Start Growing Indoors Now for Fresh Lettuce all Winter
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- Have you seen the price of lettuce lately?! My nearby Kroger had Iceberg at $2.19 and a 3 pack of old looking Romaine hearts for $4.49! That's nuts. It's so easy to grow lettuce indoors. The seeds are pretty cheap. A grow light is reasonable. Deals on soil can be found. If you're already growing your greens indoors, please comment below what you're growing. If you're not yet growing indoors, now might be a good time to start!
Let me know if you're participating in the Pantry Challenge in January. Will you have homegrown lettuce, or will you have to buy it?
xoxo,
Carter
Azure Standard: www.azurestand... (affiliate link)
Note that these are Amazon Affiliate Links. If you purchase though my link, I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. Unless otherwise noted, these are products that I use and absolutely RECOMMEND.
Some of the products used or mentioned in this video:
Espoma Organic Seed Starting Mix: amzn.to/3pjSvWH This is the only mix I use for indoor seed starting.
Fiskars Gardening Shears: amzn.to/3w5GtnR Fits my hand well. Super easy to use.
Nursery Pots: amzn.to/3AnhYVr I use these to step up my seedlings.
Nursery pots: amzn.to/3gHiZ3I I use these too
4' Grow Lights: amzn.to/3Psm1nZ I’ve been using these for years. I have 4 sets of them and have never had a problem.
2' Grow lights: amzn.to/3AOhpnp These are the ones I used in my last kitchen
Bootstrap Farmer 1010 Trays with Holes (10 pack): amzn.to/3FaMCE4
Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Trays Without Holes (5 pack): amzn.to/3OJsOLa
Step-up pots: amzn.to/3gHiZ3I
I use both brands of heat mats. Get whichever is cheaper at the time.
Heat Mat: amzn.to/3XHXCQm
Heat Mat: amzn.to/3gLU3Z1
Assorted Lettuce Seeds: amzn.to/3ARzRvD
I have been watching indoor gardening videos for about 3 years, and in 11 minutes my knowledge on the topic has doubled! WOW!
Woohoo! Love that. Good to have you here!
I've been growing all of our lettuce year round under led barrina grow lights since January of 2020. It's so easy and grow romaine toes and leaf lettuce both. I use a homemade hydroponic raft system for my head lettuce. It's a continuous cycle and I wonder why others won't try this. So great and healthy.
Linda, you’re rocking it! Hopefully we’ll get everyone doing it! Thanks for being here!
I am brand new to growing things. My roommate has a rabbit. She buys lettuce for Clover 2-3 times a week. She buys it so often because Clover is a picky butt and won't eat it if the lettuce is the tiniest bit wilted. Thus, I had the bright idea to grow indoors(we live in a trailer park & don't have an option for much outdoor growing). My seeds and grow lights will be here this week.
I came across this video in my research on just how to do this. I'll let you know how it works out.
That’s fantastic! Clover is a lucky 🐰! Please do keep me posted on your progress. I’m so happy to have you here, pryjmaty!
This is my first time gardening, and I've been doing it now for a little over 4 months (started in mid-April 2024). I'm in South Texas, which I know is a different animal lol. I'd been growing sprouts for a couple years and microgreens for the past year. But I've been wanting to grow my own food for so long and this year I finally took the plunge :D. I impulsively got a couple of basil plants and a mint plant at the local grocery store, and had no clue what I was doing lol. I expanded into hot peppers - jalapeño, serrano, and poblano. The basil ultimately perished from some disease and pests, but the mint has thrived. The peppers all almost died, and I was able to revive them and they're even producing very well out of season and at temps much higher than they like! More recently, I grew cilantro from seed indoors, and I currently have spinach and endive growing. I'm branching out into bunching/green onion/scallions, and so far so good. I've flopped when it comes to lettuce indoors, though - I think I got a bad seed pack (US mail in the heat lol). But I'm trying to succeed, and this video is incredibly helpful!! I can't wait to re-order more seeds when the weather cools and put the wisdom of this video into action :D
It sounds like you are doing great! I'm pretty sure the garden teaches me something new every year...even if it contradicts what it taught me the previous year!
