Suggestions for veggies I can grow on a deck or inside?
January 9, 2008 3:02 PM Subscribe
I'd love to grow some vegetables this year. However, I don't have much in the way of outdoor space OR sunlight. What are my best bets?
I live in a condo. I have a deck, but it doesn't get much sun. I do have some space inside, but not much, and nothing with oodles of sun - it's not dark at all, but I don't get tons of direct sunlight; most of my windows face east or north.
So what are my best bets for growing my own vegetables? I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area (East Bay); frost/snow is not an issue but summer heat can be. I need something that will happily grow in a container and in at least partial shade. Or, alternatively, one of those "Aero-Garden" indoor planters; my mom is growing cherry tomatoes in one of those now, but they've yet to ripen. Anyone grow vegetables or herbs indoors? I'd at least like to get a pot or two of basil going for homemade pesto!
I live in a condo. I have a deck, but it doesn't get much sun. I do have some space inside, but not much, and nothing with oodles of sun - it's not dark at all, but I don't get tons of direct sunlight; most of my windows face east or north.
So what are my best bets for growing my own vegetables? I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area (East Bay); frost/snow is not an issue but summer heat can be. I need something that will happily grow in a container and in at least partial shade. Or, alternatively, one of those "Aero-Garden" indoor planters; my mom is growing cherry tomatoes in one of those now, but they've yet to ripen. Anyone grow vegetables or herbs indoors? I'd at least like to get a pot or two of basil going for homemade pesto!
basil has done really well in my windowbox garden - it's an interior courtyard window and doesn't get much direct sunlight. Mint has also flourished. I haven't had much success with tomatoes.
posted by dubold at 3:12 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by dubold at 3:12 PM on January 9, 2008
I received an Aerogarden for christmas. The light is REALLY bright. The basil is the best growing herb so far. The cilantro didn't sprout at all. So, I just put some basil seeds in the pod.
I had to move and I no longer have a garden. I can't wait to make some pesto.
The problem with the Aerogarden is that it is pricey for just some basil and you can't' mix some of the kits due to the amount of time the lights need to be on. I really wanted to have tomatoes, basil and cherry tomatoes.
On the upside, they now have a new light kit that is higher so that you can grow larger (full size) veggies.
posted by nimsey lou at 3:15 PM on January 9, 2008
I had to move and I no longer have a garden. I can't wait to make some pesto.
The problem with the Aerogarden is that it is pricey for just some basil and you can't' mix some of the kits due to the amount of time the lights need to be on. I really wanted to have tomatoes, basil and cherry tomatoes.
On the upside, they now have a new light kit that is higher so that you can grow larger (full size) veggies.
posted by nimsey lou at 3:15 PM on January 9, 2008
Most any kind of salad green will do okay. If you're growing them in pots, though, you'll want something that grows up, not out. Arugula, mizuna, red mustard will all work. Small varieties of bok choy will probably work, but tat soi and pak choi (which grow in rosette shapes and need some space) probably wouldn't.
Radishes you can do too.
You can buy carrot varieties that are supposed to tolerate pots. I can't remember the name of the varieties, but it'll indicate such on the package.
Mostly, don't overcrowd plants in pots. One thing you'll have to watch out in a low-light, high moisture environment (assuming you're in one of the foggy pockets of the Bay Area) is powdery mildew. It's exacerbated by high humidity and poor air circulation around the plants.
A grow light is also an excellent choice, and it's lots of fun. If you buy one, buy a timer for it as well for more control.
posted by mudpuppie at 3:23 PM on January 9, 2008
Radishes you can do too.
You can buy carrot varieties that are supposed to tolerate pots. I can't remember the name of the varieties, but it'll indicate such on the package.
Mostly, don't overcrowd plants in pots. One thing you'll have to watch out in a low-light, high moisture environment (assuming you're in one of the foggy pockets of the Bay Area) is powdery mildew. It's exacerbated by high humidity and poor air circulation around the plants.
