Simple Tips For An Indoor Organic Garden

So, you are very keen to grow your own organic fruit and vegetable plants but you don’t have a garden? This is a common problem faced by many city-dwellers who, more often than not, give up on the idea because they think it’s impossible. However, as long as you have plenty of light in your home and apply a little creativity, it is in fact perfectly manageable. Follow these tips for an indoor organic garden, and you will be feasting on healthy, natural and delicious ingredients in no time.

• •  Stock up on containers. Contrary to popular belief not all vegetables and fruit must be grown in the ground. Pots, hanging baskets, and many other containers are suitable plant growing receptacles. The key is to match the pot size to the size of the plant. The bigger the plant will be at full-size, the larger the container should be.

Flickr image by Dov Harrignton

• •  Choose or make containers with good drainage. If you are fashioning your own stylish plant pots, from boots or teacups, for example, ensure to add a few holes at the bottom to allow excess water to drain.

 

• •  Stock up on organic soil. Soil is easily acquired from any decent garden centre. Make sure you get enough to fill the containers you have.

• •  Choose plants that are strong enough to be grown indoors. In terms of vegetables pick small, compact plants such as lettuce, carrots, peppers and radishes. Many potted fruits flourish indoors if they are cared for properly. Choose dwarf lemon and orange trees as well as figs, peaches and strawberries. Grapes can also be grown indoors, as long as they have the means and space to climb during growth. And herbs, such as basil, chives, thyme and oregano will remain luscious when grown in a window box.

 

• •  Your plants will need between 10 and 18 hours of sunshine each day to grow strong and healthy. The best spots are windowsills, porches, sunrooms and conservatories where they can benefit from direct sunlight and heat. If you can’t guarantee this amount of sunshine, you may need to purchase grow lights to help your plants along. Be aware that plants may need to move locations during the year in order to get maximum light and heat.

 

• •  Potted fruit trees will really benefit from being outdoors in the summer. Even if you can pop them safely outside a door or window, this could be really beneficial for their strength and health.

• •  Indoor fruit, vegetable and herb plants, especially those grown in small containers, will require watering at least once a day.

 

• •  Check your plants regularly for insects and insect damage. However, this will be far less of a problem than if they were grown outdoors.

 

• •  For each plant, do your research on how to ensure their health and strength when growing indoors. Each vegetable, fruit and herb will come with its own optimum conditions for growth, so do your best to meet these requirements.

 

Problem solved! Now you too can enjoy the many benefits that come with growing your own organic produce.