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Home > Guides > Urban Gardening > Indoor Gardening > Fast Yield Garden |
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Fast Yield Garden |
Greenhouse  Low Light Quick Yield |
With careful planning and some diligence, a bountiful harvest of fresh edibles can be cultivated in just about any environment, even indoors. Though it may seem daunting, indoor growing offers some advantages to conventional growing. Chiefly, indoor environments are not susceptible to the wide range of fluctuations in temperature, humidity and other conditions that are part of outdoor cultivation. Healthy, fresh food can be grown any time of year, no matter how harsh or unpredictable outdoor conditions might be and with a fast yield.
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Indoor Gardening
Challenges to Indoor Gardening?
 Light and space are the principal challenges to gardening indoors. Most crops, including those conducive to indoor cultivation, require at least 5 hours of natural sunlight per day. Artificial lighting may be used to supplement natural light, but for every hour of natural sunlight needed you should plan on supplementing with 3 hours or more of artificial light. To account for the limited space of many indoor growing areas, you may need to apply a little creativity and some resourcefulness. Shelves and reflectors to make optimum use of available light, window planters and other space saving measures can all be utilized to bring about a fertile and sustainable indoor garden.
Crops Suited for Indoor Growth
If sowing in traditional soil-type growing medium, leafy greens are among the crops best suited for indoor growing. Relative to root vegetable or fruits, leafy greens require a short time to harvest and do not require completion of the entire growth cycle. Other types of crops can be grown, but are more likely to require supplementation with artificial light or special attention. In addition to leafy greens, other types of edibles such as sprouts and microgreens, are especially appropriate for indoor gardening.
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 For some gardeners, the highest priority when considering potential varieties is the time to harvest. Those plants that can be grown and harvested in a matter weeks or even days are typically prized for their leaves, which can often be collected periodically throughout the growing season. Baby greens from arugula, lettuce, mustard and other leafy plants can all be grown from seed in under one month, and offer considerable nutrition thanks to developing root structures. Sprouts and microgreens offer quick, fresh, flavorful options for those seeking a quick harvest. Root vegetables, or those harvested for their fruits, will take more time to complete their growing cycle but can be assisted by fostering the ideal conditions for rapid development.
Creating Ideal Conditions for Rapid Growth
 In addition to selecting crops that naturally require shorter times to harvest, the time-conscious gardener can work to provide optimum water, space, and nutrition that will encourage faster maturation and time to harvest. An abundance of natural sunlight (8 or more hours each day, or 12 or more hours of artificial light) will promote faster growth and a shorter time to harvest than plants with less exposure. With increased light, your water requirements, and possibly fertilizer requirements, will also increase. Water administered from above can carry nutrients deeper into the soil and away from plant roots. This can be countered by amending the growing medium with nutrient-rich, organic constituents prior to sowing, fertilizing on a regular basis, or watering plants from the bottom. Be cautious of excessive light, as it may cause excessive heat or cause some types of greens to 'bolt' to seed, rendering their leaves unpalatable.
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