An indoor garden allows apartment dwellers or those with a small yard or imperfect climate to enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables year-round. It gives you fresh herbs and veggies ripe for the picking, ready to add vibrancy to the most basic recipes or as a snack right off the plant. Whether you want to garden in order to have the freshest produce, live healthier, save money, as a fun family activity, or ultimately, as a potential “prepper” garden, let’s welcome the outdoors in.
Plotting and Planning
You don’t need a large space or fabulous natural light to have a healthy indoor garden, but you do need the right containers. Lettuce, spinach, and other greens need to be planted a minimum of five inches deep for proper root development, while beans, peppers, cucumbers, and peas do well in depths of seven to nine inches. Broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and cherry tomatoes thrive in a 12-inch deep pot but will be happier in 16 inches. Standard tomatoes, summer squash, cucumbers, potatoes, and Jerusalem artichokes need to be planted 16 inches or more deep.Next, take spacing into account. Radishes and carrots will thrive when planted just two inches apart. Leafy greens are commonly placed five or six inches apart to allow for robust growth and easier picking. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and cherry tomatoes do best in a 12-inch pot (some gardeners sneak basil in there with them, saying it enhances the tomatoes’ flavor). For summer squash and standard tomatoes, use an 18-inch planter.
Not all plants are suitable for indoor gardens; corn and okra simply grow too big, as do some tomatoes. Unless your garden is located in the basement or a spare bedroom, opt for dwarf varieties of plants, such as peppers and bush varieties of tomatoes, beans, and similar plants. Many seed packets will state that they’re intended for a container garden right on the front. Low plants, such as strawberries, are good choices.
As if this all wasn’t enough, you need to consider the container material. Plastic is the most popular and lightweight with options that look natural. Fiberglass is even lighter but can be more expensive. Terracotta is a traditional choice, but it wicks moisture, requiring more frequent watering. Ceramic planters can be works of art, but make sure they have a drainage hole, or they'll become very heavy when filled with wet soil. You can make your own wood containers by using rot-resistant redwood or cedar or plan on making new ones from less hardy varieties every few seasons.
Planting Media
You’ve got a backyard full of free, rich, dark soil that your garden plants love, you say? Leave it there. Common garden soil will compact in a container, leading to poor aeration and drainage. Plant roots can’t properly absorb nutrients in soggy soil; this doesn’t even take into account the pests and diseases you don’t want to bring indoors.A quality indoor potting soil mix is best. Note the word “indoor” here: All potting soils aren’t the same. These sterile, lightweight mixes are formulated with added ingredients, such as fertilizer and other components, to ensure proper water retention and airflow for the roots. Organic options are also available.
Light the Way
Lighting is a key element for a successful indoor garden. Outdoors, most vegetables, fruits, and herbs will receive six to eight hours of sun each day. For indoor plants, consider a greenhouse, a sunny southern-exposure window, or the use of grow lights.High intensity discharge grow light bulbs provide the highest intensity and work well for tall plants with a dense canopy of foliage.
Metal halide light bulbs give off a cool white (i.e. blue) light for compact, leafy plants, while high pressure sodium lights are stronger on the red/orange end of the spectrum to promote flowering.
T5 fluorescent grow lights come in blue and red spectrums and are typically less expensive, while compact fluorescents offer a less intense and even more economical option well-suited for tight spaces.
LED (light emitting diodes) lights use the least amount of power and give off the least amount of heat, making them best-suited for seed-starting and short plants that are 2 1/2 feet tall or shorter.
Consistency Is Key
Plants love damp but not soggy soil. Stick your finger in up to the first knuckle—if it’s dry at the fingertip, you need to water it. Provide stable temperatures, too; tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers thrive in the 75- to 80-degree range, while lettuce, kale, and spinach do well in 65- to 75-degree temperatures. Use a portable space heater if needed, or place them near an air conditioning vent in summer.Be alert for excessive humidity and proximity; plants growing too closely together indoors can develop fungal growths. Another concern is pests, so spray a mix of one tablespoon of Dr. Bonner’s soap with a quart of water for an environmentally-friendly solution. Apply a fertilizer labeled for fruits and vegetables according to directions (ranging from every two weeks to every three months), and you’ll soon be reaping a bountiful harvest.
Hydroponic Pros and Cons
Hydroponic enthusiasts know this method produces improved growth and yield without any messy soil, but is it right for you?The Good Stuff
Hydroponic techniques deliver a very nutrient-rich solution directly to the root zone, so plants can be grown very close together without competing for root space. It uses 80 to 90 percent less water, has fewer pests, and there are no weeds to deal with.Upfront Cost
Compared to less than $100 for most soil system start-ups, the initial outlay for a hydroponic system ranges from $50 to $200 for a low-tech, basic system, $300 to $1,000 for mid-tech gardens, and $3,000 and above for high-volume systems.Things to Know
Hydroponic systems require electricity, making them vulnerable to power outages. The nutrient solution must be flushed and refilled regularly and monitored frequently for factors such as pH, electrical conductivity, and waterborne diseases.
