Padma Suresh, a passionate 48-year-old home gardener from Thiruvananthapuram, has transformed her 500-square-foot terrace into a thriving mini farm. Raised in the green village of Vellarada, near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, she inherited a love for farming from her childhood. Over the last 12 years, Padma has grown everything from cherry tomatoes to crunchy cucumbers—entirely organically.
Through gardening, she not only brings healthy food to her family’s table but also shares the joy of growing with young minds. “Kids love the freshness of the cucumbers, and they enjoy being part of the process,” she says. Here’s her easy, fun, and educational step-by-step guide to growing cucumbers at home with children:
Step 1: Choose a Sunny Spot
Pick a sunny area like a balcony, terrace, or garden patch. Cucumbers need plenty of light to thrive. Let your child choose their own gardening corner—it makes the experience feel personal and fun!
Step 2: Prepare the Soil
This is where kids can dive in—literally! Use organic compost like cow dung, vermicompost, and neem cake. Mixing the soil becomes a playful and educational activity.
Step 3: Plant the Seeds
Use grow bags or small pots for limited spaces. Sow the seeds about 1–2 cm deep. Teach kids that even the tiniest seed holds big potential—it’s a powerful lesson in growth.
Step 4: Water with Care
Assign watering duties to your little ones. Water the plants every morning and evening. It helps instill responsibility and builds a nurturing bond with nature.
Step 5: Build a Trellis
Cucumber vines love to climb. Help your kids create a support trellis. Watching their plant rise each day gives children a sense of accomplishment and wonder.
Step 6: Use Organic Fertiliser
Padma’s go-to DIY fertiliser? A jaggery and sardine mix! “Mix chopped sardines with 1.5 kg of jaggery in an airtight container and stir it daily,” she says. It nourishes the plant and keeps pests away—naturally!
Step 7: Harvest the Cucumbers
When the cucumbers are about six inches long, it’s harvest time! Let your child gently pick them and enjoy the literal fruits of their effort.
With just a bit of space and a lot of heart, gardening with kids can be a joyful, enriching experience. Thanks to Padma’s wisdom, growing cucumbers becomes a hands-on lesson in patience, care, and sustainability.
