Houseplants and herb gardens are well-known as common plants that can be grown indoors, but they are not the only ones. By using the right containers and having the ability to mimic ideal growing conditions, you can also have a successful indoor vegetable garden. The benefits of having one go beyond the beautification of your home or the relaxation you get from gardening, as you can also pick your own food right in your kitchen.
If you find yourself limited by a lack of space outdoors, having an indoor vegetable garden is simply a logical thing to do.
Carrots, tomatoes, and radishes are three of the easiest fruits and vegetables to grow indoors. Each grows differently and will need separate containers, but with a little bit of research this should not be too much of a problem.
Never use black containers for your indoor vegetable garden as these retain the heat of the sun. Use light-colored containers instead.
A south-facing window is the best source of natural sunlight for your vegetables to grow in. If you do not have the right exposure, you can invest in an artificial bulb for a source of supplemental light.
As with any container you choose to grow plants in, making sure there is enough drainage is vitally important. If your plants sit in too much water they are not going to survive. If the pots you choose do not have holes in the bottom, be sure to have a layer of gravel or wood chips to allow the water to run out of the soil. The flip side of this is to ensure that the water does not run out too quickly either.
Your plants will have a greater chance of survival if you choose a bigger container. This will need watering less frequently as the more soil there is, the more moisture it will retain.
When choosing the types of vegetables to plant, follow the same guidelines as you would for outdoors. On the seed packets you will find recommendations on when to plant, the amount of light and water that is needed and the spacing requirements. Tailor your water schedule according to the condition of the soil, making sure that it doesn’t get too dry or stay too wet.
By the end of the summer or early fall you should be able to harvest the vegetables grown inside your own home.