I remember this nursery rhyme from kindergarten days:

“Mary, Mary quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells, and cockle shells,

And pretty maids all in a row.”

Well, how’s that for a perfectly nonsensical, happy nursery rhyme?! After the angst of the last post, it feels good to be happy – to grow and be alive. So, while the gardener may remain contrary, and has no  bells, shells or maids to show, she’s got some pretty down-to-earth veggies growing instead, that are (yum!!) all going to end up on her plate sooner or later!

Here’s what’s growing this season…

                       Capsicum and Yellow Bell Tomatoes – producing despite the incessant rain…

…and Cucumbers/Kakdi and Tindora/Tendli, thriving through the monsoons.

It’s been the longest monsoon season in the city in several years (see http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-11/india/42940387_1_rainfall-deficiency-actual-rainfall-southwest-monsoon). As I write this post on the 16th of October, the sky is overcast with rain clouds. I’m expecting a stormy downpour like the one that hit the city with sudden intensity two days ago. With this contrary weather, the contrarian gardener in me has had to adapt – to leave off my ambitious seeding program, grow more monsoon-loving veggies like gourds, and lower expectations from my leafy veggies (that simply get overwhelmed in the rains). It’s still worth it, as the pictures tell. It’s a complete treat to eat freshly-cut cucumbers at every meal, and enjoy stir-fried tindora, stuffed capsicum side-dishes and yellow bell tomatoes in my salad – all home-grown, chemical-free and full of goodness!

There’s a very large white pumpkin that’s been growing steadily in a corner of my little terrace top urban farm, that I’m just dying to eat. I promise to post pictures of it (seems to be at least 3 kilos already), and the curry it ends up in, in my next post!

Until then, happy growing, and happy eating!

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