The short days and colder temperatures of winter may not seem ideal for gardening, but local University of Tennessee Extension experts say growing food indoors can help you produce fresh crops year-round.
Clay County Agent Wyatt Montooth said home gardeners can successfully grow vegetables indoors using containers, proper placement, and adequate light.
“Container gardening’s really a system that people can utilize that may not have ground or area for traditional gardening,” Montooth said.
Montooth said container gardening allows people to grow vegetables indoors by using pots or small containers, making it possible to garden even when outdoor conditions are unfavorable.
“So it’s taking just regular potting plants, putting in a small vegetable garden there, and really utilizing what little space you have in a confined area,” Montooth said.
Montooth said container gardening has become more popular as people look for ways to extend their growing season and continue producing food during the winter months.
“You can control the heat and extend your growing season through the winter,” Montooth said. “A lot of people have been using it for a number of years to really boost and continue producing table-ready vegetables in their home all year round.”
He said sunlight is one of the most important factors for indoor gardening, noting that different crops have different light requirements.
“For certain plants, such as tomatoes, peppers, and okra varieties, you really need to have them in an area with a lot of sunlight,” Montooth said. “While other vegetables, such as root vegetables and leafy vegetables, they really don’t require as much sunlight.”
UT Extension horticulture specialists say most indoor crops will need supplemental lighting, especially during the winter months when natural sunlight is limited.
Those recommendations are outlined in UT Extension publication W1288B Small-Space Indoor Food Production, which provides tips for growing food indoors at any time of year. The publication is authored by Natalie Bumgarner, a residential and consumer horticulture specialist with UT Extension and professor of plant sciences, along with UT Extension agents Amy Dunlap of Davidson County and Haley Treadway of Hamilton County.
Montooth said indoor container gardening can help people stay productive during the winter while providing fresh food for their households.
“It’s something you’ve put your work in,” Montooth said. “You know where it came from, and it’s good, healthy food that you can consume for you and your family.”