Love your videos, your so real and make me feel confident I can grow food. I so look forward to your next video. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Thank you so much, Rolland! That’s what it’s all about! You can absolutely grow food. I’m finishing a video today on growing sprouts on the kitchen counter. It should be out later this week. So happy to have you here, Rolland!
I grew greens last year using my grow lights and my electric bill was high from it. This year electric has doubled so I won’t be using grow lights to grow anything. Winters are long and cold here and utilities are the priority. Nice set up you have. Good luck.
So sorry to hear that. My lights draw barely any energy, but I certainly understand the hesitancy to use more electricity in this environment. Stay warm. Happy to have you here, Cooking Princess!
@@growandpreserve Thank you!
Carter again you inspired me to grow some microgreens and lettuce. I purchased at the seed company that you mentioned in your last video. Thanks for all your great content you make me come back to learn some more :)
That is awesome, Paula!
thank you so much for such a simple and very informative video! I just started my little indoor garden this week, can’t wait to grow some greens!
You are most welcome! I love having a year round indoor garden. I bet you will too!
I too start my own seeds I have a big garden and a small greenhouse. I am currently growing cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, kale, collards and snap peas in my outdoor garden and I am growing potatoes, carrots, onions in my greenhouse
Nice! I had cauli, broccoli, brussels and cabbage outside, but a week of lows at 22 and below took most everything. :-( Potatoes in your greenhouse! I'm thinking about trying potatoes in the crawl space. Thanks for the reminder! So happy to have you here, Danielle! Wishing you great weather for your garden!
I have two Aerogarden 6-hole “Harvest” models. Basil grows prolifically all year round. Here in Las Vegas, I can’t afford to keep my house cool enough most of the year for good lettuce. But now that it’s cooler, I like to keep the house in the 60s, and it’s great for lettuce. Starting my lettuce this week. Since it’s only myself to feed, I can cut myself a salad anytime. I have several grow lights and am assembling wire shelving on casters, also a couple of hydroponic units. Haven’t set those up because I need to paint and replace flooring. They are still in boxes, pending my improvements. But…the shelving units will be easy to roll wherever I need to. There are very few cellars/basements out here because of caliche so that’s not an option. Thanks for sharing your ideas for indoor growing, Carter 😊
It sounds like you have it covered, Wendy! The rolling shelving units will be great. Do you like the Aerogarden?
@@growandpreserve Yes, and even more so since I discovered the disassembly and cleaning techniques from @aerogardenexperiments
Algae began taking over at one point. The top cover is constructed in two layers, and comes apart for cleaning.
@@wendyellis6402 Great to hear! I had heard that keeping it clean was an issue. So glad you solved that!
I have lettuce and spinach growing in a little greenhouse. I love having fresh greens this time of year.
Nice! What a great asset to have that little greenhouse! Thanks for being here, Connie!
Great video with lots of good tips. I'd suggest to avoid growing in bathrooms if at all possible due to contamination that can occur from the aerosolization of fluid from your toilet...don't need those "additives" to your mini garden ;)
So true!
I appreciate all your resourceful creativity!!!
Thanks so much, Gloria!
Fun video! I’m growing a handful of lettuce varieties and microgreens in my grow stations. You’ve inspired me to try out baby bok choy! Thanks for sharing. Cannot wait for more of your videos.
Peace from Virginia.
Thanks, Emily!
Why haven't I thought if this? Thanks for the idea and the links to lights. I am going to work on getting a space setup. Could you also do a video on growing sprouts? My hubby likes them.
Yay! I can absolutely do a video on growing sprouts. I'll do a start to finish progression video, so give me several days to get it all filmed. Thanks so much for the idea, Darla!
First time here. I'm starting greens for my chickens.
And of course, for myself.
Awesome! Happy to have you here, Loretta! I love that leafy greens can turn into eggs!
Thanks for sharing. New subscriber 👍. From Hendersonville TN. 😊
Just up the road from me! Welcome, Randy.
@@growandpreserve Thank you as well. Just watched your chili . It looks delicious. Thanks again.
You are just amazing. It is 75 degrees in North Texas (crazy weather) we still have tomatoes. I will sow lettuce and micro greens outside in my raised beds and cover with plastic tubs at night. Which is my normal way but my husband purchased some row cover. We will see. Love your crawl space. Good video thank you.
Thanks so much, Donna! You said that about tomatoes just to make me jealous, didn't you?? 😉 All my outdoor cool weather crops have already bit the dust this year. We had a solid week of lows at 22 or below. Last year, I was able to keep most of it alive with row covers and heavy watering, but nothing worked for me with this year's crazy weather. Hoping your north Texas weather continues to bring you abundant crops!
@@growandpreserve No. Will have to pick everything green. They are not as good ripening inside. My husband wants me to make fried green tomatoes every day. ha ha to that one.
@@donnamullins2089 I agree they aren't as good when they ripen indoors. I try to use those for sauce because I roast them first. It really helps with the flavor.
@@growandpreserve Great idea. Thank
I have a 30 metre growing house .. being in sub tropical area often our produce is flooded so we choose to grow with protection , all greens , cabbage , peas, silverbeet etc .. i tend to dehydrate the excess to make superfood powders.
Wow! Australia? The flooding was just horrendous there this year, wasn't it? So smart of you to protect your garden. I was watching Self Sufficient Me's struggles earlier this year and feeling so bad for him! Superfood powders is something I haven't done yet, but I'd like to. Maybe next season! Thank you for being here, Mirage!
Great insight on how to get started thank you
You're welcome!
At 8:32 -9:00 you get it all
Wow, how fun! Now do you need to keep moving these greens to bigger pots? I am very interested! I’d love more videos on this! Can you suggest a book where I could learn more?
This has been a real game changer, Debbie. I’ll do another video on growing indoors soon. I only step the lettuce up one time, straight into a 4” pot.
Hello there! I am learning so much more from your videos. I have been growing microgreens for a long time now but want more greens - baby greens and full heads. We were growing full heads in peanut butter jars kratky style but the labor of keeping the jars full enough took too much time. So I am searching for an easier way. I think the small pots you show 3 inch or about watering from below in a larger tray will be the best way - hoping so. I see you harvest baby lettuce. Do you just cut them when they are 3-4 inches tall, across the leaves and then they grow back? I really need to know the best way. I recently get a back of brassica mix which another man in Hawaii uses and I think he does that - cuts across the leaves and then they regrow. Am I on the right track? My main issue is that here in the Idaho mountains, there are some weeks of summer heat and then the lettuce bolts. How to avoid that I ask? Keep them on a lower rack, are certain kinds of lettuce less -prone to bolting. We do have air-conditioning but cannot keep it so cool that we can seem to avoid the bolting. No basement, sadly. Any guidance will be very much appreciated. Many many thanks!
Hey, Deborah! Baby lettuce first...yes, when it gets to be 3-4", I cut the leaves and it regrows. The second harvest won't be as full as the first, but you may also get a small third harvest. It takes 21-28 days for baby lettuce to be ready for first harvest. If I want larger leaves, I grow them out in 4" pots and water from below. There are several varieties that are supposed to be better in heat. You should be able to find some at your favorite seed company. Most have a heatwave mix, Marvel of four seasons, etc. However, your best bet during the hottest weeks will be to keep a good rotation going of baby lettuce. I would sow a new tray every few days until you have 5-6 trays. Cut each tray as it's ready, then wait for the next to be ready. Keep moving through the trays until it's time to go back through. I don't think you'll have any bolting. Hope that helps!
@@growandpreserve thank you so much for these tips. I am sure I can find a heatwave mix also but keeping the baby lettuce going as you suggest, maybe we can ride out the summer with salads and no bolting!- Deb
Thank you so much!!
You're welcome, Linda!
I love this idea
Thanks, Tammy! I think it's often the easiest things that we overlook! Happy to have you here!
I guess ventilation is important to fight mold. How do you solve such issues?
Yes! I have a fan that comes on several times/day.
i am in Nashville.
Hey, neighbor!
This is inspiring! I grow sprouts and herbs indoors, but haven't tried the grow lamp setup yet. Do you ever have a problem with gnats? I seem to get them with the herbs sometimes, and am wondering if I need to use a special indoor growing medium?
