Nicky Roeber is the Online Horticultural Expert at Wyevale Garden Centres. Here, he shares his top tips for successfully creating an edible indoor garden.
“Growing your own food and herbs can be incredibly rewarding, and you don’t need a vegetable patch, allotment, or even a garden to do it successfully. If you don’t have much outdoor space, or you would like to brighten your home with a selection of edible plants, you’ll be pleased to know that you only need a windowsill and some plant containers to start an indoor kitchen garden.
To help you out, here are some of my top tips;
Choose your patch carefully
It’s important that you put a lot of thought into where you’re going to create your kitchen garden. For your plants to survive and thrive, you need to make sure that your chosen spot gets plenty of sunlight. A south or south west facing windowsill that gets at least six hours of sun per day would be perfect. You should also try to make sure your plants aren’t exposed to any drafts.
Put plenty of thought into choosing your plants
To create an edible indoor garden that thrives, you need to put plenty of thought and research into choosing your plants. If you’re planning to grow vegetables, look for dwarf varieties, which will grow happily in a container. Cherry tomatoes, peppers, and green beans are just some of the many vegetables available in dwarf varieties.
Fresh salad greens are an excellent choice if you want to keep your edible kitchen going all year round, as they’re robust and don’t need much special tending. Radishes, lettuces, rocket, and watercress are all great options. Pick the salad leaves young for delicious micro-greens, and sow a new batch every couple of weeks to give you a constant supply of new leaves.
Use suitable containers
If you want your plants to thrive, you can’t throw them in any old container. You need to choose pots that are suitable for the herbs and veg you’re wanting to grow.
If you’re starting with plants, rather than seeds, I would recommend opting for containers that are 6–12 inches deep. Whether you’re planning to plant them together or individually, each one should have at least a six-inch square of space to itself.
Alternatively, if you’re going to be growing your plants from seeds, you can start the process with any small container, and then move them into their final pot once they’re 2–4 inches tall.
Place your containers carefully so that bigger plants don’t block the sunlight for smaller ones, and allow some space between containers for air to circulate, which helps to stop pests and diseases attacking your crops.
Choose an appropriate potting mix
When creating an indoor edible garden, I wouldn’t recommend using soil from your garden, as it’s unsterile, heavier than potting compost, and won’t drain as well. Instead, you should opt for a suitable soilless, peat-free potting mix. These are light, well-draining, and contain nutrients to feed your plants.
Growing your own herbs and veg is incredibly rewarding, and you can create a successful edible garden from the comfort of your own kitchen. Take these tips on board and you’ll soon have homegrown produce to enjoy.”
For more information visit; Wyevale Garden Centres