ATGLife Mates: Featuring Sumit Saini

How did you start gardening?

My journey of gardening is very interesting and AllThatGrow played a big role in it. Well from my childhood, I have loved plants and nature. My journey started at my hometown Jind, Haryana when I was 7 years old by growing portulaca in old waist pots used during Diwali but due to non-availability of resources I could not continue that time.  However, the desire to connect with nature always inspired me to start gardening and finally in 2012, I shifted to my own home at Village Rajjipur, Panchkula and started the journey again. How to grow I knew from my birth as we are farmers. So initially, I started growing vegetables with seeds arranged from local markets, near & dears, online from Amazon or other sites. But the success rate was very less and the fruit rate was negligible or very low quality. That time I was very hopeless and disappointed due to hard work, care and no results. Then I got AllThatGrow and bought 1 vegetable Combo and 1 Flowers Combo which give me a variety of the best quality vegetables and flowers. Purple Cauliflower gave me approx. 2 Kg single flowers. Long Melon was the same height as my son. From that time, I have been connected with AllThatGrow. Now I have approx. 200 plants of different varieties which includes vegetables, flowers, fruits, herbs etc.

What are some of your favourite plants to grow in the garden?

I love the variety in my garden. Growing seasonal vegetables like cherry tomatoes, round gourds, cucumbers, okra, zucchini etc. gives organic and healthy food to families. Apart from these, maintaining unique and beautiful plants like Red Sandalwood, Barbados Cherry, Hibiscus, and 56 colour Roses, 10 colours of portulaca & many other flowers, 4 types Mango includes Miazaki, Red Guava, 2 types of Grapes etc. are my main centres of attraction.

What are some of the plants that you have not had as much success with?

Gardening is a continuous technical learning process. Recently, milibugs attacked on round gourds, cucumbers, zucchini but after multiple sprays of Neem oil, Sirka Shampoo etc. they revived.

Are there any new plants on your wish list?

Right now, my focus is more on how to save the plants from insects and disease. However, I am thinking of growing a variety of Lotus.

What would you like to say to our new gardeners?

My message to new gardeners is that patience and continuous observation of plants are the core pillars of gardening. Always maintain an excellent drainage system in your pots, use baked clay balls at the base of the soil mix. Always shifting or re-plantation in the evening and keeping 1-2 days in a shady place. Always use organic fertilizers like Vermicompost, Gobar Khad if Cow the best, kitchen waste khaad (decomposed). Avoid harsh chemicals and work in harmony with nature's rules.

Any gardening hack you want to share?

There are so many small and big, highly effective hacks in my garden. Some are as follows: - (1)  Prepared a highly efficient spray system by using RO Pump and pipes fittings and a metal Spray Nozzle for Pesticide and Liquid Fertiliser spray.  (2 )To protect the tender roots of a newly transplanted plant from the high pressure of a water pipe, use a 1-litre bottle to set up a temporary 'Drip Irrigation' system.  (3)While planting cuttings of roses or other plants, apply a thick paste of turmeric on the top cut instead of using artificial chemicals and Allover in the bottom. It acts as a perfect natural seal to lock in moisture and protect against fungal infections.

Any particular Instagram account you follow for inspiration?

I am not following such an account. However, I have my own for my gardening @sumitsainisumit0402.