Indoor Gardening
Perfect your green thumb from your windowsill
Photograph by mark poprocki/istockphoto
Whether you’re trying to reduce your grocery bills, seek a deeper connection to the earth by nurturing plant life, or just crave the freshest vegetables possible, an indoor countertop garden is a perfect way to spruce up your home and have easy access to fresh herbs and vegetables. Follow these steps and you can have a radiant indoor garden.
Location, location, location To select a location for your indoor garden, choose a spot in your home that gets at least four hours of sunlight a day. If your home lacks sufficient light, you might need to consider alternatives such as florescent lighting or metal halide grow lamps.
Choose containers Clay, wood, or ceramic containers all work well for the countertop garden if they allow for proper drainage. You can opt for a row of small pots, or you can grow multiple herbs or vegetables in one large container. Choose containers big enough to allow the plants to grow to their full size without being too crowded.
Pick your plants Once you have determined your location, make a trip to your local garden store to pick herbs and vegetables suited for growing indoors. Basil, parsley, oregano, sage, thyme, and rosemary are relatively easy herbs to grow. As for vegetables, think spinach, leaf lettuces, and endive, or even peppers or cherry tomatoes if your indoor garden will get enough heat and light.
Add some soil Depending on what you decide to grow, you can either start with seeds, seedlings from the garden store, or cuttings from established plants. Each container should have a mix of about four parts potting soil to one part organic fertilizer or compost. If you start with cuttings, place them in containers one-quarter filled with soil, and continue to add soil until the cut end is covered and the cutting can maintain an upright position. If you’re starting with seeds, read seed packages for instructions. Some seeds should be germinated before planting, some should be covered with soil, while others are placed on top of the soil, and so on. Make sure that the herbs and/or vegetables planted together in the same container have similar light and water requirements.
Help your garden grow Pay attention to the light, water, and pest-control requirements for each type of herb or plant that you choose to grow indoors. Create a watering schedule to prevent over- or under-watering, either of which can hinder the health of your indoor mini-oasis.
Check weekly for aphids and other pests, which can often be removed with a stream of water from a spray bottle. With a little experimentation and maintenance, you’ll soon have a fresh, healthy herb garden to enjoy and share.
