Leta Anderson - Indoor Gardening: A Quickstart Guide to Growing Herbs and Vegetables in Your House, Apartment or Any Small Space

Leta Anderson

2014 Leta Anderson

Indoor Gardening: A Quickstart Guide toGrowing Herbs and Vegetables In Your House, Apartment or Any Small Space

Copyright 2014 by Comnexis, Inc.

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You dont have to live on a farm to enjoy the benefits of havingliving, healthy vegetable plants and herbs surround you. You dont even need tohave a particularly green thumb. Although some plants are more forgiving thanothers, they basically only need dirt, light, air and water.

Choose to grow your garden indoors so you can enjoy it all yearlong. Many people have lost trust in big business farming and have turned backto the older ways of organic gardening. Whether its herbs, fruit andvegetables or even a beautiful houseplant, be in control of what you eat andthe chemicals in your home. From an elaborate plan that adds to the beauty ofyour interior decoration to the simple concept that a plant generates freshoxygen, its time to return to the inner gardener in you! Anyone can doit...there are no age restrictions and you can do it from the top of a ladderto the seat of a wheelchair. Just follow the tips and suggestions in this bookand you will be living green in no time!

You live on an Earth that is covered with water, dirt and livingplants. Why do we, as humans, work so hard to keep those things on the outsideof our homes? Thats a question to ponder, isnt it?

Yet, if you have ever been in a room built of concrete blocks,such as a garage, nothing can bring it to life more than one, single, greenplant. Ask anyone who works in a cubicle all day if having a plant on theirdesk makes it all somehow more comfortable. Chances are, the people who mayargue that point do so on the basis of their not knowing how to care for aplant. While a healthy, vibrant living thing can raise your spirits, a wiltedand burned edge has quite the opposite effect. In fact, a healthy plant on yourdesk can make you actually more productive.

Now imagine that the green plant on your desk will be producingactual food you can eat! Perhaps it has the intriguing aroma of chives

Indoor plants bring many advantages. They function as food, interiordecorating, freshen the indoor stale air, reduce stress (both in caring for theplant and enjoying it visually), can produce food and even medicines. Letstake a look at some examples.

Did you know that when you have plants in the house they act asfilters for dust and increase the humidity, making you 30% less likely to get acold-related illness?

Did you know that too much carbon dioxide can make you drowsyand that by having live plants, they remove carbon dioxide during their processof photosynthesis?

Did you knowthat not only can houseplants make you feel lessstressed and more optimistic they have actually been known to lower your bloodpressure?

Did you knowthat the additional oxygen and reduced carbondioxide levels a plant provides can contribute to cleaner air and may thereforereduce your frequency of headaches?

Did you knowthat just like the series of allergy shots yourchilds doctor may be administering, that exposing your child to houseplants asthey grow older can have the same effect?

Did you knowthat many plants have healing effects? Take theeucalyptus, for example. It can help by clearing up the phlegm and congestionfrom your system, opening the bronchial tubes and is, as a bonus, a naturalantiseptic.

Did you knowthat your skin can be softer with plants in thehouse since they act as a natural humidifier?

Did you knowthat you sleep better when nearby plants are givingoff fresh oxygen?

Did you knowthat the following plants can actually filter outchemicals such as those contained in paints, varnishes, car exhaust fumes andtobacco smoke: dragon tree, ivy, ficus, philodendrons, spider plants, peacelilies, ferns, chrysanthemums, palms?

So, Im guessing right about now youre looking around andwishing you had a dozen plants in the very room where youre sitting. Youprobably feel a bit intimidated by the idea of taking care of that many, so howabout beginning with one and then blooming out from there?

Lets cover some of the basics and youll feel more comfortablewith the new green additions to your family.

Picking out the proper plants for your home is similar topicking out the right breed of dog to make a pet, although far less work and itis easier to housetrain!

Veggies and Herbs You Can Grow Indoors

You dont have to be a frustrated farmer in the big city in orderto enjoy growing your own herbs and vegetables. Having year-round availabilityof your favorite fresh greens adds hidden treasure to a cold winters day.Imagine the aroma of your special soups simmering on the stove; the aroma offresh herbs filling the house.

Lets take a look at some ideas.

Peppers

If you have a warm and sunny spot in your home (at least 75degrees), there are several variety of peppers you can grow. Grab a 3-5 galloncontainer and a handful of sprouts and you can be growing cherry and bananapeppers in no time.

Green Onions

When youre in the store next time doing your shopping, grab ahandful of the best-looking green onions you can find. When you begin chopping,save the last 1 of them in a jar of water. Add more when the jar is low andcut as needed. Or, plant these in soil and keep well watered.

Radishes

Fill your container with a good mix of soil (as mentioned a bitlater on in this book) and a find sunny place where you can plant radish seeds.You will be harvesting in a few weeks. Tip: In order to guarantee a continualsupply of these red beauties, space the plants at least 14 apart and rotatewhen you plant the seeds so they dont all ripen at the same time.

Basil and other Fresh Herbs

Youll need a window that gets at least four hours of sunlight aday kitchen windows are great because the herbal scent will stimulateappetite and inspire your cooking. Plant seeds in the container filled withproper soil and be sure to water thoroughly and often. If the plant wants toflower, pinch off the blossom as it can make the leaves bitter because theplant dedicates its energy to the blossom fruit. Herbs that do well include notonly basil but rosemary, sage, mint and chives.