Question
Witch veggies are best to grow in the house?
I live in an apartment and I would like to have a mini-garden in a room. What is the best way to
proceed and what do I need.
I also have a cat and i don't want him to wreck
everything.


Answer
Nancy, good candidates include lettuce, spinach, chard, and herbs. I really would not grow any fruit-bearing vegetables such as tomatoes or peppers since they really need quite a bit of space and a minimum of 10 hours of sunlight per day.

When growing vegetables indoors, the key is strong light, consistent moisture, and a good root system. Be sure to place the plants in either a southeast-facing window or under fluorescent lighting. The plants will need a minimum of 8 hours of light per day. If you do use fluorescent lighting, make sure they are no further than 3" from the lights.  

Do not over water. Most plants only need 1.5" of water per week. When growing indoors, the soil should be moist, not drenched. It is best to water deeply once or twice per week rather than small amounts daily. Shallow watering causes the roots to reach for the surface rather than down. The result is always a weak and spindly plant. Therefore, always water deeply to the point you have seepage from the bottom of the pot.  

Next, you should fertilize the plant once every two weeks. For indoor plants, use a solution that is diluted to 1/2 the recommended amount on the package. Any water-soluble fertilizer will suffice.   Finally, be sure to transplant the plant every 2 months to a slightly larger pot. This will keep the plant from becoming root-bound. Plants left in the same container while still growing will become stunted. That is why you should increase the size of the pot by 2" each time you transplant.  

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,  

Mike