Apartment Therapy with Homegrown Pudina (mint)
Our apartment has tiny balcony, just enough space for container gardening. I have planted mint, dill and basil for herbs, and also cherry tomato, chilli pepper and small variety brinjal plants. That’s my garden log for summer 08. How about you? What are you planning to plant this season? Any new/exotic plants? Share your garden tips and tools.
Nice pic Indira..Where did you get the seeds for this and what brand did you use?
Comment by Meghana — May 18, 2008 @ 10:42 am
I love mint and try to use it as much as possible, but its so expensive in Virginia, small bunch for $1.50. I tried to grow it many times but no success. how did you grow it Indira?
Comment by prathima — May 18, 2008 @ 12:29 pm
I love growing mint too, Indira…I add it to lemonades and teas. I’m planning on growing some eggplants, Jalapenos and zucchini…lets see if the weather cooperates!
hope you’re having a lovley weekend.
Comment by Trupti — May 18, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
This summer I planted coriander,mint and tomatoes in my backyard. Hope to see them grow and flourish. I mix some organic soil to the ground soil and add miraclegro once a month. Have a great weekend.
Comment by shanthi — May 18, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
the plants look so healthy and fresh (touchwood!) Indira. I love gardening and home grown herbs..but didn’t get a chance to do that yet..:)
Have a great Sunday ahead!
Siri
Comment by Siri — May 18, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
The picture reminds me of the wonderful container garden i had in the midwest last year. I cultivated some mariachi peppers. Looked like tiny bell peppers but mild and sweet flavor. But they were more suitable for eye candy (only a handful of peppers in an entire season)
Comment by lazy blogger — May 18, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
Hi Indira, The mint looks so gorgeous. I love to plant herbs too, and this year, I planted peppermint and spearmint, cilantro, small green chillies in my indoor garden. I also wanted to plant tomatoes and some other easy growing veggies outdoors, but thanks to the raccoons and other small animals who are regular visitors around my house, it seems to me that I can never plant any in my backyard 🙁
Comment by Mona — May 18, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
I have a lot of shade, with just a minimal amount of sun, so I’ve held off planting much in years past. I have always had a reliable stock of herbs in the garden – mint, lemon thyme, oregano, rosemary, chives, sage. And this year I am going to add fenugreek. I didn’t want to mix in vegies with the small area available to flowers in previous years, but I have given up such snootiness this year and plopped 3 different varieties of tomatoes in the ground. If that goes well, I may add more vegies next year.
Comment by Diane — May 18, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
Nice mint plant!
I tried to plant one last week at my place. Lets hope it catches root.
Comment by Roma — May 18, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
We have just moved and I’m missing my plants back in Kochi. There we had a house with a bckyard but here I have a small balcony. I’m planning to start a small herb garden. Your mint looks very attractive.
Comment by Aparna — May 19, 2008 @ 5:52 am
I love gardening and I love to plant some Indian herbs and veg. This summer, we are making a trip to India so not possible this year.
Comment by Cilantro — May 19, 2008 @ 9:10 am
Nice picture. where did you get these seeds from? pls share it with us.
Comment by namratha — May 19, 2008 @ 10:19 am
Hello Indira,
I am growing tomatoes (heirloom and hybrid varieties), mint, basil, parsley, white radishes, kothimeera, menthi leaves, thotakoora and bachali kura. The list seems long and they are all in containers on the balcony.
With tomatoes, I think non-patio varieties (like heirloom) its best to start staking the plant as soon as first fruits bloom. My first harvest this year has been bunch of menthi leaves, few sprigs of mint and white radish. Gongura plants didnt too well due to cool weather. I think I’ll plant some seeds again in June.
Waiting to see more of your garden in the coming days, Indira. Thanks.
Comment by Sapna — May 19, 2008 @ 10:39 am
I have always wanted to plant and tried a couple of varieties but nothing tasted the real mint. Which one did u use? Spearmint/peppermint or any other. Please share.
Comment by Ani — May 19, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
It feels good to know that there will be backyards and balconies blooming with flowers and veggies coming this summer. Thank you for sharing your garden plans and tips.
The mint in the photo is spearmint variety, brought from a local garden center and moved to a big planter. The soil is a local generic brand. Tips I follow are place the planters where Sun shines,and water daily for healthy growth. Hope that helps.
Comment by Indira — May 19, 2008 @ 1:31 pm
This year I am growing mint, sage, French tarragon, thyme, basil, rosemary, eggplant, purple pepper, beef tomatoes, flat leaf parsley, coriander and strawberries… And all these are all in containers. I planted coriander using coriander seeds which are always there in our pantry. I also planted mint stalks that i bought from the Indian store, mint is a very easy plant to grow, and is a perennial…It’ll come back more the next season. Basil, I bought the ones with roots from the supermarket and planted in the container, didn’t have any hopes of it growing, but it did, and I also picked some for a pasta I made the other night. I felt so proud of myself. Slowly my thumb is becoming GREEN! Yeahhhhhh!
