Raising The Roof

Delhi-based Karan Singh Parmar, the man behind Twelve Tomatoes, the popular flowers and terrace garden venture, not only specialises in exotic floral arrangements, but also has a lush, organic terrace garden he created from scratch. Here, Karan tells us how growing one’s own fresh, seasonal produce isn’t difficult. All it requires is patience and a whole lotta love.

- Karan Singh Parmar

If you ever go to the roof of your home or apartment and look around, the first thing you would probably notice is that the space is used as a storage for things that most likely belong in a landfill. So, what is stopping anyone from making that area beautiful? And if you’re nodding your heads to this, you’re the perfect person to read the basics of how to start your very own flourishing and gorgeous terrace garden.

Look into the basics first.

The time you’re willing to devote to your garden should be the foremost factor. Are you willing to spend a few minutes per day? The amount of space you have comes next, along with the amount of sunlight your rooftop or terrace is exposed to. One can grow leafy vegetables in a well-lit balcony but is it worth it? I would suggest that you grow seasonal flowers and plants in your balcony, along with basic herbs like mint, tulsi and curry leaves—staples in every Indian kitchen. Also, be careful about the amount of weight you add to the terrace. I recommend looking at the architectural drawing of the building first. Add heavier pots around the periphery of your roof top or spread them around the beams, and definitely ensure that the weight is equally distributed.

Start small.