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Growing vegetables at home is becoming more and more popular, because it’s cheap, home-grown veggies are fresher and tastier, and you know exactly what’s gone into growing them so no more worrying about pesticides. But you don’t need to have an allotment to grow your own. Quite a few vegetables can be grown at home – even on your kitchen windowsill.
Limited space?
The kitchen windowsill, besides being great for growing herbs, is also ideal for growing chillies, peppers, cress and dwarf French beans. Hanging baskets are also an option if you don’t have much space. Strawberries and tomatoes will grow quite happily suspended from the ceiling so don’t think you can’t grow vegetables at home if you don’t have a garden.
Where to grow them
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Most vegetables need at least four hours of sunlight a day, so the first thing to do before you decide to start growing vegetables is decide where to plant them. If your kitchen is dark, consider growing vegetables in the bathroom or living room. They will love the moisture in the air in the bathroom, and many are quite decorative, and will look great in your living room.
What you’ll need
Besides some basic gardening supplies, you’ll need good, fertile soil to grow vegetables. Potting soil is available from any nursery. Just be careful to choose a natural potting soil, without chemical fertilisers, if your aim is to go organic. Then find some attractive pots to put your plants in, and you’re set to go.
Planting and watering
Planting is very easy to do. Dig a small hole (about twice as big as your plant will need), drop the seeds into the pot and fill. Then water the plant thoroughly, and remember that while the soil needs to stay moist, you should never over-water. Watering and planting guidelines for many plants can be found online.
Choose your plants
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The last thing to do is decide on what you’d like to grow. Grow vegetables that will be happy indoors, that aren’t too big for the space you have, and that, lastly, look good. Rocket and sprouting broccoli grow well in small spaces, and are also attractive plants.
To grow vegetables indoors successfully, just take a trip to your local library and start digging in. If you do most of your reading on the web, there are some very good websites that will take you through the growing process, step by step.
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