Comment by my comfort food — May 19, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
Hey Indira –
Just like last year, I have planted a lot of things! My methi, swiss chart and spinach have already come up and have been harvested. I planted a variety of peppers, tomatoes, gourds, beerakaya, dosakaya, chikkudukaya….new ones this time….
Comment by Luv2Cook — May 19, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
That’s a beautiful pot of fresh mint, Indira! I didn’t know one could grow mint from seeds:( This spring with my husband and toddler’s help I planted quite a bit in our balcony. It gets lots of sun all through the day. My peas have sprouted and flourishing well. Other seeds like Brinjal, cucumber disappointed us:( Apart from that we have a cute cherry tomato, 3 rose plants, one mini hibiscus, pansies, geraniums and a jasmin. It’s such a nice feeling to sit in the balcony amidst our hard work and enjoying fresh air and sun… Oh yes, how can I forget the strawberry plant that our 3 yr old chose and it’s nurtured exclusively by him!
Comment by Latha — May 20, 2008 @ 8:53 am
Actually I started growing mint last winter when my mother in law was here. She was the one who told me that we need not throw away the mint stems from the mint which we buy in the indian store. I had an extra pot and soil so she kept the thick stems (which did not have roots) after taking the leaves for cooking and to my surprise it came out very big. I’m still having it. Here in Philly it’s raining for the past couple of days, so not yet started full fledged gardening. Even in our apartment it’s a small patio.
Comment by Madhuram — May 20, 2008 @ 6:01 pm
In the North Carolina Piedmont I looked into the local Cooperative Extension websites for tips on what grows well in this area, and also what types and kinds of vegetables are suited for containers. This was extremely helpful (especially if you are new) For more ideas I searched through online photo blogging sites for container gardening ideas. NC is coming out of a huge drought, but this spring has provided enough rain. Containers for spring contain lettuce varieties, cilantro, and red kale. Summer varieties contain mixed herbs, bush early girl tomatoes, better bush tomatoes, cherry tomatoes (i’m trying determinate varieties), summer straightneck squash, black beauty eggplant, keystone resistant giant green peppers. Do any of you compost? This has been an amazingly easy thing to do and cuts down on so much food waste. Plus you add it back to the soil and your garden grows. Great post. love reading your comments. Thanks!
Comment by Nilam — May 20, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
Mine has only been mint till now. But planning to grow bitter gourd soon 🙂
Comment by Shalu — May 21, 2008 @ 3:37 am
Hi Indira,
I also have small balcony in my apartment and I planted mint, basil, cilantro and cherry tomatoes. But I am new to gardening are there any special things I should know about? Any suggestions how to pinch off the leaves of the herbs. I love to use the fresh herbs while I cook but I am very new to this. Can you help me?
Thanks in advance!
Comment by renuka — May 21, 2008 @ 10:57 am
Hi Indira, your mint sapplings look so cute. I live in the Seattle area too & have a west-facing patio…so sunlight is limited. Wisening up from past experiences, this year I have limited myself to plants suited to shade/part sun, but could not resist a couple of herbs. Keeping my fingers crossed. BTW, I got a few containers that fit on the railing, they look pretty plus save space.
Comment by Supriya — May 22, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
Thats a healthy looking mint pot there.. I love to indulge in gardening. Everyyear amidst extreme temperates in North East USA,I have managed to grow a variety of plants..
This year, I have planted different squash plants, beefsteak and plum tomatos,chinese eggplants, cucumbers,& pumpkin & Lemon. In the herb variety I have mint, dill , cilantro & basil. I dont remember a time when I have purchased herbs since a last few years.
My special plant this time is a “Mango” plant, Yes believe it or not.. I just ate a mango and threw a seed in yard and there it comes, a fresh cute mango sapling..I just hope I can safeguard it during winters.. Any tips?…
Paru
Comment by Paru — May 27, 2008 @ 11:20 am
I also have tiny balcony in my apartment. I planted cherry tomato,purple mint,balm mint,indian chillies (took seeds from our indian chilly) and green pepper
Comment by vandana — May 28, 2008 @ 5:15 am
http://4greenthumbs.blogspot.com/
I must say, you have been a lot of inspiration for me to start this. I will be adding more content and pictures. I would really like to get some creative inputs from you.
Congratulations Lavanya on your new blog Green Thumbs. I look forward to reading and looking at your garden bounty.
Best wishes,
Indira
Comment by Lavanya — July 15, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
Thanks Indira. I look forward to Some comments from you hopefully Frequently. We started to grow Mint & Chama dumpalu. Thanks to your posts our garden has been growing in variety.
Comment by Lavanya — July 16, 2008 @ 12:54 am
dear indira garu,
i really love ur site a lot,this is the first time i am replying to your blog,i like mint leaves very much,i don’t stay in india right now and so miss many kinds of leaves,can u plz tell me how do u grow mint leaves,do you use any seeds?plz let me know..
Comment by harshini — November 18, 2008 @ 3:35 am
Nice pic!!
Comment by happy wheels — December 19, 2018 @ 1:29 am