Any gardeners who do indoor gardening?

[MadPlumbarian]

I was just curious if we have anyone who gardens year round? I made a special above ground setup to get started, you can see Dex just laying there enjoying some outdoor time, anyway, I just don’t know the first thing about gardening, this little setup is now painted and behind the garage because it will get the most sunlight from like 9am till like 7pm, I can also tap into the garages downspout which is right on the corner so that will make it easy, but what about indoors? I can’t grow outside now since it’s only 8°f out, and what about like hydroponics, what’s the best way to grow, I have no knowledge of growing anything! Unlike my grandfather who used to have his own like 100ft x 100ft garden,, do I just put buckets full of dirt in the basement, keep watering them and put a led lamp above them?
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Guess no one gardens,,
JR

[IMR4198]

   I did for years.  Outside.  If you want to start, put out some buckets with topsoil in a sunny spot.  Buy a few tomato plants and peppers.  Squash is easy to grow from seeds.  Don't plant anything you don't like.  Start small.  Forget grow lights and indoor.  Best wishes.  G
 

[styx]

we are getting ready for indoor and outdoor gardening so this is interesting

[Barry Rowland]

My uncle does on tables in his garage.  We're going to start doing it here ourselves.  Looking forward to the responses JR.

[MadPlumbarian]

My uncle does on tables in his garage.  We're going to start doing it here ourselves.  Looking forward to the responses JR.

Unfortunately it’s only 9°f outside at the moment or else I’d consider growing in the two car garage, thus why I’m thinking of growing indoors,
JR

[PitCarver]

We used to have a garden, back before my hips gave out on me.  Been years now.  My wife bought some tomatoe plants, last year, and tried growing them in large pots.  Carried water out most every day.  I think that she got maybe 3 or 4 tomatoes by the end of the season.  I'm hoping that this year we can just go to the farmers market.

[AzteCypher]

We had a neighbor that did indoor gardening.  She kept the pots by her window.  If she couldn't put them by the window she would use grow lights.  She would mention specifically grow lights as regular incandescent or LED won't do.  You can do them in buckets as well just pay attention to the watering so you don't over water as a sealed bucket has no way to let out the water.

We only have our outdoor garden but we bring the pots into the garage to keep them warm when it's going to freeze.  I put an old heater next to them so they don't wilt with the cold.

[MadPlumbarian]

Well the Mrs asked the neighborhood if anyone’s got any extras so we’re waiting for a response, but it looks like we’re going to start a little something behind the garage in that bucket setup I made, maybe clear the rest of behind the garage out and make something out of pallets, idk if any of it will need protection like a greenhouse, like I said this will be our first grow, so I’ll be doing some research to get started I guess some time in march since we’re finally breaking 40°f today, not that it’s going to stay above that, I think next week it’s suppose to dive right back into the lower 30’s then back up, so any advice would be greatly appreciate!
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Ok, here’s the backyard, I’m thinking of growing right behind the garage because the sun comes up on the right and moves to the left keeping sun on that back section from like 9-7, there’s two downspouts on the garage both on the back section so if I was to put a 55gal drum on each side I’d get every drip off that roof, you can see where I put that 5gal bucket holder I posted before on the right with the circles, but then I could put stuff all to the left of it where I crossed it off, I just think it would have to be above ground cause I think there’s concrete there, I’d have to check, the one thing I have to worry about is where I drew that red line, that’s the neighbors fence and his hedges grow through so I need enough room for me to walk the line to trim them, that other thing the green, is some idea the Mrs has, she thinks putting a greenhouse up right there would be the best idea.. any thoughts on all this?
JR

[AzteCypher]

That's a good spot to get some sun.  I like that you have your water capture sources nearby.  That'll make it easier/quicker to water the garden.  Not sure if you've thought of what to grow yet but with the amount of sun you're getting in that spot, I'd recommend some cherry tomatoes.  This is what we first started out with and they do pretty good even in our Texas heat.  You have to give them something to grow on though as when they get taller they tend to lean over because of the weight.  I've used tomato cages in the past but I'm thinking of just using a trellis this year or maybe a wooden frame with cables hanging down.  Haven't made up my mind yet.

Another thing that was easy to grow was peppers.  I grew serrano peppers but almost any pepper will do well.  Our radishes and carrots did ok, but they do not like the Texas heat.  I bet y'all would be able to grow radishes and carrots pretty easily in those 5 gallon buckets.  You might even be able to grow potatoes.  Just depends on the variety because some can get pretty big. 

You're doing what we did initially and that's start a bit small.  I wanted to know how big of a garden I could handle with our busy schedule.  We started out with a 5ft by 2ft raised garden with cherry tomatoes and tomatillos.  This past year we moved the garden to the west side of the house (less direct sun during the summer) and added serranos, carrots, and radishes to a 10ft by 4ft (approx) raised garden.

In my opinion, the green house at the end of the driveway is not a bad idea once you're ready to go bigger.  However, there's nothing wrong with starting out with the greenhouse instead, as you could also garden during the winter months.

