The onset of winter does not mean the end of the harvest of fresh vegetables for advanced gardeners. That's because you can grow vegetables indoors throughout the cold months. Of course, this is not the easiest way to garden and don't expect huge yields. Although, if your hands are golden and you have enough patience, then everything can be.

The biggest problems when growing vegetables indoors are the lack of pollinating insects and wind, as well as low light. However, there are also positive aspects - you can control the humidity, soil and fertilizer. Unfortunately, pests and plant diseases can follow them indoors. But, since the plants are right under your nose, you should be able to stop these problems before they become your main headache.

Some general tips for growing vegetables at home:

• Use ready-made soil mixtures of high quality, and not just land from the site;
• Containers should have good drainage and be sized for the needs of the particular plant. For example, shallow-rooted greens suffice with a shallow soil depth, while deep-rooted tomatoes need at least 30 centimeters of soil;
• Windows usually do not provide enough sunlight in winter, for the simple reason that the daylight hours are very short and the sun is not always there. Fortunately, now it is not difficult to purchase a phytolamp in order to provide plants with additional lighting;
• Do not place your plants close to the batteries as this can dry them out.

And now let's take a closer look at plants suitable for growing in an apartment.

How to grow garlic at home

Garlic has clear temperature requirements for bulb formation. They are hard enough to make at home, but you can easily have a constant supply of green garlic to use in place of green onions. A large growing container is not needed here, 11 cm deep will be enough. Simply plant individual cloves (cloves) to a depth of 3 cm and water regularly. The cloves should germinate within about one week.

Greens can be cut when it reaches 20-25 cm in length. You can leave the cloves in the ground after cutting. They can give more shoots, but the quality of the greenery is declining. So remove old cloves and plant new ones after each cut.

How to grow chili peppers at home

Start growing hot peppers from seed in the summer, then dig up small plants and move them indoors at the end of the summer. You will not get a huge harvest, but they will definitely bear fruit.

Use a container at least 20 cm deep. Chili peppers require at least 10 hours of light per day. Don't over water it, they don't like it. Let the soil dry out between waterings. These plants are self-pollinating, but you can help them a little by shaking pollen from one flower to another, or using a cotton swab to pollinate each flower.

How to grow green onions at home

If onions cannot be grown indoors, then green onions, like garlic, are completely! You don't even need seeds.

Some gardeners manage to grow green onions by simply planting the root part of it in the ground after using the greens. But the option of sprouting onions in a glass of water is much more effective. Pour 3 cm of water into a container, and place the root part of the “bouquet” of green onions (several onions).

When the roots reach a length of 5-6 cm, move them to a shallow container with potting mix and they will continue to grow. You can cut off the green tops, leaving 3cm of stem for new shoots, or you can remove the entire onion and use the white part.

How to grow tomatoes at home

We are used to the fact that tomato plants die off at the end of the summer season, but in general, tomatoes are tropical perennials. It's not a good idea to move plants from your garden or greenhouse into your home - they're too bulky and probably already in trouble at the end of the season. It is worth starting to grow seedlings from seeds right at home at the end of summer. Tomato seeds germinate fairly quickly.

Once the seedlings are 3-4 cm tall, move them to a "permanent" container and make sure they get about 10 hours of light per day. This is quite a lot, but such an amount is necessary for a fruit-bearing plant in the winter. If necessary, use a phytolamp. Start feeding your seedlings with water-soluble organic fertilizer when you move them to a permanent pot.

After the plants begin to bloom, you will need to shake them slightly to get the pollen from flower to flower. Without pollination, of course, no fruit will appear. Plants can become quite large, then they will need to be planted in different containers.

How to grow carrots at home

Carrots are easy enough to grow indoors. It takes up little space and grows very quickly. A long container is ideal for this as you will be planting a lot of seeds. The key to good germination is to keep the soil moist.

Plant the seeds in moist soil and spray it as often as possible with a sprayer. From above it will be good to sprinkle with wet peat, just a little powder, preventing the formation of a dry crust over them that prevents germination. Seeds should germinate within two weeks. The ripening time of the root crop will depend on the variety you plant.

As you can see, growing vegetables at home in winter is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The main thing is to give the plants a little attention and care, and then the result will not keep you waiting, and valuable vitamins will be on your table straight from your windowsill.