One Bean Plant, 150 Varieties Later — How a Rajasthan Man Turned His Home Into an Urban Garden
Cluster beans are among the easiest vegetables to grow at home. They do not need a large backyard, expensive equipment, or hours of maintenance. Give them a sunny spot, healthy soil, and regular watering, and they can reward you with a steady harvest throughout the season.
For Vijay Sharma, however, growing cluster beans was not about picking up a new hobby. It began with a simple frustration.
The Bikaner resident and his mother had always enjoyed eating cluster beans, but over time, they became increasingly disappointed with the quality available in local markets.
“The quality of the vegetables in the market is not good,” he says.
In 2017, Vijay decided to grow cluster beans at home.
The results surprised him. The pods were fresher, tastier, and healthier than the ones he had been buying. Encouraged by the harvest, he began growing other vegetables as well. Soon, spinach, okra, chillies, and several other crops were thriving alongside his cluster beans.
Then came the lockdown.
With more time at home, Vijay immersed himself in gardening. He spent hours learning through social media, experimenting with different crops, and finding creative ways to expand his growing space.
Today, his 1,500-square-foot garden is home to more than 150 varieties of vegetables, fruits, and........
