Chilies, lemons and hibiscus? Well, all right, but a green thumb like Rajat Bose likes challenges. So he also grows exotic fruits like avocados and dragon fruits and vegetables like zucchini. Why, he’s even experimenting with hydroponics to grow onion and garlic! And all this not just in his own compound but also in the adjacent empty plot that he is maintaining.
I’ve lived in New Town for four years now and have spent my time growing a wide range of plants. I’m most fascinated by uncommon plants and so am growing fruits like strawberries, litchis, olives and dragon fruits. My zucchini plant is flowering for the first time and I’m hoping for a good yield.
Besides spices like cardamom and bay leaves, there are red jamruls and red guavas, that’s red on the inside and out and are juicy and delicious. I have mangoes varieties like Amrapali and Katimon, of which the latter bears fruits round the year. There’s anjeer, avocado and a jackfruit variety from Thailand.
I may grow these plants on my own but I love gifting their fruits to everyone. From some plants like cherry, I don’t even pluck the fruits as I want to leave them for birds. I love birds and have a bird feeder for them too.
I’ve been growing lovely onions and garlic but I can’t bear to eat them as that would kill the plants. I’m their guardian, I couldn’t hurt them! Nonetheless these vegetables are growing on hydroponics. They do not need soil and are surviving on water and some fertiliser. Methi and coriander can be grown using this system too.
I haven’t kept any pots on our terrace and am using the compound under our co-operative building instead. With permission from the authorities, I’m also maintaining an adjoining empty space outside our plot. There I’ve planted marigold, rangan, hibiscus and lots of chikus and amlokis. There are many palash trees too and in spring I’m hoping they will turn flaming red.
Residents of the block appreciate this plot and often come here to have a chat. Those interested in gardening ask me for tips too.
If you have a garden you tend to yourself, send your address and contact number to The Telegraph Salt Lake, 6, Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta 700001 or email to saltlake@abp.in
