Gardening Tips for Winter

As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, we gear up for life indoors. It’s time to put away the patio furniture and get out the salt and shovels to manage snowfall. Something we miss most about the warmer seasons is gardening. But the excitement of watching seeds sprout, harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables, and tending to plants isn’t impossible in the cold months. We can still garden inside our homes in the winter.

Gardening has numerous benefits such as lowering stress, boosting immunity, and improving focus. Considering how gardening keeps us grounded, continuing to do it indoors during colder seasons is a good idea. An indoor garden can take up as much or as little space as you want it to or can accommodate.

How To Do Indoor Gardening

Here’s how you can continuing flexing your green thumb in the winter.

1. Move your potted plants indoors

To shelter your plants from bitter cold and snow, move them indoors. Herbs and vegetables such as chili peppers, cherry tomatoes, micro greens, and baby ginger do well throughout the year in these conditions. Be careful when potting the plants and note that some may not thrive in pots. Leafy plants do better than fruiting plants indoors. Make sure to keep your plants in a well lit place, preferably facing south.

2. Plant root vegetables like carrots and potatoes outdoors

Do so before mid November or the first frost to harvest them in spring. Be sure to insulate the soil with mulch or leaves to protect the crops from frost.

3. Build a greenhouse

Avid gardeners use greenhouses to continue growing their food during the winter. You can control the temperature and atmosphere yourself with a cold frame greenhouse or a traditional one.

4. Water and give plant food more frequently

Once the outdoor plants have adapted to being indoors, their watering requirements might also change. Due to the dry air indoors, you may need to tend to them more often.

5. Ensure optimal lighting conditions

It is important to take care of the plants’ lighting requirements when they are indoors. South-facing windows are considered to be the best location for them. There are also a variety of grow lights available on the market to supplement the window sunlight.

6. Keep plants in temperatures of 65-75°F

This works best for most plants. A variance of 10°F in either direction will probably be fine. If your plants are small and weak, they may be exposed to too much heat. If they have yellow leaves falling off, they may be too cold.

7. Do your research and go slow

It is important to do research as you transition your plants to indoor living to keep your plants healthy. Gradually introduce changes to the plant and be mindful of the different robustness and requirements of different plants.

Plants can be sensitive and take time adapt to a new environment. But with love and care, they can thrive. This winter, take the leap and try your hand at growing produce indoors.