There are more than a few secrets to getting your food to grow indoors no matter what part of the year it is. Well-drained soil, plenty of light (even grow lights), and the right amounts of water are crucial to the success of indoor gardening. The general “rules” of container gardening apply here, too. Make sure the container is deep enough for the plant, use fresh potting mix, and make sure the container has a drainage hole.
Again, this is all simple enough in the summer. Your plants sit by the open windows and enjoy a nice breeze while they bask in the sunlight. But let’s talk about winter. How can you get food to grow indoors without that lovely breeze or the open windows or the 12 hours of sunshine? Light, indoor varieties, and warmth. Sometimes, also humidity. A hydroponic garden can truly thrive in a dry winter with a mister.
Hydroponic gardens are a whole separate beast of indoor gardening, but they are a wonderful thing if you love fresh produce. Depending on your system, soil may not even be needed, and you can grow a compact food garden right in your living room without any mess. For those who take a more disciplined approach, closed system hydroponics could be the right solution for growing an indoor garden. Or, if you simply don’t want to give up fresh produce in the winter, it’s great too!
In the articles below, we share everything you need to know about indoor gardening. And you can learn even more about it in our How to Grow a Vegetable Garden: 10 Things Every Gardener Needs to Know Before Starting a Food Garden freebie. Enjoy!
There are many reasons to consider growing fruit trees indoors. For me, it all boils down to control. With container fruit trees, like container vegetable gardens, you have total control over watering, pruning, sunlight and location, can make all the difference in a fruit tree’s yield. While it’s certainly possible to grow a fruit tree from seed, you’ll have better luck and a faster yield of fruit by purchasing a seedling.
Having an indoor veggie garden brings the joys of gardening right into the comfort of your own home, but it also aligns perfectly with a healthy lifestyle. By growing your own vegetables indoors, you can have access to fresh, nutritious produce all year round, regardless of the weather outside. What is Indoor Gardening? Indoor gardening […]
I don’t have great luck growing basil indoors in the winter, and I know I’m not alone in this. I used to supplement my basil habit with store-bought container basil or even a fresh plant here and there, but the conditions in my area and in my home have always given me trouble. And like […]
When was the last time you gave much thought to your indoor garden temperature? Maybe a little when you’re trying to germinate seeds or get your seedlings off to a good start. Otherwise? I admit it’s not always on the top of my list. But, if I’m comfortable in my home, then my plants must […]
“I’m bored! There’s nothing to do.” Sound familiar? I’m pretty sure every parent or caregiver has heard this on at least a few occasions. Some of us might be able to send our kids outdoors to wander, but that’s not the case for everyone. Nor is it the case all the time. That’s one reason […]
It might sound ambitious, but with a few key ingredients, a dash of determination, and a touch of humor, you can turn even the chilliest corner of the United States into a lush, tropical retreat with a backyard greenhouse. Ready to make your backyard the envy of every toucan? Step 1: Choose Your Backyard Greenhouse […]
Figuring out how to regulate humidity indoors can sometimes feel like a hopeless venture. Just when you get it right, someone opens the front door, and the whole indoor atmosphere changes. Or here in New England, one day can be 70 and sunny, and the next is 48 and windy. If I didn’t care about […]
You’re right. Growing root vegetables indoors isn’t exactly on the cover of Garden Glamour magazine. (I just made that up. It’s not a real magazine. But if it was, indoor root veggies probably wouldn’t be on the cover.) Sure, you’ve got your ornamental kale, your hydroponic leaf lettuce, and your indoor herb garden. I’m all for those, especially since I live in New England and can’t grow vegetables outdoors in the winter.
Living in the northeast, I don’t take indoor growing of fruits and vegetables that seriously. I consider it more of a hobby than a sustainable source of produce, and maybe even more of a science experiment. Here are some recent examples: “this winter, can I get a crop of cherry tomatoes before spider mites come […]
One of the fun choices we get to make when we plant container gardens is picking out the container. Don’t get me wrong; I also love choosing new varieties of vegetables and which tools I might need. But there’s a certain aesthetic pleasure in finding that perfect pot. Often though, I’m left trying to decide […]
