Do you love city life but are envious of people who can grow their herbs, vegetables, and fruits in the backyard? Starting an indoor garden in your apartment is easier than you think. Although it will require some research and preparation, the results can be quite impressive. There is a large variety of aromatic herbs, vegetables, and small fruits and berries that do perfectly well indoors. If successful, you’ll be able to add fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients to your meals all the time.
Read on to discover how to start an indoor garden as a city dweller.
Choose a Place
Before buying seeds or containers, choose a place where to put your indoor garden. Light is an important factor to consider when making your decision. However, some apartments don’t receive enough natural light to satisfy plants. Moreover, in some areas, the daylight hours are not enough for plants to thrive. Using supplemental light gives you more freedom when choosing a place for your indoor garden, and it gives your plants more chances to grow successfully. As long as you can provide plenty of light, either natural or artificial, you can place your indoor garden anywhere in your apartment.
Decide What You Want to Grow
Measure the space you have available. Can you afford to transform a whole room into an indoor garden or just a small area? You can also choose vertical arrangements if your space is limited. The space available will determine what you can and cannot grow. For example, herbs don’t need a lot of space and can grow perfectly well on the windowsill. Lettuce, kale, tomatoes, and peppers get large when mature, so they need a lot more space than herbs. Consider what kind of herbs and vegetables you’d prefer growing and prioritize those. Mushrooms don’t take up a lot of space; you can also grow some on your kitchen countertop. A mushroom spray and grow kit is perfect since the kitchen typically has high moisture levels, which many mushroom species love.
Make a Shopping List
Urban gardening is incredibly rewarding, but it’s important to be aware that it starts with a small investment. You need containers, seeds, potting soil, artificial lights, fertilizer, plant support systems, and perhaps even a humidifier or a hydroponics system. Although it may seem like a lot, you’ll notice that the price range varies significantly. You don’t have to buy the most expensive lights or the most expensive planters or containers. Many gardeners come up with DIY solutions. You can use old baking pans as containers or make fertilizer from kitchen scraps. Look around your apartment and put aside things you could use for setting up your indoor garden. Then, make a shopping list to include all the things you lack.
Get Seeds or Seedlings
Getting the seeds or seedlings is the most exciting step in the process of starting an indoor garden. Whether you prefer to buy online or from nurseries, choose organic seeds. To ensure that the plants have maximum chances of thriving, pay attention to climate needs. Trying to grow avocados in a cold, harsh climate can be frustrating. Of course, you can recreate at home the climate that the plants need. But the higher the mismatch between your home conditions and the plant’s needs, the more you’ll have to work to keep the plant alive.
Use the advice above to start an indoor garden that will transform your apartment into an urban oasis and provide you with tasty ingredients for your meals.
