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Imagine how great it would be to step out into your garden and pick some of your favourite South Asian vegetables for dinner. Here are a few easy ideas for growing your own. You don't need a garden either - some plants will grow even better indoors.
Garlic
Did you know you can eat more than just its bulbs? Garlic can easily be grown in your garden or in pots outside. Find out how to do it here.
Did you know you can eat more than just its bulbs? Garlic can easily be grown in your garden or in pots outside. Find out how to do it here.
Coriander
The leaves of coriander have an amazing flavour and smell. The plants can be grown in pots indoors or outside (in summer).
The leaves of coriander have an amazing flavour and smell. The plants can be grown in pots indoors or outside (in summer).
Mango
Okay - so you probably won't get any juicy fruit from it, but growing your own houseplant from a mango which you've previously scoffed is very rewarding! Find out how here.
Okay - so you probably won't get any juicy fruit from it, but growing your own houseplant from a mango which you've previously scoffed is very rewarding! Find out how here.
For detailed cultivation instructions visit the 'Grow it pages'.
Explorers have been travelling to Asia for centuries in search of exotic spices. These days you don't have to go quite so far. Print off these easy-to-use guides, nip down to your local store, and become a spice explorer too. Common spices
Here is a list of some of the more common South Asian spices you are likely to encounter on your shopping excursions.
Here is a list of some of the more common South Asian spices you are likely to encounter on your shopping excursions.
Less common spices
Some spices are not so well known and you may have to visit specialist Asian markets or stores to get hold of them.
Some spices are not so well known and you may have to visit specialist Asian markets or stores to get hold of them.
This is the arts and crafts bit. Using some common South Asian plants, we'll show you how to make musical instruments, dyes and rice rangoli.
Henna
Painting the hands with henna is an ancient South Asian art. Here it is known as mehndi. Why not become a mehndi artist for the day and create your own beautiful patterns?
Painting the hands with henna is an ancient South Asian art. Here it is known as mehndi. Why not become a mehndi artist for the day and create your own beautiful patterns?
Rangoli
Rangoli is a traditional South Asian art which uses brightly coloured seeds and powders to make floor patterns. They are often made for festivals, but you don't need to wait for such an excuse. Start creating your design now.
Rangoli is a traditional South Asian art which uses brightly coloured seeds and powders to make floor patterns. They are often made for festivals, but you don't need to wait for such an excuse. Start creating your design now.
Tea dye
Make your own, natural plant dyes with tea. Use it to colour fabrics such as cotton or wool, or to colour Easter eggshells. Tea produces a rich, beige dye and all you need are a few teabags.
Make your own, natural plant dyes with tea. Use it to colour fabrics such as cotton or wool, or to colour Easter eggshells. Tea produces a rich, beige dye and all you need are a few teabags.
Rice maracas
We can't claim all these to be genuinely South Asian, but they use rice and they're fun to make! Give them a go.
We can't claim all these to be genuinely South Asian, but they use rice and they're fun to make! Give them a go.
Turmeric dye
Lots of plants are used to make rich and colourful dyes in South Asia. Some are surprisingly easy to get hold of - in fact it's likely at least one of them will be in your home already. Find out here how to make dyes for fabrics and even Easter eggs.
Lots of plants are used to make rich and colourful dyes in South Asia. Some are surprisingly easy to get hold of - in fact it's likely at least one of them will be in your home already. Find out here how to make dyes for fabrics and even Easter eggs.
Activities
