Tending to a vegetable garden is one of the most purposeful things you can do: It helps feed you (and your family) and maintains your overall health. There’s nothing more exciting than caring for your plants and watching them grow – right before your eyes. Plus, it gives you an amazing sense of accomplishment once they’re ready to harvest.

In addition, growing your own vegetables, fruits and herbs sets your mind at ease: You can keep your mind off pesticides or deceptive food labels – since everything on your table is the result of your own hard work.

Unfortunately, not everyone has access to a large outdoor growing space, like a backyard. But that doesn’t mean they’re down for the count when it comes to gardening. Did you know that growing plants indoors is just as effective as growing them outside?

You don’t need wide, open spaces to start gardening

Plenty of plants don’t need to be in an outdoor space to thrive. These plants can be grown from various containers – ranging from balcony boxes to hanging baskets. With foods like blueberries, tomatoes, limes and leafy greens, you have many choices to choose from if you wish to start cultivating plants indoors.

Space won’t ever be an issue for indoor gardening. One garden can take up as much or even as little space as you’re willing to spare for it. Don’t let your dreams be dreams and let your apartment size hinder you from getting your own organic garden. Here are a few helpful tips and tricks to help turn your home into a green oasis.

Vertical growing spaces

If you don’t have much space to spare, a vertical garden tower may be the thing you need. It enables you to stack plants instead of spreading them out over windowsills or your balcony, allowing you to produce more food in tiny spaces.

Be creative. Install fixtures on your walls to maximize the growing space. Next to a vertical garden tower, waterproof fabric pockets designed for indoor gardening, mason jars attached to a wooden board or wall, stacked balcony box planters, or prefab shelving may provide you with more space to grow small plants like herbs and salad greens.

Hanging baskets

Hanging baskets are beautiful and don’t take up any space. According to Off The Grid News, tomatoes, peas, beans, cucumbers, salad greens, some herbs and strawberries all do well in hanging pots, as long as you keep a few things in mind.

Hanging baskets should be at least 12 inches deep and have a minimum diameter of six inches. Do your research and determine how much sunlight each plant requires. If a sunny spot near a southern window is not an option, try a clamp-on grow light instead. While some plants can stand the cold, others will thrive in temperatures that range from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to place heat-loving plants away from drafty doors and windows.

Ever thought of planting potatoes indoors?

While you may not think of potatoes when you are starting an indoor garden, potato plants provide abundant yields in tiny spaces. Potato plants can easily be grown in a five-gallon pail, plastic tote box, waste bin, or even a large bag. Off The Grid News recommends growing potatoes in straw to keep the container light and easy to move.

Fill the base of the container or bag with a few inches of small gravel and topsoil. Plant the eyes of the potatoes in the dirt and cover the rest of the container with approximately four to six inches of straw. Once you see plants appearing through the straw, add some more to stimulate further growth.

Or why not try to cultivate microgreens such as bean or broccoli sprouts instead? They take up very little space and are highly nutritious and delicious.

As you can see, your options of indoor gardening are endless. Be creative and think outside the planting box.

Sources:

OffTheGridNews.com

RealFarmacy.com