by Julie Bawden-Davis

Created on: November 18, 2010

Gardeners everywhere plant vegetables and herbs. The indoor gardener can do the same. A surprising number of vegetables and herbs grow well indoors, including peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas, zucchini, various greens and herbs like basil and rosemary.

In general, the vegetables and herbs that do best in the home are those that thrive in warm weather, such as tomatoes and peppers. Produce that grows when it's nippy outside, like broccoli and cauliflower, tends to bolt and go to seed indoors before producing.

Learn the secrets to a bountiful indoor harvest, and you can pick farm-fresh produce for every meal.

Growing Location

Vegetables and many herbs need plenty of sunlight, but ideally should be placed where it isn't too warm. If possible, put your indoor garden in a drafty area such as an unheated sunroom, or place plants near a slightly ajar window.

Lighting

Vegetable plants and herbs, like basil, rosemary and thyme, require 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. While a bright southeast or west window is a good location, supplemental lighting is also recommended. The easiest way to provide extra light is to put full-spectrum light bulbs—which simulate sunlight—in nearby fixtures. Supplemental lighting is imperative if there are no bright windows.

If you grow vegetable plants from seed, make sure to give the seedlings adequate lighting once they come up so they don't become leggy and weak.

Plant Selection

Choose seeds or seedlings marked as good for container growing, because these types tend to be compact growers. Bush cucumbers and beans are good choices. Cherry or small, determinate tomatoes types do better than large varieties. Also choose self-pollinating vegetables that aren't dependent on bees for pollination. Generally, this means hybrid seeds and plants. If you aren't sure whether a plant is self-pollinating, and you haven't yet gotten any fruit, hand-pollinate by wiggling a small paintbrush inside each flower. This will do the job of bees and spread pollen throughout the blossoms.

Choose the smallest seedlings from the nursery that you can find. The smaller the plant, the more likely it will be to acclimate to your indoors and produce.

Watering

Water plants when the top inch of soil has dried. Avoid letting your indoor vegetable plants experience drought as this will negatively affect production.

Fertilizing

Feed your garden once a month with a water-soluble, organic plant food. Avoid fertilizer containing urea, because this can build up in the soil and become toxic to plants.

Repoting

Move your vegetables to a larger container if they appear to outgrow their pot. A plant needs repotting if water drains quickly through the pot when you water, if there are roots coming out of the drainage holes, or if the plant appears to be top-heavy and looks disproportionate. Use a high-quality potting soil with good drainage.

Pests

Indoor-grown vegetables are prone to pests such as mealybugs, aphids and scale. Use non-toxic methods to control these troublemakers. Start by rinsing the plants with water. If pests persist, treat with insecticidal soap.

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