Discover how you can grow veggies indoors. Tasty veggies like hot peppers, cucumbers and other types of veggies can be grown indoors with the right lighting. Also learn how to keep them growing well indoors. This includes tips on watering, fertilizing and pollinating the vegetable plants.
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon affiliate link, which you’ll see in the description below. You’ll also see in the description below any links to videos I mentioned in this video.
Okay, so today I’m going to talk to you about growing veggies indoors. It’s possible to grow veggies indoors; it’s fun and exciting when you see the veggies coming on, like this guy here, this dragon hot pepper. There are some peppers on this plant, and it is a hot pepper. Look at this nice big one here! I will be using this soon.
I also have here a Japanese cucumber, which is another really cool plant that you can grow indoors. Actually, cucumbers in Southern California, where I live, don’t do well when it’s hot like it is now at the end of July. So, it works better to grow them indoors in an indoor environment, and you can get some cucumbers off of them. When this plant gets a little bigger, I will be putting it into a bigger pot, but you don’t want to put it into too big of a pot right away.
One thing you could do if you have a bigger pot is to plant a few different vegetable plants in that pot, but you don’t want just one little vegetable plant in the middle of a big pot. You will have the same problem with root rot starting because it’s in too much wet soil.
Another thing I have here, which I talked about in a video on herbs, is cinnamon basil. I also have zinnias growing back here, so you can grow flowers as well. Additionally, I have a very cool plant called a cuca melon. These are actually little round cucumbers, but they taste a little bit lemony and are delicious.
I grew all of these from seed, and I grow in my AeroGarden Elite with the seed starter tray in there. I will put some links down below for some different AeroGarden models because they come in many different price points. I do a lot of growing for sale as well, so I have a bigger model, but you can get a smaller one, and it’s very easy to seed in those. Then, I like to put them in soil afterward, so I can start growing new seeds in my AeroGarden as well as keep the plants near me, like in my kitchen or dining room, under lighting.
Now, about the cucumber: the brand is Renee’s Gardens, and I love their seeds. These are all really good seed brands that you can plant and expect to get good plants. For instance, the dragon hot pepper is a Burpee variety, so that’s where I got that one from.
As I mentioned, you can seed them hydroponically and then transfer them to soil. Keep in mind, especially with the AeroGarden system, that they will be in a little spongy casing pod. You will be putting that in the soil, so use good organic potting soil. I like Pro-Mix as well as some other brands that I will list down below. The soil needs to have good drainage.
Once you repot the plant, because it has been growing hydroponically, you need to keep the area around where the pod is moist until the plant roots acclimate to the soil. The roots that were growing hydroponically are not the same as the roots that will grow in soil. The plant has to start developing soil roots, and it will do that from the hydroponic roots, but that takes a little time.
You will know this process is complete when you look at the bottom of the plant and see roots, or if you gently pull the plant up a little without causing damage, you should see fine roots around the outside of the root mass. This indicates that it is now growing soil roots.
For growing vegetables indoors successfully, you need to keep several things in mind. One big thing is proper lighting. The AeroGarden systems have full-spectrum lighting that is perfect for the plants. They have done lots of research on this, so you can trust that those lights give the plants exactly what they need.
If you’re going to grow them in soil, or even if you take them from the AeroGarden to another spot, like your kitchen or living room, you want to use full-spectrum light bulbs in your fixtures. Full-spectrum mimics daylight, which is important. Some bulbs come as grow lights, but those aren’t always full-spectrum, so that’s something to keep in mind.
If possible, have the lights shining down on top of the plants rather than from the side. Ideally, the lights should be about three to eight inches above the plants. This setup will provide them with ample light.
You also want to fertilize your plants regularly, especially those that are producing fruits or vegetables. For example, if you see yellowing in the leaves, that indicates a need for nitrogen. I wanted to point that out because I am going to fertilize this plant after the video with an organic liquid fertilizer that is well-balanced and made for vegetables. There are several different brands you can choose from, and I will suggest a few down below.
