‘Smart’ tips for a perfect rooftop garden

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 2

One must maintain a ‘garden record’ comprising the details of saplings planted, problems faced and seeds selected to develop a rooftop or a landscape garden at their home, which helps in understanding which plants and flowers are best for which season. This was stated by Dr Balwinder Lakhewali, deputy director, Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (PAMETI) during a workshop titled ‘Smart Home Gardening’ organised by PAMETI recently.

The sessions comprised indoor plant selection, terrace and rooftop gardening, container gardening and sharing insights into several other aspects of gardening.

Dr Lakhewali said plants must not be pruned more than 10-20 per cent. Instead of using fertilisers, garlic, neem oil, eucalyptus oil and soapy water in low concentration must be used.

He said indoor plants should be selected on the basis of availability of natural light. “Plants, including mother-in-law’s tongue, money plant, ferns, lucky bamboo or areca palm, can survive in areas where natural light is minimal,” he said, adding that plants such as rhapis palm, spider plant, ficus lyrata, asparagus and zebrine among others must be placed within 4-8 feet of natural light.

Before opting for a rooftop garden, one must ensure that the roof can take the load of the garden and expert advice should not be ignored. He said instead of soil, light media including coco peat should be considered for rooftop gardens. “Not just plants, in fact, several fruits and vegetable plants, including, banana, cheeku, payaya, pomegranate, grapes, phalsa, lemon and amarpali species of mango can be planted,” Dr Lakhewali said.

Moreover, garlic, chilli, coriander spinach, onion, boroccoli, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, radish, beans, beetroot, etc, can also be sown.

Dr Lakhewali said fruit and vegetable seeds should only be bought from the PAU instead of nurseries.