vegetables
Eating a vegetarian diet can help manage blood pressure, a Japanese study says. Aproximando Ciênciae/Flickr

As a kind of hobby as well as to reduce grocery expenses, a lot of people enjoy growing vegetables inside their homes. There are several veggies that you can conveniently grow by the windowsill or in a spare room.

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are tender crops that can easily be grown from seeds or plantlets. You may plant the seeds inside hanging baskets or boxers situated near the window where these can get exposed to sunlight. Tumbler tomatoes and Sweet Million tomatoes are recommended for indoor vegetable growing.

2. Potatoes

These are seed tubers that can be planted inside big buckets and pots. Leave some space at the top of the container to add compost. The compost will be needed to earth up the potatoes as these grow. Other homeowners like to use plastic sacks with the top rolled down so they can conveniently roll up as they add more compost or as the veggies grow.

3. Mushrooms

If you have a spare room in the garage or attic, you can plant mushroom spawns. Put these inside a plastic bucket together with compost, made of activator and straw. The location should be free of draft and kept dark. The temperature should be maintained about 10 to 15 degrees Celsius.

4. Carrots

Carrot seeds can be planted in a window box or pot. The depth should be about one foot and a half. Fill the container with soil but leave some room at the top to add humus-rich potting mix. Plant the seeds in rows with one-inch spaces between. Make sure that the vegetables receive a lot of sunlight and that the soil stays moist.

5. Basil

To plant basil and other herbs indoors, prepare a container measuring about four inches wide. There should be enough drainage holes. Basil thrives in warm temperatures and generous amounts of sunlight. The soil should be fertilized at least once a month. Water the herbs daily, especially during hot weather.

Some of these indoor vegetables will be ready for harvest anywhere between two and four weeks. Experiment with other varieties and expand your indoor garden depending on your kitchen needs.