Why Grow Indoor Container Vegetables
Ever go to a friends house or a relatives house and are blown away by their garden? Or have you ever wanted to grow your own food? How about ever just wanting live green plants in your home? You might have these or other thoughts but believe you cannot grow vegetables because you do not have the space. I am here to tell you that yes, you can grow many many of your favorite veggies in containers in your home. Growing vegetables indoors not only will you be able to use and eat the vegetables, but they also look amazing, and fill the inside of your home with life.
Space is a big consideration when it comes to gardening, that is why I personally recommend container gardening especially when growing vegetables indoors. I absolutely love container gardening because you can do it anywhere, and almost use any container you can find. Sounds crazy, but it is true. For good containers, all you need are drain holes and make sure it holds i.e. paper will not work, but a milk carton cut in half will. With your indoor veggie garden you can create elegant meals from own windowsill. Plus, incase that is not enough, NASA said plants can effectively filter out potentially harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC) like benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene.
Which Vegetables to Grow Indoors
Now that you have decided you are growing vegetables indoors, it is time to think and choose which ones will be the best for you. There are a couple things to consider when planning which ones to grow, like are you going to grow root or bulb vegetables? Or are you growing for esthetic purposes, or just for fresh taste ingredients, or a combination of both. It is always good to choose fruits, herbs and vegetables you enjoy consuming, and this adds to the entire experience.
You will also need to take into account where you plan on placing your plants. Some plants require more sun than others, and some you might want really close to the kitchen for accessibility. A single cilantro plant by itself on the floor next to your TV is probably not the most optimum place for it. But planted with, or next to other herbs sitting in a very well lit area on a windowsill is perfect. Here are a few Ideas to help you decide which ones you are going to choose…
| Herbs | Vegetables |
|---|---|
| Oregano | Onion |
| Thyme | Peas |
| Parsley | Chard |
| Cilantro | Spinach |
| Mint | Lettuce |
| Basil | Garlic |
| Chives | Peppers |
| Rosemary | Beets |
| Sage | Radishes |
Grow Herbs
You can choose from a wide selection of herbs to grow. In my experience growing herbs enjoy the company of other herbs, and make great companions to other vegetables in your indoor garden. Do not just have one herb plant all by itself, when you grow herbs they will be happier and produce more with friends to share the environment. Some great indoor herbs are chives, parsley, basil, rosemary, thyme, catnip, wheatgrass, mint, ginger, scallions, cilantro, oregano, and garlic. All are east to grow, and you can find them at your local nursery or start from seed. Some of the herbs I think will do a lot better if started from seed and never transplanted.
Things to consider when planting herbs for inside container gardening are sunlight, space, drainage, soil, and humidity. When it comes to humidity, unless it is a succulent, it will probably to better in a humid environment. But what about if you live in a dry desert environment? You might think there is nothing you can do about that, but there is. By keeping many plants close together, they will create their own micro climate that is humid and cultivating for them.
Grow Vegetables
When you want to grow vegetables indoors, the biggest limitation is the space. As you can probably guess, there are a lot of plants that just will not work because of their size. Squash plants needs a ton of room and their leaves can become as big as my face. Now you definitely could plant a squash plant inside a huge container, on the ground in a very very sunny area, but I personally would not recommend it. Since you plan on eating these foods, you should plan to keep them in the kitchen. This is for easy access and proper food handling.
The other thing to consider when growing vegetables indoors, is it will take a lot more sun than a lot of other indoor plants. This is because it takes an incredible amount of energy for a plant to produce food. If the plant does not have the energy (in the form of sunlight) and water, it will not produce anything worth eating.
Some of the vegetables I have grown indoors and enjoyed are radishes, mushrooms, green beans, arugula, micro greens, rhubarb, beets, asparagus, parsnip, turnips, sprouts, kale, spinach, hot or mild peppers, and smaller tomato and cucumber varieties. Some vegetables like beets, you can actually eat the green on top, so that is an added bonus. Never eat tomato or potato greens because they are toxic.
Possible Problems
Before you really get started with your indoor garden, it is good to know possible problems you may encounter. The plant as you know will need plenty of water and sunlight, and those of course are a must. But over watering can be a huge problem. When it comes to container gardening, always think about drainage and the best soil mixture for your plant. If the water doesn’t drain away from the root structure, it will cause root rot, or other drainage problems. Once this happens, it is best to rip the plant up, and start again.
Another big problem is pests. Bugs freak us out when we are outside, but inside pests are a situation you never want. Sadly with inside plants, the chance of having inside bugs are high. Nobody wants to have bugs inside their home, and if you see a problem, it is best to take care of it fast and early. If you wait and hope the problem goes away, you will be waiting until you throw away your entire inside container garden. I personally use a spray bottle mixed with some vinegar. Bugs do not like the vinegar and will leave or not settle in if you mist your plants with this mixture once to twice a week. Plus it is natural and chemical free.
Indoor container foods are fun, decorative, and bring life to your home. It is fun when you pick your favorite herbs and veggies and use them to make culinary masterpieces. They are so much tastier and more nutritious than store bought foods. I recommend starting small with a couple of your favorite herbs and growing from there. Have fun!