Grow an indoor winter garden

Need fresh veggies?

Listen. Can you hear it? All across cold-weather regions, gardeners are sighing. Some of us are sighing in relief, ready for a break. Most of us miss our garden-fresh produce already.

Even if you don't own a greenhouse, you can grow vegetables in winter with a few key conditions. Spring-grown vegetables are ideal for indoor gardens. These include lettuces, endive, green onion, radish, mini cabbage, chives, parsley and cilantro.

Here's what you'll need for a successful indoor garden:

• Vegetable plants need full sun to thrive. Use a south-facing window, or duplicate outdoor light conditions with a grow light – a fluorescent (tube style) light fixture installed just a few inches above the tops of the plants. Keep the grow light on for 12 hours per day.
  
  
• Ideal temps should vary between 55° and 70° F for the above mentioned plants.
  
  
• Mist plants several times a day, but be very careful not to overwater indoor plants.
  
  
• Use a light potting soil medium with good drainage, and plant in containers that are at least 3" deep.
  
  
• Quality seedlings are difficult to obtain in autumn. Shop online for organic, non-genetically modified seeds.