Fall-Winter 2013-2013 Indoor Garden Experiment

by Nora Weston

Easy

Well around Sept 2012, I came up with an idea to try to grow some greens inside the house. I had been thinking about this for sometime, and had researched online about indoor gardening. I observed our windows to watch and see which ones received the most sunlight. I formulated a plan and put it into action.

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, Our sliding glass door was the best place to try this out But I didn t want to make where that door was not accessible to use in case of an emergency and needing to exit it So I got Mr DaybyDay involved and we started looking at our options for shelving At first we were thinking of making our own shelving but seen what we thought was the perfect option we bought a wire shelf at Lowe s Home Improvement that had the option to put it on wheels

Our sliding glass door was the best place to try this out. But, I didn't want to make where that door was not accessible to use in case of an emergency and needing to exit it. So, I got Mr. DaybyDay involved and we started looking at our options for shelving. At first, we were thinking of making our own shelving, but seen what we thought was the perfect option...we bought a wire shelf at Lowe's Home Improvement that had the option to put it on wheels.

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, This shelf worked our perfectly in the sliding glass door area Next we bought the total of 4 long under the bed storage containers to grow the greens in We drilled holes in the bottom of the containers for drainage and put the top under the container to catch any excess drainage Then we made the Square Foot Gardening growing mixture and filled the containers We planted leaf lettuce and spinach in the first two containers Spent time watering them etc

This shelf worked our perfectly in the sliding glass door area. Next, we bought the total of 4 long under the bed storage containers to grow the greens in. We drilled holes in the bottom of the containers for drainage and put the top under the container to catch any excess drainage. Then, we made the Square Foot Gardening growing mixture and filled the containers. We planted leaf lettuce, and spinach in the first two containers. Spent time watering them etc.

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, At first I was watering these with a simple spray bottle that started getting tough to do It was becoming where it was a hand grip exercise that was going crazy LOL During one of Mr DaybyDay and mine lunchtime phone conversation I mentioned how my hand was really starting to hurt while trying to water the greens Mr DaybyDay surprised me in buying a helpful and now useful tool for watering our plants

At first, I was watering these with a simple spray bottle..that started getting tough to do. It was becoming where it was a hand grip exercise that was going crazy. LOL. During one of Mr. DaybyDay and mine lunchtime phone conversation, I mentioned how my hand was really starting to hurt while trying to water the greens. Mr. DaybyDay surprised me in buying a helpful and now useful tool for watering our plants.

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, Before long we started to see them emerge Yahooo We are actually accomplishing this

Before long, we started to see them emerge. Yahooo!!! We are actually accomplishing this.

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, Just when we thought we had this working a furry member of our family felt that we needed help While we the family was in bed for the night she Sasha felt she needed to check things out and rearrange our efforts Apparently to her we did it all wrong She dug right down in it too I was upset but also ended up laughing at the same time

Just when we thought we had this working, a furry member of our family felt that we needed help. While we the family was in bed for the night, she (Sasha) felt she needed to check things out and rearrange our efforts. Apparently to her, we did it all wrong. She dug right down in it too. I was upset, but also ended up laughing at the same time.

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, I had no choice but to come up with a solution We were so close to actually achieving our goal of growing some greens inside I finally came up with an idea Since I use plastic canvas quite a bit in my arts and crafts I had plenty of supplies to make a cover for the shelving to protect the indoor crops Here is a photo of what I did

I had no choice but to come up with a solution. We were so close to actually achieving our goal of growing some greens inside. I finally came up with an idea. Since, I use plastic canvas quite a bit in my arts and crafts , I had plenty of supplies to make a cover for the shelving to protect the indoor crops. Here is a photo of what I did.

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, It seemed to do the job She was under the shelving quite a bit looking up etc probably trying to figure out a way to get back in to help me out some more

It seemed to do the job. She was under the shelving quite a bit looking up etc..probably trying to figure out a way to get back in to help me out some more.

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, My next problem was to figure out how to give the plants more light It was fall and daylight was slowly diminishing each day I knew from all that I read that the plants needed so many hours of light Once again I needed to sit down and figure this out The only solution I could come up with was to use clear Christmas lights I figured that would be easy to apply to the wired shelving all I had to do was to sew it onto the bottom of each shelf Here is what it looks like

My next problem was to figure out how to give the plants more light. It was fall and daylight was slowly diminishing each day. I knew from all that I read that the plants needed so many hours of light. Once again, I needed to sit down and figure this out. The only solution I could come up with was to use clear Christmas lights. I figured that would be easy to apply to the wired shelving...all I had to do was to sew it onto the bottom of each shelf. Here is what it looks like:

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, Since I was already working on the shelving I decided to add another container I planted some lettuce and green onion

Since, I was already working on the shelving, I decided to add another container. I planted some lettuce and green onion.

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, The Lettuce we were able to harvest two times before it turned to seed I was disappointed that only two harvest till I really thought about all that we did accomplish

The Lettuce we were able to harvest two times before it turned to seed. I was disappointed that only two harvest till I really thought about all that we did accomplish!

fall winter 2013 2013 indoor garden experiment, container gardening, gardening, We were never able to really harvest much from the spinach It pretty much bolt to seed right away I guess it was just too warm even though we usually keep the house set at 65 degrees The green onions never made it at all Will I do this again maybe maybe not I think a better solution would be to build a greenhouse to grow in or build a few cold frames on the southern area of our property Have any of you ever tried this What did your do or would you do differently

We were never able to really harvest much from the spinach. It pretty much bolt to seed right away. I guess it was just too warm, even though we usually keep the house set at 65 degrees. :( The green onions never made it at all. Will I do this again, maybe, maybe not. I think a better solution would be to build a greenhouse to grow in or build a few cold frames on the southern area of our property. Have any of you ever tried this? What did your do or would you do differently?

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5 of 11 comments

Candace Seaton on Oct 20, 2013
What do you mean by "greens"? Things like kale, cabbage, mustard (greens) do fine outside in cold weather...there are no bugs or need to water, so why bother with inside greens? I you have snow use PVC hoops and a frost blanket.

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- Nora Weston on Oct 21, 2013
  @Candace Seaton I was trying to grow mostly lettuce, cilantro, and green onions.
  
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- Nora Weston on Oct 21, 2013
  thanks for the tip on the frost blanket
  
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Tay246838 on Oct 21, 2013
after you drilled holes in the underbed containers, what did you have under those to capture the dripping?

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- Nora Weston on Oct 21, 2013
  @Tayl, I used the lids that came with the containers.
  
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