My name is Pritishiya Yadav, and I am from Jaipur, Rajasthan. I hold a B.Sc. (Botany, Zoology & Chemistry), an M.Sc. in biotechnology, a B.Ed., and an LL.B. Along with being a passionate terrace gardener, I am also a science teacher, teaching students up to Class 10.
For the past nine years, I have been growing fruits and vegetables on the third-floor terrace of my home. Today, a large part of my family’s daily vegetables and seasonal fruits comes directly from my terrace garden. Every tomato, bottle gourd, pumpkin, cucumber, strawberry, and leafy vegetable I harvest reminds me that even a small space can produce extraordinary results when cared for with knowledge, patience, and love.
Although I belong to a farming family, my studies kept me away from gardening for many years. Deep inside, however, my love for plants never disappeared. My gardening journey began in the simplest way possible.
We had a tiny patch of soil beside our house. One day, I casually planted a tomato from my kitchen. I didn’t use expensive fertilizers or special techniques. I only watered it regularly and occasionally added mustard cake water. To my surprise, that single tomato plant produced an incredible harvest.
Seeing those healthy plants, my husband looked at me and said, “If one tomato plant can do this, imagine what you can grow with more plants.“
That moment changed everything. He brought me different vegetable seeds, and my real gardening journey began. Initially, we had very little space, so I started growing vegetables in grow bags. Like every beginner, I made mistakes. Many plants failed. Some died. Some never produced fruits. But every failure became a lesson. Instead of giving up, I kept learning. Then I realized something that completely changed my gardening results…
Table of Contents
Science, Soil & My Biggest Learning
As my garden grew, I realized that growing vegetables successfully was not only about watering plants—it was about understanding soil. My educational background played a huge role in this journey. During my B.Sc., I studied botany, zoology, and chemistry and later completed my M.Sc. in biotechnology, where I learned about microbiology, plant science, and soil microorganisms.
Slowly, I started connecting my scientific knowledge with my practical gardening experience.
One thing became crystal clear:
Healthy plants always begin with healthy soil.
Many beginners focus only on fertilizers, but I discovered that the real secret lies beneath the plant. Grow bags have limited soil, so every handful of soil matters. If the soil is rich with beneficial microorganisms and nutrients, plants grow stronger and healthier and produce much better yields. From that day onward, my biggest focus became soil management. Whenever one crop finishes and the season changes, I never plant new vegetables immediately.
Instead, I first prepare my soil carefully.
I sterilize it to reduce harmful fungi and pests, then recharge it with homemade compost prepared from kitchen and garden waste. I enrich it with neem cake, mustard cake, and leaf compost, and whenever required, I add coco peat to improve aeration and moisture retention. This process is time-consuming and requires patience.
But I have learned that if you invest time in your soil today, your plants will reward you for months. This single habit completely transformed my garden. Today, even in limited space, I harvest vegetables that many people believe are impossible to grow on a terrace. There have been seasons when I harvested over 20 kilograms of tomatoes from my terrace, along with 8–10 bottle gourds from a single season, large pumpkins, cucumbers, bitter gourds, ridge gourds, strawberries, and many other vegetables.
People often ask me,
“How do you get such amazing production from grow bags?”
My answer is always simple:
“Take care of your soil first, and your plants will take care of the harvest.“
The second lesson I learned was equally important— always invest in good-quality seeds. Even the best soil cannot compensate for poor-quality seeds. That is why I always choose quality seeds. Recently, I also started my own small seed initiative so that gardeners across India can access reliable seeds and experience the joy of successful gardening.
Over the years, I have realized that gardening is not about expensive equipment or large farms. It is about understanding nature, respecting the soil, and being consistent every single day. Every season still teaches me something new, and I continue learning with every plant I grow. Another important lesson I have learned over the years is that gardening should always be done according to your local climate, not by copying someone else’s garden.
Many beginners make the mistake of growing vegetables that are not suitable for their region or season. This only increases effort and often leads to disappointment.
I live in Jaipur, Rajasthan, where summers are extremely hot. Instead of fighting nature, I always work with it. For example, this summer I focused mainly on growing muskmelon, watermelon, kakdi (Indian cucumber), and okra (bhindi) because these crops naturally thrive in Rajasthan’s climate. As a result, I achieved excellent production without installing expensive shade nets or creating artificial shade.
This experience strengthened my belief that when you choose crops according to your local climate, plants remain healthier, require less maintenance, and reward you with higher yields. This is one of the most valuable pieces of advice I always share with my followers: “Don’t fight your climate—understand it, respect it, and grow with it.“
Another principle I strongly believe in is keeping gardening as natural as possible. I rarely buy expensive pesticides or insecticides from the market. Instead, I prepare organic plant protection solutions at home using simple kitchen ingredients such as buttermilk, turmeric, milk, curd, neem leaves, aloe vera leaves, green chilies, ginger, and garlic.
These traditional remedies are not only economical but also safe for our family, our soil, and the environment. Since my goal is to grow food that my own family can eat with complete confidence, I always prefer natural solutions over chemical sprays whenever possible. I believe that healthy soil, quality seeds, seasonal planting, and natural plant care are the four pillars of a successful organic kitchen garden.
