How to Grow Vegetables Indoors Without Sunlight

It’s a common misconception that vegetables need to be grown outdoors next to a window or under direct sunlight. In reality, you can grow your vegetables indoors without sunlight using the right equipment and techniques! Today we’ll go over a few methods of growing vegetables indoors without sunlight.

Select the Vegetables

The first step in growing vegetables indoors is simply to decide what you’d like to grow. Some common choices for indoor gardening are tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and green beans. Choose your vegetables based on how long they take to mature, the light requirements of each plant (some need full sun while others do well with less), and what will grow best in your home environment.

Select the Best Containers

Once you’ve selected the vegetables you’d like to grow indoors, there are a few factors to consider when choosing a container:

1. Make sure that it’s large enough to accommodate the plant as it matures.
2. Choose a container with drainage holes on the bottom, so your plants don’t drown if they get watered too much or too little.
3. Don’t use plastic containers as they may leach chemicals into the soil harmful to your plants.

Select the Right Grow Lights

Many different grow lights are available in the market. First, you need to know that which type of light your indoor plants require. If you plan to grow your plants inside a room or an apartment, then 1-2 fluorescent tube lights would be sufficient to produce appropriately. But if you are planning to grow in a greenhouse or a garden, you will need to invest in high-power grow light which can be easily found in the market.

Proper Light Placement

Proper light placement is crucial for successful indoor gardening. In addition to choosing the right type of grow lights, you should also find a way to evenly distribute the light across all parts of your vegetable plants. Place your lights above and around the growing vegetables at either a 45-degree angle or close to vertically. Some experts suggest keeping the lights above 1 to 2 inches above the plants. This will allow your plants to receive the most amount of light possible while ensuring they don’t get burned.

Arrange Your Plants

With the container, vegetables, and lighting all taken care of, you can arrange your plants. For non-leafy vegetables, you’ll want to place your seedlings or your seed directly in the middle of the pot. For leafy vegetables, take a handful of seeds and distribute them evenly throughout the container. You should put your plants under grow lights for 16-18 hours a day and move them to a sunlit window for the remaining time. Make sure that the temperature of your growing area is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius) during the day and no colder than 65 degrees Fahrenheit (19 Celsius) during the night.

Water Your Vegetables

Water your vegetables just until the top of the soil is damp. You don’t need to soak them, and overwatering will harm the plants. Make sure that you water from the bottom by adding water to the tray underneath your pots rather than splashing it on top of the soil.

Harvest Your Vegetables

After a few weeks, vegetables will be ready to be harvested. You’ll know when they are ready when their color changes and the vegetables feel soft or have a gentle give when you squeeze them.

Growing vegetables indoors is a trendy hobby for many these days. Growing organic vegetables indoors is advantageous for several reasons:

• First, It is economical in terms of time and effort.
• Second, it can help reduce environmental pollution since toxic chemicals are not needed.
• Third, It is suitable for children to learn about gardening, promoting self-reliance.