Self Sufficiency
15 Delectable Edibles You Can Grow In Your Indoor Winter Garden
Love gardening? It’s about time to take it indoors. Here are 15 edibles you can grow in your indoor winter garden.
The ground may be frozen, but you can grow edibles all winter long right in the comfort of your own home. Winter gardening is a lot easier than you think. If you already hung up your garden gloves, better put it on again because you will need it to get started with your indoor winter garden. Read on and find out the best plants you can grow all winter and enjoy your produce by February, while the rest of your neighbors are still battling winter blues and yearning for the spring to come.
Vegetables and Green To Grow In Indoor Winter Garden
By the end of the fall season, we normally rush things up with our gardening chores. But that shouldn’t be the case. In my homestead, I definitely prefer to continue producing my own food by moving the scene indoors.
Many herbs and vegetables grow and even flourishes during cooler climate. During the cooler weather of fall and winter, many are able to concentrate their sugars, providing a much tastier flavor. I don’t know if you have tasted the difference but in my experience, my fall and winter produce are way tastier than my summer and spring produce.
Growing your own vegetables and herbs indoors is a perfect counterpart to winter farmers or grocery stores trips, and mind you, you don’t really need to be an expert gardener nor have a green thumb and big budget just for you to do it the right way. Plant these delectable edibles in your indoor winter garden and gather your rewards in spring!
1. Tomatoes
Save the sunniest area for your home for tomatoes. Plant the seeds in a profound seed tray and once it develops 4-5 real leaves, transfer them to a container. If you prefer not to stake the plants, you can grow them upside down. Induce flowering, you can pinch the tips of the little branches. Provide extra lighting, if necessary. Cherry tomatoes are more productive over the bigger ones when grown indoors.
2. Potatoes
Growing potatoes indoors require a large plastic sack or a potato box. Fill it with a good quality potting mix and plant your potatoes. Take note that potato plants require a substantial amount of sunlight for you to have a good produce. Check your young spuds and use them for cooking.
3. Bell peppers
Bell peppers require an adequate measure of lighting for a decent produce and must be planted in a rich potting mix. To encourage a bushy growth, pinch the growing tips which can be converted into a good fruit later on.
4. Mushrooms
Mushrooms can also be grown indoors during winter. Growing mushrooms can also be a fun gardening activity outside when the cold weather allows. Button mushrooms or oyster mushrooms from kits is pretty easy to grow. You just simply follow the instructions in the kit and keep it in a dark, cool place to grow. You can have a few harvests from one bed.
When you get enough experience with the ready-made kits you can proceed to setting up your own particular mushroom beds.
5. Lettuce
Any varieties of lettuce will do indoors. They require 3-4 hours of clouded sunlight through a window. The loose leaf kinds are perfect for indoors. You can pick the leaves to ensure a continuous harvest. Lettuces are very adaptable in growing exclusively in artificial lights.
6. Carrots
Carrots can be grown inside when placed in pots with loose, well-depleting soil. If you can give around 4-5 hours of sunlight or its equal in grow lights, you can get great carrots. However, in the event that the light is compromised, the roots stay little and they take more time to create.
7. Spinach
This is one of my favorite, so I definitely have spinach year round. Out in my garden, spinach does best in an incomplete shade and provides a constant supply of leaves. The same can be done indoors by putting it close to a window where it can have 3-4 hours of daylight. Make sure to choose a cool spot because spinach tends to dash in warmth. Bundle the leaves together to urge the plant to deliver new leaves. Spinach can be also be perfectly grown in grow lights.
8. Chives
Chives are hardy plants that can restore itself during spring despite the fact that it can take a thrashing during winter. You can still enjoy a container of chives in your kitchen even during the colder months of the year.
If you’ve got chives in your garden, you can sow only a couple of rifts of chives in a container of well-draining potting mix and get them indoors. Chives can produce great bunches as they develop that guarantees you a continuous increase of yield as you clip off some leaves for your needs.
9. Radishes
Radishes are a standout amongst the most compensating veggies to grown indoors in winter. They can produce a table commendable tubers in as early as 25 days, so you can have a customary supply if you begin week-by-week batches. The marginally spicy kind of radishes is perfect for winter dishes. Radish greens are as delightful as small scale and young greens.
Plant the radish seeds in straight lines in a 5-inch profound plate of rich, well-depleting soil and fertilizer blend and cover them with a paper until they grow. Transfer them to a sunny spot when the seed leaf is out. You can disperse the seedlings when 2-3 leaves show up and enjoy them in salads. You can keep on picking delicate leaves if it’s fine with you having little bulbs.
10. Swiss Chard
I love swiss chard! It does not only give me food on my table, it also gives me a cheerful ambiance to my homestead. Although, they require 4 to 5 hours of sunlight to have rainbow colors of long stalks. During winter, I can still harvest leaves perfect for my cooking. I use older ones for stir fried and the fresher ones in raw salads.
