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Written By Lara Wadsworth |
We all love the idea of having fresh produce each summer and fall. The abundance of that season is addicting and joyful. But what if you could have fresh produce to harvest all year long without the need to kneel around a garden bed – all from the comfort of your home? Indoor gardening is a fantastic way to extend the harvest into any time of the year, regardless of the weather. It's a year-round supply of joy and health! It's also an excellent way for those with disabilities or physical restraints to get in on the gardening fun without the backbreaking labor of outdoor maintenance. Even apartment dwellers (with or without a patio) can join in, as these vegetables can all be grown in pots! If you ever had a reason not to garden before, you don’t anymore. Discover the excitement of these vegetables that can be grown indoors!
Herbs are compact and perfect for containers. Types such as basil, parsley, cilantro, mint, and chives can all be quickly grown indoors. They don’t need large containers and can be interplanted in the same pot to save space. Herbs love water though! So don’t skip a watering day with these guys! Never harvest more than 1/3rd of the plant at a time without giving it time to recover.
Leafy greens are some of the most versatile edible plants out there! Think lettuce mixes, kale, butter lettuce, arugula (rocket), and mizuna. They can grow in cool climates and don’t need as much light as other plants. In fact, they will come out stunted and pale if they get too much light and heat. This is the opposite of most garden plants. With their shallow root systems, they don’t need much space at all and can be planted in relatively close proximity. They can be harvested at nearly any stage and can be made to last through the cut-and-come-again method made famous by the great Joy Larkcom.
Steadily increasing in popularity, microgreens are the superfood of this decade! They take hardly any time to grow and are so easy. The biggest thing to keep in mind with microgreens is hygiene. Pots and trays should be washed and sanitized between uses to prevent mold or fungal growth. Besides that, these little green friends are as healthy as can be and readily accessible to anyone!
Certain dwarf varieties of tomatoes are well-suited to indoor pots and can yield an impressive amount of fruit despite the confinements. The cherry tomato Red Robin or the salad tomato Containers Choice Pink are perfect for this scenario. Red robin reaches just twelve inches tall, and given enough warmth and light (see below for tips), it will produce delicious little flavor bombs for you to eat any time of the year. Indoors, in the right environment, a single plant can even last multiple years but will start producing in just 55 days from transplant! Containers Choice Pink requires more space, reaching 2-3 feet tall, but can easily be grown in a 5-gallon bucket and produces delicious slicing tomatoes in a mere 70 days. To ensure there are enough nutrients, apply a fertilizer 2-4 times throughout the season that is higher in phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen. Hand pollination may be necessary.
Similar to dwarf tomatoes, peppers such as Miniature Chocolate Bell or Cherry Mini Hot Hybrid will mature to be just two feet tall or less and produce small yet flavorful peppers for anyone to enjoy. As I described above for tomatoes, peppers really do need adequate light and warmth. They are tropical plants and will not produce if they are not provided with 8-10 hours of direct sunlight per day. It is also a good idea to fertilize at the time of planting and then again when they start flowering with a high phosphorus and potassium mix of your choice. Hand pollination may be necessary.
Some of the fastest growers around, green onions are quickly gaining traction online for being easy to grow indoors. Also known as scallions or bunching onions, they are easy to grow from seed, sets, or starts and can even be regrown once cut back. They require bright light and any standard potting mix. They love water, so don’t let the soil dry out very much; just enough to mitigate fungal issues. They aren’t too picky about temperature but will stop growing if they get colder than 35 F.
The reason radishes can be grown indoors is because they mature so quickly. In just one month after planting the radish seeds, you can be harvesting deliciously crisp roots to roast or add to salads. Their greens are also edible and make a yummy addition to salad mixes or sandwiches. They need at least six hours of direct sunlight and loose, well-draining soil. Add a bit of sand to a potting mix to get the perfect consistency. Thin the seedlings once they have sprouted to ensure each plant has enough space to develop their roots. Stay away from larger radishes like daikon, as the space will likely be a limiting factor. Try varieties such as Lady Slipper or Cherry Belle.
The huge advantage of sprouts is that they don’t need any light and can be grown right on your countertop. Sprouts are a crop you literally just sprout from seed and then eat. The germination process unlocks nutrients and makes them bioavailable for your body to use. It also softens the seeds and makes them more enjoyable to eat. It is easy and cheap to do! A wide variety of seeds can be sprouted, and each offers a different flavor, texture, and nutrient profile. You’re sure to find something you like!
Any indoor gardener will do well to invest in a heating pad (or five, depending on the size of your operation) and some grow lights. These two tools can make or break your indoor gardening experience. Especially when growing herbs, tomatoes, and peppers as described above, they will only produce if they are warm enough and given enough light. When growing indoors, we often try to use window sills to get around using grow lights. The problem with that is that quite often, our window sills are cold from the winter weather outside. This can cause failure in plants. Using a heating mat can fix that.
Similarly, sometimes windowsills don’t quite provide as much light as we think they do. Keep in mind that plants are used to growing outside in full, bright light. If your plants start to look tall, skinny (leggy), and pale, this is an indicator that they are not getting enough light. When using grow lights, make sure to put the light close enough to the plant. In many cases, they should be positioned only a few inches above the top foliage. It might seem strange, but they will LOVE it. The only exception is sprouts. As mentioned above, they do not require light at all!
One of the only downsides to growing plants indoors is airflow. Plants need adequate airflow to prevent fungal diseases from taking hold. On the other hand, they should not be placed too close to heating or air vents to avoid drying out too quickly. Water them regularly, but allow the top few inches of soil to dry before watering them again. Instead of religiously following a watering schedule, check the soil before you water it and then decide if it needs water.
The last thing to mention is fertilizer. This applies to container growing in general, which, of course, extends to indoor gardening. When a plant is confined to a pot, it is also restricted to the nutrients found in that pot. Without enough nutrients, it will struggle to grow and produce as it otherwise would. Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer for herbs, green onions, and leafy greens. For tomatoes and peppers, use a fertilizer with low nitrogen. Follow package instructions to determine rates. No fertilizer should be used with sprouts and microgreens.
I hope this guide is helpful to you and encourages you to grow fresh food for yourself and your family all year long. The best food is the kind we will eat. So, find what works for you and run with it! Happy gardening
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Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer |
I am a native of Southwestern Michigan, where I also reside, and I love all things plants! I got a Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture and found the first work-from-home job I could get. Now, I spend my days writing for TLM, playing with my dog, eating delicious food with my husband, and plotting my next landscape or gardening move. I believe everyone should get down and dirty in the soil now and then. Happy Gardening!
3 comments
Thank you so much. I am a new indoor gardener, for the last few years, hitting and missing. This information says it all-in -one with my thoughts answered in very few words. I would love any other ideas on indoor growing. Thank you.
Good morning Ashleigh, would you please recommend the type of heating pads and lighting to use for indoor gardening.
Thanks,
Lena
Just trying to be part of the true leaf market