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Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Hydroponics poster

I had a workshop and sale for home hydroponics system. This happened in Pune at Tilak Smarak Mandir. Conducted this under the Maker's Market initiative. Here is the poster for that.


Mini Hydroponics system

A friend started a mini home hydroponics system last week. Started with an ice-cream container, cutting out holes for the 2 inch netpots. Simple box cutter worked like a charm.


Holding as much as 250ml of water. This much water is sufficient for a few set of mustard. He wanted to start with something. Proposed mustard from the kitchen spice rack. Every Indian house has mustard (even if it is a bachelor's condo). Mustard greens start within 2 to 3 days.



He is happy with his greens now. Wants to grow them to fully grown mustard plans. Roots have not come out of the baskets. Some of the tiny greens are dying out. May be due to the root congestion.

Monday, March 25, 2019

Difference Between Tulsi and Basil

Main Difference – Tulsi vs Basil
Aromatic medicinal plants are primarily cultivated for the edible leaves, stems, barks, flowers or fruit components and they are essential flavoring and/or ayurvedic agents mainly used in South Asian countries. Tulsi and basil also belong to the aromatic medicinal group, and they share a similar taste profiles as well as features. As a result, tulsi is often referred to as basil or vice versa by the most of the consumers in the world. But tulsi and basil are two different plants; the botanical name of tulsi is Ocimum tenuiflorum whereas the botanical name of basil is Ocimum basilicum. Both tulsi and basil belong to the Lamiaceae family. The edible basil leaves are mainly used for culinary dishes whereas tulsi is mainly used as an indigenous medicinal ingredient. This is the main difference between tulsi and basil. Although, both tulsi and basil belong to the same family, tulsi and basil have different sensory properties as well as different applications and this article explores the difference between tulsi and basil.

What is Tulsi
Tulsi is an aromatic herbal plant, and its leaves are highly scented. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, and it is a blessed plant in Hindu belief.  Hindu people believe that it as an imaginable appearance of the goddess Tulsi, a wife of the god Vishnu. Therefore, Hindu people have tulsi plants growing in the center of the central courtyard. This plant is mainly cultivated for religious and Ayurvedic medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil extraction. It is believed strongly that tulsi has health beneficial effects against headaches, inflammation, common colds, malaria and heart disease. It is also important to prevent food poisoning.


What is Basil
Basil is a culinary herb mainly used as a flavoring agent in various  types of dishes in the world. Although it is originated in India, basil is mainly used in the Italian cuisine. People in Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia also incorporate basil into their cooking. Leaves of basil have a pungent and strong taste.


Difference Between Tulsi and Basil
Tulsi and basil may have substantially different properties and applications. These differences may include,

Scientific Name
Tulsi is known scientifically as Ocimum tenuiflorum.

Basil is known scientifically as Ocimum basilicum.

Alternative Names
Tulsi is also known as Holy basil, Tulasi.

Basil is also known as Sweet Basil, Saint Joseph’s Wort, Thai basil, mints.
Basil grows beautifully in home hydroponics system. Basil heavily absorbs nutrient hence works best for home hydroponics with full concentration of nutrients.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Sowing calendar

We always seem to know when a vegetable is available in the market. And we think about why did not we know this 3 months earlier what to sow. Here is a sowing calendar for the whole year throughout India. Follow this and you are never to fail. This may not be a part of home hydroponics.