Which Plant to grow first?

As I have mentioned in the starting post, almost all plants from my first round of gardening, died.

After that, I visited a local nursery to buy new plants and also inquire for any professional help for my garden. The nursery owner gave a piece of simple advise;  to grow only one plant and practically learn the rules of gardening before taking to regular planting. Accordingly I focused more  on a few plants rather than bulk planting.

As a corollary, the next question arises, which plant should I sow or grow?

There are about 391,000 species of vascular plants currently known to science, of which about 369,000 species (or 94 percent) are flowering plants, according to a report by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the United Kingdom.

Though I know that one cannot scan the list of all the plants, I have mentioned this information just to understand the formidability of a choice.

The actual choice can be dictated by what is readily available at a local nursery and what is easy to grow and rugged etc. Even if the list of such plants is reduces to a small number, there cannot be unanimity regarding the answer.

After considering the ticklish question, I have decided on one plant which, I believe, most Indians esp. Hindus will be pleased to accept as a best choice.

The plant which merits a first rank is humble, no awe inspiring but virtuous one and that is our Tulsi. Tulsi is called Holy basil in English. Its botanical name is ocimum sanctum or Ocimum tenuiflorum. In Malayalam it is called Trittavu. In Marathi as Tulshi or Tulas, in Tamil Tulasi, in Telugu Thulsi. There are two varieties. The plant with light colour leaves is known as  Ram Tusli or Laxmi Tulsi  and a plant having dark leaves is called Shyam or Krishna Tulsi.

Ram Tulsi

Shyam Tulsi 

I think no one will ask any justification but I like to enlist the several points in support of my choice.

1..Tulsi is planted in every house right from a palace  down to a hut. Also there is custom of doing morning and evening worship near  Tulsi plant is  grown in a specially constructed (now a days readily available decorative) pot in which there is a cutout for placing a oil wick lamp).

A leaf of Tulsi is placed in the food (Naivedya) offered to God.

2. Some people perform once a year a special ritual known as Tulsi vivah ( Wedding of goddess  Tulsi  to lord Vishnu. Tulsi plant is auspicious for that.

3. It is very familiar plant, so no chance of mistaken identity.

4. Tulsi leaves are offered to lord Vishnu. I understand that such a way of associating a plant with a deity is a ploy with a purpose. Tulsi has many health benefits  and to narrate them a separate post is intended. Due to its holy status, people  are fully aware of its look and aroma. One does not have  to be separately educated for this plant.

5. Tulsi is supposed t be an annual but it is observed that it lasts longer and also it is self seeding. Also it does not require much watering and fertilizer etc. Tulsi is insect repellent and therefore less difficult to care. I have observed that because its seeds are so small and light that they are carried by wind to other spots and Tulsi grow on its own even in the crevices on the walls and stones and concrete flooring.

6. It is highly aromatic. It cleanses the air.  I read somewhere that during British rule, the whites used to plant Tulsi to keep snakes at bay. I am not sure whether a snake smells or not. Then It may be due to Tulsi repeals Insects and due to that frogs and as a result  snakes, a sort of chain effect.  

 I believe that post like this should be kept small because it allows to sink some important points well.

I should present ‘How to grow Tulsi’  in the next post for continuity.