Winter in Sheridan brings ample cold and snow, making it the ideal location for creating winter adventures like indoor gardening. However, after several months of snowfall, the cold can get a little old. If you’re suffering from spring fever this winter, cure it with indoor gardening.
Starting an indoor garden just as spring fever hits in late winter offers a gratifying pastime until the weather warms. This hobby also saves you money by starting plants from seeds rather than purchasing pre-grown plants. The following are some basics to get you started in either indoor herb gardening, vegetable gardening, or both.
Indoor Herb Gardening Basics
Herbs are ideal for dressing up venison or to complement your favorite everyday meals. However, when purchased fresh in-store, herbs can quickly become budget busters.
The solution? Grow your own. While you may not consider Sheridan in winter as being the ideal climate for growing herbs, it’s as good of a location as any other. You just need to create the right environment. To begin, consider which herb varieties you’d like to grow. The best way to select herb varieties is by considering which herbs you frequently use while cooking. A few popular herbs to consider growing include basil, parsley and mint since these can be utilized in a variety of recipes.
Herb seed packets are typically sold for a few dollars and each packet contains a hefty portion of seeds. Each herb seed packet includes specific directions regarding planting depth, sun requirements and more so closely follow these instructions while planting. When warm weather arrives, you can either transplant the herbs outdoors or continue growing them indoors year-round.
Growing Indoor Vegetables
Vegetable gardening brings thoughts of watering plants on long Sheridan summer days and of picking ripe tomatoes barefoot in the warm, hearty soil. If you enjoy outdoor vegetable gardening, recreate that enjoyment this winter by starting your vegetable plants indoors. From green beans to globe tomatoes, starting vegetables indoors from seeds is easy and highly rewarding.
Since you’ll likely transplant the vegetables outdoors after spring arrives, time the seed planting process to ensure they’ve sufficiently grown but are not overgrown when the time arrives to move them outdoors. To do this, follow the instructions on each vegetable seed packet regarding germination and growth specifics.
The Indoor Planting Process
For either indoor herb or vegetable seed growing, purchase the gardening necessities locally. Landon’s Greenhouse and Nursery in Sheridan typically closes in late October for the season but reopens in late January, just in time for the spring fever rush. Check out their website Landons Greenhouse for exact hours and opening dates.
Seed growing essentials you’ll need to get started include peat pots, hearty soil (either from the local landscape or bagged seed starter soil) and a warm indoor location. Additional optional items to consider buying if you’re having trouble getting the seeds started include a heating mat and plant growing lamps.
Since your first seed growing experience may or may not be successful, begin by planting only a few peat pots. This will prevent you from using all the seeds and peat pots you’ve bought in case your first growing effort doesn’t go as planned. When planting the seeds, follow the directions of each seed packet exactly as instructed for the best results. Also, create a system for marking which seeds are planted in which peat pots.
As the seeds sprout into plants, water them regularly to support healthy growth. As the plants grow larger, transplant them to larger pots to provide sufficient space for root growth. At this point, the weather should be warming, bringing the decision of whether to transplant the plants outdoors or maintain the indoor garden.
Indoor gardening is the cure-all for typical spring fever symptoms. It reminds you of the warmth that’s to come and offers a head start on summer planting. While you may currently be suffering from spring fever, get outdoors and enjoy the snow while it lasts. Enjoy what’s left of winter now because, when the hot temperatures of late summer arrive, you’ll be begging for a hefty helping of wet snow.
Image courtesy of Marju Randmer
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