Food Close to Home
A range of factors can affect our ability to access good, fresh food. Many communities in the north don't have a grocery store. For those that do, long distance shipping of fresh produce can result in vegetables that are anything but fresh. Growing some of our own vegetables is often the first step in taking more control of our own food supply. We can eat better, tastier vegetables if we grow some ourselves.
Sprouts or microgreens
The simplest and cheapest vegetables to start with are sprouts or microgreens. Microgreens are harvested as soon as the first true leaves are formed. As a result, they take very little time or space. Both can be grown indoors in winter.
Sprouts are grown in a jar without soil and require rinsing three times a day. The entire seed, stem and cotyledon is eaten. It usually takes less than a week to produce a sprout harvest.
Microgreens are grown on a flat of soil (or other organic medium) and are clipped so that only the stems and leaves are eaten. They require sunlight for a short period to produce green leaves, but often a sunny windowsill is enough. Microgreens are often ready to harvest between 1 and 2 weeks after seeding.
Sprouts are grown in a jar without soil and require rinsing three times a day. The entire seed, stem and cotyledon is eaten. It usually takes less than a week to produce a sprout harvest.
Microgreens are grown on a flat of soil (or other organic medium) and are clipped so that only the stems and leaves are eaten. They require sunlight for a short period to produce green leaves, but often a sunny windowsill is enough. Microgreens are often ready to harvest between 1 and 2 weeks after seeding.
Sprouts and microgreens are some of the most nutrient dense greens available. They can be eaten alone as a salad or added to soups, entrees, sandwiches, or pretty much anything else. These tiny greens will definitely enhance everyday food. (Plans for building a grow light stand.)
Cool weather greens
Vegetables that are grown for their leaves are the easiest vegetable to grow. They are tolerant of low light, cool temperatures, and only require a moderate levels of fertility and soil.
Cool weather greens such as pak choi, lettuce, dandelion, frisee, or even peas are a very good choice for early and late harvests in an unheated cold frame, raised bed or sheltered spot. There are many different varieties of each type and would be ideal choices for growing in a winter greenhouse. It is possible to get multiple harvests from the same plant if only the largest leaves are harvested at one time.
Raised beds or protection such as small hoop covers are enough to make a big difference in extending the season.
Cool weather greens such as pak choi, lettuce, dandelion, frisee, or even peas are a very good choice for early and late harvests in an unheated cold frame, raised bed or sheltered spot. There are many different varieties of each type and would be ideal choices for growing in a winter greenhouse. It is possible to get multiple harvests from the same plant if only the largest leaves are harvested at one time.
Raised beds or protection such as small hoop covers are enough to make a big difference in extending the season.
Fruiting crops
Nothing beats the taste of a tomato eaten within minutes of being picked ripe from the vine. But crops such as tomatoes, squash or cucumber require high levels of light and warm temperatures in order to set fruit.
If these crops are what you dream of growing, you will want to build an efficient greenhouse with glazing that lets in sufficient light and a system to store heat to minimize temperature fluctuations. Excessively high daytime temperatures as well as too cool nights can result in leafy plants that bear little to no fruit.
If these crops are what you dream of growing, you will want to build an efficient greenhouse with glazing that lets in sufficient light and a system to store heat to minimize temperature fluctuations. Excessively high daytime temperatures as well as too cool nights can result in leafy plants that bear little to no fruit.