Sunday 30 January 2011

Growing green in the house!!

Not everybody has the pleasure of owning an allotment...in fact their are many people who don't even have a balcony let alone a yard or a garden but this shouldn't deter from having a go at 'growing your own' if you really want to give it a try.

For most of those without the aid of outdoors they think of growing in windowsills and this is a great idea but you are limited on what you can grow and also have to turn your pots on a regular basis to stop your plants from leaning and straining to the light.. Sometimes this can be a chore to people but then others don't seems to mind so it' is entirely up to you...I have found that the best thing to grow on windowsills are herbs...they thrive well in the indoors humidity, are very pretty and add a wonderful aroma to your room...and also your cooking.

But there is another way to grow indoors!!!

seed sprouter
The seed sprouter!!!

Yep...if you want to give it a go then you can try sprouting your own seeds...it's easy, nutritious and also great to do with the kids as the results come within less than a week. As you can see I have recently invested in a seed sprouter which I got for half price from Thompson and Morgan as I am a member of the allotments association but you don't need anything fancy to sprout your seeds...and you can even hide them inside a cupboard whilst they're sprouting if you don't want them hanging around on the counter.


snow peas
Snow peas.

So far I have tried out four different packets of seeds, snow peas, mung beans, alfalfa and a sandwich mix. We haven't wasted any at all although I wasn't so keen on the snow peas but my son loved them.

alfalfaAlfalfa.

Now as I mentioned before...you don't need a fancy sprouter and growing them is quick and easy...all you need is a jar, water and somewhere to stand them...the seeds need to first be soaked in water for a few hours although I have been leaving mine overnight and then drained and either left in a bowl or jar with holes in the lid. The seeds need to be rinsed twice daily which is easy with the sprouterr as you just dink the whole thing in water but if you grow them in a normal bowl then you can just pour them into a sieve and rinse under the tap....the seeds are usually ready to eat in a few days so it takes no longer than growing cress.


mung beans
Mung Beans.

Sprouting seeds do not need the presence of light and can in fact be grown inside a dark cupboard which gives them different tastes and textures than when grown in an airy room. As there is no compost there is no extra outlay of cost and no mess making ideal for those who want to grow something with there children or who live in apartments/flats. You can grow as little or as much as you want at any one time and you can mix your favourite seeds together and grow your favourite combination all in one go.

You can eat these raw or cooked in stir fries and casseroles so their is no limit to what you can use them for........and there are hundreds of different seeds that you can try!!

As you can see from above I have added a few of those I have tried already an i have loved being able to try all the different varieties so far an can't wait to start some more of this week.....and the best thing I have found is that even though it's still winter I am eating something totally fresh that I have grown myself which is making me just a little bit happier about having to wait for spring!!!


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5 comments:

  1. Forget sprouty spindly little things, I want my strawberries!!! :D (laughs)

    Be surprised what you can grow on windows out of season though, very true Tanya.

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  2. I might give that a go, tide me over until I can get back in the garden!!

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  3. I can't imagine not having a yard to grow things in (even though I don't plant a garden other than flowers) I've often thought about growing herbs but have never tried

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  4. It's good to be able to grow something fresh to eat during the winter months. Keeps your interest up too whilst there's nothing to be done on the plot.

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  5. Craig...don't worry it shouldn't be too long now before we get the strawberries!!

    Rosie...I have really enjoyed experimenting with the different seeds...by the time I have tried them all I think I will have produce ready on the allotment!

    Ann...you really should try growing herbs...they are attractive to have in and outside and the smell is wonderful even if you don't harvest them. Oh and the great thing about them is they taking no tending to...cut them back or don't...it really doesn't make a difference!!

    Jo...I have loved this...and the kids have even been keen to try them and enjoyed them too so it's nice to know they are getting good nutrients even in this miserable weather!

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keep it clean...keep it relevant...I look forward to reading your comments!!