Mohanlal is mostly in the news for his films, but one of his more relatable sides is the vegetable garden behind his house in Elamakkara, Kochi. In videos he has shared on his social media pages, the actor walks through a patch where bitter gourd, okra, tomatoes, long beans, green chillies and brinjal grow. What makes it interesting isn’t the size; it’s the logic. He grows what the household actually cooks and eats, and he keeps the routine simple enough that anyone could copy it. Here are five takeaways.
Mohanlal has said the garden supplies the vegetables his household needs, and he uses them whenever he’s at the Elamakkara home. Mohanlal manages the garden alongside a busy film schedule, which says something about how little time a small patch demands once it’s set up. Mohanlal has said in the video that watering the plants in the morning is something everyone can do.
That’s the smartest part of the idea. Instead of planting whatever looks pretty, he picks everyday Kerala staples like bitter gourd, okra, tomatoes and chillies, the things that end up in thoran, sambar and curries. If you’re starting out, make a list of the vegetables you buy most often and begin with two or three of those. You’ll waste less and use more. The video describes a modest space at the back of the house, not an estate. You don’t need much land to try this. A sunny strip along a wall, a few raised beds or a corner of the compound can feed a family a surprising amount. Start small, learn what thrives in your soil and light, and expand only once the first crops do well. It’s a good reminder that a garden runs on small, steady habits rather than big effort. Ten minutes with a watering can before you start your day also makes a pleasant ritual. Check the soil with a finger first, since overwatering is just as common a mistake as forgetting. Mohanlal has encouraged people with limited space to grow vegetables in grow bags on a terrace. This is where the idea becomes practical for flat and city dwellers. Tomatoes, chillies, okra and brinjal all do well in large grow bags or sturdy pots with good drainage, as long as they get around six hours of sun. Use a loose mix of soil, compost and cocopeat, and add support sticks for climbers like long beans. A few bags can turn a bare terrace into a small kitchen garden.
Morning watering gives plants moisture before the heat of the day and keeps leaves drier overnight, which helps against fungus.
In his video, Mohanlal also showed how to collect bitter gourd seeds from his own plants. It’s a small detail with a big payoff. Letting one healthy fruit ripen fully, then drying and storing its seeds, means you can replant next season without buying anything. It also keeps you growing varieties that already suit your climate. Choose seeds from your strongest, healthiest plants, dry them well in the shade, and store them in a cool, dry place for the next planting.