[MadPlumbarian]

Thanks,
That’s why I posted, I was after the green thumb knowledge, I don’t have the rain collection yet but if I did I’m sure both barrels would be full after last night, we got slammed! We also need the 55gal barrels, I’m just trying to get a list going so I can figure everything out, I thought I posted it but I read a few back and didn’t see it, but I fig to use pallets and make it above ground and a little easier on the back, and last night as the Mrs and I were talking about it the kid walked in and says what do you need pallets for? So we were “so we can build a garden” so then he says “well, I can ask the boss, we get shipments on Tues, and normally they are on pallets, we just throw them away”.. I was like dang, only thing is he has a car and it would be a little funny looking with pallets stacked on the roof, but his friend has a truck, so I guess we’ll see later, which leaves the soil and what to plant, definitely carrots and tomato’s, probably potato’s too, I’m sure the Mrs would like peppers, but I’d probably want something with a little kick vs your norm bell peppers, like I said we’re still trying to fig everything out to get started..
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Well I just got a message from the kid who spoke to his boss and he said he’d be happy to give us the pallets, yet the kid only drives a car so he talked to his coworker who has a truck and he said he’d also help, just don’t know when? So it looks like this garden is getting a go, I mean to top it off today we hit 55°f, heck there’s like no snow left, nice thing was when I took the dogs out I didn’t need a winter coat, dumb thing is tomorrow it’s suppose to go down into the mid 40’s,,
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

This is nuts, just an hour and half later and look at the diff, it’s still snowing so idk how much we’ll get, hopefully it will just stay on the grass and won’t stick on the sidewalks!
JR

[Grant Lamontagne]

If you want to live that close to Canada you can't complain if some of the Canadian weather spills over onto you!   

Def

[MadPlumbarian]

If you want to live that close to Canada you can't complain if some of the Canadian weather spills over onto you!   

Def

Yeah that doesn’t really help,, it’s not like this overnight..
JR

[MacGeezer]

I have excellent results, in several locations, growing sprouts and micro greens indoors, during the winter months.
We love the taste, not everyone does. Extremely nutritious.
There is a ton of knowledge and resources out there too.
https://northerngardener.org/soil-sprouts/
I try and purchase seeds that haven't had pesticides and tainted growth enhancement.
One such source is :
https://sowtrueseed.com/collections/sprouting-seeds
One other plant that I overwinter, indoors, with proper window light and artificial LED grow lights is purslane.
Not only a attractive plant but highly nutritious.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1484
In the greenhouse we keep a few potted (and large) dragon fruit and Mexican Spinach plants alive for over 11 years.
Well designed greenhouses are a game changer in cold climates as well as the sun scorcher environment I currently reside it. Plant something you love to eat and have fun with the learning curve.

[AzteCypher]

This is nuts, just an hour and half later and look at the diff, it’s still snowing so idk how much we’ll get, hopefully it will just stay on the grass and won’t stick on the sidewalks!
JR

That's just nuts.  We had one more freeze which I think may have done in my hibiscus so I'm not happy about that.  Heading this weekend to the nursery to by some plants and some seed.  Just need to put in some fertilizer into the garden bed and I think I'm going to try out some worm castings upon a friend's recommendation. 

[MadPlumbarian]

The kid asked the boss if he could get any pallets and he said there yours! So the next thing was finding a way to get them from his work to home, so a friend said I got a truck yet no straps, so now we had to find someone who had them, like err, so finally today the kid and his friend got it all together and brought them home, so now I have a nice little stack of 13 pallets to start a nice little planter!
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Wow is it windy, luckily the pallets didn’t go anywhere, on the other hand the one small trash can lid did! That and also a downspout extension, after I took the dogs out I had to go back out and pick up everything and I must say wow it’s cold, I ran my hands under Luke warm water just to warm them up!
JR

[AzteCypher]

Glad y'awl were able to get the pallets.  Also sounds like y'all have some crazy weather like we do.

[MadPlumbarian]

Glad y'awl were able to get the pallets.  Also sounds like y'all have some crazy weather like we do.

Yeah it’s nuts! We were down to a windchill of only 9°f yet in a few days we’re going to be up to 60°, like what happened to like two weeks in the 40’s then another two weeks in the 50’s, then two weeks in the 60’s? I mean heck as much that I’ve had to wrap up to avoid the cold, I’m going to be just be walking out in a simple pair of shorts to take the dogs out,,,
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Got the next add on to start gardening, I was only going to get two but the guy only said he would deliver if I got three, they look like there three diff sizes but it’s the camera being like stretched, anyway, I’ll sooner or later get to cutting the tops and cleaning these out so I can set them up for rain catchment,
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Now normally people would complain, todays trash day, so everyone had to put their trash out last night and we had and still have very high winds, and this morning I woke up to something in our yard, just pressed up to our fence, at first I thought it was those clear tarps, yet nope it’s a fabric, just like the stuff you put down so the weeds don’t grow, hey I’m not going to complain, it was too windy for me to get an idea as to how much but there’s two good size pieces!
JR

[AzteCypher]

That's a good freebie right there!  I ended up using old cardboard in our raised bed as I was too cheap to buy the fabric.

[MadPlumbarian]

Well, I was looking outside and sure enough, another piece, so I just walked out and it blew right to my feet, so I took it in the garage,,
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

We went out today since it’s my bday, the kid took us to a “tracker supply plus” and checked things out and he also said “pick” so the Mrs went nuts and started picking seeds to start growing, of course we needed a watering bucket!
JR

[AzteCypher]

Nice selection of seeds.  I'm not allowed to make habanero salsa anymore so I haven't grown them in a while.  Something about having to evacuate the family whenever I use habaneros in the house. 

[MadPlumbarian]

OMG I’m beat! Both had doc appointments this morning, then went food shopping, then since the weather was finally letting up we started clearing out where all this is suppose to go,, the Mrs wanted that bucket rack I made down further but idk if we have enough pallets to make it all the way, but I cleaned it all out and got it ready, gotta still cut the tops off the barrels then clean them, but tomorrow I guess we’ll be cutting the pallets  and making the bed,,
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Step two,,
I didn’t even finish cause I was just beat, but I got a layout so the Mrs understood, here’s a few pics of what’s left to finish, I got to cut 5 more pallets in half to add on and the ones on the back, but here’s a pic to help understand, after that I have to connect them all together, then put a board on the top, and lastly staple a liner on the inside so everything can grow and keep anything from growing in,, but here’s a few pics,
JR