11. Mint
Mint prefers shade, hence it is perfect indoors. You can sow it from seeds or from sprouts of mint you buy from the shop. Mint loves rich, damp soil. A single pot is enough to serve as your supply all winter long.
The leaves can be utilized to make a delightful mint tea that’s perfect for an upset tummy. Sprigs of mint can be used as a garnish to any dish. If you need a snappy lift-up, just simply brush your hands over the plant.
12. Oregano
I have oregano in my garden as well as indoors. I use this all winter for my homemade pizza and spaghetti. They are absolutely easy to grow. However, they can be intrusive in the garden, so it is best to grow it in containers or pots. You can have two or more oregano pots in your kitchen window, where the plant can receive a bit of sunlight. It will flourish happily in the warm indoor air even while the outside is still freezing.
13. Arugula
Arugula is a salad green that has a sharp taste. It can produce a good yield even if it is grown indoors. The large rosette, that looks like a dandelion, can produce a ceaseless supply of leaves. The more you cut, the more it develops. Arugula is a cool season plant and has a tendency to bolt prior if grown in a warm area. Out in the garden, blooms borne on long stalks demonstrate the approach of the warm climate. To maintain a strategic distance from early catapulting and extend harvest, you have to look for a cool, yet sunny spot for this plant.
14. Beans
If there is sufficient light, beans and peas can deliver pods indoors. Shrubbery beans are best for indoor development as you don’t have to bother putting support to post bean varieties. Harvesting is likewise much easier.
15. Kale
Kale is a hardy plant, however, extreme frost can kill it. Every plant needs a huge pot and a lot of space to develop and spread. An area where it gets 3-4 hours of brilliant light would be perfect. The crinkled leaves are a storage facility of nourishment, yet they don’t become huge in plants when grown indoors. Nonetheless, they are similarly as delicious and profoundly nutritious.
Want more indoor winter garden tips? Check out this video from GrowVeg:
There you have it, my fellow homesteaders, 15 delectable edibles you can grow in your indoor winter garden! If you are in doubt, take note of these simple tips: leafy vegetables can deal with lesser light than root vegetables. While fruit vegetables like tomatoes and eggplants need more light to have a good harvest. But, they can flourish in a warm room. Edible fungi and sprouts, well they don’t much care for light, so they can be perfect in basement or garage. Choose a few of these edibles to grow this winter and avoid winter blues and start your indoor winter garden now!
Which edible will you grow in your indoor winter garden? Have you tried having an indoor winter garden before? I’m excited to know! Let me know about your experiences and tips by leaving a comment below!
In need of ideas of what you should do in winter garden season? Check out 15 Things You Should Be Doing This Fall And Winter Garden Season!
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How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar
The thing about homesteading is you get to create your own ingredient right from scratch! Cheese, yogurt, butter and now sauerkraut, a delightfully sour and crunchy ingredient you can use on your meals — or consume by itself — while on a homestead, or while facing this health crisis!
This homemade sauerkraut is a great meal because it has a long shelf life. You can either make plain sauerkraut or mix it with herbs and spices. In this tutorial let us make Lacto-fermented sauerkraut that preserves all the good probiotics in a jar, good for your guts.
So how to make sauerkraut in a mason jar?
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Delicious Sauerkraut Recipe Every Homesteader Should Know
Why Make Sauerkraut?
Not only does sauerkraut spoil a long time, but it is also a meal in itself, and it is also easy to make! You don’t need to be an expert cook, all you need to do is follow these simple steps.
So let us get started. Here are the steps in making sauerkraut in a mason jar.
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cabbage or 2 1/2 lbs cabbage
- 1 tablespoon of salt
Tools Needed:
- knife
- bowl
- mason jar
- smaller jar
- rubber band
Step 1: Wash & Clean the Tools & Ingredients
Wash all the equipment and utensils you need. Wash your hands too.
You don’t want to mix your sauerkraut with bad bacteria, anything that is going to make you sick.
Next, remove the faded leaves from your cabbage. Cut off the roots and the parts that don’t seem fresh.
Step 2: Cut the Cabbage Into Quarters & Slice Into Strips
Cut your cabbage into quarters and remove the core. Then, slice it into strips.
Step 3: Place in a Bowl & Sprinkle With Salt
Put the stripped cabbage into a bowl. Sprinkle the cabbage with 1 tablespoon of salt.
TIP: Use canning salt or sea salt. Iodized salt will make it taste different and may not ferment the cabbage.
RELATED: Homemade Yogurt Recipe
Step 4: Massage the Cabbage
Massage the cabbage for five minutes or more to get the juice out.
TIP: You’ll know it’s ready when you see a bit of juice at the bottom of the bowl and will look similar to coleslaw.
Step 5: Press Cabbage Into the Mason Jar
Add the cabbage to the mason jar gradually. Press it in hard to allow the juice to come out. Do this every time you add about a handful of cabbage.
