In the pursuit of any passion, professional or otherwise, we are invariably helped along by a supporting cast, who ensure the smooth completion of processes and adherence to protocols. For instance, a surgeon not needs not only his tools, but also the support of assistants, technologists and nurses among others, to carry out the surgery. In teaching hospitals, junior doctors and out-patient department personnel, assistants or dispensers help expedite the processes for the senior doctors.

In a similar vein, a gardener’s efforts are helped along by a support cast. But like the plants it involves and their produce, this support cast is organic in nature: I am referring to water, sunlight, soil and pollinators as well as fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides. They are frequently mentioned in this column, with instructions on how to utilise this support cast to benefit the plant.

This article will focus on the tools without which this hobby would be difficult to pursue in the first place. These may not necessarily be as expensive as many non-gardeners believe them to be. Moreover, they are readily available at local seed stores, gardening shops or plant nurseries. These gardening essentials are also available at different retail shops.

Here are some basic gardening tools, with viable options and their benefits, along with some tips on to how to keep these tools clean and in working condition for a longer stretch of time.

With its small, segregated pockets, a seedling tray can be used to grow different vegetables and herbs

WATERING CAN

One of the basic requirements of absolutely any plant is water. From rubber hosepipes to spray bottles and coffee mugs, anything can be used to water the plants, depending upon their requirements. Whether you need it for misting the plant, cleaning the leaves or just mild sprinkling over the soil surface, any of the above-mentioned watering equipment can be helpful.

For those who have a number of pots to attend to, a watering can come in handy. These watering cans come in different sizes, shapes and even colours. Depending upon the number of pots, distance of the plants from the water source and the strength to lift a filled watering can determines the size of watering can one should opt for.

My daughter uses one which has the capacity of only one drinking glass of water for her small and colourful pots of African hosta plants. Other members of my family prefer a watering can with the capacity of five litres. Half its capacity s enough to fulfill the watering requirements of the pots on our balcony. You should never over water your plants as it may result in root rot.

When not in use, it should be ensured that the watering can doesn’t have any residual water. This is because the wet, moist and slimy water accumulation not only results in fungal accumulation, but it can also be a breeding ground for mosquito larvae, which are carriers of diseases, such as dengue and malaria. It is better to keep the can as dry as possible and to wipe it dry after use. Even in case of water shortage, when you may need to store water in these watering cans for future use, the can should be covered up adequately to stop mosquitoes from getting in.

SEEDLING TRAY

If you enjoy the germination process, from the seed sprouting a seedling all the way to eventually the plant producing harvest after a few months; then getting your hands on a seedling tray is essential. The seed sowing process can be conducted at almost any location, from raised beds to small pots and containers, or within soaked cotton or by keeping them submerged in water overnight.

Different seeds sprout amicably in different conditions and follow varying processes. A seedling tray comes in handy when you are short on space and want to segregate your seedlings from day one. These trays are easy to manage, with small, segregated pockets available for every seed you may sow.

The gardener can even dedicate a few rows to altogether different vegetables or herbs. This way one can grow a few varieties of plants simultaneously. However, one may need to tag or mark it with a label, which are commonly available at seed stores and can be prepared at home as well. These labels are simply plastic pointers or markers. Once these markers are adequately labelled, they are inserted near the same spot where the seeds are being sown. These trays come in different sizes, based upon the number of pockets available. I prefer the one with 72 segments.

These are but two tools from an array of essentials that have developed and evolved over thousands of years. They range from small clay pots to large drums and containers, from digging tools to bonsai kits, from shovels to tractors and everything in between. The upcoming columns will discuss more such essential tools of gardening— for both outdoor and indoor plants.

Published in Dawn, EOS, September 15th, 2024