The Turning Point That Changed My Life
Gardening was not just a hobby for me, it became a mission after a life-changing experience. A few years ago, both my husband and I started facing health issues. As someone with a science background, I understood that the excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides in modern farming was becoming a serious concern. We often talk about healthy food, but very few of us truly know what goes into the fruits and vegetables we buy every day.
Organic Eggplant
Thriving brinjal grown naturally without harmful chemicals.
Jaipur Harvest
Fresh, healthy vegetables hand-picked directly from the organic garden.
Next Generation
Passing down the love of nature and gardening to our children.
Tomato Plants
Lush, green tomato plants supported and growing strong in the sun.
Fresh Turai
A beautiful Ridge Gourd harvest, ready for the kitchen.
One incident changed my perspective forever.
In December 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, my husband and I were traveling on a highway. We saw a beautiful tomato field, and because we both belong to farming families, he couldn’t resist stopping the car. Although I advised him not to eat directly from the field, he picked a fresh tomato and ate it. Within a short time, he developed a severe stomach infection and had to be hospitalized for nearly a week.
A few days later, I read a heartbreaking news report in the local newspaper. It was from the same area where we had stopped. The report said that pesticides had been sprayed on a tomato field the previous evening. The next morning, the farmer’s young son and daughter unknowingly ate tomatoes from the field, and tragically, both lost their lives due to pesticide poisoning.
That news deeply shook me.
As a wife, a mother, and a science teacher, I asked myself a simple question: “If I cannot trust the food on my own plate, then what kind of future am I building for my family?”
That day, my husband and I made a promise to each other. As far as possible, we would grow our own food organically. Many people laughed at us. Some said, “Why work so hard when you can simply buy vegetables from the market?” Others thought gardening on a third-floor terrace was impossible. But for us, this was never about saving money. It was about protecting our family’s health. Organic vegetables available in the market are often expensive, and not every family can afford them regularly. But I always tell people:
“Even if you cannot grow everything, start with a few seasonal vegetables. Every chemical-free vegetable you grow is an investment in your family’s future.”
The journey was not easy. We carried hundreds of kilograms of soil, compost, and grow bags to the third floor ourselves. We didn’t hire professional gardeners because I wanted to understand every stage of gardening with my own hands. My husband became my biggest supporter. Whenever I needed one gardening item, he would bring four. Whenever I felt tired or discouraged, he motivated me to continue.
Behind every successful harvest is his silent support.
Today, people often appreciate my garden, but very few know the hard work, failures, and determination behind it. Gardening taught me that success doesn’t come overnight.
It grows slowly—just like a seed.
Every plant that failed made me stronger. Every harvest made me more confident. And every season reminded me that patience always bears fruit.
My Mission: Inspiring Every Family to Grow Their Own Food
After years of learning, experimenting, and harvesting on my terrace, I felt that my journey should not remain limited to my own home. If I had learned so much through experience, why not share it with others? That thought inspired me to begin my journey on social media. In 2023, I started creating gardening content on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram under the name “Grow With Pritishiya.”I never imagined that thousands of people from across India—and even Indians living abroad—would connect with my work.
Today, my Facebook community is growing towards 125,000 followers, and every day I receive messages from people who have started growing vegetables after watching my videos. Many of them proudly share pictures of their first tomato, first bottle gourd, or first harvest with me. Those moments give me more happiness than anything else.
One of the questions I receive most often is “Can we really grow enough vegetables in a small space?”
My answer is always, “Absolutely.” You don’t need acres of land—you just need the willingness to begin.”
As my community grew, many people also asked me where they could buy reliable seeds. I realized that good-quality seeds are the foundation of a successful garden. This inspired me to start a small seed initiative, where I provide carefully selected quality seeds to home gardeners across India so they can begin their own organic gardening journey with confidence.
Apart from gardening, I continue to work as a science teacher, teaching students up to Class 10. My scientific background helps me explain gardening in a practical and easy-to-understand way. I don’t believe in myths or shortcuts—I believe in understanding nature and working with it.
One of my biggest joys is involving my children in gardening. They help me sow seeds, water plants, harvest vegetables, and prepare compost. Because they grow the food themselves, they happily eat fresh vegetables at home. Gardening has not only improved our family’s diet but has also taught my children patience, responsibility, and respect for nature.
People often tell me, “You are lucky because your husband supports you.”
Yes, I am truly grateful for his encouragement. He has been my strongest support throughout this journey. But I also want to tell every woman that support is a blessing, not a requirement to begin. I know many women, senior citizens, and homemakers who manage beautiful terrace gardens completely on their own. Some of them live on the third or fourth floor and still grow fresh vegetables with dedication. I guide many of them personally whenever they need help.
I believe that if your determination is strong enough, you can always find a way. Today, I manage my family, my children, my coaching classes, my terrace garden, my social media platforms, and my seed business all together. It is not always easy, but when your work comes from passion, every challenge becomes meaningful.
My message to everyone
Start small. Start with one pot, one grow bag, or one tomato plant. Don’t wait for the perfect space or the perfect time. Nature rewards those who simply begin. For me, gardening is much more than growing vegetables. It is about growing healthier families, healthier children, healthier soil, and a healthier future.
If my journey inspires even one family start grow their own food, I will consider my mission successful. Because I truly believe that our health begins with what we grow—and what we serve on our plate.
