Please recommend several plants for indoors during

Posted by: Cockroach

Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 10/11/10 07:08 PM

Trying this gardening thing to build prepping skills.

We live in urban city across Hudson from NYC. I had mixed success with tomato and pepper plants on our decks thus summer/fall. I learned some things and I am determined to make a comeback next spring.

But in the interim during the winter I'd like to try growing some herbs/veggies in our home (small three story row house). Keep in mind window space is a bit limited.


Also with it still being moderate weather I might try outdoor growing of early maturing items like bunching onions or chives, maybe beets. Any others that might work for North East?

I'm open to all suggestions for indoors & outdoors. Thanks!
Posted by: Susan

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 10/11/10 08:23 PM

With the low light levels in winter, it will be mostly leafy greens that will grow, IF they're in whatever direct sunlight is available. You might try lettuce, spinach, corn salad, mesclun mixes, kale, beets (leaf varieties, not bulb), onions (for clipping greens), and garlic.

If you don't think you have enough light, or the plants grow very slowly, you may want to invest in some kind of grow lights.

Fruiting plants need more light and more warmth than you have available.

Sue
Posted by: Blast

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 10/11/10 08:37 PM

One word for you: sprouts!

They are amazingly nutrious and can be used in all sorts of ways. Alfalha, wheat, beans, etc all make great micro-gardens.

-Blast
Posted by: Russ

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 10/11/10 09:15 PM

Originally Posted By: Blast
One word for you: sprouts!

They are amazingly nutrious and can be used in all sorts of ways. Alfalha, wheat, beans, etc all make great micro-gardens.

-Blast
Don't forget broccoli sprouts -- good stuff.
Posted by: Art_in_FL

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 10/11/10 09:27 PM

Sprouts are dead easy to do. A fine project for even young kids. A jar, seeds, some water, sunshine is helpful but only vital if you like them to green up a bit before eating. People do this on sailboats to get fresh greens. I think they have done them on the space station. Might have been for dinner and they took notes. Might have been part of an experiment and some ended up getting nibbled on. Hard to say which.

Sprouts are a good option.

I hear some herbs are an option but I don't know which ones. Down here you can grow something year round. It does freeze. We even got a few flakes of snow in 1978. I think that was the year I saw three flakes float down. I understand there were more. Made the news and everything. They melted as soon as they touched down but you can take my word on it snowing.

With a simple warming frame made of scrap wood and plastic you can extend the season in most areas. Greens and root vegetables may be the way to start.
Posted by: Richlacal

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 10/12/10 01:43 AM

How'd that Old Commercial go? Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! Chia Pets,Do they even sell those anymore?How about the Brine shrimp/Sea Monkey kits of Eons ago,They also could grow Seaweed,Good source of Vitamin-K/Iodine!
Posted by: LED

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 10/12/10 01:46 AM

+3 on the sprouts! I was gonna use glass jars but I'm not a talented sprouter so got this instead. A little easier than a glass jar IMO.
Posted by: Richlacal

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 10/12/10 04:31 PM

There is the possibility of setting up a Hydroponic growing system with spectrum lighting,In this you could grow just about any Vegetable,plant,etc. in a very short amount of time.I think Cost would be the deciding factor though,I understand it is quite expensive,To start up initially,but once you've figured out what you need,the cost is no longer,an issue!I have eaten Tomatoes,Radishes,Swiss Chard- a friend grew,last year,All 3 were delicious,& I couldn't taste any chemicals,Whatsoever!His greenhouse is about 6'Dx6'Wx8'-high
Posted by: Cockroach

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 10/14/10 02:43 AM

Thanks for the ideas guys.

Sprouts sound easy and fun, Ill check that magazine, and investigate small scale hydroponics--although that sounds pricey atm.
Posted by: dweste

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 11/06/10 11:55 AM

Solar-heated, insulated, roof-top greenhouse, with auxiliary heating in winter as needed.

Edit: As I recall an ordinary light bulb or grow light may provide all the heat needed.
Posted by: sotto

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 11/06/10 04:47 PM

Radishes. Radishes can be grown by a fossil mastadon.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 11/06/10 09:36 PM

How right you are. I grew radishes in a victory garden when I was six years old. I am sure that is what brought the Axis Powers to their knees.

Radishes are cool, but what do you do with them after you have grown them? Pretty much zilch for food value.........
Posted by: Richlacal

Re: Please recommend several plants for indoors during - 11/07/10 01:12 AM

I read on another site recently,Someone was talking about Chia Seed's,& How easy it was to grow them,They also mentioned that they were Delicious! I was kinda'joking when I 1st mentioned it to you,but There is that possibility!You could also Grow Worms/Bugs Indoors,I Know Most people haven't Evolved to the concept of Eating them,Short of Myself,& Blast with his youngin's,lol!&Most of our Ex-Military Members! Some are Actually Very Good in Flavor,ALL contain The Necessary Nutrients for Human Survival,& Inch for Inch,Lb.for Lb.,Nothing on this Planet,Rivals this Fact!I'm Serious on this one!Just think,You are Outside eating Bug's in front of everyone in your neighborhood,They will give you plenty of room,On The Sidewalk,& Probably be scared to Touch you,lol!One Good way to gain Respect in Gotham City! To Heck with the Radishes,they're tasty but,They're only good for Burpin'N'Fartin'!