Create An Indoor Vegetable Garden: A Guide To Get You Started

As a plant parent, you have many options for your indoor garden, however, many miss out on creating an indoor vegetable garden mainly because they don’t think it is possible. Instead, you can easily grow many vegetables and herbal plants in an indoor vegetable garden.

Growing these edible plants at home is quite easy and with enough practice, even beginners can get familiar with indoor vegetable gardening. Indoor vegetable gardening can be a fun and rewarding experience and it can also enhance the diversity of your home garden. Although, many plant lovers aren’t familiar with this concept of indoor gardening.

Therefore, to help you with everything you need to create your indoor vegetable garden, we brought this complete guide. Get to know the basics of indoor vegetable gardening and some plants that you can easily grow.

Plants For Indoor Vegetable Garden

You can grow a variety of plants in your indoor vegetable garden. Here we have categorized some of the most commonly grown veggies for you to choose from –

Herbs

Though they’re not quite vegetables, growing your own herbs is a terrific way to get started with your indoor vegetable garden. It is also an upgrade from store-bought herbs you plant and grow your own ones. Herbal plants are used in many culinary items to improve flavors and they also provide many medicinal benefits. You can get a starting plant from your neighborhood garden store or plant them from seeds. Moreover, herbs are the recommended choice for any beginner starting with indoor vegetable gardening, as they are easy to grow and care for. Some herbs that you should grow are Parsley, Mint, Chives, Basil, Thyme, Oregano, and some all-season plants such as Rosemary.

Leafy Greens

Many cold-tolerant leafy veggies can be grown in an indoor vegetable garden as well. Plants like Lettuce, Spinach, Arugula, Cabbage, Kale, and more. These low-maintenance plants can be a delicious addition to your indoor vegetable garden. Moreover, these vegetables are fast-growing plants that grow quickly and can be harvested multiple times. These green vegetables can be added to salads or in many dishes to provide a lot of nutrients.

Microgreens

These tasty and tiny plants pack a powerhouse of nutrients and can be used in several different dishes or can be eaten raw. You can really diversify your indoor vegetable gardening experience with Microgreens. As long as you have a sunny spot where they can be positioned, microgreens—typically tiny greens like radishes, mustard greens, chard, broccoli, lettuce, and more—are very easy to cultivate at home.

Tomatoes

Another cherished plant in any indoor vegetable garden is Tomato. You just need a bright spot for tomatoes indoors, other than that the tomato plant care is very easy. Moreover, opt for the smaller varieties of these plants as they are comparatively easy to grow in containers. Also, make sure to use stakes or cages to keep the plant upright.

Peppers

Just like Tomatoes, you can grow small varieties of Peppers in your indoor vegetables. These vibrant, delicious vegetables grow best outside, so for better indoor vegetable gardening, you’ll need to set aside a location in a window that receives plenty of light to grow them properly.

The list doesn’t stop here, there are many other plants such as Strawberries, Lemons, Mushrooms, and more that you can easily grow in your indoor vegetable garden.

Setting Up Indoor Vegetable Garden

Here are some easy steps you can follow to set up your indoor vegetable garden –

• Choosing a location – Vegetables require lots of light. A balcony or windowsill in the sun is perfect. Consider using grow lights if there isn’t enough natural light in your space. Furthermore, to conserve space, you can build a vertical garden, use shelves, or even hang planters and add some climbing plants.
• Soil and Containers – Use trays, pots, or even repurposed containers that have holes for drainage. Make sure that the containers are big enough to hold the veggies you plan to cultivate. For better indoor vegetable gardening, instead of using garden soil in pots, which can be overly dense, use high-quality potting mix. To enhance plant development, you can also include compost or other soil amendments.
• Watering – Maintain a damp but not soggy soil. When the top inch of soil seems dry, water it. Correctly watering your plants can prevent many plant problems.
• Feeding – Every two to four weeks, give your plants a balanced liquid fertilizer. For a more natural approach, organic fertilizers are a fantastic choice.
• Temperature and Humidity – The ideal growing temperature range for most vegetables is 60–75°F (15–24°C). Keep plants away from heating vents and drafts. It might be dry inside, especially during the winter. By spraying your plants or keeping a tray of water close by, you can raise the humidity level.

Harvesting The Vegetables

You can harvest a plant’s leaves or stems at any time if those parts are edible. Certain leafy greens are cut-and-come-again, meaning the inner leaves will keep growing while you can use the outer ones.

Herbs are picked just as required; little amounts are taken off the plant for cooking, and the remainder is allowed to grow.

For fruits, check the number of days to maturity to determine when to expect harvest. This may require more time than stated in the seed packages, depending on the lighting and other plant care requirements in your indoor vegetable garden.

Make sure not to cut more than one-third of the plant at once. The plant will quickly replace the harvested parts if you cut them regularly and within a limit.

Common Problems With Indoor Vegetable Gardening

Just like every garden practice, indoor vegetable gardening also comes with its fair share of trouble. However, you can easily prevent and fix these problems.

• Pests – Many common indoor plant pests can affect your indoor vegetable garden. Pests such as aphids, spider mites, and fungus gnats can be a big problem if not taken care of. Monitor your plants regularly for any signs of pests and clean them regularly. Use neem oil to tackle any pest infestation.
• Slow or stunted growth – Ensure that the amount of light reaching your plants is enough. They may require more if they are growing slowly. Weak growth might result from poor soil. Use high-quality soil and fertilize frequently.
• Leggy growth – This problem is also caused by a lack of light. So, make sure to provide as much light as your plants need.
• Yellowing foliage – The main cause of this problem is improper watering. Create a strict routine to water your plants and make sure to follow it.

Conclusion

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not difficult to start an indoor vegetable garden. You may have fresh, homegrown veggies all year round with the right plants, good maintenance, and a little steadiness. Indoor vegetable gardening is a satisfying way to bring nature into your house and savor the fruits and veggies of your effort, regardless of how much space you have available.