Starting an Indoor Food Garden in Sheboygan County

Imagine having fresh herbs for your pasta, crisp lettuce for your salads, and juicy tomatoes ripening on the vine—all within arm’s reach, right inside your home. Starting an indoor food garden adds homegrown flavor to your meals and greenery to your space while reducing your grocery store trips and dealing with price changes. Plus, it’s easier than you think! Here’s how to start, even if you’ve never grown anything in your life.

Choose the Right Spot

Plants need light, so the best place for your indoor garden is near a south- or west-facing window where they’ll get plenty of sun. In Sheboygan County, where natural light can be limited in winter, LED grow lights are a good alternative to keep your plants thriving. Follow the instructions on how far to place your lights away from your plants and adjust based on the type of plant you have.

Setting your lights on a timer is convenient for you and helpful for your plants. If you have a smart home setup, use smart plugs to turn on and off with the sunrise and sunset. If not, many grow lights come with built-in timers you can set manually.

Start with the Easiest Plants

If you’re new to gardening, start with plants that grow quickly and require little fuss. Here are some great beginner-friendly choices:

• Herbs: Basil, mint, parsley, and chives are low-maintenance and perfect for cooking. Keep mint in a separate pot as it tends to spread aggressively. Thyme, oregano, and rosemary also thrive indoors with minimal care.
• Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, and arugula grow fast and don’t take up much space. Harvest the outer leaves first so the plant keeps producing. Swiss chard and bok choy are also excellent options for continuous harvesting.
• Microgreens: These tiny, nutrient-packed greens (like radish, kale, and mustard) grow in just a couple of weeks! Use a shallow tray with a fine layer of soil, mist them daily, and enjoy a fresh harvest in about 10-14 days.
• Tomatoes and Peppers: Small varieties like cherry tomatoes and mini bell peppers can thrive indoors with sufficient light. Use a deep container with sturdy support for best results.
• Root Vegetables: Carrots, radishes, and green onions can be successfully grown in deeper pots. Green onions can even be regrown from store-bought ones by placing their roots in water before transplanting them into soil.
• Strawberries: Ever-bearing strawberry plants can produce fruit year-round if placed in a bright location. Hanging baskets work particularly well for these.

Pick the Right Containers

Almost any container can work, as long as it has good drainage. If you’re reusing old pots, make sure they have holes at the bottom. Here’s what works best for different plants:

• Herbs and Microgreens: Shallow containers (4-6 inches deep) work best. Herbs can be grown in individual small pots or grouped together in a larger planter. Microgreens thrive in flat trays.
• Leafy Greens: Medium-sized pots (6-8 inches deep) work well. Consider long, rectangular planters to grow multiple greens in a small space.
• Tomatoes and Peppers: Deep pots (at least 12 inches) with good drainage are necessary. Use a sturdy container and provide a trellis or stake for support as the plants grow.
• Root Vegetables: Carrots and radishes need deep pots (8-12 inches) to allow for proper root development. Green onions can grow in shallower containers (6 inches) but will thrive in deeper ones too.
• Strawberries: Hanging baskets or deep pots (6-8 inches) with good drainage holes are ideal. Make sure they have room to spread and trail over the sides.

Don’t have a lot of space? Arrange smaller pots in tiers or on shelves to make use of limited space. Hanging pots, vertical planters, and support trellises can help container gardens grow vertically.

One more tip on containers: Avoid layering gravel at the bottom of the pot to assist with drainage. This can prevent drainage and increase water retention in the soil. It’s better to use high-quality potting soil in a pot with drainage holes.

Use Quality Soil and Fertilizer

Don’t just scoop up dirt from your backyard—indoor plants do best in a light, well-draining potting mix. Look for organic potting soil and give your plants a boost with a balanced liquid fertilizer every few weeks.

Leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens can be fertilized every two to four weeks with a diluted liquid fertilizer due to their short growth cycle and reliance on seed nutrients.

Fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries benefit from a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium every two weeks during flowering and fruiting stages. If you’re unsure which one to get, ask an expert from your local gardening store.

Root vegetables like carrots and radishes need only light feeding once a month. Excessive fertilization can lead to lush foliage at the expense of root development. A balanced fertilizer with moderate nitrogen levels is ideal for these plants.

Always follow the recommended dosage on the fertilizer label, and avoid applying it to dry soil. Water your plants first to prevent root burn.

Water Smartly

Overwatering is the number one killer of indoor plants. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry—if it’s still moist, wait a bit. A spray bottle works well for delicate seedlings, while a small watering can is great for larger plants. You can also use self-watering planters if you’re concerned about this part, and place a tray underneath pots to catch excess moisture.

Give Them Some Care

Plants are living things, and like any living thing, they need care. Check in on them regularly—trim herbs to encourage growth, rotate plants so they grow evenly toward the light, and watch for any signs of pests. If you notice gnats or tiny bugs, try sprinkling cinnamon on the soil or using a mild soap spray.

Enjoy the Rewards

There’s nothing like snipping fresh basil for your homemade pizza or picking crisp greens for a salad you grew yourself. Tending to an indoor garden is a great stress reliever and a beautiful way to bring life into your home.

Starting small is key—just a few pots on a sunny windowsill can get you hooked on growing your own food. Who knows? Today, it’s basil and lettuce. Tomorrow, you might be harvesting peppers and cherry tomatoes.

Are you thinking about starting an indoor food garden? Let me know what you’d love to grow. Need more space for your indoor garden? Let’s find you the perfect home in Sheboygan County.