Vegetable garden: Here's how to grow coriander, spinach and cabbage in your balcony space

Why limit your garden to just plants and flowers this month? Starting a vegetable garden can be easy and will start you off on a sustainable lifestyle. Vegetables like coriander, spinach, and cabbage don’t take up as much space as you think and are easy to grow and maintain.

Here are the top 3 vegetables you can grow this month and how to care for them

Coriander: This staple kitchen herb is easy to grow and can be grown on your balcony in wide-bottomed pots. Make sure that the pot is at least 10 inches deep, as the coriander root system does not go very deep into the ground. Coriander seeds love the morning sun.

How to grow coriander:

• If growing coriander seeds in a pot, pre-soak the seeds. You can even sprout them before sowing.
• Take any container or planter—it should be at least 10 inches deep, enough for the roots. Make sure there are plenty of drainage holes at the bottom.
• Make sure the soil is nutrient-rich and well-draining.
• Space the seeds 3 to 4 inches apart in the container.
• This plant needs at least four to five hours of morning sun.
• Water the plants when the soil is dry to the touch. Keep the soil moist but not soaked.

Spinach: This versatile leafy green is packed with iron and calcium and can be used in various dishes at home, including in pureed forms and salads.

How to grow spinach:

• In your balcony or outdoor garden, choose a spot that gets both light and shade.
• Sow the seeds half an inch deep and space them at least 3-4 inches apart.
• Keep the soil moist initially, and make sure it remains moist but not soggy.
• Your spinach will be ready to harvest in about 45 to 60 days.
• Watch out for ‘bolting’ in spinach plants, where flowers can prematurely appear on the stem. This is mostly caused by overwatering.
• Spinach grows best in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. So make sure to use a good organic potting mix, with a good composition of vermicompost, cow manure, etc.

Cabbage: Cabbage tops the list of ‘easiest to grow’ leafy greens. As a vegetable, it is great for lowering your bad cholesterol and keeping the lining of your stomach and intestines strong.

How to grow cabbage:

• You can grow cabbage in a grow bag. Make sure that there is enough space between two saplings, as cabbages take up a lot of space.
• For the soil, use a mixture of garden soil, cocopeat, and vermicompost or cow manure in equal parts.
• Water carefully to avoid overwatering.
• Make sure the saplings get bright indirect sunlight for the first 3-4 days, and then direct morning sun for at least 3-4 hours a day.
• Fertilise after about 15 days or when you see it forming its head. Use nitrogen-rich fertiliser that includes vermicompost, neem cake, cow manure, seaweed granules, and mustard cake powder.
• Harvest will be ready in about 100 days.

These vegetables are not just easy to grow, caring for them and harvesting them will bring you immense satisfaction and peace. Planting vegetables, fruits, or even spices in your home garden is also a great start to a sustainable lifestyle. So give them a try this month.