Others may be living in fear of Covid but S.N. Datta gets sleepless nights over whiteflies. “They are more dangerous than coronavirus,” he says about the pest that attacks plants. An avid gardener, Dutta tries his best to guard his terrace garden from insects and pests, and despite the lockdown and Amphan, has quite a beautiful collection of pots to boast of.

My passion for gardening grew out of visiting flower shows where I would be amazed at the size and colours of Dahlias and Chrysanthemums.

I hired a gardener who I thought would teach me the ropes but alas! He only knew how to water the plants and sweep off fallen leaves! I realised that most of the so-called gardeners around us are simply unemployed youths with nothing better to do.

Last winter, I was blown away by the exhibits at Bidhannagar Horticultural Society show, especially those from Unnayan Bhavan, that won many prizes. I spoke to their gardener and hired him. But then the lockdown happened.

I didn’t give up. I searched the internet and taught myself gardening. Others worried themselves sick about the pandemic but I didn’t have a minute to spare. I spent five hours a day on the terrace, in the morning and then in the afternoon till it got dark. I didn’t leave the house so, frankly, I wasn’t worried about coronavirus. I was more worried about whiteflies.

Now I have Petunias, Pansies and Salvia but I got late with the Dahlias and Chrysanthemums so they will not bloom before March. I’m using light therapy — keeping them under lit-up bulbs all night — and will have to keep them under the shade once it starts getting warmer.

I’m also trying to grow vegetables. Four of my six Cauliflowers have started bearing the vegetable and one of my Cabbages too. There’s also Peyajkoli, Sorse Shak, Palong Shak, Tomatoes and Cherry Tomatoes. These are so tangy and tasty that we use them as substitute for ketchup when having Maggi.

The most breath-taking flowers I’ve seen are on Kalyani Expressway. The gardener there handed me a measuring tape and I measured Dahlias 14 inches wide! I took tips from him. I would also follow the late S.K. Maiti, gardening columnist of The Telegraph Salt Lake and have all his write-ups filed neatly.

Last year, I participated in the flower show for the first time but didn’t win anything. I have taken it up as a challenge now. I’m preparing hard and next time I shall surely win.