Growing Plants Indoors

It is easy to have a great harvest with vegetable container gardening. Many vegetables are well suited to growing in pots on the patio or balcony. Select varieties which remain smalls such as patio tomatoes, herbs, lettuce, spinach, and other low-growing plants.

Prepare the containers be ensuring proper drainage is available. There should be a hole or several holes in the bottom of the container. You can also add a layer of clean stones in the container bottom to increase drainage. Vegetable container gardening requires that you do not allow your plants to sit in water which has drained out of the pot after applying water.

When using commercial potting mix, place it it the containers loosely. Pack around the plants firmly but do not compress to the point that water will not readily drain through the soil.

Commercial potting soil does not require fertilization right away. Wait one month before applying a weak solution of fertilizer. Most potting mix has plenty of nutrition in the soil to begin the growing season.

As your plants grow, whether from seeds or seedlings, ensure they are properly supported. Tomatoes which grow taller need to have a stake for each plant so that the stalk will not break from the weight of the limbs and fruit.

Water your vegetable container garden only when the soil is dry when a finger is inserted to a depth of one full inch. Insert your finger up to the second knuckle and feel whether moisture is present. If the plants are dry, water deeply. If the soil is moist, delay water application for another day or two.

Place your containers in proper sunlight. Each seedling or seed package will explain how much sun is required for the best results. For vegetable container gardening indoors, you will probably need to provide grow lights to have the best possible harvest.

As fruits and vegetables mature, remove them as they ripen for optimal flavor. You will enjoy a harvest of each variety for several week and can preserve some of your harvest by freezing. Plant as many vegetables as your space allows to ensure you have fresh, produce for the entire season and preserved, healthy vegetables during the winter months.

If growing vegetables indoors, you are not limited by seasons. Container vegetable gardening can be done all year long as long as sufficient light is available.