A GUIDE FOR INDOOR GARDENING

ADDING SOME GREENERY TO YOUR SMALL SPACE

You may reside in an area with the ideal climate for growing a variety of produce, a place with humid summers, sunny springs and a crisp, cool fall. The only problem is that you live in an apartment space that limits your access to a backyard that would be ideal for a beautiful vegetable garden. Fortunately, having a small space shouldn’t stop you from starting a small garden. Although there are challenges that come with growing your vegetables indoors, there are many advantages too! You don’t have to worry about picking weeds from the garden bed or mowing the lawn. The biggest benefit is that you don’t have to wait for the right season to start growing, because you are able to control your plants’ environment while inside. In this article we’ll walk you through how to add some greenery to your small space.

WHAT TO KNOW WHEN STARTING AN INDOOR GARDEN

Let’s highlight the basics of indoor vegetable gardening and what you need to know before you start:

#1 DECIDE ON CONTAINERS

There are many options of containers you can choose from to grow your vegetables in. You do not need to spend an immense amount of money; any dirt-filled container with a hole in the bottom will work. From tin storage bins to plastic yogurt tubs or even burlap coffee sacks, you can use them all.  Here are some possibilities:

1. Plastic Containers

Planting in plastic can be great for broccoli, bush tomatoes, root vegetables, cauliflower and salad leaves. They come in different shapes and sizes: five-gallon buckets, milk jugs, 2-liter soda bottles, and plastic planters. The great thing about planting in containers is that they are movable. If they need more sun or you don’t like the location, it will be easy to move them. 

2. Wooden planters

Wooden planters should be at least 6-8 inches deep. You can grow cucumbers, beets, turnips, and green onions in a planter of this depth. If you want to grow bigger veggies like cabbage and lettuce, make sure the planter is about 12 inches deep. Make sure to keep the planter elevated for good air circulation, giving the soil a place to drain. Neglecting this could lead to the wood rotting.

3. Ceramic and Terracotta Pots

Ceramic and terracotta pots work well on your patio or balcony. They look great and work with tomato plants and other deep root vegetables like cabbage and eggplants. The pots can get heavy, so be careful when moving your plant. It is also important to add a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot.

4. Tins

Old tin cans are perfect for herbs and micro herbs. For vegetables, it’s best to stay away from tin containers because the roots are bigger and can absorb a toxic element that true tin cans can give off over time in the sun.

5. Glass

Glass jars or containers can be used for planting root vegetables such as carrots or radishes. It’s recommended to use tinted glass containers to keep the roots in the dark while still allowing the leaves to get sunlight. 

#2 ASSESS THE SUNLIGHT 

Find a place that gets direct sunlight and has enough space to place your plants. A balcony or windowsill is the most convenient option. If you don’t have a ledge to put your plants on, think about a vertical garden you can hang on the wall across from a place that gets lots of sunshine. You can find some ideas on vertical gardening here. If you don’t have much natural light in your apartment, consider using a lamp with natural light bulbs that can replace the sunlight. We all know sunlight is essential for the growth of plants.  

#3 FOCUS ON A SMALL NUMBER OF PLANTS

Starting small is always the best approach. Pick vegetables that require little effort but produce a big yield. Tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes are a few options that can be planted in limited space but produce a lot. Choose one or two vegetables you enjoy the most and start there until you master what works the best for you. 

#4 RESEARCH YOUR PLANTS AND BUY APPROPRIATE SOIL

As we said earlier, vegetables with bigger roots, like tomatoes and eggplants, need to be grown in larger containers. The more space and dirt you give these plants the better they will grow.  

For indoor container gardening you shouldn’t use regular garden soil. It can become compressed in the pots, limiting air and preventing water from running through. Therefore, you need a potting mix. This is a soft and light soil that keeps fluent air and water circulation. Remember, plants rely on their soil for air, water and nutrients. 

SOME VEGETABLES FOR INDOOR GARDENING

• Tomatoes: The advantage of tomato plants is that they are low-maintenance. Smaller tomatoes like Red Robins and Florida Petites are good choices to save room. 

• Chili Peppers: Chili peppers grow well in pots and they produce all year around. The hot peppers usually do better inside than the sweet peppers. You need to give them 6-8 hours of bright sunlight a day and the temperature needs to be below 70 degrees. 

• Kale: Kale doesn’t like heat or frost. If it receives enough water and direct sunlight it will keep going all year round. 

• Carrots: The advantage of growing carrots is that they don’t need a lot of space and they are very simple to grow. The harvest needs about 70 days. 

• Herbs: Fresh herbs are the easiest to grow and are great to have in the kitchen while you’re cooking. Good choices are mint, basil, parsley, rosemary and thyme. 

• Salad greens: Salad greens are shallow root plants and are fine in smaller containers. Favorites for growing indoors are lettuce, arugula and spinach. If they get lots of water, they will grow marvelously.

It’s time to start your own indoor adventure. Happy growing!