Question
Hey there. I've recently moved into a garage apartment, and am stuck without much land to garden in, but i've recently been gardening at the last organic outpost (a pretty reasonably sized garden with an emphesis on building community and local food sustainability here in houston) and want to garden some at my place. luckily there's an awkward little breakfast nook in the kitchen that i think'll be perfect for this.

i was hoping to build two planter boxes, each 2.5'x3' to put there. there're two windows that would be bordering them, one facing north and the other getting a great deal of the morning sun. i was also thinking i might have to use an indoor plant light.

anyways, my problem is that i dont really know much about gardening indoors, or in confined spaces. or really too much about gardening except for the basics.

any tips you could give to someone starting their first indoor garden?

Answer
Growing the ingredients for your salad is a fresh delight. Doing it indoors where the picking is easy is even better. An indoor harvest may not be large, but what you do get will be tastier than anything at the market.

To begin you need a sunny window. A window that faces south is preferable one that is not obstructed by buildings or trees, so the plants can get plenty of light. Be aware of the temperatures of the window, if the glass is very cold, do not let leaves touch it, or they will be damaged. Tomatoes and cucumber need a little more light than other plants. If necessary, you could easily put up two fluorescent lights (40 or 20 watts), or hot and cold grow lights.

Leave the lights on 16 hours a day to give extra illumination. To grow vegetables and herbs indoors what you need is soilless mix or packaged soil. For plants; fill the pots 1/3 full of soil. Place the plants and fill in firmly with more soil up to 1 to 2 inches of the rim, then thoroughly water the plants. For seeds; if you are planting cucumbers from seeds use a planter, fill pots 2 inches from the rim. Plant 4 to 6 seeds in each pot, cover with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil. Pat the soil down and water, keep moist. Turn pots and planters weekly about a quarter turn. Feed cucumber and tomato plants when they flower then again when it forms fruit, then monthly thereafter. Replant lettuce and radish as you harvest. .............
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The above is information I got when I put "Indoor kitchen vegetable gardening" in my GOOGLE search. I wanted to see if there was a way that I could help you find a lot of information, since I don't have space to tell you all you will need to know here. (While I was searching, I lost the other long letter I wrote to you) But the best I can suggest is look in the search like I did. There were some books listed there as well. I would plant from plants from the nursery, and not seeds, but they will be more expensive. I just think they are easier and more reliable. I would talk to them, and play loud music, . . .Sorry, but it wouldn't hurt to try. Then when it is time to harvest, invite all of your friends, so you can brag about the home grown meal. Then work your soil again, and plant again for the next one. You will soon learn what grows well in your conditions, and what you like to grow.
With all of the things that can go wrong, all of gardening is a gamble, but the rewards are worth a try.

bakerplanter