Vegetable Gardening Without A Backyard

There is nothing like the delicious taste of fresh picked vegetables from your own garden. It can be a challenge to plant a vegetable garden when you don’t have a backyard. But never fear, for you can still enjoy freshly grown vegetables in your very own indoor vegetable garden.

Pick Suitable Plants

Your indoor garden will have restrictions on the amount of available sunlight and space, so you will have to keep this in mind when deciding which vegetables to grow indoors. Fruit bearing plants require large amounts of sunshine which will make them difficult to grow indoors. Plants such as lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, and miniature cabbages need much less light and so thrive indoors.

The pots you choose will have to be big enough to support the root system of the plant. The larger the plant the larger the container needs to be. Plants such as radishes, onions and small root carrots are good choices. Herbs, which are more compact, also do very well in an indoor garden. Miniature versions of eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes also grow well in an indoor garden.

Find the Perfect Spot for Growing

A bright south-facing window is best for your garden. Plants need as much sunlight as they can get. As long as the place you choose gets at least five hours of sunlight a day it should be ok. If you can’t find such a spot, you can always buy lightbulbs that can simulate natural sunlight.

Don’t forget about traffic flow. Plants bruise easily so you will need to choose a spot where the plants will have little chance of human contact. If there are pets or small children in your house you will need to place the plants out of their reach. You will also want to keep your gardening tools in easy reach as well as something to clean up the occasional mess. Plants do grow in dirt after all.

Improve The Microclimate Of The Garden

For plants to grow their best, they require high humidity and moderate temperatures. Usually, indoor gardens don’t have enough humidity and you will need to fix this. Place a pan of gravel underneath your pots so that excess water can run out. As the water evaporates from the pan the humidity for the plants will increase.

You can also group plants together in order to optimize your microclimate. Take your vegetable plants and group them with more decorative houseplants. This will also look more beautiful. You can easily control the temperature by simply drawing the shades. Also protect your plants from drafts.

Good Potting Soil Is Key

Your indoor vegetable garden needs potting soil which drains well and has the nutrients your plants need to grow and remain healthy. At your local garden center, you can buy premixed potting soil which already has the correct amount of fertilizer. You can also buy organic potting soil if you prefer. It is easy to cause fertilizer buildup in containers so use caution when adding nutrients.

It is very rewarding to grow your own vegetables indoors, so be sure to give it a try. You can even grow enough to give away as presents to family and friends.

Author Jason Warner can teach you how to start indoor vegetable gardening which will save you $500 on your grocery bill every year. Learn proper indoor vegetable garden design today.