10 Vegetables You Can Grow Indoors

There are a number of reasons why someone should consider growing vegetables indoors. For example, interested individuals can set their own indoor conditions, thus enabling them to grow whatever they want whenever they want. Likewise, interested individuals can enjoy fresh produce all-year-round, which can be particularly satisfying when it was made possible by their own effort. Having said that, growing vegetables indoors can come with its fair share of challenges, meaning that those who are starting out should stack the odds in their favor as much as possible. Here are 10 vegetables that can be grown indoors with relative ease:

Broccoli

Broccoli is a relative of the cabbage. However, it is prized because of its flowering head, meaning that the relationship isn’t that obvious upon initial inspection. Regardless, broccoli is a great example of a vegetable that can be grown indoors in suitable containers, not least because they need just two to six hours of sunlight on a daily basis. However, interested individuals should make sure to choose a broccoli cultivar that has been optimized for growing indoors.

Carrots

Carrots are root vegetables that need a steady supply of moisture, which can make it easier to grow them indoors rather than outdoors in sunnier climates. Please note that interested individuals should have pots that are deep enough to accommodate the carrot cultivar that they are planning to grow indoors. For example, a pot that is at least 8 inches deep can suffice for short as well as half-long cultivars. However, it isn’t going to be deep enough for standard-sized cultivars, which need a pot that is at least 10 to 12 inches deep. Besides this, sunny windows are a good choice of location for carrots.

Cauliflower

Given their resemblance to broccoli, it should come as no surprise to learn that cauliflower is another relative of the cabbage. Generally speaking, a container measuring about 12 to 18 inches wide as well as 8 to 12 inches deep should be sufficient for a single cauliflower plant. However, it is possible for bigger containers to accommodate more than one cauliflower plant at the same time. In any case, it is important for these containers to have good drainage because cauliflower rots in soggy soil.

Lettuce

Amazingly, lettuce started out as a weed. However, the ancient Egyptians started farming it for its oil-rich seeds, with the result that it has since been turned into a source of succulent leaves as well. Regardless, lettuce is famous for being hardy, which in turn, makes it a good choice for someone to start growing vegetables indoors. Under ideal circumstances, it should have access to about 12 hours of sunlight on a daily basis, though it isn’t unknown for interested individuals to use lamp-light instead.

Mushrooms

There is a wide range of edible mushrooms that can be grown indoors. However, some species are much easier to manage than others, with examples including both oyster mushrooms and white button mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms are best grown in either straw or coffee grounds while white button mushrooms are best grown in composted manure, though both can grow well on sawdust instead. One of the upsides of mushrooms is that they don’t need direct sunlight. In fact, interested individuals should avoid exposing them to direct sunlight because they do their best under cool, dark, and moist conditions.

Onions

Onions need a number of things to thrive. For example, they need a deep container, which is important because the edible part of the onion is the underground stem. Likewise, they need good drainage as well as plenty of sunlight, which may or may not require interested individuals to set up some kind of artificial lighting depending on the season. Consider choosing an onion cultivar with small heads because space is more limited when growing indoors.

Peppers

Bell peppers are a fun example of a fruit that is classified as a vegetable as well. For starters, they need warm soil, which is one reason why growing them indoors can be more convenient than growing them outdoors. Besides that, bell peppers need plenty of sunlight as well as enough water to keep the soil moist but never drenched. It takes a lot of time for these plants to mature, thus making them even better-suited for indoor gardening.

Potatoes

Potatoes are another plant that needs huge containers to be grown inside, which makes sense because the spacing of potato plants has a well-documented effect on their yield per square foot. Generally speaking, consider getting a container of at least 2.5 gallons. After which, potato plants should be provided with sunlight as well as moist soil. As for the seeds, they are very convenient in that interested individuals can just let eyes sprout from potatoes, though they might want to put the potatoes under sunlight to encourage the eyes to sprout faster.

Radishes

Conveniently, radishes have shallow roots, thus making it that much easier to take care of them indoors. Still, it is best to plant them in cooler seasons because they respond best to cooler temperatures. Please note that spacing is helpful for radishes as well, which is true for a very wide range of plants to say the least.

Spinach

Spinach is fast-growing, so it is another good choice for indoor gardening. For those who are curious, spinach is a cooler-temperature plant that should do fine on either a window sill or some similar location. Should temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, considering growing a more heat-resistant cultivar, though putting the plant in the shade for some cooling is an option as well. As spinach becomes bigger, interested individuals should consider transplanting them further and further apart if they are planted in the same container.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are warm season plants, so they don’t do so well when they are exposed to cooler temperatures. It is possible to grow them indoors without access to a greenhouse, but it is possible that interested individuals will see smaller, less prolific results as a consequence. In any case, tomatoes need at least eight hours of sunlight on a daily basis, without which interested individuals shouldn’t expect them to fruit. Thanks to this, some people put their tomato plants outside during the warmer seasons before bringing them inside during the colder seasons. This won’t enable them to keep their tomato plants producing forever because they do have limited lifespans, but it can nonetheless keep their tomato plants producing for much longer than otherwise possible.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply