Isn't it great to have an indoor garden for winter? Many homes have patios or sunrooms where house plants can bathe with the winter sun. Vegetables and other greens can flourish along with your houseplants if given an extra light.

Most vegetables do love a sunny window. If you have a big window facing south, a cucumber or tomato plant can flourish with help, and some extra light to make up for the shorter days of winter. Using indoor grow lights does the trick in providing extra light for your plants. Indoor grow lights are easy to setup and provide additional sunlight vegetables requires. Read on and learn how you can have an indoor garden for winter.

How To Have An Indoor Garden For Winter

I usually get anxious when winter rolls around and I begin to crave fresh tomatoes and greens from my garden. But then, this time of the year my garden is asleep. This is where my indoor garden for winter fulfills the urge to get my hands in the dirt.

Kudos to the guys of Fix.com who have come up with this amazing infographic. It provides tips and guidelines specific to your USDA Plant Hardiness Zones that can help you make your indoor garden for winter flourish.

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Your #homestead will thrive this cold season if you have these 10 winter #survival skills! https://t.co/XQVUF5t6G5

— Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) January 3, 2017

 

Winter Gardening: Tips and Guidelines Specific To Your Zone

 

Slowly Maturing | Cold-Hardy Crops

These crops usually mature in approximately 100 days.

Beets

Try these hardy varieties:

• Albina Verduna
• Lutz Winterkeeper

Cabbage

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Try these hardy varieties:

• January King
• Marabel

Carrots

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Try these hardy varieties:

• Scarlet Nantes
• Autumn King
• Danvers
• Oxheart

Onion

Try this hardy variety:

• Walla Walla

Parsnip

Try these hardy varieties:

• Hollow Crown
• Lancer

 

Middle Maturing | Cold-Hardy Crops

These crops usually mature in approximately 55 to 70 days.

Kale

Try these hardy varieties:

• Vates
• Lacinato
• Siberian
• Winterbor
• Westland Winter

Radish

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Try these hardy varieties:

• Daikon
• Tinto
• D’Avignon
• Cherry Belle

Turnips

Try these hardy varieties:

• Golden Globe
• Hakurei
• White Egg
• Colletto Viola

Collards

Try these hardy varieties:

• Blue Max
• Morris Heading
• Winner

Chard

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Try these hardy varieties:

• Green types
• Verde de Taglio
• Fordhook Giant

Leeks

Try these hardy varieties:

• Lexton
• Tadorna
• Jaune du Poiteau
• King Sieg
• Bleu de Solaise
• Bandit
• Lincoln
• King Richard
• American Flag
• Alaska
• Durabel

Kohlrabi

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Try these hardy varieties:

• Azur Star
• Kolibri

Scallion

Try this hardy variety:

• White Lisbon

 

Thinking of what kinds of edibles you should grow in your winter garden? Check out our delicious suggestions! https://t.co/FKFNJzRFfi

— Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) January 3, 2017

 

Quickly Maturing | Cold-Hardy Crops

These crops usually mature in approximately 40 days.

Salad Greens

Try these hardy varieties:

• Claytonia (also called Winter Purslane)
• Dandelion
• Escarole
• Mache (also called Corn Salad)
• Mustard Greens
• Sorrel
• Tatsoi
• Watercress

Bok Choi

Try this hardy variety:

• Mei Qing Choi

Lettuce

Try these hardy varieties:

• Marvel of Four Seasons
• Rouge d’Hiver
• Winter Density
• Romaine
• Leaf
• Lollo
• Or scatter a mixed seed packet and see which varieties thrive.

Chicory

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Try these hardy varieties:

• Radicchio
• Sugarloaf

Spinach

Try these hardy varieties:

• Savory Types
• Winter Bloomsday
• Tyee
• Giant Winter
• Tarpy
• Olympia

Endive

Try these hardy varieties:

• Perfect
• President
• De Meaux

Arugula

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Try these hardy varieties:

• Astro
• Sylvetta

 

Get More Out Of Your Garden With These Season Extenders

Mulch

A two-to-three-inch layer of straw, leaves, or pine needles, which keeps plants’ bases and roots warm and prevents evaporation.

Does it need ventilation? No. It is self-ventilating.

Cold Frame

A box with a clear top and no bottom. It can be made from an old window on a wooden, metal, or straw-bale base.

Does it need ventilation? Yes. Prop the frame open on sunny or warm days.

Unheated Greenhouse

An unheated glass or translucent plastic building that absorbs heat from the sun and protects plants against the elements.

Does it need ventilation? Yes. Open the windows on sunny or warm days.

Row Cover

Lightweight, semi-transparent fabric (often called Reemay and available from seed companies and at garden stores) that allows light, water, and air through but holds warmth and protects against wind. The fabric can float directly on plains with rocks on the edges to hold it down or be suspended on wire or PVC hoops.

Does it need ventilation? No. It is self-ventilating.

Cloche

A small, transparent covering that protects a single plant from the elements. It could be a traditional bell-shaped glass cloche or a recycled plastic milk jug cut in half.

Does it need ventilation? Yes. Remove cloche's on sunny days.

Hoop Tunnel

Heavy translucent plastic or greenhouse fabric suspended on metal conduit or PVC hoops.

Does it need ventilation? Yes. Open the ends or remove the covering on sunny or warm days.

Hot Bed

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A cold frame with an extra heating device. Manure may let off sufficient heat, or electric lights (such as a string of Christmas lights) can be added.

Does it need ventilation? Yes. Prop the frame open on sunny or warm days.

 

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

Zone 4: First Frost Date September 15

Slowly Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

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• Plant by June 1

Middle Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

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• Plant by July 1

Quickly Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

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• Plant by August 1

Try a combination of these coverings:

Mulch and a cold frame placed beneath a well-supported hoop tunnel or inside an unheated greenhouse. Drape an insulated blanket over the device or add electric lights if needed.

 

Zone 5, 6, and 7: First Frost Date October 15

Slowly Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

 

• Plant by July 1

Middle Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

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• Plant by August 1

Quickly Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

 

• Plant by September 1

Try a combination of these coverings:

Mulch and a cold frame or row cover placed beneath a well-supported hoop tunnel or inside an unheated greenhouse. Drape an insulated blanket over the device or add electric lights if needed.

 

Zone 8: First Frost Date November 15

Slowly Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

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• Plant by August 1

Middle Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

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• Plant by September 1

Quickly Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

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• Plant by October 1

Try a combination of these coverings:

Mulch and row covers. Add a hoop tunnel if needed.

 

Zone 9: First Frost Date December 15

Slowly Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

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• Plant by September 1

Middle Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

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• Plant by October 1

Quickly Maturing Cold-Hardy Crops

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• Plant by November 1

Try a combination of these coverings:

Mulch. Row covers or cloches if needed.

 

Winter gardening may not be for everyone. However, whoever is willing to experiment and willing to try something new will be rewarded with delicious produce plus the fun and satisfaction of being able to pick fresh vegetables and herbs from your own garden to cook will definitely compensate all your effort. Start you indoor garden for winter now!

Do you have some indoor garden for winter tips that you want to share? I'd love to learn how you make your garden for winter flourish! Let me know in the comments below.

Want more winter homesteading tips? Here are the top 5 winter activities to keep you busy and boost your homesteading skills this winter.

 

Featured Image Via Zmart Co.