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!
One of the benefits of growing herbs and vegetables in a hydroponic system is that you reduce the possibility of pests and diseases. Even still, there are a number of hydroponic pests and diseases that can wreak havoc on your veggies. Below are some common hydroponic pests and diseases and ways to prevent them from taking over your hydroponic system.
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.
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.
Micro-gardening? Yeah, it’s pretty much what it sounds like, although micro-gardening indoors is somewhat of a variation on the original design. The idea of micro-gardening began as a way to deal with food insecurity and lack of access to healthy, fresh foods. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) describes micro-gardening as […]
As someone who loves to cook and does it a bit for a living, I always need fresh ingredients, especially herbs. With so many lettuce recalls in the last few years, I’ve also gotten wary about purchasing store-bought lettuce. It was these two things that led me to seek out a way to start gardening indoors during the winter, and how I discovered the best hydroponic system for vegetables and herbs.
Living in New England, my outdoor garden slows to a halt by late September. I used to get sad thinking about how long I’d have to wait before growing another crop of fresh tomatoes and peppers. (Is there anything worse than a grocery store tomato in January?) Then I decided I would try my hand at indoor growing, so I could enjoy fresh tomatoes and peppers all year long.
Allow me to share with you why I decided to write about how to bring an outdoor plant inside without bugs. It all began with a lovely little citrus tree. I love citrus trees, and there’s nothing like a bright pop of yellow lemons or colorful oranges to liven up your home, inside or out. […]
Remember dinner parties? Sigh. Me too. I’m optimistic that they’re making a comeback soon, though and I want to be ready. I was looking for different ways to level up my hosting abilities and remembered the bonus points earned through edible flowers. Adding edible flowers to any dish as garnish or flavor enhancer is sure to wow the crowd. In the fall and winter, you may be forced to source them from the store. But why not try to grow edible flowers indoors?
I admit it. I’m wrong. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a greenhouse is the kind you see on farms or at a big flower shop. They’re big enough to live in! They’re certainly bigger than my first apartment was. So naturally, when I think about tackling the subject of the best vegetables to grow in a greenhouse, my immediate response was, well, what wouldn’t I grow in a greenhouse.
There’s an old joke that goes like this: “Hey, doctor! It hurts when I do this.” To which the doctor replies: “Then don’t do that!” That’s what I think of when I think about greenhouse problems. “Hey, doc! I’ve got some greenhouse problems!” “Then don’t grow plants in a greenhouse!” Of course, the joke is […]
