This Delhi man turned his home into a mini orchard with 1,000+ plants, grows 40 varieties of fruit and says he hasn’t bought lemons in years
Padam Singh, a 64-year-old retired additional income tax commissioner has transformed his Delhi home into a lush green space. It is filled with hundreds of fruit-bearing plants, proving that even a city home can make room for nature.In an Instagram video in collaboration with Better Health India, he shared about his passion for gardening. Padam Singh also gave viewers a glimpse of the impressive green space he has created at home. One of the most surprising things about his garden is the sheer variety of fruits he manages to grow. Mangoes, guavas, berries, starfruit, custard apples, chiku, pomegranates, lemons and even pineapples can be found growing in pots around his home.
A garden built one pot at a time
Padam’s journey with plants goes back to his childhood. Growing up he developed a love for gardening under the influence of his mother, who encouraged him to care for plants.However, after her death in 2003, gardening gradually took a back seat in his life. It was almost a decade later, when he was 52, that he found his way back to the hobby.What started with a few plants slowly turned into something much bigger. He began bringing pots home, carrying them to his terrace, filling them with soil and planting saplings himself.“I have single-handedly developed this garden. Lugging pots on the terrace, adding soil, planting trees in the pots. At present, I have 1,000+ trees, of which there are over 400 fruit plants,” Padam said.
More than 400 fruit plants across 40 varieties
Over the last 13 years, Padam has made use of practically every available corner of his home. His terrace and verandahs are now home to more than 1,000 trees and plants, with over 400 of them being fruit plants spread across around 40 varieties.And his garden isn’t simply decorative. Several of the plants regularly produce fruit that makes its way to his kitchen —and to his neighbours.Padam even points to his lemon plants as an example of how productive his garden has become. He says he cannot remember the last time he had to purchase lemons.His harvest is also shared with people living around him, making the garden a source of fresh produce for more than just his own household.
Growing a garden in the middle of Delhi
Maintaining such a large collection of plants in Delhi is no easy task. The city’s intense summers, winters, pollution and water shortages can make gardening particularly challenging.Padam has therefore adapted his garden to its surroundings. Green nets help shield the plants during harsh weather, while drip irrigation enables him to manage water more efficiently.Also read:At 23, he left banking to chase his passion for the mountains, how Vijay Pratap Singh built a ₹10 crore trekking businessHe jumped into a canal to escape a wild boar, but it followed him in: How a 14-year-old in Odisha wrestled the animal for 90 minutesOver time, he has also learnt from experience which plants grow well in different parts of his home and their individual requirements.
A healthier space in a concrete jungle
For Padam, a garden is also about his effort to create a healthier space around him.In a concrete jungle that is Delhi, polluted by vehicles and people, he has surrounded himself with greenery. His passion for plants started growing in him and slowly the garden grew too, surprising everyone around as it is a complete attraction for passers-by these days.His neighbours stop by to admire the plants and Padam continues to nurture and learn about the plants. He often shares his journey on his Instagram handle @padamsingh_irs.
