NEEPS

Sunflower · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:08 am Post subject: Growing veg indoors

I've decided to have a go at growing some stuff indoors while I'm getting to know the area and find landshare, but have never done this before and in the past have never had much luck with houseplants. (neglectd or overtended, either way, I've generally ended up killing them)
Does anyone who grows veg inside have any hints and suggestions please? Or maybe a link to a helpful website? Thanks

Maidenstone · Neepster Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 303

I've got chilli peppers growing on a windowsill, but that's just a summer thing. Sprouting seeds, pulses and grains is the easiest, for salads and stir-fries, and the sprouts are packed with all sorts of goodies, far more than the adult plant eventually is. Can you put up window boxes? I once designed one for a competition where the plants were grown in icecream containers - runner beans, tomotoes, herbs etc., and individual ice cream containers could be lifted out and potted up with something new without disturbing the whole lot. I won a consolation prize - a book on window boxes!
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Sunflower · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:34 am Post subject:

What a good prize!! Icecream containers a good idea -looking at my windowsills they'd be just the right size I think. That's inside again though-there are no windowsills on the outside at all, and also windows only open at top so wouldn't be able to reach them anyway Thiink I'll be able to plant up some pots outside in the street come the spring...
I am sprouting seeds and pulses but that's more to forcefeed my daughter and myself goodness, not because I particularly like them!
From what you say about your chilli, am I right in thinking that indoor grown veg still follows the same growing timetable as outdoor? That's a shame, was hoping to persuade some tomatoes to grow for me for Christmas..

Smooth Hound · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:50 pm Post subject:

herbs, small tomatoe plants, cress , mustard etc, peppers, chilis, , spring onions.

you could have a couple of jars of sprouting things going too, like lentil, mung beans , that sort of thing

Sunflower · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:53 pm Post subject:

Do you think it's worth trying to plant some now or am I just wasting my time and need to learn a bit of patience?

Smooth Hound · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:33 pm Post subject:

unfortunately wrong time of year, but you could get a sage, rosemary, and thyme for the time being, you can do sprouting beans, and you could do things like mustard and cress,
maybe some spring onions, and a few salad leaves

Maidenstone · Neepster Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 303

Wrong time of year, I know, but folk are growing tatties in pots nowadays, with great success. If you've got room for a couple of pots next summer, great.
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Maria · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:14 pm Post subject:

Wonderful stuff....sounds grand Sunflower.

Don't worry about killing houseplants...i used to do exactly the same. My BH used to call the kitchen windowsill 'death row' (his joke not mine!) as that's where all the poorly houseplants would end up after being neglected elsewhere. I grow all sorts now...and have toms, peppers, aubergines and basil growing inside this year. It was more of an experiement in seeing whether i'd kill them off really...but they've done so well I'll definately grow more indoors stuff next year.

I think the problem with growing things out of season is the day length...even if you provide extra lighting the plants are often leggy i believe. This might not be the case if you go to the expense of light and heat lamps...but not sure?
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Smooth Hound · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject:

theres a perfectly good light in the sky,

Smooth Hound · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject:

which is a good point sunflower, which way do your windows point