Plants that you can grow in Chennai

The organic gardener in Chennai frequently asks, "What plants can I grow well in the city?"

Chennai has lot of greenery but it has inhospitable weather for part of the year, with temperatures soaring to 105 degrees Fahrenheit and water becoming scarce. The coastal location of the city with its flat terrain brings the salt laden sea breeze several kilometres inland. This climate is not the best for delicate plants such as roses or even some of the species that require a good deal of shade.

At the Horticulture Campaign conducted by SUBHAM on October 16, 2004 at Kasturba Nagar the Deputy Director of Horticulture from the Government of Tamil Nadu had some pointers to what works in Chennai for gardeners, and what does not:

• Vanilla : Vanilla farming may not be feasible in Chennai even with temperature control. The coastal temperature allows for only vegetative growth, while there is little or no chance of forming pods.
• Rainwater Harvesting : Temperature and sea breeze also affects the growth of other plants and trees. The rising salinity in Chennai makes it difficult to grow plants in several areas. The answer could lie in rainwater harvesting. Rainwater is a very good nutrient in itself since it combines the atmospheric Nitrogen as it descends to the ground.
• Roses : Several private nurseries bring roses in full bloom from Bangalore by lorries and sell them in the city. When the plants are bought, they look very lush and full of promise. But the sea breeze in Chennai soon ensures that they are a pale shadow of their former self.
• Horseshoe Mushrooms: The best mushrooms to grow in Chennai are the horseshoe variety. It is not possible to grow the button mushrooms that are commonly sold in Departmental Stores like Food World, due to the climate.

Home | Organic Page Index | The Living Soil - Sultan Ismail, Ecoscience Research Foundation | Email