Winter Gardening: Start Indoor Plants Now

Winter is a cozy time to experience warmth and a great time for nurturing your green thumb with indoor gardening and planning your spring garden. Gardening is one of my favorite hobbies, so I embrace winter as a dual-purpose season with indoor planting enjoyment and planning for your spring garden outdoors. Planting greenery, and herbs like rosemary, thyme, or mint, which share a soothing aroma.

Prepare Now for Spring

Starting seeds indoors and timing them for outside transplant. Make any soil corrections and compost preparation during winter. Building or repairing garden beds and trellises indoors during downtime. Explore the value of companion planting and crop rotation. Include pollinator-friendly and edible plants.

Start Your Vegetables & Herb’s Indoors

Leafy greens are incredibly low in calories, beneficial for your health, offering a range of nutrients. I like to start with these few greens indoors.

Lettuce: Quick to grow and thrives in shallow containers.
Spinach: Prefers cooler temperatures and partial light.
Kale: Hardy and perfect for picking young leaves as needed.

Herbs added when cooking not only boosts flavor but also contribute to an aromatic dining experience.

Basil: Great for cooking and grows quickly with proper sunlight.
Oregano: Use a pot at least 6 inches in diameter with good drainage.
Parsley: Slow to germinate but easy to maintain once it starts.
Chives: Prefers small pots and adds a mild onion flavor.
Rosemary: Doesn’t like soggy, add sand or perlite to your potting mix.
Thyme: Likes dryer conditions, use well-draining soil consider adding sand to the soil.
Mint: Grows vigorously, so give it space with rich potting soil and good drainage.

Root vegetables are nutrient-dense plants that grow underground, offering a variety of delicious flavors and textures.

Radishes: Super fast-growing and bloom in small spaces.
Carrots: Choose smaller varieties like "Parisian" or "Thumbelina" for pots.
Green Onions: Easily regrow easily from scraps or seeds.
Potato’s: Potatoes thrive in loose, drainable soil and need plenty of sunlight.

Microgreens are a powerhouse addition to any diet, offering a mix of health benefits, vibrant flavors, and visual appeal.

Mustard Greens, Arugula, or Broccoli Sprouts: These grow quickly in trays and are packed with nutrients.

Peppers are a flavorful ingredient, offering a range of varieties and culinary uses.

They come in many types, including sweet bell peppers, spicy chili peppers, jalapeños, and habaneros, each with unique flavors and heat levels.

Mini bell peppers or chili peppers can start indoors and later be moved outside.

Light and Care of your indoor garden is important. Choose the right light: south-facing windows and/or using grow lights. Be careful not to over water, you do not want root rot. Maybe consider using vertical gardening with wall-mounted planters. Try creating a greenhouse terrarium, it will add a decorative and functional indoor plant space.

Reflect on past gardens. What worked well last year and what didn’t. Take time to review your past successes and challenges. It is always a good idea to explore the value of companion planting and crop rotation. This allows you to utilize your soil and garden space to its fullest potential.

Sketching your garden layout. Take simple steps for creating a garden layout: use graph paper or free online tools. Locate important factors like the direction of the sunlight, soil quality, and water to access. I like to include sections in your layout for pollinator-friendly, edible, flowers, vegetables, and perennials.  You will be surprised to see where the pollinator's share your seedlings. This gives you the opportunity to see your garden pop up in other areas of your yard.

I love gardening and hope I have encouraged you to embrace winter as a dual-purpose season with indoor planting enjoyment and planning for your spring garden outdoors.

For more gardening tips and if you are an empty nester exploring your next chapter, I would love to hear from you! Share your photos, gardening set up ideas and invite other gardeners to join!

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