The culinary corner

 Container Gardening   Container gardening has become one of the most versatile and rewarding ways to grow plants—whether you live in a high-rise apartment, have a tiny balcony, or simply want more flexibility in your gardening routine. With the right containers, soil, and plant choices, you can transform even the smallest space into a lush, productive garden. In this post, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to start and succeed with container gardening. Why Container Gardening? 1. Grow Anywhere—Really Containers allow you to garden on balconies, patios, rooftops, fire escapes, or indoors with sufficient light. 2. Flexible and Mobile Plants can be moved to take advantage of changing sunlight, seasonal temperatures, or simply to refresh your outdoor decor. 3. Fewer Weeds, Less Hassle Containers mean less bending, fewer pests, and minimal weeding—perfect for busy gardeners or those with limited mobility. 4. Easy Experimentation Curious about growing tomatoes...

Mustard Leaves  Mustard leaves, also known as mustard greens, are leafy vegetables from the Brassica family, closely related to cabbage, kale, and broccoli. They have broad, tender green leaves with frilly or smooth edges depending on the variety. The flavor is sharp, peppery, and slightly spicy—similar to arugula or horseradish—especially when raw, but it mellows when cooked. Mustard greens are fast-growing, cool-season plants that thrive in spring and fall, and they are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as antioxidants. I planted seeds directly into the soil about ½ inch deep and spaced them 6 inches apart. Germination was fast—tiny sprouts started showing in just 4 days! The seedlings are vibrant green and already developing slightly ruffled leaves. Now look how curly they are. So far, no signs of pests. Added a light mulch layer today to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Watering every 2 days, depending on weather. The soil is staying nicely moist but not soggy.My...

 Banana Peels..... Using banana peels as fertilizer is a natural and effective way to enrich your garden soil and support healthy plant growth. Banana peels are packed with essential nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium—elements that are particularly beneficial for flowering and fruiting plants. These nutrients help strengthen plant cell walls, promote root development, and improve overall resilience. I make a a fertilizer for my plants using banana peels. I add all the peels in a bucket and the fill water to the top. The I add 100g of baking soda and sugar. The mixture get fermented and I dilute it in water before using for the plants. (1 Part banana water to 6 parts of water) This is a very mild fertilizer. But it helps the plants to grow with out any chemicals.    T his one of the making fertilizer with the banana peels. Make sure to cover after every use. I don't throw them. When You add baking soda it has no smell. During this time, minerals l...

R eachable height To grow a fig tree to a reachable height (i.e., one where you can easily harvest fruit without a ladder), you’ll need to use a combination of pruning, training, and choosing the right variety . Here's a straightforward guide:  This is one of my fig trees that I am training to stay to a height I desire. I prune every other year so it can maintain the height  that I like. The leaves become healthier . I hang my hanging pots on branches so the bend with out my effort.  Here is a picture to show how low my fig tree grows. Its below the fence line.    I will train all the branches hanging my pots or tie with wires.   ✂️ Prune to Control Height       When to prune: Late winter or very early spring (while dormant) Light summer pruning (after fruiting) to shape        How to prune: In the first year, cut the main trunk back to about 2–3 feet to encourage low branching. In the following years, prune...

  🌱 3. How to Grow Gotukola at Home (Step-by-Step) I have seen Gotukola plants in tube pots in lot of garden centers in Melbourne.   You can directly plant them in garden beds or in containers. The other way is asking a friend for few plants. As far as I know there are 3 varieties.   🌞 Ideal Growing Conditions: Light: Partial sun or light shade (4–6 hrs sunlight) Soil: Rich, loamy, and well-draining with good moisture retention Water: Keep soil consistently moist (never let it fully dry) 🧑‍🌾 Steps to Grow: From Seeds: Fill a shallow container or pot with fertile soil. Sprinkle seeds on the surface and cover lightly with soil. Mist with water and keep in a warm spot (22–30°C / 72–86°F). Seeds germinate in 7–21 days. Thin out seedlings once they sprout, keeping the healthiest. From Cuttings (faster): Take a healthy runner/stem from an existing plant. Place in water or moist soil until roots form. Transplant to a pot or ground be...