A vegetable garden on the windowsill: how to grow vegetables, herbs and even strawberries at home

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If there is no summer cottage, this does not mean that you cannot do gardening.

What can you not do without if you want a vegetable garden on the windowsill?

It all depends on what exactly you are growing. Here's the basic inventory you'll need.

• Pots and tubs of different sizes. Plants will live in them permanently.
• Priming. You can buy a universal one or pick up a special one depending on the type of plant. It is advisable not to use the land from the street: it will add problems in the form of weeds, parasites, infections and chemical pollution. If it is not possible to buy soil, take ordinary soil and disinfect it: for example, heat it in an oven preheated to 70–90 ° C.
• Seedling containers. You can buy mini greenhouses with cells and a lid, or use regular plastic cups and containers. There are also special peat pots - seedlings can be transplanted directly into them without damaging the roots.
• Seeds and seedlings. Try to choose varieties that are meant to be grown in a pot at home. This is usually indicated on the packaging.
• Shovel, rake. To loosen the ground and replant plants. Of course, we are not talking about full-fledged garden tools: choose small ones that will be convenient to work in pots and boxes.
• Gloves. To protect your hands from dirt and thorns.
• Watering cans or automatic irrigation systems. The latter are needed if you are often and for a long time absent.
• Water tanks. It should stand for about 48 hours before watering for the chlorine to evaporate.
• Pest control and fertilizers. Universal or specific, for each type of plant.
• Phytolamps. The spectrum of their rays is as close as possible to the natural light optimal for plants. In an apartment, when the sun is not enough, such lamps help to ensure normal photosynthesis. They can be placed on a table, attached to a rack, or tapered along a shelf above the pots.
• Small pegs and trellises. To tie up plants that need support. For example, peas or tomatoes.

What else might you need?

This is a list of more advanced things. They can be useful to those who decide to get down to business thoroughly.

• Home greenhouses. These are shelves with covers made of thick transparent film. It is much easier to grow seedlings in them, as well as greenhouse crops - tomatoes, cucumbers, berries, greens.
• Racks and shelves. You will need it if you want to grow many different plants. Open structures made of slats are best suited: they will receive enough light and air for the plants.
• Heated rugs. Pots are placed on them, as a rule, with seedlings, so that the plants are warmer and they germinate better.
• Reflectors. They will help to catch sunlight and direct it to plants.
• Autonomous landscaping systems and smart greenhouses. They themselves provide the plants with watering, optimal lighting, temperature and humidity. But this is already quite a serious investment, which is suitable for those who are seriously interested in gardening or planning to grow something for sale.

How to choose a place for a vegetable garden on the windowsill

There are a few things to consider.

Light

Some plants like bright light (dill, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, carrots), and the sun should illuminate them for at least 8-10 hours a day. Others do well even if they are only exposed to light for 6-8 hours, such as microgreens.

Place light-loving plants near the windows that face the south, in extreme cases, the west side. To ensure the flow of ultraviolet light, remove the reflective film from the windows and wash them thoroughly. It is also important to supplement the garden with phytolamps, especially in the cold season.

Plants that prefer partial shade will do well near windows facing east or even north. If you want to protect shade-loving plantings from overheating, choose a place slightly away from the window or use translucent curtains that will make the light more diffused.

And remember: in direct sunlight, leaves can get burned - and it doesn't matter if it is a light or shade-loving plant. If the shoots start to dry or turn yellow, immediately move the pot to a shaded area. Water the ground abundantly, and carefully cut off the burnt leaves - they still will not recover.

Humidity

Most plants require air humidity of about 50-70% (you can accurately determine this indicator using a hygrometer). By the way, about the same parameters are optimal for humans.

If the air in the apartment is dry - this can be, especially in winter, when the heating is on, - try to fix it:

• buy a household humidifier;
• place plants away from a battery or heater;
• spray the plantings with a spray bottle every day;
• use indoor greenhouses;
• place open containers of water around the house;
• hang wet towels on the battery;
• cut a strip of fabric, place one end in a bottle of water, and wrap the other around the hot battery.

Temperature

The optimum temperature for the growth and fruiting of plants is 20–26 ° C, depending on the species and variety. If yours is too hot or cold, adjust the conditions:

• choose a place away from a hot battery or non-insulated windows;
• try to adjust the temperature in the room: ventilate more often, screw on the batteries, or, conversely, turn on the heater;
• use electric heating rugs or a sheet of styrofoam that insulates the plant from the cold source.

