Gardening tips: Fuss-Free plants to grow this rainy season

Best flowering plants for your home garden: Plant these monsoon-loving flowers now, and they’ll keep your garden cheerful well into the colder months (Images: Canva)

The rainy season doesn’t just bring chai cravings, petrichor, and poetry; it brings the perfect opportunity to refresh your garden with minimal effort. For gardening enthusiasts (and even the forgetful plant parents or the lazy gardeners), the monsoon is nature’s green light to dig, plant, and let the skies do the watering for you.

Whether you're a beginner or simply someone who loves the smell of wet earth, this is the season to start something green. You don’t need a green thumb or hours of free time to have a thriving patch of paradise. All you really need are the right plants, and maybe a chair to lounge on while watching them flourish in the drizzle.

Leafy greens and root veggies

If you’re dreaming of a garden that feeds you, start with leafy greens and root vegetables. These low-maintenance crops love the cool, moist conditions and will keep your kitchen stocked well into the winter months.

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• Spinach (Palak) grows quickly and happily in fertile, well-drained soil.
• Fenugreek (Methi) is not just great for parathas, it’s ridiculously easy to grow and doesn’t need much space.
• Mustard Greens thrive in the cooler air and pack a punch in flavor and nutrition.
• Carrots, radishes, and beets take well to post-monsoon soil, setting you up for a satisfying harvest by autumn.
• Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage love the transition into winter and offer excellent yield with little fuss.

Blooms that stick around

Want colour with your calm? Plant these monsoon-loving flowers now, and they’ll keep your garden cheerful well into the colder months.

• Hibiscus gives you bold, bright blooms and doesn’t shy away from rain.
• Jasmine, with its sweet fragrance, thrives in the monsoon and brings a calming aroma to your space.
• Marigolds are hardy, reliable, and offer pops of orange and yellow.
• Periwinkle (Vinca vine) and Rain Lilies are incredibly low-effort bloomers, plant them once and let nature do the rest.

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Healing herbs for everyday wellness

Monsoon is the ideal time to grow herbs that not only thrive in wet weather but also help with seasonal immunity and digestion.

• Mint is refreshingly easy to grow and loves damp soil, perfect for garnishing your monsoon snacks.
• Lemongrass adores moisture and sun, making it great for tea lovers.
• Tulsi (Holy Basil) not only grows effortlessly in the rainy season but is also a powerful herb for respiratory health.

Tips to keep it green:

1. Drainage is key. While the rain helps, soggy roots don’t. Use well-drained soil and avoid letting water pool in pots.

2. Sunlight matters. As the rain eases, ensure your plants get their share of sunshine—especially veggies and flowering plants that need light for photosynthesis and blooms.

3. Harvest mindfully. Leafy greens like methi and spinach can be harvested multiple times, while root veggies will take a bit longer. Enjoy the rhythm of tending and reaping.