| Summer is ending and our gardens are wilting. The | | | | consider placing planters in buckets attached to an |
| season of fresh vegetables just goes by too fast. It | | | | accordion divider so that all of them have equal sun. |
| is time to grind up those stalks and cover the garden | | | | You can even move the whole apparatus from one |
| with hay for composting. But does this really mean | | | | window in the morning to another full sun window in |
| that we are done eating fresh vegetables until next | | | | the afternoon. Putting your accordion divider on |
| June? Not really! You can grow vegetables indoors | | | | casters will make the move easier on your back. |
| using these tips. | | | | The vertical garden also eliminates the need to bend |
| There are two ways to start your indoor vegetable | | | | over to tend to and harvest vegetables. |
| garden. One, you can transfer your existing plants | | | | Another back saving tip is to roll your vertical garden |
| from outdoor to indoor pots. Two, you can sprout | | | | outside to water. If it’s not too cold, you can roll it |
| seeds and plant them. Some plants, like tomato | | | | out onto the deck or patio and spray it down with the |
| plants, normally need to be staked. But, if you hang a | | | | water hose. Use an automatic hose reel to help your |
| planter for your tomatoes, you don’t necessarily | | | | back even more. |
| have to stake them. The stalks can simply hang | | | | As the days get shorter, you will have to use a UV |
| down like vines. | | | | lamp to give your vegetables enough light to grow. If |
| Choose large pots that drain really well. Place rocks | | | | you notice your plants doing poorly, increase the |
| in the bottom of each container, then potting soil or top | | | | amount of heat and/or sun that they are getting every |
| soil mixed with plenty of compost. If your summer | | | | day. Make sure that you are not overwatering, and |
| garden did well outside, you can use the soil from | | | | that you are pruning off any dead or dying sections |
| there to fill your pots. Although, sometimes this soil is | | | | that may be stealing nutrients from your healthy |
| depleted of nutrients and should be replenished with | | | | vegetables. |
| compost. | | | | Having an indoor vegetable garden can be a challenge |
| All of your indoor vegetables need to have plenty of | | | | and can take up a lot of space. But, if you tend to it |
| sunlight and heat. If possible, put them near a heater | | | | carefully, you could be rewarded with fresh |
| vent. They must get as much sunlight as possible, so | | | | vegetables year round. |
| all plants need to be near a window. You might even | | | | |