Time to learn to grow … vegetables indoors
Easy-peasy-runner-bean-squeasy
In part 1, we focused on herbs and now we’re going in a more rooted direction: vegetables. Let’s start with green beans, which are popular for many beginner growers. Plant the seed in moist soil, pop on a sunny sill and job done. Keep moist and you’ll soon have a happy green bean plant. In terms of nutritional value, green beans are high in vitamins A, C, K, folic acid and fibre.
Regrow crops from kitchen food scraps
Yes, you can get a second harvest or regrowth from your leafy greens. When cooking with leeks, keep the bottom part of the stalk, an inch or two from the base, and place it in a glass straight up with a bit of water and let nature do the work. In a couple of weeks, you will have a new sprout ready to use in the kitchen, or transfer to soil if you have a garden (see later). You can do the same with salads, celery, onions, garlic and root vegetables (such as carrots and beetroot) for replanting.
Unexpected indoor growing
While carrots may not be a plant that springs to mind when you think of indoor growing, it is possible to grow carrots indoors. These root vegetables have high levels of vitamins A and K and are a good source of iron and fibre. A 12-inch pot is needed to give adequate depth for the growth of the root. Again, moisture and a sunny windowsill are the key players in ensuring the growth of the vegetable. One benefit of growing carrots indoors is that they are much less likely to succumb to the dreaded carrot fly, a much-maligned pest of those who grow carrots outdoors. In fact, growing indoors offers great protection against a wide variety of pests, not just those affecting carrots.
The humble potato is another crop you might not think of growing indoors, but it can be done, either indoors or on a balcony/doorstep. Often overlooked in favour of more fashionable foodstuffs, potatoes are a great source of dietary fibre, potassium, and vitamins C and B6. Potatoes are incredibly low in cholesterol, helping to support heart health. All you need to do is fill an old bucket or sack with soil, plant your tuber (kept in dark until sprouted), water regularly and soon you’ll have a decent harvest of homegrown tubers. With early and late varieties available, organised planting will see you have a supply through the seasons. Newer varieties to the market such as Inca Bella and Mayan Gold have increased carotenoid content (essential for a healthy immune system and important for eye health).
Experimenting with different substrates
The substrate (the media you use to grow your crop) for your indoor growing doesn’t have to be soil. Mushrooms are incredibly easy to grow; all you need is some hay and a commercially-available starter pack. Oyster mushrooms are probably the easiest to grow as they are very quick, relatively resistant to competition from other organisms, and tolerate a varied source of bedding substrate materials (often straw and/or sawdust) usually in bags, with small holes for air exchange. You can get a starter pack of grey oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) sawdust spawn commercially online. Place the bags in a warm-ish dark cupboard for germination and for the mycellium (the white-ish filaments) to colonise the substrate. After about 10 days, the bags can be placed in a cooler and more humid environment (add moisture using a fine-mist spray bottle) simulating Autumn-like conditions, to induce fruiting. About a week later, you can start harvesting full-size mushrooms. All you need really is a bit of space in a cupboard and you’ll be growing your own mushrooms!
Winter light support
In winter, it can be difficult for indoor grown plants to get the light levels they require for growth and health. Many plants need at least 12 hours of quality light a day, which is easy to come by in the summer but not as winter draws closer. In these circumstances, it can be useful to invest in a table-top grow light to support your plants photosynthetic requirements. Full spectrum LED lights give plants the full spectrum range they require, as well as being energy efficient and most environmentally friendly. Don’t worry, before winter arrives, we will share some top tips on choosing the right lighting for your home garden needs!
