The last Wednesday of July saw gardening enthusiasts gathering at the Arya Samaj Mandir to attend the monthly meeting of the All India Kitchen Garden Association. The members turned up in good numbers to hear the speaker – none other than Mr. Mahesh Mishra, a highly knowledgeable person, well known for his expertise in all forms of gardening including landscape design.
The monsoons have already been underway since early July – so it was only appropriate that the topic be “Monsoon care of plants”. The meeting started with Mahesh ji highlighting common mistakes while caring for our plants – blindly pruning, repotting and manuring during the rains. Mahesh Mishra is one of the most erudite professors of gardening having experience working hands-on and not one with bookish knowledge. Sharing from his vast experience, he explained the difference between manuring and fertilizing. The common perception is monsoons are the best time for all plants to be repotted and propagated, which is not true. As per him, all plants which give out milk – like plumeria, some varieties of Ficus, rubber plants etc. should not be pruned nor cuttings planted in monsoons. The best time for them is January – February just before the onset of spring.
Breaking popular myths about the mandatory use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides by most maalis and urban gardeners – he extolled the virtues of natural farming. Growing all types of plants naturally or organically (without the use of harmful chemicals) is rather easy and lighter on the pocket too as all solutions can be found in the kitchen. Observing plants, and their budding and flowering patterns one needs to use simple logic on the suitable time to prune, manure, repot and propagate them.
The session went on a bit longer than usual as the members wanted to learn more from him. The Q & A saw many members eager to find solutions to their gardening problems. The meeting culminated with a sumptuous round of a variety of hot pakoras and tea only to be followed by a rain shower.
