You may be accustomed to getting your weekly supplies of fruits and vegetables from the grocery store. But did you know you can grow your own vegetables at home (even if you don’t have a huge yard)?
Yes, that’s right! So if you live in an apartment or do not have a yard to grow your supplies, don’t worry. You can grow your vegetables right in your kitchen. And that would mean no hassle-filled trips to the store, more savings, and highly nutritious and environmentally friendly home-grown food for you and your family. An added advantage of growing your vegetables in your kitchen is that it’s a healthy activity that can keep you busy in a fun and rewarding way.
Let’s look at six vegetables that you can grow in your kitchen.
Green Onions/Scallions
Green onions do really well indoor. They are easy to care for, do not require a lot of sunlight, and can grow quickly at any time of the year. You can grow green onions using the seeds or replant the roots (the top part of the scallion).
Using the latter method, submerge the root and root hairs in a flask or glass and continue to change the water every day. In a week, you can plant your scallions into a pot, and you are good to go.
Use a pair of scissors to cut off the fresh, green ends of your scallion to season your meals and soups. You will never go for store-bought green onion again.
An added advantage is the flower you get from the plant. The tiny blossoms go really well with almost all types of salads.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes, really? Yes, tomatoes can grow perfectly well in your kitchen. Tomatoes are self-pollinating plants so that they can thrive well in containers. Moreover, they can tolerate cooler climates (around 65oF) really well, so you can grow them during the cooler times of the year as well. Some of the varieties of tomatoes that are most suitable for indoor growing include
- Tiny Tims,
- Yellow Pears and
- Red Robins.
You can start a new tomato pot every two weeks, and since it is a self-pollinating plant, the cycle can keep going. All you have to do is shake the stem of the open flowers lightly, and the pollens can land and grow at the most appropriate place.
So why get the pale wintertime tomatoes when you have your warm, organic toms right in your kitchen?
Carrot
Carrot, the sweet root vegetable, is another perfect vegetable to grow in your kitchen. Carrots don’t need much space around them. However, they do require deeper soil than most of the other kitchen vegetables. Moreover, it also takes a little longer to harvest (around 60-70 days). With that said, they are relatively easy to grow.
All they need is the right temperature and a lot of sunlight. Ensure you place your carrot pot somewhere near your kitchen window or door that gets the most sunlight. Like tomatoes, carrots tolerate the cool weather well and thrive at around 60oF. So essentially, the end of summer and early fall is the best time of the year to plant your carrots so you can enjoy the yield by the time the winter season approaches.
Kale
The crisp, hearty vegetable is a great plant to grow outdoor, but it can grow perfectly well indoors. In fact, it is probably better to grow kale in the kitchen because the plant is not a great fan of extreme temperatures. So you can enjoy the fresh kale right from your kitchen all year long as long as you take care of the plant’s water supply and the extensive need for sunlight. Just like your carrot plant, make sure you place your kale pot at a spot that gets the most sunlight in your kitchen.
When growing kale in your kitchen, it is best to choose the dwarf varieties. They usually grow up to about 1 foot in length and width and makes an excellent house plant. While the plant can take up to 2 months to fully mature, you can enjoy your fresh kale sprouts in a few weeks.
Radish
Another root vegetable that can grow well in your kitchen is radish. From germination to harvest, it only takes around 30 to 40 days. It is an easy to grow vegetable that grows quickly and does not require a lot of space. However, when you are growing radish in your kitchen, make sure you plant the seeds with adequate distance. Radish does not thrive in a crowded space. Moreover, plant the seeds in a container with at least 8-10 inches of soil and water them every day. With these basic tips in mind, you can grow several colorful varieties in your kitchen.
Remember that radish grows really quickly, so don’t forget to pull your home-grown radish as soon as it is ready, or else it can turn bitter.
Final Words
Growing vegetables in your kitchen are becoming increasingly popular because it’s simple and doable. The six vegetables highlighted above can grow well indoors, and you can enjoy the fresh yield from your kitchen garden.
Moreover, several other vegetables can thrive right in your kitchen, including but not limited to celery, herbs, microgreens, salad leaves, potatoes, sweet potatoes, hot pepper, and a lot more. Of course, some vegetables grow better outdoors or in certain climatic conditions; it is best to do your research before you get started with your mini kitchen garden.
Happy gardening (right in your kitchen!)
