“What could be better than eating fresh produce right from your balcony garden,” asks Chef Ajay Chopra, who admits to being heavily inspired by Jamie Oliver. “I’ve been watching his shows for the past decade or so and I completely agree with his logic of using fresh foods,” adds Chopra, the executive chef at The Westin Mumbai Garden City. The hotel has a flourishing kitchen garden, which Chopra enjoys using. But the chef also grows baby tomatoes, radishes, coriander and chillies at home.

Not everyone has the luxury of space, however. So while an ideal situation could have you grow all that you eat, you could begin by growing herbs on your windowsill. While Indian plants such as curry leaves, mint and tulsi are easily available and often found in Indian households; here are some more options that are just as simple to grow.