“Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter.
Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom,
but we hope it, we know it.”
~Johanne Wolfgang von Goethe
I could hardly contain my excitement at the appearance of this beautiful blossom on Valentine’s Day! Started back in November, the indoor garden has been a rewarding distraction this long, cold winter. Our family has enjoyed harvests of fresh greens, herbs, small tomatoes and a few fanciful flowers used to embellish home-made butters and more. It was definitely a success!
Growing vegetables in pots indoors may seem like a lot of fuss. After all, plants grow so large how can they do well inside? As for growing in pots outside, choices are limited to flowers, herbs and a few varieties of vegetables, right? WRONG! I’m excited by the wide availability of petite sized plants this season! If you are thinking of trying an indoor garden next winter, or if you would like to have vegetables in pots as accents in the garden (or a primary garden for small spaces) dwarf heirloom vegetables are for you!
General rules for container-grown vegetables:
- Lightweight soil combined with compost conserves moisture while still allowing ample drainage.
- Regular feedings with natural fertilizers will be needed to supplement used nutrients.
- Careful watering is a must! Be sure the top inch of soil is dry before watering.
- Use only containers that are at least 10″ deep and have drainage holes.
- Location,location, location. In the sun and out of the wind is best.
Heirloom vegetables suitable for containers: (indoors and out)
- Tomato “Silvery Fir Tree,” “San Marzano,” “Rutgers,” “Extreme Bush”
- Pepper “Tequila Sunrise,” “Mini-Baby Bell,” “Hungarian Wax,” “Jalapeno”
- Eggplant “White Egg,” “Rosa Bianca,” “Ichiban”
- Peas “Little Marvel,” “Dwarf Tom Thumb,” “Sugar Ann”
- Beans “Roc D’or,” “Provider,” “Trionfo Violetto” pole, “Yard Long” Chinese bean
- Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Turnips (all varieties)
- Cucumber “Lemon,” “Miniature White,” “Bush Pickle”
- Winter squash “Delicata,” “Cheyenne Bush,” “Jack-Be-Little”
- Summer squash “Early white Bush Scallop,” “Dwarf Summer Crookneck,” “Ronde de Nice”
- Okra “Dwarf green Long Pod”
- Melon “Minnesota Midget,” “Queen Anne’s Pocket Melon”
- Asian greens “Wong Bok,” “Kailaan,” “Tatsoi”
There are many, many more! While you’re perusing the catalogs look for the words “dwarf,” “compact” and “midget” to find the varieties sized for containers. Don’t forget lettuces, mesclun mixes and other greens! Tuck a few pots of vegetables into an existing border, on a patio or grow your entire garden in them! Go ahead and contain your excitement!
Happy Bloom Day! That blossom is special, mid February.
I enjoyed the post of the previous day, too. Great lists.
Thank you! It’s the prettiest bloom the indoor garden has had all winter. I’m delighted to say there are many more buds, too!
Lisa , Wonderful suggestions for heirloom vegetables. I will have to keep my eye open for those. I’m still not sure, though, if I’m going to grow them indoors next winter.
Thanks Melanie! I’m going to grow a couple in pots as accents in our front border. Next winter I’m hoping to try quite a few of them! (Who ever thought I’d be planning a winter garden a year ahead of time?!)
Silvery Fir Tree is one of my favorite tomatoes–along with Red Robin and Tiny Tim–both compact varieties with tiny tomatoes as well!
I did want to mention on the pocket melon–that vine grows rather large–about 6 to 10 ft. Have you tried that in your house already? I would be interested to hear how that does. That would be a fun (and delicious smelling) vine to grow inside!
I didn’t try growing melon indoors this year. I’m planning to try the pocket melon next winter along with a few other vining varieties. Considering they stay somewhat smaller indoors, 6′-10′ vines should be manageable grown vertically. We shall see!!