Friday, January 8, 2016

Growing Vegetables Indoors In the Winter by The Mad Potter


There are many vegetables and plants that can be grown indoors over the winter the most common of these are the herbs. Most herbs will do well in a south facing window, sun room or Florida room if you're lucky enough to have one. However not everyone is lucky enough to have these optimum growing conditions. If you do not have good natural sunlight or the length of sunlight needed during the day you will have to look into supplemental lighting. I recommend a good halogen grow light or an LED with a full color spectrum this will not only benefit the plants but make the room more enjoyable by adding some extra sunlight.
Plants that will do well inside over the winter are herbs, onions, garlic,spinach, lettuce microgreens, tomatoes, and peppers.
Herbs will do well basically in any sunny window that faces south or southwest in direction (you can see these files in the group information). Bush beans can also be grown but pollination is tricky.
Greens such as lettuce, spinach, kale, beets, microgreens and other salad items do well in just about the same temperature and same conditions that the herbs will grow.
Tomatoes, peppers, and other fruiting vegetables are going to require more light this is were the supplemental lighting may come into play if you did not have optimum conditions. Pollination will also be a factor with these plants there since there are no bees to do it naturally for you you will have to do this. Tap the stems to get the pollen to drop from blossom to blossom or use a small paint brush and very carefully wipe across each flower transferring pollen to the other stamens.
Be sure your rooms can meet the temperature requirements for each plant to grow, flower and produce fruit for you.
The next factors that will depend how well your plants do inside is planting medium. Use a good potting mix or garden soil mixed very well with compost. Be sure to place some drainage in the bottom of the pot so when watering they're not standing with their feet wet. Also add a shallow dish underneath each pot to collect the water that drains out. These plants should never stand in water nor should they never be allowed to dry completely out. And don't forget you're going to have to fertilize these plants.
Good luck with your indoor gardening. With a little time and patience it can be very rewarding in the middle of January and February to have fresh produce from your window sill.

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