Fresh air

The room should be well ventilated: no stuffiness and mustiness. At the same time, try to prevent the plants from standing in a strong draft: they do not like this.

How to grow microgreens

Microgreens are young shoots of plants (usually herbs like parsley, dill, or basil) that have only a stem and 1-2 leaves. They are added to salads and smoothies, eaten just like that and decorate dishes with them.

It is quite simple to grow microgreens: it is unpretentious, grows quickly, loves warmth and light.

What do you need

• seeds of your choice: parsley, dill, cilantro, basil, various types of salads, corn, legumes, radish, chia, broccoli, arugula, beetroot, radish, coriander, red cabbage or cauliflower, kohlrabi or other crops;
• shallow container;
• universal soil or jute rug for growing microgreens;
• cling film or lid.

Important! Not all plants have edible shoots. For example, in potatoes, tomatoes and other nightshades, they are poisonous: they contain a substance that is toxic to humans, solanine.

How to germinate

Soak seeds for 6-8 hours or as directed. Then spread them evenly in the soil (but don't bury them deeply) or just over the rug. Drizzle, cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Wait about 5-7 days for most of the seeds to germinate and open the microgreens.

How to care

Water the microgreens once a day and watch the shoots grow. When the first leaves appear on them, they can be carefully cut off.

How to grow dill

It is best to choose mid-season or late varieties: they are prettier, lush and aromatic.

What do you need

• seeds of varieties Russian size, Amazon, Salute, Richelieu or others;
• containers 15–20 cm deep with drainage holes;
• priming;
• drainage layer - expanded clay, broken brick;
• mineral complexes for feeding;
• phytolamps - for poorly lit rooms or cold seasons.

How to germinate

Soak the seeds in warm water for two days. Change it every 6 hours. Then place the seeds in the ground to a depth of 1–2 cm so that the distance between them is 2–3 cm. Place the pot in a warm place and cover with plastic. Lift the film twice a day and remove the condensation. After a week, when shoots appear, remove the plastic and move the plant to the windowsill.

How to care

Water the dill 2-3 times a week. Add mineral fertilizers to the soil 2 times a month. Make sure that the plant is exposed to light for 12-15 hours a day, if necessary, supplement it with phytolamps.

After 40-50 days, when the shoots reach 20-25 cm in height, they can be cut. If you do not need leaves, but inflorescences - usually they are put in pickles - wait a little more.

How to grow cherry tomatoes

They are relatively small and require little maintenance. And if they get enough light, they usually bear fruit abundantly.

What do you need

• seeds or seedlings of varieties Minibell, Zelenushka F1, Pygmy, Cherry Lisa F1 or others;
• a pot with drainage holes. Dimensions: about 20 cm wide and 10-15 cm deep;
• universal soil;
• small support grid or mesh;
• fertilizer for tomatoes;
• phytolamps - for poorly lit rooms or cold seasons.

How to germinate

Place the seeds in a pot of soil, do not bury them deeply. Pour, cover with plastic foil and place in a warm place with a temperature of about 25-27 ° C for several days. After the first shoots appear, remove the plastic and wait until the shoots reach 5–6 cm.

If you are growing your cherry in a pot, keep one of the sturdiest seedlings and remove the rest. If in a box, then thin out the seedlings, leaving at least 10-15 cm between them.

Stick the grate into the ground.

How to care

Water the tomatoes every two to three days, and add fertilizer once a week according to the instructions.

The plant needs at least 10-12 hours of light a day, so turn on phytolamps if necessary.

When the bush gets taller, tie it to the net and make sure that it does not bend. On average, flowers will appear in a month, and in another two months it will be possible to harvest.

How to grow cucumbers

You can add shade-loving cucumber varieties to the garden on the windowsill.

What do you need

• seeds or seedlings of shade-loving and parthenocarpic varieties - that is, those that bear fruit without pollination: Room Rytova, Regatta, Photon, Claudia F1 or others;
• a pot with a depth and diameter of at least 25 cm;
• soil for vegetables or universal;
• drainage (for seedlings);
• pegs for tying plants;
• mineral fertilizers;
• humidifier or home greenhouse;
• phytolamps - for poorly lit rooms or cold seasons.

How to germinate

Sow seeds on the ground previously spilled with warm, settled water. Then sprinkle with dry earth 1, 5-2 cm and cover with glass or foil. You will need 2-3 seeds per pot. From these, you will receive one cucumber bush.

After the first leaves appear, open the pots and place them in a well-lit place. But so that at first the light is a little thinner and the sprouts do not dry out in direct sunlight.