I don't have a big problem with them, but I do a couple things to keep them at bay. First, as you suggested, I use a sterile soil to which I add my own nutrition. Second, for liquid fertilizer, I use one that doesn't have the smell of decomposing fish parts. This is the one I use indoors: amzn.to/3oTmlF4. Lastly, I preemptively place these around: amzn.to/43OHgrD. Hope that helps!
@@growandpreserve Great tips! Thanks!
Are the grow lights in your link the same as when you bought them? Because it doesn't say anything about being grow lights.
Thank you for sharing! You have inspired me to turn a third bathroom into a grow room.
I'm so excited you're going to turn your spare bathroom into a grow room! You will never regret being able to grow indoors. Yes, I use the cool white lights on this link: amzn.to/3Y8FApW. I've used them for years, and they work perfectly. Figure out how you're going to place your trays so you know how much coverage you need per shelf. I used to have my 10x20 trays running side to side, so I only needed 2 lights per shelf for full coverage. Now I have them turned perpendicular to the shelf, so I need 3-4 lights to provide full coverage to the tray. Does that make sense? If not, email me at carter@growandpreserve so I can send you a close up picture. Happy growing!
@@growandpreserve thank you so for the tip!
Can I use coco coir?, doesn't seed starting mix attract insects inside the house?, thank you
You can use coco coir to start your seeds. In theory, seed starting mix is sterile (meaning no living bug eggs), but fungus gnats do tend to show up. Once the plants' true leaves start to appear, (if you're not up-potting to fertile soil) you'll need to start fertilizing regularly since there's no nutrition in coco coir. Perhaps mix in some granulated fertilizer from the beginning as well. The little yellow sticky things I mentioned in the video do work quite well (although not 100%) Happy to have you here, Jessie!
Hi Carter… at what point do you move the lettuce seed sprouts to a pot? Mine are a little leggy, just sprouted last week…
Lettuce is quite resilient. You can probably do it now. I've been downstairs up-potting my new batch this morning. Once you get them in some good potting soil, you'll be amazed how quickly they'll grow. If they're a bit leggy, you can either lower the light or raise the pot to get them closer to the light. Always good to see you here, Lisa!
Love it! Thank you
We'll be seeing your salad bar in no time!
Hi Carter! I couldn’t find a way to email you, so please excuse my question here! I ordered the lights you suggested but there were two options for the lights. I think I ordered the sunlight option rather than the cool lights? They haven’t come in yet, but wondering if I should have gotten the cooler option? Thanks so much!!
Either should be ok. I have the cooler ones at 6500k. Yours are 5000k. The range for growing is 5000-6500k, with higher being better, but not necessary. So excited you're setting things up! My email is carter@growandpreserve.com
Thank you so much!!
The 2 foot light link says shop light. Does it need to say “grow light”?
Good question. No, it does not need to say grow light. The two numbers that matter are kelvin (how warm or cool the light is) and lumens (how much light). For seedlings, lettuce and other non-fruiting plants, the kelvin recommendation is generally 5000-6500. For fruiting or flowering plants, a kelvin rating of 3500-4500 is recommended. Lumens are a bit looser, but generally speaking, they should be 2000+. Hope that helps!
@@growandpreserve Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have a seed starting kit w 3 shelves, just plastic. I never thought of using it for the off season. Brilliant idea. I really appreciate it!
@@ammiedoering4205 My pleasure!
I’ve started some leaf lettuce under grow lights. They are about 3” tall and they are yellow-ish. Do I need to fertilize, and if so, how, please and thank you.
Congrats on growing your own greens! Yes, it sounds like it's time to fertilize. I use Grow Big amzn.to/3HCbSnM for indoor fertilizing. But you can use anything higher in Nitrogen (the first number). I fertilize once/week. It just takes a tiny bit of fertilizer. Also, check that they're not sitting in water often. Yellowing leaves can also be a sign of overwatering. So happy to have you here, Maria!
We might be neighbors I live at Tim's Ford Lake. Would love to email you. Do you have a RUclips email?
We're pretty close! carter@growandpreserve.com. Would love to hear from you, Chris!