Not every British household is privileged with a spacious outdoor area for growing plants and starting a garden. But, no one should be discouraged as anyone can harvest fresh indoor crops!
With sufficient knowledge, you can create a proper indoor growing environment for your favourite fruits and vegetables in no time. Our garden experts have listed down some of the best indoor crops and how you can grow them inside the house successfully! Alternatively, you can grow in a greenhouse, with this option providing both sufficient sunlight and optimal growing conditions for plants, whilst providing protection from the worst of British weather.
1. Radish
Since radishes do not need lots of sunlight to grow, they are the perfect indoor crop. However, they do require a lot of soil, so make sure to plant them in a deep container.
Radishes also need the soil to be moisture-rich with good drainage. This means that your plants should never sit in water, but they do delight in adequate moisture so that their roots can grow plump. Make sure to supply your indoor crops with a generous measure of organic materials too.
2. Herbs
One of the most popular indoor crops, herbs are great for growing on a windowsill. You can simply cut them before consumption to add to delightful meals. Some of the best herbs for indoor growing include chives, mint, parsley, basil, rosemary, thyme, dill, oregano, and lemongrass.
First, you will need to choose a large, sunny window at home. The temperature should range between 18 and 27 degrees and your location should come with good air circulation. In the colder months of the year, however, you need to make sure that they are not placed too close to the window to prevent them from wilting.
3. Potatoes
Potatoes can be grown indoors, but you will need a larger space and should allow more light as the plants get bigger. You can grow them in planters by a sunny window or door. LED grow lights are also a great option if you are not able to let sufficient amount of sunlight in.
When it comes to the pot, you need to grow your indoor potatoes in a very deep, wide planter. Nutrient-rich soil is also essential, filling the pot up approximately one-third of the way to ensure proper growth.
4. Leafy greens
Aside from herbs, leafy greens are great indoor crops. Lettuce, kale, and spinach grown inside the house, for example, can produce crops all year round. Since most leafy green vegetables are shallow-rooted, they do not need a deep container for indoor growth.
What you need to do is create a proper drainage system in the pot and use well-draining soil. Throughout their growth, it is also important to keep the pots watered and fertilized weekly with dilute organic fertiliser.
5. Carrots
Although huge carrots seldom come out of indoor planting, you will be able to enjoy a crop all year round. This vegetable needs less space and can mature quickly.
To grow carrots indoors, a deep container is a must and make sure to place your plants in a sunny spot or under growing lights. Since you’ll be seeding multiple plants, a long container, such as a window box, is ideal too.
6. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are worth starting indoors but should be transferred to a deck or patio once they begin to grow. They will need up to 10 hours of sunlight a day to create tasty, sweet fruits.
When you move tomato seedlings to their permanent pot, it is best to start feeding them with a water-soluble organic fertilizer. You should also shake the plants periodically once they start setting flowers to allow pollen to fall from flower to flower. Your plants will produce no fruit without pollination.
7. Strawberries
Similar to tomatoes, you can start strawberry crops indoors. However, you will need to move them outside once they have fully grown, as they require lots of sunlight. You can also invest in grow lights if you want to succeed in growing strawberries inside the house.
They are best planted in a 6-inch pot with general-purpose compost. A less crowded pot will probably result in more strawberries too.
8. Peppers
A sunny indoor location such as a windowsill can serve as a great growing space for peppers. In trying to plant them inside the house, make sure to use a deep container.
Pepper plants need around ten hours of sunlight so make sure to place them in a well-lit area inside the house. Avoid over watering peppers and allow their container to dry out between watering.
9. Mushrooms
The easiest way to grow mushrooms indoors is to invest in a mushroom kit. Rather than soil, mushroom spores rely on substances like sawdust, grain, straw, or wood chips for nourishment. Spores combined with these nutrient sources is called spawn.
Unlike most of the indoor crops mentioned above, mushrooms grow well in dark, cool, and humid growing environments. If you have a basement at home, it can be an ideal location, but a spot under the sink can likewise work.
You can now begin growing indoor crops and enjoy a steady supply of fruits and vegetables to add on your daily meals! If you want to create a better growing environment for various plants all year round, on the other hand, a high-quality greenhouse is a worthy investment. Garden Buildings Direct offers great designs to choose from — whether you want to grow a few plants or harvest on a large scale.
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