Droopy September will End

Did i say ,I transplanted some big plants from the pot to the ground to keep me going with the gardening. Here you go, Jasmine, Hibiscus, Thechhipoo, and another kind of jasmine, had survived a couple of months.

They say its planting season now in Qatar (September – April), looks like the opposite for me at least with these plants!

Looks like the poor little ones are droopy due to high dusty winds and might be due to other reasons .

Have tried Trimming the topper layer of the Hibiscus plants and the new leaves does appear, As much as I want to be positive with the planting on the ground, I’m still not sure what would be the results .I’m just going to get some healthy cutting out of these plants and   put it in the pots to see if it makes any difference.

With rest of the plants like the Carrot, Amaranths, Coriander, Methi hasn't worked out for me, all in pots with a mix of the potting soil and Sand except for the coriander I sowed it on the ground without much thinking.

Other plants like beans, corn, Banana, papaya and plants from the kitchen waste like some Variety of Gourds are growing up giving me some hope .O yeah and left out to mention some papaya saplings also from the kitchen waste seem to pop up.

I’m no going to stop exploring and lose hope ; I’m going to plant more.

- Update : Saturday went to Carrefour Purchased more seeds .

Update : march 10 2014:
Didn't i say it will end , yes .Most of my other plants looks better now . Hibiscus for the first time in so many days have many leaves and buds , waiting for it to bloom .Rest of the big plants didn't survive thou :( its fine , everything has a new beginning , learning to be positive

Comfort Planting - Amaranthus , Gelosia, Aster & Balsam

A whole day of activity at my friends place making ganesha’s , a pre-prep for the Ganesh Chaturthi - All these years I get some clay and make my own one, gives an immense satisfaction. This time my friends gave in, Had a lot of fun.

Later Went to drop my friend, visited her garden, its green! With lots of Tuberoses (Sambangi in Tamil) , basil and the list goes on, liked the way they have used the drip irrigation .

Later in the evening, it was comfort planting time.  If you asked if Endorphins were released in my brains? , yeah, give it a try.

Planted the Brinjal sapling given by my friend, then the Amaranthus (bleeding Mary), Gelosia Mix, Aster Dwarf, Balsam sent by mom. 

Not to mention, little one helped with filling the soil. Hug & Kisses in the middle of planting is a perfect combo.

Used the left over Almarai bottles and the Britannia base initially for sowing seeds, then would transplant later when it pop’s up.

Britannia base has the Aster 

Almarai bottles - Gelosia Mix,Balsam

Add the Names ,  its handy to recognize the sapling later.

My Day ended up with more friends visiting us, a blessed Day. 

Update as of today (Nov 19)

- Gelosia Mix and Balsam - came up . Aster Failed to show up. Amaranthus failed as well twice .

Feb 04-2014 - An update on the Brinjal Sapling - After a long 5 month on the ground , Lost 3 of these sapling all dried up . One of them Bloomed today with a beautiful Purple Colour Flower , thou the plant doesn't look healthy, i m happy  and this is enough to keep me going , nature has its own ways and own reasons . I didn't take care of it much , but it still loved me . Love you Brinjal ! 

Corn , Long Beans & My Little One

I’m super excited to write this post, my little one sowed some corn seeds and Beans seeds yesterday in the seed tray; it was very cute.

He was happier touching the soil and playing with the H2o around , guess what, it helped him count out loud. So gardening is multiple purpose. Eat, Enjoy , Play, And Learn! 

He was asking questions like how is the soil black , how did it come ? I was explaining about composting , not sure what he understood , but when chiya came down to check what the mother and son is up to , he said - chiya "Amma is composting !"and chiya smiled ! 

Got the Seed tray free from Floraza Nursery, when I purchased few plants last Saturday.

Added some Compost, sprayed it with water, inserted the seed and here you go its ready!

Just as a ref adding the Brand of the seeds that i purchased , it costed 4.50 QR .

Beans completely sprouted up today - Just 3 days . 

Corn Taking its time - thou a couple of them showing up.







Continuing the post on 16th Sept - Almost after 10 days .( Not creating a new post since it would be easier to track ) 

Its Onam today , With all the festival mood started of with a simple Trellis , Once done , it was time for transplanting .

