Have you presumed gardening is too tough? Poonam Wadhwa from Ludhiana is asking you to reconsider. “It’s simple if you know what to grow,” she points out. Her terrace is proof. Coloured with vegetables, flowers, fruits and herbs — which find their way into the food — the garden has been nurtured by Poonam for five years now. A childhood fondness for plants led her to revisit her green exploits after marriage. “There was always the feeling that something was missing. The minute I added plants to my terrace, it felt right,” she smiles.

If you’re wondering when to begin, Poonam says the time is ripe. Summer is ideal to start a garden, grow luscious veggies and fruits and channel their flavours into salads. As for what you should attempt to grow, here are some ideas:

1. Chillies

Plump, vibrant, vivacious chillies pair well with any dish. And you can now grow them on your terrace! Sharing a few of her trade secrets, Poonam advises spraying the plant with neem oil every fortnight. Judicious watering can also work wonders. “Chillies are summer friendly plants and can thrive throughout the year. But in peak summers, you need to watch the amount of water you are giving them.”