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Adding some greenery to your kitchen always freshens up the space. This may be especially needed toward the end of a long dreary winter season, when outdoor gardening is less fun. Plants bring in oxygen and clean the circulating air in a room. Plus, having fresh herbs and some vegetables on hand means you’re more likely to want to cook with them, which will motivate you to cook healthier and more often!
Getting Started
First things first, you’ve got to pick the right location. The obvious choice is in the kitchen window, but if you’ve got better light in your dining room, sun room, or another space close to the kitchen, so be it! The best place will be one that gets at least 4 hours of sun, but the more the better.
Depending on the size of your available space, get one or a few indoor pots with drainage holes, and some indoor potting soil. Make sure to get some trays for the bottoms of your pots so the water has somewhere to go.
Depending on the size of your available space, get one or a few indoor pots with drainage holes, and some indoor potting soil. Make sure to get some trays for the bottoms of your pots so the water has somewhere to go.
Photos Courtesy of: www.homeguides.com
Photos Courtesy of: www.homeguides.com
Consider The Space
When picking out your plant starts from the nursery, keep in mind the location you have selected, and the amount of sunlight it receives. Vegetables and herbs will require about 4-6 hours of sunshine. Fruits will need about 8-10 hours daily, and may require more space. If you really want an indoor garden but are lacking in sunlight exposure, you can still do it by supplementing with grow lights! Here are some easy to grow plants that will work great indoors:
Photos Courtesy of: www.bluebirdorchards.com
Photos Courtesy of: www.bluebirdorchards.com
Herbs
- ✓Oregano
- ✓Thyme
- ✓Basil
- ✓Rosemary
- ✓Parsley
- ✓Cilantro
Herbs
- ✓Oregano
- ✓Thyme
- ✓Basil
- ✓Rosemary
- ✓Parsley
- ✓Cilantro
Photos Courtesy of: www.countryliving.com
Vegetables
- ✓Chives
- ✓Scallions
- ✓Celery
- ✓Sprouts/microgreens
- ✓Peppers
- ✓Radishes
Photos Courtesy of: www.countryliving.com
Vegetables
- ✓Chives
- ✓Scallions
- ✓Celery
- ✓Sprouts
- ✓Peppers
- ✓Radishes
Photos Courtesy of: www.heirloomgardener.com
Photos Courtesy of: www.heirloomgardener.com
Fruits
- ✓Strawberries
- ✓Tomatoes
- ✓Lemons
- ✓Limes
- ✓Figs
- ✓Grapefruits
Fruits
- ✓Strawberries
- ✓Tomatoes
- ✓Lemons
- ✓Limes
- ✓Figs
- ✓Grapefruits
Get To Potting
Plants take to being transplanted either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. When making holes for your plants in the soil, a good rule of thumb is about twice the width of the root ball of the new plant. It’s easy to mix up certain herbs. If you’re unsure about which plants are which, it’s a good idea to add labels to each pot.
Tips For Watering
When they are newly transplanted, your plants will need daily watering. After they have become established they may only need to be watered every few days.
Each plant is different, but by checking the soil with your finger each day for moisture, you can begin to learn what amount of water they will need. To eliminate some of the worry, glass watering bulbs will keep soil perfectly saturated.
Each plant is different, but by checking the soil with your finger each day for moisture, you can begin to learn what amount of water they will need. To eliminate some of the worry, glass watering bulbs will keep soil perfectly saturated.
Photos Courtesy of: www.greatist.com
Photos Courtesy of: www.greatist.com
Begin Harvesting!
Herbs can be harvested as soon as they are mature. In order to keep them from having to completely regrow, try to take less than a third of the plant each time. Save the root tips of vegetables like scallions, chives, and celery to replant and grow again! Keep your fruiting plants short and wide by trimming the tops as they grow, and be sure to harvest the fruits immediately to keep ‘em coming!
