When the rains arrive

The next plant in your monsoon garden may already be sitting in your kitchen.

A piece of ginger beginning to sprout, a turmeric rhizome tucked into a corner, or the tulsi growing on your balcony can all become part of a small rainy-season garden. These familiar plants have also found a place in Indian household traditions for generations, especially when coughs, colds and sore throats arrive.

Here are six you can grow at home, even with only a few pots and a sunny corner.

Few plants are as closely associated with the Indian home as tulsi. Traditionally, its leaves have been used in warm drinks and home remedies for coughs, colds, and sore throats.

Tulsi needs plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. Keep the soil lightly moist, but avoid letting rainwater collect around its roots. Occasionally pinching off the flowering tips helps the plant grow bushier.

That small piece of ginger sitting in the kitchen can become a plant with surprisingly little effort. Ginger has long featured in monsoon drinks, especially warm preparations made with ginger, honey or spices.

Plant a fresh piece of ginger with a few healthy buds in loose,........

© The Better India