OT...anyone here do indoor gardening?

Dyal_SC

About to plant our spring garden tomorrow with my two little nephews. We are planting tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, red bell peppers, green bell peppers and yellow bell peppers. I also picked up lots of spinach, red romaine and green romaine. I know it's getting kinda warm out, so I was thinking about planting the spinach and lettuce inside. Was contemplating a vertical pallet planter with my old rolling BGE nest for easy transport. Found those in my shed. Anyone have any luck planting lettuce inside? Any tips or suggestions? I've never planted lettuce or spinach before.

NecessaryIndulg

We planted lettuce for the first time last year (our whole "garden" was inside).  We planted everything in plastic bins and hung a few lights.  We started everything from seed and most of it did well.  The basil did the best. 

Your pallets will make it way prettier.  

Carolina Q

Every year, I keep thinking I'll plant a small garden, but all I ever wind up with is container herbs. I had to laugh when I saw your "getting kinda warm out" comment. According to the Farmer's Almanac for my area, there is a "50% probability of frost free after April 25."  Years ago, we used to have a small garden up here. Never planted it until Memorial Day!!

Dyal_SC

Thanks, Kristi! Did you have any issues with the lettuce getting bitter or starting to bolt? That's the reason I was thinking of doing it inside. I was thinking it might help delay bolting.

caliking

When we lived in Iowa, SWMBO would start everything in flats indoors while it was still cool/cold outside, so that she could get a head start once the frost date was past. She used 40W grow lights (I think).

NecessaryIndulg

We didn't have any trouble with it bolting.  The lettuce was very tender and flavorful.  I just wish we had planted more of it.  

NPHuskerFL

I grow my herbs in pots and works perfect.

Dyal_SC

Thx for the info @caliking and @NecessaryIndulg. Gonna hafta pick up one or two good lights. Should be fun playing with dirt with the youngins'...

Jeremiah

NPHuskerFL said:

I grow my herbs in pots and works perfect.

I was waiting for someone to go there.

Wolfpack

Thought this was going in a different direction.

Lit

If you are serious you will need at a minimum a 400 watt metal halide. Easiest thing to do is build a small flood table and get some peat moss cubes or rock wool and get some nutrients like general hydroponics. These lights give out a large amount of heat so its best to vent them.

chashans

I start seeds every year indoors in February. I use a seed starter heat mat and used to use 4" fluorescent shop lights. Now, because I am planting a smaller garden, I use the heat mat and a South facing window light. Lettuce is very easy to start...just lay the seeds on top of the starter soil and add water and light. Lettuce tip to avoid bolting: Harvest the entire plant off one inch above the soil, the plant will grow back again. You can do that several times. Chard will come back also as well as several other Victory garden plants. I have never been able to grow spinach.

chashans

You can see my indoor set-up among these garden photos.

https://plus.google.com/photos/101179160269559250014/albums/5245123015198208561?banner=pwa&authkey=CP2MhbLaqf7mKA

NPHuskerFL

Lit said:

If you are serious you will need at a minimum a 400 watt metal halide. Easiest thing to do is build a small flood table and get some peat moss cubes or rock wool and get some nutrients like general hydroponics. These lights give out a large amount of heat so its best to vent them.

Damn that sounds very in depth. Seems like the broke hippies in the 70s just used the basement with low ambient light. But, on a serious note why not just use a "grow" lamp?

Edit> maybe a "grow" lamp only works on plants that have already emerged. But, we use to do this to start seedlings for our Son's science experiments many years ago when he was in science fairs etc. So, thought it should work and they run cooler (don't give off much latent heat).

Lit

Its all about how far the light is useable. Many low power lights will only work within a foot or two of the plant.

travisstrick

I used to but I can't talk about it for 2 more years.

nolaegghead

I've converted some folks at work to eggheads and they read this forum and know I'd never admit to such behavior on social media.  I do, however, grow algae in my fish tank for the plecostomus.

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gdenby

Do be sure to have good light. Even in a south window, any of my starts become spindly after a week or so.  Most plants can use as much light as they can get, tho' they do need a day night cycle.

Lettuce quality may depend on the variety. For the last few years I've been growing an Amish heirloom variety called "Deers Tongue."  The leaves remain mostly sweet until the flowers start to open. Likewise, the leaf lettuce seems overall to be more hardy then those that produce heads.

Dredger

Yep. Everyone is right about the lights. No light = no lettuce. Also, lettuce in soil is a cool weather crop. Bolting is caused by heat. This is my set-up.



You harvest what you need and it regrows for about 4 months. It's not soil, but it works for me. I also grow tomatoes, peppers, herbs and lots of other veggies.