Since April 2024, our family has been gardening in a vegetable garden space at MOES Tuinen. Without any gardening experience, we were naturally a little skeptical about how all this would fit into our busy lives with work, home, and children. We were also unsure whether Indian vegetables would thrive in Dutch soil and the Dutch climate. But little did we know that this trip would turn into a joyful and fulfilling family weekend ritual.
The rapid growth of our plants and the unparalleled satisfaction of tasting our own homegrown vegetables motivated us to continue year after year. Today, our visits to the greenhouse have become a peaceful sanctuary, filled with fresh oxygen, greenery, and family connection.
The Indian vegetables that surprised us
Indian bitter gourd (Karela) This climbing vegetable grew beautifully on our trellis. We learned that picking the berries young yields the best flavor and reduces the bitterness, making them perfect for curries and stir-fries.
Pumpkins Despite the cooler climate, the pumpkins thrived. With ample room to grow over the greenhouse soil, they produced generous yields that delighted our family during autumn meals.
Green peppers A single plant yielded months of harvest! These hardy plants thrived in our greenhouse, providing us with a steady supply of fresh spice for Indian dishes.
Spinach & fenugreek (Methi) Leafy greens like spinach and methi grew quickly, allowing us to harvest multiple times per season. They're perfect for saag, curries, and fresh salads.
Eggplant & tomatoes These sun-loving vegetables adapted surprisingly well to our Dutch greenhouse. Cherry tomatoes were a particular hit with the family, and eggplants yielded a steady harvest with regular care.
Indian tulsi & terrier leaf Even spices we thought would struggle outside tropical climates thrived. Fresh tulsi for tea and curry leaves for cooking added authentic Indian flavor to our dishes.
Bell pepper Colorful pepper plants became a vibrant addition to our greenhouse. They thrived alongside tomatoes and peppers, offering both aesthetic beauty and culinary delight.
Why we keep coming back
Gardening in this rented space has brought us closer to nature and closer together as a family. The best part? The joy of eating home-grown vegetables that are fresh, healthy, and full of flavor. There's truly no substitute for the taste of food you've nurtured from seed to harvest.
For us, growing Indian vegetables on Dutch soil was more than just gardening. It was about bringing a taste of home to our family table.
If you're just starting out, choose two or three of these vegetables, plant them this season, and watch your garden flourish. Once you taste that first homegrown tomato or karela curry from your own harvest, you'll know exactly why we say: there's no joy like growing your own food!
