Question 1

What is a terrace garden?

Accepted Answer

Also called a roof garden,it is a garden in which vegetables, fruits or flowers are grown on terraces, balconies or roofs of buildings. The kitchen garden, a standard in every Indian household, has now shifted to the roof due to constraints of space, and is called a terrace garden. Increasing pressure on land and escalating costs have also added to its growing popularity.

Question 2

Where can one start a terrace garden?

Accepted Answer

These gardens can be created on almost all kinds of buildings like residential flats, individual houses, commercial hubs, godowns and factories.

Question 3

What should be done before using the roof as a terrace garden?

Accepted Answer

A simple water proofing of the roof is enough. Various water proofing products are available in the market that will ensure that the roof is protected, water-resistant and leakage-free.

Question 4

Can roots of plants causes any harm to the building?

Accepted Answer

Plants with fibrous roots do not cause any harm to the roof but avoid plants with tap roots (like mango) as they may penetrate the roof and harm it by growing its roots in the structure. Sometimes the wind or birds may bring seeds that can germinate and take root on the roof itself. These should be checked for and removed.

Question 5

How do I begin to green my terrace and grow food on my roof?

Accepted Answer

You can begin greening your terrace with these simple steps, and then move on to bigger ideas:

Take any simple pot or ‘gamla’ or better still recycle any of your old containers.
Mix compost, soil, coir peat (or sand) and vermicompost in equal quantities.
Cover the drainage hole at the bottom of the container with a broken pot piece or a flat stone, and fill it up with the mixture. You will have to drill a hole in a recycled container first.
Pour water and check that no soil is discharged through the bottom hole.
Wet the soil and plant your seed or sapling.
Watch your greens grow!

Question 6

What can I plant in my garden?

Accepted Answer

You can start with something from your kitchen shelf, that is available and used in everyday cooking like coriander (dhaniya), fenugreek (methi), gram (chana) and chilli (mirchi). Once you gain confidence you can move onto vegetables of your choice and even grow fruit trees like banana and pomegranate. Almost all vegetables can be grown (creepers, drumstick, lime, tomatoes).

Question 7

What quantity of vegetables/ fruits can I expect of my terrace garden?

Accepted Answer

You can grow at least 6 vegetables per season. Your 1 sqm of terrace area can give you anywhere between 25 to 50 kg of vegetables in a year.

Question 8

Do I need any agricultural knowledge to start a terrace garden?

Accepted Answer

You don't need any farming background to start a roof garden. It only takes enthusiasm for green living and and willingness to get your hands dirty.

Question 9

What are the advantages of terrace gardens?

Accepted Answer

Some of the benefits to health, aesthetics and environment include:

Reduce indoor temperature by 6- 8 degree and can reduce air conditioning cost
Reduce overall heat absorption of buildings and insulate the building against heat and cold
Convenience of safe, pesticide-free, healthy green and fresh vegetables
Conducive to a routine of physical exercise, clean air and being close to nature
Increases amount of oxygen in the air
Reduce sound pollution
Act as a habitat for city-weary birds

Question 10

What about the maintenance of these gardens? Will they consume a lot of time?

Accepted Answer

Once your garden is established, an hour a day is more than enough to maintain your green area. It is the perfect area to exercise in and improve your fresh air intake.

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