Don’t let that winter chill in the air keep you from your garden. With the right container and proper maintenance you can grow a healthy indoor garden in winter time. Gardening has great health benefits. It can help you relieve your stress, it allows you the opportunity to physically connect with nature, and in the end you gain delicious, homegrown produce. With gardening you can reap these health benefits no matter what the weather in your indoor garden in winter.
Here are some surprising fruits, veggies, and herbs that you can maintain in your indoor garden in winter time:
- Strawberries. It’s not only a delicious fruit but it is also healthy for you, containing vitamins that are good for your eyes and your bones. You can grow strawberries inside your own home by using a special strawberry planter that you can find at a garden center or online.
- Bananas. Fresh bananas are rich in potassium and contain levels of magnesium which is great for strengthening bones. You can grow varieties of bananas indoor like the Musa, Dwarf Brazilian, or Dwarf Red banana plant. Just make sure to avoid direct sunlight.
- Pomegranates. This fruit has high levels of anti-oxidants, vitamin C, and calcium. Like bananas you can grow a dwarf variety of this plant in your home called Punica which will grow up to 3 ft. Direct sunlight and fertilizer every two weeks from spring to fall is recommended.
- Mushrooms. They contain antioxidants that can protect the body from chronic diseases. Certain types of mushrooms like oyster and white button are great for growing indoors. They require a dark, damp environment (basement, cabinet, or closet) and temperature control (55F to 60F).
- Sugar Snap Peas. These delicious peas contain high levels of vitamins A, C, and K. The plant will grow rather tall so you will need a pea support system or instead grow a dwarf variety. Remember to pick the peas when they are plump inside, if you wait too long they can become stringy.
- Herbs. If you are looking for something rather simple to keep indoors why not try some herbs? They are a great addition to any meal and you can grow a variety including: basil, rosemary, sage, parsley, thyme, chives, and oregano.