IMPORTANT: Food should be covered by the liquid to promote fermentation. Add any excess liquid from the bowl to the jar.
Step 6: Press a Smaller Jar Into the Mason Jar
You want to squeeze every ounce of that juice from the cabbage. To do this place the mason jar in a bowl and get a smaller jar.
Fill it with water or marble to make it heavy. Press it into the bigger mason jar. Allow any juices to rise to the surface.
Step 7: Cover the Jars With Cloth & Tie With Rubber Band
Leave the small jar on. To keep your jars clean from annoying insects and irritating debris, cover your jars with a clean cloth. Then, use a rubber band to tie the cloth and the jars together, putting them in place.
Step 8: Set Aside & Check Daily
Set it aside in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight. Check the water level daily. It should always be above the cabbage.
Step 9: Taste Your Sauerkraut & Keep at Cool Temperatures
After about five days, you can taste your sauerkraut. If the taste is to your liking, tightly cover it with the lid and store in the fridge or cellar.
NOTE: If after five days it’s still not your desired taste, leave it for a few more days. This will allow the fermentation process to continue.
You can now enjoy your sauerkraut in a mason jar. Enjoy its goodness! You can use it as a side dish or mix it with your favorite sandwich.
Things to Remember in Making Sauerkraut
- Store away from direct sunlight and drafts.
- Colder weather will make the process longer. Spring is the best time to make them since the warmth helps activate the fermentation.
- Always make sure that the cabbage is below the water level during the entire fermentation process.
- If the water level decreases during the fermentation process, you can make a brine and add it.
Let us watch this video from Kristina Seleshanko on how to make delicious Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar!
So there you have it! Making Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar is as easy as slicing the cabbage into strips. Remember that as long it remains unopened, your sauerkraut can last for months. Best of all, you can partner this sauerkraut in many recipes.
What do you think of this homemade recipe? Share your best sauerkraut recipe in the comments section below!
Fellow homesteaders, do you want to help others learn from your journey by becoming one of our original contributors? Write for us!
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Self Sufficiency
9 SPRING VEGETABLES FOR YOUR GARDEN
Having plants in the house will bring peace to people. Having a little garden with vegetables is even better! You can grow these vegetables in your backyard garden easily as well!
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In this article:
Growing veggies in your garden will give you an opportunity to understand what you eat and value it more. Early spring is when most vegetables are being planted. Keep reading to learn about 9 spring vegetables that anyone can grow in their garden!
Tomato
Tomato is the most popular garden vegetable in the States! There are different varieties to choose from. Tomatoes need to be planted in early spring because they won’t survive a frost.
Because tomatoes are consumed daily, try adding them to your garden! They’re not difficult to grow either.
Eggplant
Eggplants are known to have low-calorie, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Plus, they are delicious! So why not plant them in your garden?
Eggplants shouldn’t be planted too early because they won’t be able to survive a frost. So you could consult an expert in your area before you plant your eggplants.
Beets
Beets are known to be a superfood for its various health benefits. They’re easier to grow in the garden, usually around late March or early April.
If the weather is always cool, beets will keep getting bigger and bigger. Once the weather starts to warm up, you’ll need to harvest them, or they’ll go to waste.
Spinach
Spinach is a delicious early spring veggie, and it’s also very beneficial for health. And it’s not difficult to grow spinach in your garden!
Spinach needs cold weather to grow. Getting spinach to grow is easy, but keeping it growing will require some extra care.
Pea
Peas are usually planted in late April. Peas will die in freezing temperatures, but they also won’t survive the heat either. So make sure you plant your peas in early spring.
Peas are widely used in many different ways, and there are different types of peas. The soil you’ll be planting your peas should be suitable for them, so make sure you ask while buying seeds.
Carrot
There are different types of carrots, but regardless of their size and color, it’s a fact that carrots are both delicious and rich in vitamins.
They’re root vegetables, so with proper sun and watering, they can be picked up as baby carrots as well.
Radish
A radish is an excellent option for beginners because it doesn’t require too much care. Radish is easy to harvest.
Radish grows fast, so it’s better to keep an eye on it after a few weeks. Radish usually is grown pest-free, but there’s always the chance of unwanted guests, so watch out for worms. Radish can be eaten raw or can be added to garnish recipes.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower isn’t the easiest vegetable to grow at home, but it is very popular.
Cauliflower grows better in colder weather, so before you plant it, consider the climate of your garden. Cauliflower can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is known to be very beneficial for health.
Asparagus
Freshly picked, tender asparagus is very delicious!
Asparagus plants get more productive with each harvest, and mature asparagus harvest can last for months! Make sure you plant them at the correct time, or else they might go to waste.
All the vegetables listed above are great for your healthy diet, and it’s fun to watch them grow. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow your own veggies and eat healthy this spring!
So tell us which veggies will you be growing this spring? Tell us in the comments section!
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