How Does Gardening Look Like in Winter?

Winter is here, and for most of us with green fingers, Christmas time also brings its share of worry as we do all we can to protect our plants. And the fact that you’re reading this article tells us that you are one among them, aren’t you?

live plants online in Mumbai

So, there you go experts at Ratanshi Agro-Hortitech present a winter gardening article just for you! Here are a few things to look into while winter gardening to better care for our plants so you can go ahead and enjoy Christmas to the fullest without thinking about your plants. But before heading to the tips here are a few benefits of winter gardening:

Winter gardening advantages

• Require very less work

• Low water requirements

• Very fewer pests

• Amazing vegetable and fruit harvest if you use premium quality seeds from plant nurseries in Mumbai.

Top Tips for Winter Gardening

1. Cleaning

Cleaning is always an important part of gardening, but this is more so in winter when your plants can get affected by dry leaves, moisture, and other things that are more common in winter. 

Pro tips:

 

• Make sure that you sweep your garden more often and with that, see that the drains are smooth to not let moisture accumulate and cause hassles like fungal infections. 

2.  Protection

Winter is the season when you need to spare your plants. So, put those tools away for we won't be doing any pruning for a while. Divert your attention to the Christmas tree instead. It needs your attention and time. You see, this is when your plants are the most fragile and can’t be going under the knife. 

Pro tip: 

• So, don't prune unless you see weeds that you just can’t ignore or a lot of heavy foliage. Even if you are so tempted, wait for a while. 

• A ten to 20 percent foliage removal can be acceptable in case you need to prune.

3. Nourishment

Now, you may wonder what kind of advice this is. Yes, plants need nourishment for the entire year. However, there is something more you need to know. 

So, if you are habituated to watering your plants when you come home every evening, it’s time to make some changes to your daily schedule. Perhaps waking up an hour early every morning, for winter is when you need to water your plants in the morning. 

It is because the water in the evening may not evaporate well, thanks to the cold night air and this makes it a good idea to do the needful in the morning. And you wouldn’t want your plants to sit in water for six to eight hours while you are sound asleep under a blanket, would you? No plant lover would want that, and we are guessing you wouldn’t want that too!

Pro tips: 

• That said, here’s another thing you need to know. Do not water your plants in the evening. 

• Watering plants in the morning rather than your daily evening routine. The day temperature will ensure adequate evaporation during the day and plants will not sit in the evening stagnant water for six to eight hours.

• One must also be cautious about rose fertilizer or other fertilizer usage, particularly during winter and if one has tropical or summer plants. Since these plants have their growing period in summer, it means, they will be dormant in the cold weather, leading to over-fertilization chances.

Final thoughts

Gardening in winter is much easier if you choose the right plants, and that said, Ratanshi Agro-Hortitech, a leading plant nursery in Mumbai has many live plants online in Mumbai worth having in your garden in winter. Be it a fruit or a vegetable garden that you want, here you can shop online to find the kind of plants and best organic seeds online in India you have in mind before starting your winter garden. 

Here, one can also find a range of plant accessories like grower pots, rose fertilizers, and other equipment that you would perhaps find helpful for your winter garden. 

How To Grow Brinjal Using Seeds In Your Home Garden?

Brinjals are also known as eggplants and are very easy to cook. These veggies have great taste and do not require a lot of preparation and following the recipe. Hence, this vegetable is known as the ‘king of vegetables.’ Brinjals can be cooked with any other veggies, yet it tastes delicious. Brinjals are available in multiple varieties in terms of colors and shapes. It is one of the favorite vegetables for many people. These plants can be grown easily in your home garden using high-quality organic seeds online in India, available at Ratanshi Agro-Hortitech. The following guide helps you understand how to brinjals in your home garden.

Steps to grown brinjals in your home garden 

• Step 1: It is essential to grow eggplants indoors for at least ten weeks if the climate in your region is cold. Prepare the f1 hybrid brinjal seeds available at a plant nursery in Mumbai by soaking them in water overnight. Plant the seeds in a rich pot mix or potting soil up to ¼ inch deep and cover them with soil. Water the plant and ensure the plant soil retains moisture. Once the seedlings are ready, you can transplant them in bed or grower pots at least 20 inches apart.

• Step 2: Brinjal requires well-draining and rich potting soil. You can mulch the plants to enhance their growth. The preferable pH of soil for brinjal is 6.5. It requires one to two inches of water each week. Place the pots in places receiving ample sunlight (six to eight hours).

• Step 3: Once you sow the seeds, brinjals are ready for harvest in almost 70 days. To ensure the vegetable is ready for harvest, ensure its skin is thin and glossy. Some people harvest these when they are tiny; however, allowing them to grow longer produces a big harvest. It is essential to ensure the fruits are firm and their seeds are not visible after cutting them open. The eggplant flesh must be creamy in color. 

Gardeners must take precautions while harvesting brinjal as the plant has thorns on its stems and can cause bruises. Hence, experts at the wholesale plant nursery in Mumbai advise using appropriate tools like gardening gloves, pruners, or knives to cut the fruits. It is essential to keep some part of the stem on the brinjal fruit. Regular harvesting encourages growth in brinjal plants.

Taking care of your eggplants

• Fertilizer requirements

Brinjals are easy to grow if you use high-quality seeds like f1 hybrid brinjal seeds. However, they require heavy feeding. It is advisable to use fertilizers to ensure the plant has ample nutrition. One can mix manure or 10-10-10 fertilizer in the potting mix or soil, from time to time and ensure it reaches its roots.

• Common pests and diseases to look out for

It is also important to check your brinjal plants to ensure they do not have any diseases or pest infestations and implement preventative methods. Some common pests in eggplants are flea beetles, lace bugs, mites, cutworms, hornworms, etc. You can avoid these issues by utilizing insecticides and pesticides available at a plant nursery near you.

Some common diseases that can affect your brinjal plants can be blossom rot, wilt, or fungus infections due to overwatering. It can result in spots on the fruits and make them drop. One can utilize Bavistin fungicide available at Ratanshi Agro-Hortitech, a plant nursery in Byculla, Mumbai, India.

Where can you purchase high-quality organic seeds online in India?

Ratanshi Agro-Hortitech is a top plant nursery, offering the best organic seeds online in India. They offer varieties of brinjal seeds like the F1 hybrid brinjal seeds. They also feature grower pots, pot mixes, rose fertilizers, Bavistin fungicides, live plants, and more.