Had a couple of beans and Corn transplanted , the Pumpkin Transplanted as well ( just the pot ) 

The whole idea was, Corn provides a natural pole for bean vines to climb (thou a trellis is build in case things go wrong).

Beans fix nitrogen on their roots, improving the overall fertility of the plot by providing nitrogen. Bean vines also help stabilize the corn plants, making them less vulnerable to blowing over in the wind. 

Pumpkin vines become living mulch, shading emerging weeds and preventing soil moisture from evaporating, thereby improving the overall crops chances of survival in this dry country.

The large amount of crop residue from this planting combination can be incorporated back into the soil at the end of the season, to build up the organic matter and improve its structure. These are called as three sister planting or companion planting thou the pumpkin can be replaced with squash or any vines .

But did one mistake, I had to wait until the corn grew at least 4 inches tall, so that I could plant the rest, but my nature of impatience ended up with planting all in the same time .

Let me wait and see how it goes. Fingers crossed!

Corn ,long Beans Transplanted 

Nov 19 - Update 

The first long beans. Yesterday Night after a tiered day, wanted to refresh myself , so went to the backyard , sat down and suddenly saw noticed ! wow I was so excited , though it’s just one but it’s an achievement , it does grow here . Should have planted many to get more .Planting continues.Yahoo. It gives me immense pleasure , i feel that i have so much of oxygen to breath . Plant one today and feel it ! its worth it .

Long beans - 2 months to grow

Beans Look great and produce - see the flower :)

Baby Corn - 19-12-2013

FYI - Mais of the picture of the seed cover didn't match the yield , It was a baby corn - may be due to less nutrients or may be due to the variety itself . Anyways tasted good .

Panikoorka keeps Cough Away .

Indian Borage or the Panikoorka or karpooravalli , is one of the plants that is a must in all houses .

It’s very effective especially with kids around; it’s helpful when the little ones have cold or cough. 

Just pick few leaves, lightly show it in flame and its turn pale, squeeze and extract juice out of the leaf. Mix it with a spoon of honey and Warm water, and drink.

It’s a very easy grown plant, I have been having this plant in the pot past 3 years and it’s still going good. 

Propagation is via stem cuttings – got it from one of the ladies in the compound. To encourage a bushy plant, cut the tip of the top, insert into the soil and instantly, you have another plant as the cutting will grow within days. 

Easy to maintain, another wonder plant from Nature, it has more uses, but just sharing one that I regularly do.

Tulsi Project

It’s getting craze, it surprising – Addiction to blogging, couldn’t concentrate on work and here I’m sharing the start of the Tulisi Project.

On Saturday Had the guy come down to construct my Tulsi Madam(An altar with tulsi for daily worship)

A little on ritual that I know.

Tulsi Gayatri

" OM Tulsayei vidmahe

Vishnu priyayei Dhimahi

Tanno Vrinda Prachodayat "

Tulsi Mantra

" Yanmule sarvatirhaani

Yannagre sarvadevataa

Yanmadhye sarvavedaascha

Tulasi taam namaamyaham "

Recite while watering tulasi plant .

" shriyah priye shriyaavaase nityam shriidharavallabhe, bhaktyaadattam mayaarghyam hi tulasi pratigrihyataam "


This is the plant i intend to transplant, Mom had saved some seeds for me long back .Sowed it in a pot and this is what i have , fully fresh and smells awsum under the Doha Sun .

Have sown some more , And its all growing , would love to share in case you need one .

Update : Feb 25 2014

See the flowers , they are so delicate and so much of Aroma . Tulsi has grown into a beautiful women and we can see her stand so high . 
I hate pinching the leaves from the plant , for rituals as well, 'm so stingy :)  But then i had trimmed it down so she grows better , and every time i see her i feel sad.
Now she back with the beautiful leaves , those seeds as well have a lot of fragrance . I have sowed them and you can see the offspring have come up as well in the madam ! 
Thinking of a giving a lovely touch up or a paint job to the madam to decorate , but there are couple of vegges near them and i don't want to disturb them .
Very soon well have the Nombu on March 15 2014 , And tulsi will have a role in it as well. 
She'll get a Maja Charade tied up , to pray for the long life of her husband  , i guess ..Din't question why ?when MIL asked me to do it :P

Useful Things For Gardening .

