Vegetables are an essential part of the human diet. They contain all of the vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants one needs to live a healthy lifestyle.
That’s why I love vegetables, and eat a lot of them. I’ve been thinking about growing my own vegetables indoors this year, as last year’s hydroponic experiment wasn’t very successful (but don’t worry — I’ll share what went wrong).
It never occurred to me that there would be a lot of different vegetables to grow indoors. So I decided to go on Google and do some research. The list below is what I came up with after searching for “vegetables to grow indoors”:
What vegetables grow better indoors?
Lettuce:
This can be grown in any type of container (and even indoors) as long as it has drainage holes. Lettuce varieties such as oak leaf and bibb will tolerate a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, making them a great choice for year-round growing; just keep an eye out for aphids or caterpillars if you’re growing them outside during the summer months.
Microgreens:
These tiny vegetable plants can be grown in small containers on your kitchen countertops or windowsills. They’re packed with nutrients and grow quickly perfect for people who don’t have much space but want to eat fresh greens every day! Common microgreens include arugula, beet root, cilantro, dill, mustard greens and parsley.
You’ll need to harvest microgreens when they’re still young, usually within 2-3 weeks after planting them; once they turn into full-size plants, they become bitter and less nutritious than when they were young greens with tiny leaves.
Peppers:
Peppers come in many different sizes, shapes and colors, making them one of the most versatile vegetables available today! They’re delicious in everything from salads to stir-frys to pizzas!
If you want to grow peppers indoors without having to worry about pests or weather conditions like cold temperatures or heavy rainfall, try planting them in containers instead. You’ll need to place the pots in sunny areas of your home and keep them watered regularly.
Spring Onions:
Spring onions are easy to grow and can be harvested within a matter of weeks. They are great in salads, sandwiches and even as a garnish on soups and curries.
Indoor Peas:
Pods will continue to produce if you harvest them regularly. You can eat peas raw or cooked, so they are an ideal choice for anyone looking to grow their own food this winter.
Mushrooms:
Mushrooms have been grown indoors for centuries by people wanting to keep them for their own use or for sale at market stalls. Growing mushrooms is simple; provided you have enough light, a cool place where they can thrive and some patience (it takes around two weeks from spawn to first crop).
Spinach:
Spinach is a cool-weather crop that can be grown indoors in the winter. It is an easy to grow vegetable that will thrive in any kitchen. The best way to plant spinach is to sow seeds directly into the soil of your garden.
In order to grow spinach indoors, you will need to start your seeds in individual pots or trays. Plant them about ¼ inch deep and keep them moist until they germinate.
Once they have germinated, you can begin fertilizing them with a diluted liquid fertilizer every few weeks until they are ready to be transplanted into your garden or flowerbeds outside.
Kale:
Kale is another leafy green vegetable that can be grown indoors during the winter months; however, it requires more care than spinach because it needs cooler temperatures (60-65 degrees Fahrenheit).
Kale can also be grown outdoors during the spring and fall months as long as there are no freezes expected in your area! To grow kale indoors, start by sowing it directly into a tray or pot filled with potting soil with drainage holes in the bottom of it (like peat moss or vermiculite). Sow three seeds per cell or pot and cover them lightly with soil.
Can you grow vegetables indoors all year round?
Yes, with some planning and a little luck, you can grow your own vegetables indoors all year round. This is especially true if you live in an apartment or condo, but even if you have a backyard, there are certain advantages to growing some of your own food indoors.
When you grow vegetables indoors, the biggest advantage is that you don’t have to contend with the vagaries of weather conditions. You can control temperature, humidity and light levels in order to create an ideal environment for your plants. You can also control pests by using organic methods like companion planting or using natural sprays instead of insecticides.
The biggest problem with growing vegetables indoors is that it takes up space — usually quite a lot of space — and this can be a problem if space is limited such as in an apartment or condo or even in a house where there aren’t enough windows to let in enough natural light for plants to thrive on their own.