While I was visiting home in Australia late last year, I decided that I’d take some seeds back to India with me to grow some of the rarer herbs and vegetables here. My mum has an abundant vegetable garden. So it can’t be all THAT difficult, I thought.
The reality has been somewhat different! I’ve had a 50% success rate so far. Out of the four punnets I planted, only two are producing anything. The first punnet (on the left) has remained barren. The second punnet did start to grow a couple of seedlings, but they’ve since died. The third punnet is flourishing. The fourth punnet has one seedling.
I wanted a surprise, so I failed to label any of the punnets. It’s obvious that flourishing one is the garlic chives though. That means the other one is either lettuce or a variety of basil. The seedling is quiet tall, so I assume it must be the basil.
I’m feeling a little deterred by the lack of success, so I think I’ll focus my attention on the rooftop garden! I’m also very glad to have discovered a Natures Basket store nearby that sells fresh herbs.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d say a 50% success rate is amazing considering this is your first time trying it out in Mumbai weather. But it’s a lot of hard work too. Good luck!
Uh, I’m first! Where’s Cathy?
I know, what can I say, I’m a perfectionist.
Oh dammit, I was just here 10 minutes back!! And I agree, 50% rate is good! You will get more used to growing in the climate and what suits, and get there. Plus I think the rooftop garden is a much more exciting project
Your second try will be a full success I think but this one won’t be so bad either.
dont worry,its not easy 2 go herbs in Mumbai(owing 2 da climate).Besides since da seeds r frm Aus. it’ll tk tym 4 dem 2 adjust according 2 Indian soil & climatic conditions,eventually dey will grow.Keep da faith goin!
Suhani, “…r frm Aus. it’ll tk tym 4 dem 2 adjust according 2 Indian soil & climatic…”
Looks like a ‘pseudo-code’ of a programming language.
I think four years wouldn’t be enough to learn all the programming languages used India. 
Sharell,
Small herbal seeds are generally tricky to grow. Try growing them more naturally in a real garden if you can find. Good luck for next time.
I would recommend that you use a gardener to maintain the plants. Your succes rate would be close to 100%. It would cost you around Rs. 1000 per month for his fees. It would be worth it if you are serious about gardening. There are professionals who do it.
I dont see this gesture as only growing the plants. I
feel like you are trying to keep up the ties intact with your child hood- birth place memories….
I sincerely honor your feelings.. Best luck.
You know, once i saw a bihari guy siting at Malad Highway with camp fire . This is the place where Times of India flyover construction is in progress… In fact i wrote about him on my blog also…. http://tinyurl.com/yfnpp8g ) At mumbai, since the Winter is not that harsh, that it would require camp fire, but… still when i inquired .. Why ?? The answer he gave was.. “This reminds me of my Native place” and i Was Touched!!!
anjeneyan, but getting a gardener to maintain the plants would completely take the satisfaction away from it!
I like being able to nurture things myself and watch them grow. Herbs in this climate might not be the easiest thing though. I swear, I’ve had more plants die on me in India than in my whole life! Even my tulsi plant died. 
Mahendra, you could be right with your theory. I’m still very attached to my childhood and home back in Oz.
“…I sincerely honor your feelings…”
Creating ‘a small Australia’ with in India! I can understand her feelings too, sincerely.
“…The answer he gave was.. “This reminds me of my Native place” and i Was Touched!!!…”
That’s surely very touchy.
Ofcourse, its a nice thing to create a mini Australia in India since she misses her original home.
You sure studied in an Indian school.
A gardener or a professional could give you some guidance in growing uncommon plants and herbs and give fruit to your efforts. Most house owners staying in flats try to grow plants in the small space where they get sunlight, mostly with varying results. I understand the pleasure involved in gardening. But the pain of losing a plant one expects to grow is even more. So I balance it out by getting outside help to ensure that what is planted would grow. Our greatest pleasure was in seeing the plantain leaf tree grow, bear bananas and the plant multiplying.
I’m a fairly avid gardener…to start seeds off, it helps if the soil remains moist (now wet, but moist. Try covering the planter with plastic wrap…it keeps the moisture in). Once the seeds sprout and you see one or two tiny leaves, take the plastic off or the seedlings will be burnt by the heat. You’ll be surprised at just how many plants you get from one packet.
Hi kathleeb, thanks so much for your tips! My mum also said to make sure I kept the soil moist. I’ll definitely try covering them next time.
Maybe the seeds that did sprout and die got burned. I think they were the lettuces… they were very tiny and delicate looking. I’ve positioned the seeds to get the morning sun only, but maybe it was still too much. Anyway, will try once again and hopefully will have better luck.
it’s actually Kathleen…I just can’t type!!! Oops!
Lol.
Thanks for the correction.
oh this remind me of growing Tulsi every Spring and then sad to say good bye to it in cold winters….it does remind me of my childhood and india….
(but hey bringing seeds inside any country is officially not allowed….:P)
You should just grow the herbs in your house, away from direct sunlight. I grow my herbs in my home, on my kitchen counter. I am not sure what you could do about lettuce. You can get lettuce in India, though. Sweet or thai basil should be available too. Chives you probably need to grow, but that’s a resilient herb, and you shouldn’t have too much trouble with those. Basil is basically a weed, so if you can get it started, it should thrive (like most parasitic plants, AKA weeds).
@ Aparna, “…but hey bringing seeds inside any country is officially not allowed…”
Exactly. But again, this is India. And this is the reason Sharell likes India where one can bring in ‘the seeds’ (of all kinds) from anywhere!!!
Lots of things are officially not allowed in India.
Commercially packaged seeds aren’t really an issue though. Unidentified seeds are the real problem.
Um, true.
But when I said “the seeds (of all kinds)”, I also meant “family stock – ancestry”, in case, if you missed that!!!