Gardening can be a rewarding experience, but it also presents unique challenges, particularly during the monsoon season. As we enter August, the heart of the monsoon season in India, gardening requires a bit more attention and care. Nonetheless, with some attentive care, you can ensure your garden remains vibrant and thriving. Let's explore some useful tips for monsoon gardening. With these tips, you can help your garden navigate the high humidity, increased pest activity, and heavy rainfall, ultimately allowing it to thrive during these monsoon months.
- Drainage is Essential
The monsoon season brings plenty of rain, which can cause waterlogging in your garden. Ensure your garden, pots, or grow bags have adequate drainage to prevent root rot and other waterborne diseases.
So, how can you ensure adequate drainage for your garden, pots, and grow bags during this season? Here's where certain gardening tools come into play:
Drain Cell Mat: One practical solution is to use a Drain Cell Mat. This mat is designed to create an underground reservoir, allowing excess water to drain away from the plant roots. This can be particularly beneficial in heavy rainfall conditions when the risk of waterlogging is high. The Drain Cell Mat is simple to install and can make a significant difference in protecting your plants' roots from rotting due to excessive moisture.
Gardening Heavy Duty Stand: Another handy tool is the Gardening Duty Stand. Placing your pots or grow bags on these stands can help prevent water from accumulating at the base, promoting better drainage. By lifting your pots or bags off the ground, the stand ensures that excess water can flow away more easily, thereby preventing the risk of waterlogging.
- Protect Against Pests and Diseases
Increased humidity during the monsoon can invite a host of pests and diseases. Monitor your plants regularly for any signs of trouble, like spots on leaves or a sudden wilting. Applying organic pesticides and fungicides can be beneficial. Here are a few organic products that you can consider:
-
Neem Oil: An incredibly potent natural pesticide and fungicide, neem oil is effective against a wide range of pests such as aphids, mites, scales, and whiteflies, among others. It can also combat fungal diseases like powdery mildew and rust. Mix neem oil with water as per the instructions on the bottle and spray it on the affected plants.
-
Organic Premium Bio Pest Controller: Organic pest controllers contain beneficial microbes or fungi that help control pests. They are safe for the environment and can be a significant part of your plant care regimen in the monsoon.
-
Beauveria Bassiana Bio Pesticide: Beauveria Bassiana Bio Pesticide is a powerful biological control agent against a wide range of pests like beetles, thrips, whiteflies, aphids, and other insects.
- Pruning and Weeding
Pruning helps plants grow better and improves their overall health. Remove dead or diseased branches to encourage new growth and prevent the spread of diseases. The monsoon season also encourages the growth of weeds that compete with your plants for nutrients. Regular weeding is essential to ensure that your plants get the nutrition they need.
- Go Easy on Fertilizer
While feeding your plants more during this growth-rich season might be tempting, over-fertilizing can cause more harm than good. Excess nutrients can get washed away due to heavy rains, leading to pollution of water bodies. Use a slow-release organic fertilizer, and follow the application instructions closely. Here are some suggestions:
-
Vermicompost: This nutrient-rich organic fertilizer is produced by earthworms. Vermicompost enhances soil quality, improves water retention, and promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms. It provides essential nutrients slowly, thus reducing the risk of nutrient runoff.
-
Trichoderma Viride Anti Fungal Bio Fertilizer: Trichoderma viride is a biofertilizer and a natural fungicide. It improves the root system, enhances nutrient uptake, and protects plants from soil-borne fungal diseases. It's a perfect choice for monsoon gardening when the risk of fungal diseases increases.
-
Jeevamrutham Concentrate 100% Organic Liquid Fertilizer: Jeevamrutham is an excellent organic liquid fertilizer made from cow urine, dung, jaggery, pulse flour, and soil. It can be diluted with water and applied directly to the plant roots, enhancing their growth and immunity.
-
Bone Meal: Bone meal is rich in phosphorous, which promotes root development and blooming. It's a slow-release fertilizer, making it an excellent choice during monsoons when quick-release nutrients can easily be washed away.
- Pseudomonas Fluorescens Biofertilizer: Pseudomonas fluorescens is a beneficial bacterium that aids in nutrient uptake, disease resistance, and overall plant growth. It's particularly useful during the monsoon season when the risk of plant diseases is high.
- Decomposed Desi Cow Dung 100% Pure, Dried & Powdered: Cow dung is a traditional and effective organic fertilizer that enriches the soil with nutrients and beneficial bacteria. It improves soil structure and increases it’s water-holding capacity, which is especially important during the rainy season.
- Choose the Right Plants and Seeds
The monsoon season, with its abundant rain and high humidity, provides an ideal environment for many plants to flourish. The richness of moisture not only benefits existing plants but also provides the perfect conditions for seeding new ones. If you're looking to capitalize on the rains and enrich your garden this monsoon, here are some plants and seeds you can consider:
Leafy Vegetables: Greens such as spinach, fenugreek, and lettuce can be sown during the monsoon. These leafy veggies relish the cooler temperatures and consistent moisture, ensuring a quick and abundant harvest.
Root Vegetables: The monsoon season is also favorable for root vegetables like radish, beetroot and carrots. These plants thrive in cool, moist soil and their growth can be spectacular during this season.
Flowering Plants: Add some color to your garden during the monsoon by sowing seeds of marigold, zinnia, petunia, and cosmos. They will bloom beautifully, creating a vibrant spectacle amidst the grey monsoon skies.
Climbers and Creepers: Take advantage of the monsoon season to grow climbers and creepers. Seeds of bitter gourd, bottle gourd, and beans can be sown during this season. Their rapid growth will provide a lush green coverage to your garden spaces.
Ornamental Plants: Ornamental plants like begonias which can be grown in hanging pots love the high humidity levels during the monsoon. They can help add variety and aesthetic appeal to your garden.
- Indoor Plants Need Attention Too
Don't forget about your indoor plants and orchids during the monsoon season. Although they're not exposed to the rain, the increased humidity can affect them. Reduce watering to counteract the increased humidity.
Lastly, enjoy your garden during the monsoon season! It's a beautiful time when everything looks greener and more vibrant. Gardening is not just about the end result, but also about the process. So, take time to appreciate the beauty of nature and the joy that gardening brings.
Monsoon gardening can be a joy if you know the right tips and tricks. By taking a few simple steps, you can ensure that your garden remains healthy and thriving during this season. Happy gardening!