A grow light is also an excellent choice, and it's lots of fun. If you buy one, buy a timer for it as well for more control.
posted by mudpuppie at 3:23 PM on January 9, 2008
I'm not sure if you explored this option, but there're probably plenty of community gardens in your area. I'm in a relatively small town right now, and there are two within biking distance of my apartment. So i'm sure the bay area is loaded. Check it out...it's usually pretty cheap (20-30$ for the entire season), you get a good bit of land (generally 5x20' or 10x20), and access to a water source. The one in my area even supplies a pile of compost and a shed of gardening tools.
posted by pilibeen at 4:21 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by pilibeen at 4:21 PM on January 9, 2008
Bean sprouts don't need any sunlight at all. Here are some kits for sale, but you don't really need one. You can also grow ginger pretty well indoors, since it's a shade plant. My neighbor once told me he grew potatoes by accident in his compost pile, so I imagine you can do it without much light, but haven't tried it myself.
posted by jujube at 5:01 PM on January 9, 2008
posted by jujube at 5:01 PM on January 9, 2008
I've had reasonably good luck growing basil in a sunny window but outside works significantly better. I haven't tried growing any other herbs or veggies indoors.
A cheap and easy way to garden on a patio is with large plastic outdoor garbage cans - poke some holes in the bottom, put a bit of gravel in and fill the rest of the way with potting soil. You'll have enough soil depth to grow most plants and the soil wont dry out as quickly as it does in smaller containers.
You should be able to grow food year round on your patio - this time of year you can grow potatoes, fava bans, carrots, beets, parsley, rosemary, thyme, bay, peas, and any other shade-friendly cool weather crops you can find seeds for. During the summer you may be able to get tomatoes to ripen - it depends how hot it gets where you are and what varieties you grow.
posted by foodgeek at 5:04 PM on January 9, 2008
A cheap and easy way to garden on a patio is with large plastic outdoor garbage cans - poke some holes in the bottom, put a bit of gravel in and fill the rest of the way with potting soil. You'll have enough soil depth to grow most plants and the soil wont dry out as quickly as it does in smaller containers.
You should be able to grow food year round on your patio - this time of year you can grow potatoes, fava bans, carrots, beets, parsley, rosemary, thyme, bay, peas, and any other shade-friendly cool weather crops you can find seeds for. During the summer you may be able to get tomatoes to ripen - it depends how hot it gets where you are and what varieties you grow.
posted by foodgeek at 5:04 PM on January 9, 2008
Response by poster: All good answers - thanks so much! The Pot and Patio Lettuce Mix sounds great. I will also investigate whether there is a community garden near me. I live in a small East Bay suburb but this IS the Bay Area, so there just might be one.
Incidentally, fog is not an issue where I live - I'm east of the Caldecott Tunnel, which means that I don't get fog, but I do get some stinkin' hot summer weather (in the 90's and above). Which means I should get started planting lettuce right away because it will bolt in late spring. Tomatoes grow very well in my area; the only thing stopping me is the relative lack of sun on my deck.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:53 PM on January 9, 2008
Incidentally, fog is not an issue where I live - I'm east of the Caldecott Tunnel, which means that I don't get fog, but I do get some stinkin' hot summer weather (in the 90's and above). Which means I should get started planting lettuce right away because it will bolt in late spring. Tomatoes grow very well in my area; the only thing stopping me is the relative lack of sun on my deck.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:53 PM on January 9, 2008
Even though there are already some great answers here, I just wanted to second the Community Supported Agriculture (or, CSA) idea. They can be very rewarding, and hanging out with those folks will help you out a tremendous amount! Here is one pretty good link. I know that google returns a ton of other leads in San Fran tho! Good luck, this is the future of food distribution!
posted by sneakyalien at 10:21 PM on January 10, 2008
posted by sneakyalien at 10:21 PM on January 10, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dilettante at 3:10 PM on January 9, 2008