If you are a gardening enthusiast, this is your season. Monsoon season is the best time to try your hand at some kitchen gardening. This is the most suitable season for planting, and adjusting the existing plants for taking in the full pleasure of nutrients. But the biggest question is- What to grow?

Let us help you out with this conundrum, here are 3 vegetables which you can easily  grow this monsoon season!

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are super easy to grow and they are also super useful in the kitchen. It is used in a lot of recipes in Indian cooking and hence can prove to be a good investment. The ideal time to grow tomatoes during the rainy season in North India is between June-Aug and South India is Jul-Aug. They love the sun, but the do need their fair share of water. Check out this guide on how to grow tomatoes-

• Select a site that receives 5-6 hours of direct sunlight. 
• Plant the tomato seeds in well-drained soil about 1/4th inches deep and 3-4 inches away from one another. Feed the soil with a regular dose of organic fertilizers. 
• The seedlings will start appearing in 10-14 days of sowing. The ideal temperature required for the germination of tomato seeds ranges between 21 to 27℃. 
• The perfect tomato for picking will be quite firm and bright red in color, regardless of size, with perhaps some yellow spots remaining around the stem area. 

Tomatoes are available in a wide variety of sizes, from tiny grape-sized types to giant orange-sized. You can use these for salads, sauce, curries and fresh sandwiches as well!

2. Beans

Who doesn’t love beans? They are very easy to plant, maintain, and harvest, making them a great plant for beginners to grow in their gardens. They are also tasty, crunchy and can be used in so many recipes! One more benefit? They are super nutritious!

The ideal time to grow beans in India in the monsoon season is between July to August. Beans take very limited space to grow, here’s how to grow these greens:

• Beans are able to thrive in both sun and shade making them flexible to grow. Choose a spot with most or partial sunlight to plant your seeds. 
• Beans are one of those few plants that should be directly planted in your gardens and not transplanted. 
• Plant the seeds at least 3 inches away from each other and about one inch deep. Cover it properly with the soil and water it regularly. 
• Your beans should be ready to harvest in 1-2 months of planting. 

These will change your mind about store-bought vegetables!

3. Carrot

While you can grow carrot year-round, it is beneficial to plant them in the monsoon season. It is healthy,  versatile, tasty and easy to grow! You just have to choose the right quality seeds and basic care of your carrot crop will help you to have a fresh supply of juicy gajar from your own home garden around the year.

Now that you know which crops you start with, you are all set with you monsoon gardening!