Growing your own food is one of the most rewarding and self-sufficient activities. It is also a great way to cut down on your grocery bill, and it can help you get more nutritious foods into your diet.
While it takes a lot of effort and commitment to grow your own food, the rewards are well worth it. And there is something really satisfying about walking out to your garden in the middle of summer to pick fresh tomatoes, peppers, or beans for your dinner!
Indoor Vegetables
Indoor vegetables are a wonderful way to bring nature into your home and eat fresh, organic fruits and veggies. The best part is that they require minimal maintenance and can be grown without any outside space. Plus, they’re easy to grow – just plant seeds in pots, water regularly and you’ll have tasty harvests in no time!
Vegetables that are ideal for growing indoors include lettuce, broccoli, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, peas, cabbage, winter squash and onions. Some of them are very quick-growing, like radishes. Others need more time, like scallions and tomatoes.
Some of them need very little sunlight and can be grown in partial shade, like leafy greens and herbs. For other veggies, you’ll need to ensure they get adequate light – at least 6 hours a day for fruit and edible roots, and at least 4 hours for leafy greens.
The best way to grow vegetables inside your home is to use containers that are sized properly for the plant you’re growing, and provide adequate drainage. A container that’s too small will cause root rot, while one that’s too large will suffocate the plant’s roots.
When choosing a container, choose one with holes in the bottom and a potting soil that drains well. This will protect your floors and furniture from the dirt, which can lead to fungal infections.
Generally speaking, garden soil is too heavy for container gardening, so choose a light-weight potting mix that’s specifically designed for planting in pots. Many of these mixes include vermiculite or perlite, which allow the plants to drain more easily.
Another good idea is to invest in some supplemental lighting, such as fluorescent lights or LEDs, for a better yield. This will help keep your plants healthy and producing, even when they’re not getting as much sunlight as they’d like to.
Aside from saving you money, having an indoor vegetable garden can also be a great stress reliever. It’s an opportunity to enjoy gardening while you’re busy with other tasks and doesn’t involve having to worry about chilly weather or frost dangers outdoors.
Indoor Herbs
Herbs are a great way to add flavor to your meals. They can be used in everything from soups to salads, sauces to stews and even baked goods. They’re easy to grow indoors, and they’ll provide you with fresh herbs year round!
Herbs grow best when they receive a lot of sun. A south-facing window with at least 6 hours of bright light each day is ideal for most herbs. Skylights and well-exposed east and west windows can also provide enough light for many herbs.
If your windows aren’t sunny, consider placing your herbs under a grow light or a DIY light that mimics sunlight. Specifically, you’ll be needing growing led lights; the grow lights nz sold by Indoor Grow will prove to be indispensable to you apartment garden. These lights will ensure your herbs get plenty of supplemental light, especially in the winter when natural sunlight is reduced.
To grow indoors, herbs need plenty of light and a well-draining soil mix that’s slightly moist but never soggy. Water your plants regularly to keep the soil moist but not saturated, and fertilize with a balanced, all-purpose plant food every other week.
Basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary and sage all need 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. Parsley, mint and cilantro are less demanding, requiring about 4 hours of light.
Sage (Salvia ssp) is a shrubby, herbaceous perennial with rounded leaves that do very well in indoor spaces. It’s not a good choice for large containers, but it does well in a small pot or in a hanging basket.
Chives are another easy herb to grow indoors. They’re a cool weather perennial that grows well in part-sun areas and can be multiplied from cuttings.
You can buy chives in stores or at the farmer’s market and they are very inexpensive to cultivate from cuttings or seeds. You can grow chives in a small container or in a hanging basket and they’ll provide you with fresh chives year-round.
You can also use your herbs as a decorative accent to any room. Just make sure your herbs don’t share space with other houseplants. This will help prevent unwanted pests such as aphids from moving into your herb garden. To dislodge aphids and other bugs, simply spray your plants with a solution of soapy water.
Indoor Flowers
Flowering plants can be a wonderful way to brighten up a room and make it feel warmer. Whether you want to bring a little nature inside your home or you’re just looking for something fun and different, there are plenty of indoor flowers that can bloom all year round.
While many flowering plants require special soil, there are also some that thrive in general purpose potting mix. Depending on the type of flowering plant you have, you may need to fertilize regularly as well. Organic compost tea or a slow-release fertilizer is a good choice.
There are a variety of popular flowering indoor plants that are simple to care for, yet offer gorgeous blossoms. Begonias, for example, are easy to keep healthy and beautiful. They come in a wide range of colors and can grow in a variety of containers.
African violets are another great flowering plant that can be grown in the house. They are low-maintenance and easy to care for, and their purple flowers look fantastic in a pot or on a window sill.
They’re easy to grow in most homes, and their flowers will last all year long if you give them the proper attention. The key is to water them as soon as the soil feels dry.
Orchids, for example, are a popular flowering plant that is often associated with hard work but can actually be pretty rewarding once you get the hang of it. However, they do require specific potting soil, so make sure you buy the right one for your orchid plant.
Kalanchoes are long-flowering succulents that are native to Madagascar, but they thrive in arid environments and need acidic soil and light. They have a range of blooms, from red to pink, and they produce new flowers nearly year-round in response to sunlight.
If you’re interested in growing a variety of plants, consider planting your own vegetable garden. Hally notes that some vegetables and herbs do better indoors than others, but you can easily create a mini-garden in a spare room or on a windowsill with a few simple steps.
Indoor Fruits
Figs, strawberries, tomatoes, and other fruits can be grown indoors as well as outside. The key is finding a sunny spot for them in your home or garden. This may be in an open-plan kitchen or a conservatory.
Some fruit plants, such as peppers and strawberries, require a lot more sunlight than others. This means that you need to place them in a spot where they get enough direct sun, as well as a temperature that matches their needs.
Another reason to grow your own garden is if you want to produce the most delicious, fresh-looking and organic food possible. In addition, these plants are a great way to improve your health and well-being by adding more nutrients to your diet.
You can grow these plants in pots, hanging baskets or even windowsills. The best type of container to grow them in is a pot that has multiple drainage holes. This allows you to water your plant easily and ensures that it doesn’t dry out too quickly.
When choosing a pot, pick a large one that has the right size for your tree’s root system. A pot that is too small will cause your tree to become root-bound and die.
Fruit trees grown from seeds can take a long time to mature, so be prepared to wait for a few years before you see any fruit on your tree. Mulberries, for example, can take up to 10 years to ripen.
Alternatively, if you’re willing to invest a little more time, you can get grafted fruit trees from nurseries. These grafted fruit trees mature much more quickly, producing higher-quality fruit than seedlings do.
This is a great alternative for anyone who doesn’t have the space to grow a full-size fruit tree. There are many dwarf varieties available that can stay relatively small, making them a great choice for your indoor garden!
Growing your own fruit is a fun and rewarding activity. It can also help you to save money on groceries by growing your own organic produce. You can also use these fruits to make your own sweet or savory jams and preserves.