Many people are becoming more and attracted to the idea of growing their own food. We know that buying produce locally is more eco-friendly and what could be more local than growing your own food right in your own kitchen?
Many people are becoming more and attracted to the idea of growing their own food. We know that buying produce locally is more eco-friendly and what could be more local than growing your own food right in your own kitchen? Along with being greener, eating your own homegrown foods reduces the risks of being exposed to e coli, salmonella, pesticides and other pollutants that can arrive with food from unknown origins so it is healthier as well.
To grow an indoor garden you needn’t have a large plot of land, large tools and machinery, huge amounts of extra time, lots of physical stamina or even a green thumb.
An indoor garden can produce an ample supply of produce and herbs for individuals, couples or families as long you keep some basic indoor gardening facts in mind. In addition to these advantages, an indoor garden is also less likely to be damaged by severe turns in weather or garden pests.
What can I grow in an indoor garden?
First let’s eliminate those plants that are not ideal for indoor gardening either because they need long growing seasons, a lot of space or a deep root system.
Brussel sprouts, asparagus, parsnips, salsify, corn, pumpkins and squash are not ideal for growing indoors in containers, however, the list of produce you can grow in your indoor garden is surprisingly long, varied and exciting.
*Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, pear tomatoes
*Other types of tomatoes
*Many varieties of peppers, both sweet and hot
*All types of leaf lettuce, Endive, Swiss Chard, Spinach
*Bush beans and Pole beans
*Peas
*New potatoes
*Baby beets
*Baby carrots
*Bunching onions
*Eggplant
*A host of fresh herbs, including mint, rosemary, basil and oregano.
Containers:
The minimum size container or pot for an indoor vegetable garden is 8 inches deep but at least 12 inches deep is even better. Larger containers will hold more water and allow for deeper roots but also consider space and weight, especially if you may be moving your container garden around. Also, be sure to use pots with drainage holes and trays for proper filtration.
Temperature:
You’ll need to make your planting choices with their temperature tolerances and your available spaces in mind. For example, lettuces, Swiss chard and endive like cooler temperatures. They can tolerate a drop to temperatures in the upper thirties but prefer a climate not over 60 degrees for very long. So an unused or unheated room or cool basement with windows or growing lights would be ideal for these greens.
Other flowering plants such tomatoes, peppers and beans require warmer temperatures and rooms with highs in the upper seventies and lows in the sixty degree range will be just fine.
Light:
Indoor garden vegetables need to be sitting near their light source, such as a sunny window or door and they require 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. If your lighting is not adequate, you may want to consider fluorescent growing lights.
Watering:
Vegetables grown in containers must be watered more often because of the limited water a container can hold. Generally vegetables and herbs in containers will need to be watered daily or every other day.
Pest Control:
Indoor gardens will avoid many of the devastating garden threats such as beetles, hornworms and cutworms. However, the same types of insects that are attracted to houseplants, like white flies and spider mites, will also be attracted to your indoor garden plants. Wash with an insecticidal soap to remedy these pests.
Fertilizer:
For the greenest and healthiest harvest, use only organic fertilizers according to directions, which will generally be about every 2 weeks for indoor container gardens.
The harvest from an indoor vegetable garden or container garden may not as large or as numerous but is still likely to be adequate to fill your table with green homegrown produce. Indoor gardening is fun, earth friendly and very rewarding.
CHEMALI
Dear Lisa,
I read your all articles/writings.
I basically found them useful , daily fresh,fluent & practical for applying.
I enjoy them also.
By the way, Many Thanks for useful info the growing own vegetables at the own/rent house garden.
I want to share my garden life/my experience with you for this matter.
I’ve got a garden totally 200 square meter area behind (at the south of)my home.
My wife so keen on working all day long at this garden!. Sometimes I help her during my spare time.(If I have got!)
Unbelieveable!. She grows everything winter&summer seasonal vegetables plus fruits !.
Beside of growing the vegetables,We’ve got one pece of :
*–peach tree,
*–Fig,
*– apricot,
*- apple,
*–Lemon,
*– mandarin,
*–cherry.
Because of all the fruit trees are familiar licenced and young, they don’t dominate large area. Their shadow don’t cover large area.
So,We can grow the seasonal vegetables under the tree.
We neither use pesticides killer chemicals nor fertilizer except organic one.By the way, I want to say someting that;
( ALL CHEMISTS (plus me)ARE -more or less-RESPONSIBLE KILLING THE NATURE!…..This is true!..
If we see any pest under/over of the leaves/ branch of the vegetables, then, we wash&flush all bodies of all vegetables with lots of fresh water.
It’s so plasant to harvest own vegetables & fruits( a couple of onion, tomatoes, pepper cherry, OR one or two pieces of apricot, fig etc.!… ) with my wife.
I’m proud with her.
That’s all.
Thank You&Best Regards,
CHEMALI
Lisa
Chemali,
Thanks so much for your kind words . . .I was OOT visiting family and just came to find some really great comments on the site. I remember growing up and working in the family garden and using those foods to get through the winter. It was hard work but saved money and tasted so much better than the stores apples, pears, tomatoes, squash and corn (and much more!) I am so glad you and your wife find a way to have a wonderful garden, spend time together and have amazing meals from your fresh foods. Thanks for reading!