Vegetables indoors for beginners
Are you tight on space? Not enough space for an outdoor garden? Want to have fresh herbs on hand all year round? With Growing Vegetables Indoors for Beginners, you'll learn about the best way to grow fruits, herbs, and vegetables indoors. Vegetables, herbs and even some fruits are a breeze to grow indoors with the right preparation. From the windowsill to the greenhouse, there's a way for you to grow your own delicious food year-round. This is especially helpful if you live in an area with cold winters. Regardless of your budget, there's a growing approach that can work for you!
Beginners can grow vegetables indoors to get started with your own indoor garden, whether it's the only gardening you do, or if you want to have your own fresh food year-round. There are three basic options for you to consider: containers, hydroponics, and a greenhouse.
Option #1 for growing vegetables indoors for beginners: containers
Now, when we say "containers", it's a very broad category. You can grow everything from herbs in small pots on your windowsill to a small fruit tree in a sunny room. Maintaining a container garden is quick, easy and affordable. All you really need are a few pots, vases or planters, some good potting soil, quality seeds or seedlings and sunlight.
One of the most important elements of any garden is light, and a container garden is no exception. Regardless of where you place the containers, big or small, you need to make sure your plants get enough light. The ideal setting for growing vegetables indoors is, of course, the kitchen. I love chopping up some fresh basil to spice up dinner. If your kitchen doesn't have enough light, you'll want to get a grow light—just make sure you set up your system safely and keep those grow lights away from the sink! When you're searching your living space for the best place to grow vegetables indoors, look beyond the kitchen. Do you have a sunroom or sunroom where you can set up some containers? Remember, it doesn't have to be fancy or expensive (although it can be both). Something as simple as a table by a sunny window will suffice for a wide variety of plants, herbs, vegetables and even some fruit trees.
If you're really tight on space, another option for growing vegetables indoors is a wall garden - turn a wall into a living work of art! You can use a series of small shelves or buy (or make!) a hanging wall garden. There are many options.
Top tips for cold days and long nights
Wherever you place your containers, make sure your plants get the light they need. That means using grow lights for at least part of the year. A south-facing window may be sufficient in the summer, but if you live in an area with cold winters, you may want to supplement your indoor garden with some grow lights. There are plenty of grow lights on the market to fit any space and any budget. Keep things simple. Do not pick exotic plant species. Look for hybrid varieties that grow well in containers. When in doubt, ask your garden center or extension center. And keep things warm – Since it's winter outside, your plants will need an even warmer and more welcoming growing environment. So don't put your herb plant on the front porch where it will get a cold breeze whenever someone opens the door.
Option #2 for growing vegetables indoors for beginners: hydroponics
Hydroponics is another method you can consider for growing vegetables indoors. It sounds complicated, but it doesn't have to be. There are simple hydroponic systems and then there are more deluxe hydroponic systems. It all depends on your growing goals, your growing space and your budget. Some hydroponic systems are easier to manage than others. For example, if you are growing small plants like herbs or vegetables, a wick system is good. Vining plants are outside - they take up too much space. Leafy vegetables, peppers and cucumbers are good candidates for more advanced hydroponic gardening systems.
Water and light are key to using the hydroponic gardening system. Assess the possibilities in your space to determine if a small hydroponic system can work on your windowsill or if you need to dedicate an indoor gardening cart with electricity and plumbing. Growing vegetables indoors without soil has its pros and cons. Ironically, a hydroponic garden uses 80% less water than growing the same crops in soil – and plants grow 50% faster than in soil! You don't have to worry about weeds, pests or soil-borne diseases. Plants grow faster because they don't have to spend as much energy sending out roots. Once you have a hydroponic system, you will have a constant supply of fresh herbs and vegetables. It will definitely brighten up any dark winter day!
Now, the other side of hydroponic gardening: you need to clean the system on a regular basis. How complicated the cleaning is depends on the system you choose. You may need to renew the water table or break the pipes for a thorough cleaning. Do your research ahead of time, and don't let too much excitement push you into a more complex system.
Option #3 for growing vegetables indoors for beginners: Get a greenhouse
When you think of a greenhouse, you think of one of those gigantic, commercial structures almost the size of a house. But there are small greenhouses that you can place inside or on a sunny porch, deck, or balcony. Some are taller than they are wide, almost like a dresser. There are simple DIY greenhouses you can build with traditional greenhouse tools like poles and plastic or straw bales and an old window, as well as the miniature versions you see at your local nursery.
One of the best advantages of growing vegetables in a greenhouse is control: you control the growing environment. That means you can start your seeds early and extend your indoor growing season by weeks or months! Be sure to set up your greenhouse on the south or southeast side of your home to maximize sunlight. If you go the greenhouse route, use a greenhouse to grow crops that need a long time to grow, crops that don't like cool spring nights, or plants that attract garden pests like rabbits and squirrels. Great plants to consider for growing vegetables in a greenhouse include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, herbs such as basil, rosemary and thyme, and eggplant. If you're not going to use a greenhouse as your primary gardening space, you can certainly use it to get ahead of the gardening season. Plant your seeds early so that the seedlings are ready to go into the ground after the last frost!
You'll love the flexibility of starting seeds early or growing your herbs and greens all winter long with your own greenhouse. Learn about greenhouse gardening in our free, how to grow vegetables indoors for beginners!
0 Comments