Pick the sturdiest sprout and cut off the rest. Under normal conditions, the distance between shoots should be at least 20 cm, so they will be cramped in the pot.

If you have ready-made seedlings, place them in a previously prepared container with a drainage layer and soil. Then add earth to the bottom leaves and water.

How to care

Cucumbers love moisture, so water them every day or every other day. Spray them with the same frequency with a spray bottle or install a humidifier nearby. You can also place the pots in your home greenhouse.

Feed the plants at least once a week, and twice a week during fruiting.

Cucumbers need up to 12-14 hours of light a day. To ensure such conditions, illuminate them with phytolamps before sunrise, after sunset and on cloudy days. If there is generally insufficient light in the room, use reflective sheets and mirrors to direct the light towards the plants.

How to grow strawberries

Growing strawberries in an apartment is already a more difficult task. But quite doable.

For home conditions, remontant varieties are best suited - that is, those that bear fruit several times a year. It is also worth paying attention to the so-called ampelous strawberries. It has curly stems, so it is convenient to grow it in hanging pots: it falls down in a beautiful green waterfall.

If you have a phytolamp, you can plant berries at any time of the year. If not, then it is better at the end of winter or early spring - this way, subject to the heat and light conditions, you will receive fruits by August-September. Be prepared for strawberries not to bear fruit if they don't get enough light. When grown in autumn and winter, this condition is more difficult to comply with.

What do you need

• seeds or seedlings of the varieties Queen Elizabeth, Roman F1, Tristar, Brighton or others;
• pots or boxes at least 16 cm deep;
• drainage layer - expanded clay, crushed stone, brick;
• soil for vegetables or strawberries;
• phytolamps - for poorly lit rooms or cold seasons.

How to germinate

Spread the seeds over the surface of the moistened soil at a distance of at least 2 cm and spray with water from a spray bottle. Cover the container with a film, put in a warm place and make sure that the seedlings receive at least 10 hours of light per day. Water the soil a little at a time so that it does not dry out, but also does not get too wet. When the seedlings have two leaves, remove the film.

You can also plant the seeds in small containers for a start - for example, plastic cups - and after the appearance of 2–4 leaves, together with the soil, transplant them to a permanent place of residence.

If you bought a ready-made seedling, then put it in a pot or box with drainage and a small layer of soil. Straighten the roots - they should fit completely in the pot and not bend. Top up the soil so that the plant's point of growth is above it.

How to care

Water 2-3 times a week, feed once every 2-3 weeks. Strawberries love moisture, so spray them daily with a spray bottle, especially if the air is dry.

In addition, the berry needs about 12 hours of daylight. Keep track of this and supplement the illumination with phytolamps if necessary.

For a plant to bear fruit, it must be pollinated. To do this, throughout the entire flowering period, use a brush to paint along the stigmas of all flowers.

For better fruiting, trim the mustache of the plant.

Strawberry seedlings will bloom about a month after planting. And still, approximately in two months, you can pick ripe berries.

How to grow carrots

For growing in an apartment, choose early and short varieties.

What do you need

• seeds of varieties Karotel, Caracas, Vnuchka or others;
• opaque containers, boxes or pots, at least 15 cm deep, with drainage holes;
• soil for vegetables or universal;
• clean sand - it will need to be mixed with soil to make the soil more absorbent and breathable;
• phytolamps - for poorly lit rooms or cold seasons.

How to germinate

Combine the soil with sand in a 2: 1 ratio and fill the containers with the resulting mixture. Make grooves 1–1.5 cm deep and sow the seeds about 2 cm apart. If the seedlings are too dense, thin out so that the distance between the plants is at least 4 cm.

How to care

Water the carrots every two to three days. Feed with fertilizer about once a week.

Carrots need 10-12 hours of light a day, so turn on the phytolamp in the morning, evening or on cloudy days.

The crop can be harvested in 2, 3 or 4 months, depending on the variety.

How to make the garden fit into the interior

The comfort of plants is, of course, good. But it's great if pots, shelves and lamps are pleasing to the eye, and not seem like a foreign object. For this:

• Choose interesting and unusual pots and tubs. Or try decorating them yourself: paint with acrylics, crochet a bright cover or flowerpot.
• Make sure that the shelves and shelves match the rest of the furniture by walking on them with paint or stain.
• Take a closer look at hanging pots: plants in such pots look very unusual and immediately attract attention. In addition, it is so difficult for children and pets to reach them. In addition, the planter can be wall-mounted, hung over a window, kitchen island or dining table.

This article was first published on April 22, 2015. In June 2021, we updated the text.