65-Year-Old Grows Alphonso Mangoes in Buckets on Terrace

Indira Ashok Shah grows Alphonso mangoes in a 20-litre bucket on her Bengaluru terrace, proving you don't need acres of farmland to enjoy homegrown fruit. The 65-year-old urban gardener has transformed her rooftop into a thriving oasis with over 600 plants, including coffee that supplies her daily filter coffee habit.

Indira learned gardening from her grandmother and mother, who grew their own vegetables at home. She initially planted greens on a barren plot beside her house, nurturing the soil and watching her garden flourish.

Then came the devastating day when local authorities razed everything to make way for new construction. Indira refused to let that setback end her gardening dreams.

She turned to an online terrace gardening community for advice and moved her operation to the rooftop. Starting with familiar vegetables her family had grown, she gradually experimented with more ambitious crops.

Today her terrace garden produces dragon fruit, oranges, custard apples, pineapples, watermelons, papayas, figs, star fruit, and even cherries. She grows vegetables like lady's finger, corn, and various gourds throughout the year.

The mango tree started as a surprise when a seed sprouted unexpectedly in one of her containers. Rather than discard it, Indira nurtured the seedling in a simple bucket, and now it produces Alphonso mangoes.

Her coffee plant came from a friend who was giving it away. Indira jumped at the chance to grow her own beans, and now harvests nearly a kilo annually, enough to satisfy her filter coffee needs.

Why This Inspires

Indira talks to her plants like old friends, thanking them when they bear fruit and sometimes even giving them a kiss. She notices when they droop and believes they miss her presence.

Some people laugh at her connection with her garden, but Indira couldn't care less what others think. Her relationship with her plants brings her joy and fills her home with fresh, organic produce.

Her story proves that urban gardening can thrive anywhere with creativity and determination, even after heartbreaking setbacks.