic methi seeds or even use methi dana from your kitchen’s spice jars. Just make sure that you pick plump and unbroken seeds. Also, it's important that you sow the seeds at the right time. As for Indian temperatures, the best time to germinate is the months of October to March, as methi leaves cannot handle excess heat.
Pick A Container And Spot
Once you are ready to sow the seeds, take a container that has a drainage hole. Since methi has shallow roots, make sure that the pot has a depth of at least six to eight inches. The next step is to choose a spot. If you are planting fenugreek in summer, place the pot in shade to protect it from the harsh sunlight. For the winter months, you can shift the pot for a few hours to a sunny spot which gets direct sunlight
Add Nutrients To The Soil
Since you want to leverage maximum nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from the harvested fenugreek leaves, you need to keep making the soil nutrient-rich. All you need to do is make a soil mix with organic fertilisers, compost, and a little sand to make the mix well-draining. Additionally, keep a check on the ph of the soil, adjust it in a timely manner, and keep adding organic matter on a monthly basis.
Water Regularly
It goes without saying that you’ll need to water the methi plant diligently. Remember that methi requires the soil to be moist, but not soggy. If you overwater, the roots of the plant can rot, resulting in stunted growth. So, you can check the top layer of soil before watering, and if it’s dry, you’ll know it’s time to add water.
Pest Control
One of the biggest challenges in maintaining a kitchen garden is managing pests. Insects, rodents, and birds can wreak havoc on your methi plant if not properly controlled. To manage it efficiently, you can use organic sprays like neem oil, garlic and chemical-free soap. Another healthy practice is to keep an eye on the pot or garden bed for any harmful waste to protect the organic produce.
