Gardening can be hard, time consuming, and frustrating if you live in cold environments. While the snow is melting down in Montana or Minnesota, Florida is already on the way to have the first harvest ready to pick. So what can you do to still benefit from growing your own produces in cold places? Here some tips that I like to share with everyone.
1. Start small. Pick few items to grow indoor. Herbs do very well. I started with basil and parsley. Parsley literally grows everywhere. It is very resistant. Oregano too is very resistant.
2. Do some research. Find out what climate conditions your plants are resistant to. For example, rosemary and lavender do not do well in humid, high-watery environments like Florida. They like dry climates and a lot of sun. I found out that cucumbers grow very well in FL and you only have to plant them one time. They grow back every year.
3. After you get your seeds (you can also buy a plant that has already been grown), you need to buy some soil. Mushroom based soils have a lot of nutrients. If you have your own compost awesome, but most people living in apartments will not. NOTE: you might be able to get #freesoil or #mulch. Check your city. #Tallahassee recycling center offers free mulch that gets delivered to your house. For free vegetable soil you need to drive to the facility. NOTE: the #mulch and soil is not treated and might contain weeds. If you want to grow organic, you need to ask questions. Don’t assume what is free is good. You will never know what you are getting unless you ask.
4. If you buy plants already grown, when you plant them in a bigger pot make sure you gently cut the roots so that they are not compacted. This is because the roots need to be free to spread. Don’t compact the plants too much with more soil. Let the roots on the top breathe.
5. If you plant seed, follow the direction on the package. Start planting each seed in a recycle, biodegradable pots like this one. There are reasonable priced. Follow the direction on the package. Plant in each pot more than just one seed, because I have noticed that the probability of getting something to grow out of one seed is low. You can always transplant later.
6. If you don’t have money to buy the degradable pots use your imagination. Plastic bottles are good because they keep the soil moist, but drill a hole on the bottom. Also plastic is really toxic when exposed to heat. Plastic is made out of petroleum, when exposed to heat it spreads toxics that go into the water you drink or the soil. So I guess don’t use plastic bottles? You want the water to drain. If you water your plants too much they will die. One of the signs is yellow color leaves on the bottom. More signs are explained here. For more creative ideas please visit this website. They really do a good job in terms of designing indoor gardens with odd objects. This is another website with other tips for indoor gardening.
7. Find a location in your house that gets the most of the sun during the day. Plants need a lot of sun to grow. I keep few small vases on the kitchen window. When it gets warmer you can always put your pots outside and put them back in at night when the temperature drops drastically.
8. Water early in the morning. Water only when needed. Use your finger to test the soil. If it is moist the plant probably does not need water. Water the roots, not the leaves;)
9. Like humans plants need care-a lot of it. They need nutrients. I can’t even name all of the nutrients plants need. You can buy organic fertilizer (e.g. fish emulsion, blood meal) or you can rely on old fashion methods, but I can’t guarantee results. Homemade methods (e.g. ash from the fireplace, any scraps from dinner that are organic, coffee you brewed, tea bags. You get the point). Don’t exaggerate with the nutrients. Read the instructions carefully. You don’t want to burn your plants with fertilizer. I can’t stress enough, but you should ONLY use organic fertilizers. Conventional fertilizers are toxic. During 1950s they were made with nitrogen used during WWII for bombs. For more information visit this website.
10. I can’t think of a 10 point.
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