Goals: Grow food

Quick winter roots for the plains, and greens while you wait.

One good plant in a 40 cm pot out-yields four crowded ones. Stake it early.

One plant on a sill supplies a household, and crops for two years.

A long-season crop that rewards a big pot and steady feeding.

Summer staple for a sunny terrace; pick every second day or pods turn woody.

A monsoon climber that will roof a terrace in eight weeks given a frame.

Ridged monsoon gourd, quick to climb and quicker to over-mature.

Cut-and-come-again greens ready in six weeks from a shallow trough.

A tough climber that fruits through the worst humidity of the year.

Sow thickly in a wide tray and cut the whole crop at three weeks.