Just because the melodic line is cold and the ground is frozen does n’t stand for you have to give up eating — or even spring up — bracing food . Gardening indoors can be a big challenge , but with the right conditions , your plants and your thumb can stay green all winter long .
Transitioning Indoors
Startindoor gardeningby affect vegetables that have been get in jackpot outside to your indoor infinite , but verify the works are healthy and pest free . Not all vegetables can keep growing indefinitely , so if your plants have already bring forth yield or seen better days , you may want to buy seedling or begin your own seeds .
In general , leafy green industrial plant and herbs are well-to-do to acquire indoors , abide by by root crops like carrots . fruit vegetables such as tomato and peppers can be gainsay for an indoor garden , as they require more sunlight and warm temperatures . It ’s possible to growdwarf citrus trees or avocadosin pots indoors but even with a very cheery window they will not grow as secure or produce yield the way of life they would in a warm climate outside .
Good Light
Plants require a minimum of 5 to 6 hour of sunlight to subsist , but they produce serious with 14 to 16 hours of light . In winter , plants will get the most spark from south - face windows . A fairly sunny window or room may be enough for your flora to grow well , but if they do n’t get enough twinkle , they ’ll become spindly and scramble to reach their full sizing or develop yield .
If your indoor space does not provide enough light , your local garden store or plant greenhouse can recommend grow lights that plug in and provide the right light for plant to flourish . This redundant light will keep establish industrial plant happy and advance seed to grow sturdy and strong until you could transpose them alfresco in the spring .
Space
recover room for a vegetable garden in spite of appearance can be as easy as make infinite for a flock or windowpane box . Ambitious winter growers can optimize perpendicular space with shelves , hanging planter , good palettes or hanging bottleful for plant in window . A roll up shelf or utility cart is a commodious topographic point for plants and grow luminousness because they can easily be affect to a sunnier spot or out of the way .
The Right Temperature
plant favor temperature of 70 to 75 degrees F to rise , with cooler temperatures at night ( 65 to 70 degrees F ) . Unless you keep your plate very lovesome , this might be a challenge . Enough sunlight during the twenty-four hours will warm the plants , butseedsneed unremitting temperature to germinate . Instead of cranking the thermoregulator , use a heating lustrelessness under a cum tray to add the dirt up to a temperature that will encourage germination .
Humidity Control
In addition to melodic phrase temperature , humidity is necessary for plant growth . Indoor warming create an surround that is rarely as humid as plant demand . To increase humidity , radical plants close together to make a humid microclimate , mist industrial plant , apply a humidifier , or place a container of urine on a radiator to evaporate and increase moisture in the atmosphere .
Water
When it comes to watering , indoor plants need to be monitored nearly . Not only can they dry out quickly , but overwatering and cool land can cause damp off in seedlings . experience the soil to be sure it is dry before you irrigate again . declamatory pots may want less frequent lacrimation — stick around a finger’s breadth into the soil to see whether it is still damp . check that you irrigate until it begins draining from the bottom of pots or trays but do n’t have containers sit in pile up water .
Potting Soil
engraft your germ or seedlings in apotting mixturedesigned for indoor works . Because they will not have access to the nutrients in outdoor stain , you ’ll need to supply your plants with additional nutrition . If your growing medium does n’t already include tedious - release fertilizer , you could mix some in before potting the plant life . Feed the plants regularly with a water system - based plant food .
Other Winter Food Options
Even if you ’re not tend to an indoor garden , there are still options for eat locally grown food during the frozen calendar month . you may develop sprouts , ready to eat in a affair of days , with picayune more than water , seeds for germination , and even rinsing and draining . mushroom cloud can grow in a coloured humid space inside your home , either from a kit or following simple instructions . If you favour to take the season off , affirm your local sodbuster instead , and assay out wintertime Fannie Farmer ’ markets or wintertime CSA portion . Do n’t permit the change in season or unique circumstance of growing indoors keep you from cultivating your urban farm .
Place plants in a south-facing window so they get enough light, or place them under grow lights. Photo by Rachel Tayse/Flickr.
