I feel truly blessed to call a house with a massive garden my home. I have a bigger garden than anyone I know, and right across my home is my grandmother’s place, which boasts an equally sprawling green space. My childhood was a whirlwind of garden adventures: running around playing hide and seek, swinging a badminton racket, chasing butterflies, or sweeping leaves. A Goan kid’s childhood is incomplete without lugging buckets of water from the well to nourish the coconut trees – and mine was no different.
In the summer, we’d climb trees for juicy mangoes, chickoos, and more – it was pure, unfiltered fun! Gardening isn’t just a hobby in our family; it’s a legacy. My mum pours hours into tending our garden year-round, just as my grandma did, with an endless list of tasks: planting, weeding, watering, pruning, and composting. Their green thumbs have nurtured a paradise teeming with life.
Our garden is a treasure trove of fruit and vegetable plants – coconut, mango, chickoo, guava, soursop, mulberry, jackfruit, breadfruit, ladyfingers, cucumber, tomato, beans, limes, calamansi, aloe vera, pineapple, banana, fig, star apple, papaya, and pepper, alongside aromatics like lemongrass, turmeric, and ginger.
The flowering plants? They’re a whole story of their own, rivaling the fruit-bearers in beauty and number. Traveling opened my eyes to how rare this abundance is. Many don’t even have a single tree to call their own, let alone a house wrapped in gardens. It made me realize just how lucky I am. Though I’ll admit I’m more of a garden admirer than a gardener, I can’t resist the thrill of browsing plant nurseries for new additions to our space. If you’re in Goa and eager to grow your green space, here are some nurseries I’ve visited and loved!
Great Plant Nurseries in Goa
Green Essentials, Sucorro
Green Essentials in Succour is such a gem located in a Goan home. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to kickstart your gardening journey. From a wide array of seeds and essential gardening materials to quality manure, equipment, and pots in all shapes and sizes, Green Essentials has got you covered. I was impressed by the availability of organic soil, compost, manure, and pest control products. Venture out into the garden area, you’ll be greeted by a delightful display of plants that are ready to find a new home in your garden.
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The staff at Green Essentials provided exceptional service, making the overall experience pleasant. I haven’t come across a nursery that offers such top-notch service. The team was very communicative, helpful, and offered genuine advice, not just talk to get a sale out of you. I couldn’t resist purchasing fig and pomelo plants, as well as sweet potato cuttings. They have an impressive selection of herbal plants, vegetables, fruits, and some flower plants. However, indoor plants are scarce at Green Essentials as they focus on people who want to grow their own food.
Plant Hub, Mulgaon
A half-hour drive past Mapusa and Thivim, will lead you to Plant Hub in Mulgaon – a plant lover’s paradise. It’s a plant nursery in Goa run entirely by women. Yes, girl power all the way! I’ve been to my fair share of plant nurseries, especially those by the roadside, but this one takes the cake. It’s huge! Every time I thought I’d seen it all, there were more and more plants to explore. I wish I had a bigger garden, because I would’ve definitely bought one of everything for it! Just think of a plant (or a mango variety) and you’ll find it.
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The variety is endless – fruit trees, flowering plants, bonsais, and even rare finds. I even spotted a pitcher plant that survives on a diet of insects, so if you have a bug problem, this little guy might just be your new best friend. Oh, and if you’re looking to spruce up your apartment, they’ve got some beautiful bonsais and ornamental plants that will add some charm to your space. Plus, they have all the supplies you need – fertilizers, flower pots, and more, making it a one-stop shop for all your gardening needs.
Now, I must admit, I found it very strange that it’s not pet-friendly. I mean, a huge number of people who have gardens would also have pets – isn’t that the whole point of a garden, after growing plants in it, of course? As long as the pet is on a leash and does not disturb other customers, Personally, I don’t see a problem, but after all, it’s their business, their rules. It would be great if they could offer a bit more assistance. I spent about an hour there, and while the space is neatly arranged with every plant labelled, there was no one to answer my questions.
I picked up a pomegranate plant at Rs. 350, and I can’t wait to see it grow.
Do you love gardening?
There’s just something special about watching your plants grow and thrive, isn’t there? I often share my garden bounty on my Instagram stories, so follow along on Facebook and Instagram. I’d love to know what you grow in your garden – comment below or DM me on socials and let’s stay in touch. You may also like to visit some garden restaurants in Goa for some of those tropical vibes. Bye for now!