Generally, you want to fertilize every two to four weeks when growing for food indoors. Now, about watering: you need to keep the hydroponic roots moist, but once you do that, you do not want to overwater your plants. If you overwater your veggie plants, they will stop producing fruits, vegetables, and flowers. You will notice they start to atrophy and get smaller because their roots are dying back and cannot grow anymore.
Plan to water them when they are approaching dryness. On a moisture meter scale, one to three is really dry, so you want about five. When the first inch or so dries out, stick your finger in up to your first knuckle. If it’s dry at that point but you can feel a little moisture lower down, that’s a good sign. Additionally, when you pick up the plant, if it’s not heavy anymore, that’s another indicator.
You should also water with warm or tepid water to simulate your indoor environment. This is particularly important in winter months when the tap water is cold. You want to avoid shocking the roots because that can lead to root dieback and root rot.
Keep an eye out for pests and diseases. While it’s not as much of a problem for some veggie plants, you may encounter a few aphids here and there. They tend to come in from outdoors, so if you’ve had a plant outside or if you get one from a nursery, be sure to monitor it closely.
Speaking of nurseries, you can visit one to get veggie plants to bring indoors. I suggest doing this when they are young. You will find the best selection at nurseries or home and garden centers in early spring, as the plants are still a little cold outside and acclimate to your indoor conditions more easily.
When you bring plants in from outside, keep in mind that your indoor climate will be different, so do whatever you can to acclimate them slowly. Watch for signs of shock, like leaf drop, which indicates that they are not transitioning well.
Finally, when your plants do fruit or flower, you need to help with pollination unless you have bees roaming around your house. To pollinate, use a paintbrush with a very thin tip. Mix the pollen from male to female flowers. You don’t need to know which are which unless you want to identify them. Just moving the brush between flowers will increase your chances of fruiting.
So, that’s it for growing veggies indoors! Thank you for stopping by today. Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video, and please check the bell if you’d like to be notified when we release new videos.
Growing Veggies Indoors FAQ
Can you grow vegetables indoors?
Yes, it is possible to grow vegetables indoors. It can be a fun and exciting experience as you watch your veggies grow, such as dragon hot peppers and cucumbers.
What types of vegetables can be grown indoors?
You can grow a variety of vegetables indoors, including hot peppers, cucumbers, and herbs like cinnamon basil. Flowers such as zinnias can also be grown.
What are the best pots for growing vegetables indoors?
Use pots that are appropriate for the size of the plants. Avoid placing a small plant in a large pot to prevent root rot from excess moisture in wet soil.
How should I water my indoor vegetables?
Water your plants when the top inch of soil is dry. Use warm or tepid water to prevent shocking the roots, especially during colder months.
What type of lighting is needed for indoor vegetables?
Indoor vegetables require full-spectrum lighting that mimics daylight. If you’re using grow lights, ensure they are positioned about three to eight inches above the plants.
How often should I fertilize my indoor vegetables?
Fertilize every two to four weeks, especially if your plants are producing fruits or vegetables. Look for organic liquid fertilizers suitable for vegetables.
What should I do about pests when growing veggies indoors?
Monitor your plants for pests like aphids, especially if they have been outside. If you notice pests, take appropriate measures to control them.
How can I help with pollination indoors?
To assist with pollination, use a small paintbrush to transfer pollen between male and female flowers, especially if there are no bees indoors.
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Aerogarden for indoor seed starting: https://amzn.to/2Y3JUKy
(There are various models) Promix Potting Soil Link:
Promix link: https://amzn.to/2ZJT8xt
(There are various size bags) Happy Frog Potting Soil Link: https://amzn.to/32UDOiV
Fertilizer for indoor growing: https://amzn.to/3kOChl4
Cucamelon seeds: https://www.rareseeds.com/store/veget…
Cucumber seeds Renee’s Garden: https://sh2543.ositracker.com/121054/…
(affiliate link) Dragon Pepper seeds: https://amzn.to/3g4UJCe
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