What started as an unfulfilled dream of owning farmland has blossomed into one of India’s most inspiring terrace gardening success stories. In Udupi, Karnataka, gardener Joseph Lobo has transformed his rooftop into a thriving green oasis that is home to more than 200 varieties of plants. According to The Better India, one of the highlights of his terrace garden is the rare Miyazaki mango—a premium Japanese variety that has reportedly fetched prices of up to Rs 3 lakh per kilogram in select markets. His journey is a testament to patience, perseverance and the belief that even a small terrace can become a flourishing food forest.
An unfinished dream
Joseph Lobo dreamt of being a farmer but was unable to fulfill his dream owing to a property dispute among members of his family. But Joseph refused to give up, and instead made the best of the little space available to him, which is none other than his rooftop. It is here that he started his gardening journey by planting a couple of plants in order to realize his unfinished dream.
One pot at a time
Since Joseph did not have any formal training in horticulture, he resorted to watching videos and forums on YouTube to learn about how to grow plants. Over time, he started collecting pots to grow more and more plants through trial and error. Joseph’s story shows how determination, passion, and curiosity matter more than the size of a garden.
A rooftop bursting with life
Currently, the rooftop garden that Joseph maintains has over 200 different varieties of plants, including fruit plants, flowering plants, and vegetables and has become a paradise for gardeners and nature lovers. Some of the fruits that he grows include mangoes, chikoo, and mulberry, while there are around 32 varieties of jasmine plants, and he has also experimented with hydroponics and grown three different plants without soil.
Then came the Miyazaki mango
In his quest to grow exotic fruits, Joseph thought of growing a premium Japanese variety known as Miyazaki mango. Knowing very well that it would be extremely challenging to grow it in Indian conditions, he first made himself aware of its requirements before he planted it. Joseph’s decision to grow this fruit in his garden was more out of passion and interest than making money out of it.
Three years of patience pays off
It took Joseph nearly three and a half years before he saw some results after he planted Miyazaki mango in his garden. Without knowing anything about its market price, Joseph, along with his family members, savoured the fruits that were the result of their patience and hard work. For them, the real reward of growing the fruit lies in growing it and nothing else.
The surprising discovery
Joseph’s achievement remained unrecognised until a journalist visited his terrace garden and discovered it while reporting about it in the newspaper. Only during that time, Joseph came to know the real worth of the fruit growing in his garden – it is one of the world’s costliest mangoes and can sell up to Rs 3 lakh/kg.
The secret of his thriving garden
Joseph’s mantra is that of growing healthy plants, and to do that, he needs healthy soil. Joseph does not use any chemical manure in his garden but instead uses cow dung, sheep dung, curd, and compost prepared from kitchen waste to nurture plants. For protecting his plants from pests, he prefers neem oil to synthetic chemicals.
A priceless gift for his family and fellow gardeners
Although the Miyazaki mango has a high market value and Joseph can earn a huge amount of money from its sale, he refuses to sell it. He says that the fruit is not for the market, and it should instead be enjoyed by his family members and friends. Instead of selling it for money, he gives away grafted saplings to fellow gardening enthusiasts.
