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In These Coming Weeks its time to Start Your Indoor Green House For Springtime Planting from the Specialists at Schauer's Hardware

Do you like having fresh food on hand? There are gobs of benefits to developing and growing your own food. Possibly you are a landscaper with love for the outdoor air, but just can’t get outdoors in the ruthless cold? Your outdoor garden can start surprisingly indoors in the wintry months. Having raw herbs/vegetables is a marvelous way to supplement your diet and the gardening process can also lead to learning opportunities for your children. All you might need are some starter plants or seeds, soil, pots, a growing light or sun, and lots of love! There are so many ways Schauer's Hardware can guide you in getting your garden started in Forest Park. Our store can offer products like lawn and garden supplies, gardening tools, and more!

Positive outlining is the fundamental to success when it comes to your indoor herb and vegetable garden. Establishing a seed-starting calendar or schedule should help. Also, outlining your garden beds outdoors so you know how many seeds to grow. After that, to begin, you will need sufficient size pots with decent drainage. A 4” pot is normally enough for mirco greens and herbs on the other hand you will need 1-2 gallon pots for plants like cherry tomatoes. Anything greater in size you will need a 5 gallon pot. You can buy starter plants, or seeds, it’s up to you! Buying peat pots, peat pellets, and seed starter kits will help in this process.

Some Easy Plants to Begin With:

 

  1. Herbs
  2. Greens
  3. Cherry Tomatoes
  4. Spouts and Micro greens

If Planting Seeds:

  1. Plant the seeds at the depth the seed pack recommends
  2. Cover the soil with plastic to keep it from drying out
  3. Place it in a warm window or where there is some warmth
  4. They don’t initially need sun to germinate
  5. After they germinate, remove the plastic
  6. Place in a sunny area that faces south or under grow lights
  7. Once they reach 2-3 inches and have some leavers, transplant them to their own separate containers
  8. Plants should be watered regularly in the winter
  9. Pick a place that is cool such as a basement or spare room
  10. Harvest your vegetables and herbs throughout winter

 

When warmer weather comes you shall have a pleasing size plant that you can now take to your outdoor garden and re-plant into a larger size pot or into the garden. Adapt your plants and seedlings to the outdoors for several weeks before moving them to your garden or outdoor pot. This operation is called hardening off. The hardening off stage permits your seedlings to shift from enjoyable growing conditions under lights to the regular weather conditions they will experience in the garden or outdoor area. It can be a process, but you will be rewarded in the end.

About a week or two before re-planting, place your plants outside in a protected place under an back porch or table that is defended from the sun, rain, and wind. Leave the veggie and herbs outdoors for only a couple hours, then bring back inside.

Follow this by deepening the exposure to the outside a little more each day. Do this, by adding hours and altering if they are in the shade or sun, since the springtime is sometimes insane weather. Be sure to watch for drops in temperature. And also check them regularly for dry soil, since they will be in the sun more often. You surely do not want your plants soil to get dry, thus malnourishing your plants of needed vitamins and nutrients.

  

Ultimately you will be able to leave your plants outside at night and in the full wind, sun, and rain. Watch for very cold temperatures, as you would want to transfer them back to the safe indoor temperatures. After your plants are now hardened off they can be moved and transplanted to their more fixed location in the outdoor area you plan on moving too. You will want to water your plants well after transplanting. This method is so essential and pays off at the end with solid hardy plants that can withstand a lot of the weather!

If wanting to do some gardening outdoors in the winter months, see below for some cold-harded veggies and plants. Make sure whatever plant or veggies you choose, that you pay attention to the recommendations on the container or seed packet. The directions will inform you to the particular variety that is perfect for the area and temperatures. Pay attention especially to the frost dates and what the plant can live with.

Veggies that are cold-hardy and mature in 100 days

 
  1. Beets
  2. Brussel Sprouts
  3. Cabbage
  4. Carrots
  5. Onions 
  6. Parsnip

Vegetables that are middle maturing and cold-hardy and mature in 55-70 days.

 

  1. Kale
  2. Radish
  3. Turnips
  4. Collards
  5. Chard
  6. Leeks
  7. Kohlrabi
  8. Scallions

 Plants that are quickly maturing and cold-hardy and mature in 40 days.

 

  1. Salad greens
  2. Bok choi
  3. Lettuce
  4. Spinach
  5. Chicory
  6. Arugula
  7. Endive

Well, there you have it. Surely you are one step nearer to getting your indoor garden started. If you have questions or need some fertilizer, tools, or gardening supplies; the professionals at Schauer's Hardware in Forest Park can help you get started on the right path to gardening fame. Don’t hesitate to call us at 708-366-1100 or swing by the store. 
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