When Google fails or when we fail to find things on time, it’s quite frustrating. So decided ill add things on to the list to see if it help my friends who think will be into gardening in the near future , be free to add comments of items that you think will be handy ! Might not be in order but i bet its gonna be useful.

  1. Organic Cows Fertilizer 

Cost - 11 QR 

      Purchased From - Floranza Nursery - Al Wakrah 

 

      2. Hose with Spray Nozzle 

      Spray Nozzle - 50 QR

      Connector - 30 QR ( 2 pieces)

      Hose - 20 Meters - 80 QR 

      Purchased from - Floranza Nursery - Al Wakrah ( Its more cheaper in the Omani Souq , when i checked - 115 Qr - Almost a price difference of   45 QR Without Bargaining  ) 

      3. Seeds 

        Cost 4:50 QR

        Location : Family food center (Airport Road ) / Floranza - Wakra /City center - carrefour

        Other places that i have seen Paradise nursery - Salwa , Omani Souq (Not purchased from     there to check Quality )

        I do get seeds from Lalbagh - Bangalore - let me know if you need , i have few left out would   love to share.
       

 4.Seed Tray 

    Cost : Free 
    Location : Floranza - Wakrah












       5.Dibber

    Cost: 13 QR 

    Location : Carrefour(City Center)

Transplanting Papaya

A buzzing day with energy. Didn't have much of cooking today, chiya wouldn't come home for lunch and I decided ill eat out – just a bit of cooking for the rest of the family which my MIL promptly offered to do.

The minute I knew this, the next thing was, it’s planting time – more green in the desert. Hmm not fair calling Doha a desert thou, it turning green also – everywhere you turn they are taking a lot of effort planting trees or plants , a very good initiative .

I had visited the Floranza last Saturday to check if he had some interesting Indian plants, Couldn't get much but didn't want to come home without adopting a plant – why I say adopting is because ,when a plant is already grown and then you just transplant. It’s an easy way compared to the seeds.

Ok , so I purchased a papaya plant for 25Qr and another similar plant that looks like a jasmine for 60QR, which I planted today.

Papaya - Chiya Hates It ! 

Rest of the time spent by adding the organic fertilizer.

Composting - No Dirty Smell !

The simplest level, the process of composting simply requires making a heap of wetted organic matter (like kitchen waste) and waiting for the materials to break down after a period of weeks or months

Modern, methodical composting is a multi-step, closely monitored process with measured inputs of water, air, and carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials.

Types that I understand are like the vermin composting using worms, Grub composting using black soldier larvae, Bokasi uses a mix of microorganisms etc etc …

Don’t have much knowledge of all , but do see Ms.Vani Murthy in the OTG show the Vermi composting , which would need some extra likes for worms and Nature .She is just Awsum !

Didn’t want to start off with worms, but started off with some kitchen waste few weeks back. I have started segregating the kitchen veggie waste; say like the skin of the vegetable /fruits, tea bags, coffee left over.

Dumping all of them in a plastic container with some potting soil, covering them, so that I don’t end up seeing some flies all over them ; and then having Chiya and the  neighbors  coming to me to see what im up to !

Above Plastic Box purchased from Home center costed 35 riyals , for storing Toys, but now using it here .It has wheels , which makes it easier to move it , plus a Cover . Small Holes made at the Bottom of the Box .

Kind of scared with the first step, don’t want any smelly things around my backyard, so started of small.

Every time I add the kitchen waste I , turn over the pile and its so wonderful to see the waste break down , mind you no smell ha so far.

Just got this cute write up from the cornell waste management - just adding for ref .

Today was talking to my MIL , after turning over the pile and experiencing a wonderful thing , suggesting her to start off at our home, back in town.

She has a lot of experience with fish breeding; don’t know if this is apt to the post, but she did say to try to add some cabbage waste with some yeast, this would get some worms in ( No Specific name given to the type of worms) which will fasten the process of break down.

These worms were used to feed the ornamental fish. Thinking of giving it a try! 

Just a note for beginners like me - You could get also Organic Manure from the Nursery - 25 Kgs - 11 riyals ( i got a bag from Floranza - Wakra - don't forget to bargain ! ) 

Update : Jan02 201 - Composting Continues in 2014...