Are there any vegetables I can grow completely indoors?
General NY
I don't have a garden, just a balcony and I think I'm getting close to my limit space wise with what I have sown already. Is there anything that I can grow completely indoors? I am trying out watermelon in a container but I know that that will need to out in the sun. I have just planted some more pepper seeds after the last one died, they are bell peppers. I had planned to have them outside too. I'm happy to plant up some more seeds if you have any recommendations?
Posted
by: Sophie Brooks
(3 points)
Posted: April 6, 2013
Answers
If you have enough light and space, you can grow just about anything indoors. Greens such as mesclun mixes, spinach, arugula, kale, various Asian greens, etc. do especially well. You could also grow basil, parsley (slow), oregano, and rosemary. Unless you have a good natural source of light (overhead, two sides) you could use a cheap shop light and two sunlight-mimicking, full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs. Leave the lights on all day.
Here's a slideshow of an experiment we did growing salad greens before we built a tiny greenhouse in the space where an old porch collapsed. http://bit.ly/AtHACR The photo below shows one of the recycled polystyrene plantings containers we harvested from. With larger, deeper containers, we would have harvested mor abundant crops.
Here's a slideshow of an experiment we did growing salad greens before we built a tiny greenhouse in the space where an old porch collapsed. http://bit.ly/AtHACR The photo below shows one of the recycled polystyrene plantings containers we harvested from. With larger, deeper containers, we would have harvested mor abundant crops.
Winter salad greens under a shop light.
Posted
by: Peg Boyles
(4 points)
Posted: April 6, 2013
Lindsay McMenemy commented,
I am just back from the garden centre and you inspired me to try mesclun mix. I remembered the great pictures you had posted in an earlier post. I too only have a balcony to grow on. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do. Also my guinea pigs will be very appreciative I'm sure! about 11 years ago.
I am just back from the garden centre and you inspired me to try mesclun mix. I remembered the great pictures you had posted in an earlier post. I too only have a balcony to grow on. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do. Also my guinea pigs will be very appreciative I'm sure! about 11 years ago.
Peg Boyles commented,
Off-topic, but in urban Lima, Peru, a few years back, I saw lots of balcony "gardens" growing food--mostly grasses-- for guinea pigs, which people raise as livestock. Cuy(guinea pig) is a national dish there, though I never tried it. about 11 years ago.
Off-topic, but in urban Lima, Peru, a few years back, I saw lots of balcony "gardens" growing food--mostly grasses-- for guinea pigs, which people raise as livestock. Cuy(guinea pig) is a national dish there, though I never tried it. about 11 years ago.
Peg Boyles commented,
A note about mesclun mixes, Lindsay: I love them, not only because you can sow thickly in a solid block and harvest over a long season, but also because of their versatility. A salad mix (and I often create my own) can have a variety of leaf lettuces, spinach, and arugula; a second container might contain a mix of Asian brassicas (there are dozens of possibilities, some spicy, others mild) that work well steamed or in soups and stir-fries. about 11 years ago.
A note about mesclun mixes, Lindsay: I love them, not only because you can sow thickly in a solid block and harvest over a long season, but also because of their versatility. A salad mix (and I often create my own) can have a variety of leaf lettuces, spinach, and arugula; a second container might contain a mix of Asian brassicas (there are dozens of possibilities, some spicy, others mild) that work well steamed or in soups and stir-fries. about 11 years ago.
Lindsay McMenemy commented,
I bought the burpee sweet mix and have just finished sowing it in a nice wide rimmed container that I used for herbs last year. I did spot a spicy mix but I was worried some leaves may not be suitable for the pigs so I stuck to sweet. I may well get some more though. I did not know that people used their balconies to raise the guinea pig feed although I was aware they were eaten in South America... My husband grew up in Colombia and frequently threatens to eat my boys when they are behaving badly :-) about 11 years ago.
I bought the burpee sweet mix and have just finished sowing it in a nice wide rimmed container that I used for herbs last year. I did spot a spicy mix but I was worried some leaves may not be suitable for the pigs so I stuck to sweet. I may well get some more though. I did not know that people used their balconies to raise the guinea pig feed although I was aware they were eaten in South America... My husband grew up in Colombia and frequently threatens to eat my boys when they are behaving badly :-) about 11 years ago.
Sophie Brooks commented,
Thanks for all the info! I may try out some mesclun mix too!! about 11 years ago.
Thanks for all the info! I may try out some mesclun mix too!! about 11 years ago.
Peg Boyles commented,
Watch out for your boys, Lindsay! Just noticed this bit about guinea-pig consumption rising in U.S. http://n.pr/ZqIEsv about 11 years ago.
Watch out for your boys, Lindsay! Just noticed this bit about guinea-pig consumption rising in U.S. http://n.pr/ZqIEsv about 11 years ago.
If you don't want to wait long enough to get baby greens (about the size of the plants in the great slideshow posted by Peg), then you can also try doing micro-greens. Here is one good resource I found that describes the process http://organicgardening.about.com/od/....
You can harvest in about 10 days or so depending on the crops you are trying out. This might be compatible with having some rotating micro-greens containers on your balcony (start indoors, put outside after sprouting, start new set indoors while the first set matures outside for a few days, then repeat). You would only need to devote one spot on the balcony to the micro-greens because the first part of the growing (germinating) could take place on a warm windowsill, and the second part (harvesting) would be done by the time the next set needs the space.
You can harvest in about 10 days or so depending on the crops you are trying out. This might be compatible with having some rotating micro-greens containers on your balcony (start indoors, put outside after sprouting, start new set indoors while the first set matures outside for a few days, then repeat). You would only need to devote one spot on the balcony to the micro-greens because the first part of the growing (germinating) could take place on a warm windowsill, and the second part (harvesting) would be done by the time the next set needs the space.
Posted
by: Kerry Mauck
(58 points)
Posted: April 7, 2013
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