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 Microgreens are a quick and easy way to add some flavor and
crunch to your plate. Just plant seeds labeled for sprouting or
microgreens in a shallow container filled with a sterile potting or
seed starting mix. Within two weeks you will be harvesting
nutritious mini vegetable and herb leaves for salads, sandwiches or
snacking.
Take it one step further and grow a few of your favorite herbs on a
warm sunny windowsill. Select a container with drainage holes and
set on the appropriate size saucer to protect your woodwork. Fill
the container with well-drained potting mix and plant seeds or
transplants. Purchase basil, chives, parsley, oregano and rosemary
plants from your local garden center or the produce department.
Greens, like lettuce and spinach, will also grow in a sunny window
or better yet under artificial lights. Grow them in a container
filled with a well-drained potting mix similar to your windowsill
herb garden. Plant seeds according to the seed packet. Continually
harvest the outer leaves when they are four to six inches tall.
 Those that like a bit of a challenge may want to try growing a
compact tomato, pepper or eggplant. You’ll get the best production
with a combination of natural and artificial light or full spectrum
lights.
Natural sunlight and full spectrum lights contain the variety of
light plants need to grow, flower and fruit. Blue light promotes
leaf and stem growth, while red combined with blue promotes
flowering. Consider investing in energy efficient and long lasting
high intensity grow lights for the greatest yields when growing
tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other fruiting plants indoors.
Leave lights on for 14, but no more than 16 hours each day. Plants
need a dark period as well as bright light each day to grow and
thrive. Use a timer to ensure the plants receive the right duration
of light.
Most flowering and fruiting plants need a high intensity of light,
so keep the lights six to twelve inches above your plants. Use
reflective surfaces under and around the plants to bounce light back
into larger plants.
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Increase your indoor growing space by going vertical. Shelf units with built-in
light fixtures like the Stack-n-Grow Light System (gardeners.com) provide
multiple layers of growing space.
And once your tomatoes, peppers and eggplants start flowering, you will need to
shake things up a bit. Gently shake the plants several times a week, better yet
daily, to move the pollen from the female to the male parts of the flower so
fruit will develop. A gentle breeze from a fan or vibrations from a
battery-operated toothbrush work well.
Indoor gardening won’t yield the same results as a sunny outdoor garden, but the
flavor can’t be beat when gardening outdoors is not an option.
[Melinda Myers]
Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers
has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has
written over 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening and
the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She hosts The Great Courses “How to
Grow Anything: Food Gardening For Everyone” DVD set and the
nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments.
Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms
magazine and was commissioned by Gardener’s Supply Company for her
expertise to write this article. Myers’ web site,
www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips.
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