Image Credit: http://tinyurl.com/nhcbt7n
Yes You Can!
Just because it is the end of the summer doesn't mean that you have to stop vegetable gardening. All you need to do is move it indoors. I know it sounds rather crazy, but it really can be done. There are some vegetables that can be grown inside the house, in pots. With the right planting and care, you can be eating healthy, homegrown vegetables all winter long. Whether you start from seed or from nursery starter plants there are five things you must do in order to insure health, good growth and maximum bearing in your indoor vegetable plants. Nothing is 100 % guaranteed, but following these tips will greatly increase the chances of indoor veggie growing success.
1. The Right Size Pot - It is crucial that you do not short your indoor vegetable plants on room to grow. Plants that are large or tall need a bigger root system, and therefore a pot that is both deeper and wider will be needed. Plants like tomatoes, beans and peas need a pot that is 15 to 22 inches wide and 20 inches deep. You also will need supports or trellises for some plants, just like you do when gardening outdoors. Veggies like lettuce, spinach, greens and radishes can be planted in shallow pots like 10 inches deep, just don't crowd too many in one pot. Peppers and plants like them take medium deep pots, about 15 inches deep and 12 to 15 inches wide. Herbs can be grown in regular medium sized flower pots.
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A good size for growing tomatoes indoors, it has plenty of room for the roots to spread out and the wider top gives ample room to put a cage in for plant support.
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2. Watering - Watering your plants regularly is even more important when you are gardening indoors than when gardening outdoors. However, over watering will certainly insure your plants early demise. How often you water is less a matter of schedule than a matter of how dry the soil is. How fast the dirt dries depends on many things, that is why it is not possible to have a watering schedule. The best way to decide whether or not to water is to stick your finger in the dirt. If it is dry an inch or more down, then it's time to water.
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This watering can is beautiful as well as useful. It holds one gallon of water so you can measure how much water you are giving to each container. When you are done watering, it makes a lovely accent on your window sill or shelf.
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3. Pot Drainage - Each of your pots should have at least 5 holes in the bottom. One big hole is not the best way to handle drainage, so if that is what you have, get out your drill! Your pot should have a dish below it to catch the water that drains through the earth. It is very important that you empty that dish about 5 minutes after watering. Leaving water in that dish will promote bacterial growth, over humidity of the plant roots and perhaps even root rot. Make sure to empty it every time you water, and if you are finding the dish to be half or more full, you are watering too much at a time. Cut the amount you are watering by 1/3 to 1/2.
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You should always have a dish like this under your pot to protect your floors. Never leave water standing in it.
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4. Light - Unless you have your indoor garden in a corner with windows on at least two sides (one of which must be south facing) you will probably need a grow light. Trust me, it is not that complicated to install a grow light, and the increase in your plant health and bearing will shock you. Many vegetable plants need partial to full sun for a specific number of hours a day. Let this be your guide as to whether or not you need a grown light or if natural sunlight will be sufficient.
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Height-adjustment mechanism raises or lowers fixture easily, whole frame is made of metal and is very sturdy.
This easy to assemble light got great reviews on Amazon! |
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5. Fertilizer - Growing indoors may lead to a bigger need for fertilizer than outdoor growing because the soil will not have such a big field to draw nutrients from and you don't get the benefit of earthworms and other beneficial outdoor factors that condition the soil. As a result, make sure to add a bit of peat moss to your soil to lighten the pack and use a good organic fertilizer as often as the package directs, for container growing. Your plants will be much healthier and you will get many more vegetables than if you do not use fertilizer. Do NOT fertilize more than the directions say to. Over fertilizing will burn your plants and most likely kill them.
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Neptune's Harvest is my favorite brand of fertilizer and I prefer kelp meal over all others, I have had better luck with it than all purpose fertilizers. |
So are you ready to give it a try? You don't have anything to lose but a few seeds, and so much to gain, if your plants grow large and healthy, and they will if you follow the above 5 steps! Good luck!
Jade :)
Jade :)
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