Going Green; Growing your own veggies
Published on: February 2, 2021
Grow your own vegetables
Growing your own vegetables is ever so satisfying and a great cost saving if you can do it. We fully understand that it can be overwhelming knowing how and where to start. We have discovered the brilliant Leyla who is behind the Cutlery Chronicles blog, and we are now feeling inspired and confident by her #PotToPickle You Tube guide to growing veggies!
We have also gone on our own little mission to discover the top tips behind successful growing.
It’s always a good idea to grow what you like to eat and cook with but it is also important to start with an easy crop that requires low maintenance and you can harvest in a short time.
These include herbs which can be suitable for indoor growing, like Basil (easy growing as long as the temperature is not too high), Parsley (similar to Basil), Mint (not a fan of cold weather, perfect for home cultivation), Rosemary (despite being a perennial plant needs a mild temperature).
How to grow Herbs
Herbs are a must in the kitchen. During the summer season is really easy to grow them on the balcony or in the garden. If space is limited or the cold season arrives, we are forced to cultivate plants in our house/balcony, but we might face some difficulties. There are different elements that need to be considered: from the exposition to the choice of the right location, watering and the perfect soil.
Where to put them?
Growing herbs in pots is not a complicated process, but before starting, the right place to allocate plants, needs to be chosen. First thing we must consider that plants need a lot of light in order to grow well they should be placed in a very bright place although preferably without facing direct sunlight. An Ideal spot is the internal window’s ledge or a bright balcony’s door. If you do not have a spot with much sunlight, you can get an alternative help using a UV lamp.
Watch Out for the heat
In wintertime one of the most enemies of indoor plants in general, and specifically of aromatic one, is heating. Those plants love mild climate, but it does not mean there are growing in an overheated environment or near a heat source.
The soil
The soil for the herbs must be well drained. The importance of adding a layer of clay on the bottom help avoid stagnation of water which can be quite dangerous for plants.
How to create a small vegetable garden in the house
Keep all the aromatic plants vases close to each other. Together they create a real “microclimate”, ideal for growth.
How to water aromatic plants
Watering must be adapted to the season. In winter they do not require much water and it is enough to wet them every 3/4 days. Be careful, soil must have the right balance between wet and dry.
There are other ways of planting vegetables if your space is limited:
- Potatoes in a bag
Potatoes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow and they can simply grow in bags or containers. Is recommended to plant potatoes in mid-spring to be ready to be eaten at the beginning of summer.
- Lettuce in a pot
Lettuce is a vegetable which does not require lots of space and sun, perfect if you do not have a big space. It can be grown in small, thin pots, as they don’t need a deep root run.
- Carrots in a pot
Growing carrots in a pot is a straightforward process. You can choose a short variety if you have a small container or opt in for the traditional one. You will only need to exchange pot with a deeper container. Important is to remember carrots need really free-draining soil.
- Mushroom in a sack
Mushrooms do not need excessive sun, in fact, if you have an area in your garden or in your house/flat with a dark spot, this creates the perfect environment in order to grow them. They can be grown in a sack, places out of sight where sun in not required.
We would also like to share some ideas on how to grow plants indoor at no cost.
- IN TOILET PAPER ROLLS
- IN EGG CARTONS
- IN RECYCLED PLASTIC BOXES
- IN RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES
- IN CONCRETE BRICKS
- IN COFFEE/TEA CANS
Although typically you would not notice the presence of a plant in a house, being surrounded by plants can subconsciously make us feel calm and relaxed, providing benefits to our mood and health.
This can increase productivity and improve air quality, especially nowadays where working from home became a normality.
The importance of having plants, beside decorating your space and making the environment more welcoming, it helps absorbing pollution from the environment.
It is a kind “gesture” from nature to us!
No matter what space is available, the pleasure in growing them will make home the quietest place in the world.
