The premise of the indoor growing began with marijuana—that became the framework for the indoor vegetable and herb garden. I needed to keep one mother plant going through the winter to clone from come early spring. There was open soil taunting me.

In the beginnings of winter here on Wheaton Mountain Farm, we have leeks, spinach, cherry tomatoes, dwarf pumpkins, bush beans and turnip among vegetables growing indoors. For soap scents, I have lavender, both mature and in the cloner, plus creeping herbs. Tucked in below taller plants like tomatoes and the marijuana are winter savory, german thyme and oregano.

As winter sinks it’s claws into the gardens outside, it’s therapeutic to scan through seed catalogues and lay out diagrams to best suit your outdoor growing spaces. I use whatever is the more affordable pots and seed starter medium. I’ve used cow pots, peat pellets and toilet paper rolls full of soil before. All worked great and the pots and are readily biodegradable or peel off.

Lighting options for successful indoor gardening in winter:

Windowsills and grow lights keep the menagerie of plants here growing consistently. But not all grow lights are created equal. Go to your local grow store and ask about them. That’s what I did.

As days become shorter while winter draws near natural lighting spurs plants to hurry up and flower. But under grow lights the plant never knew the truth was out there. By moving the plants away from the grow lights and to a window with limited hours of daylight instead spurs a flower which begins within a week when conditions are optimal.

The light situation as follows at our house includes; two, six-bulb drop down florescent tube lights, a single strip independently working florescent tube light, and a more efficient LED twisty bulbs. The lights are on cheap $12 timers that switch on at dusk and off at dawn for continuous light. And for God’s sake KEEP THE TIMER DIRECTIONS. Don’t learn the hard way like me.

Watering often with added organic liquid nutrient

There’s no rain in the grown room—though just yesterday I found out my watering pail has a leak making it rain in my oldest son’s room below. Oops. Crowded plants need lots of nutrients to keep from chocking each other out.

Intensive planting, especially indoors, requires nutrients not readily found in abundance in your average potting soil. I fill a mister spray bottle plus a solution in a five-gallon bucket for waterings. A Big Gulp cup from the local gas station makes a perfect scoop for watering direct to roots from the top. Keep a towel on hand, just in case of spills.

Earth Boxes are the Shit.

Watering with our Earth Boxes is a breeze. A full Earth Box with somewhat dry soil will take more than half of a five-gallon pail. I pour premixed nutrient water into a pipe on the side of the Earth Box. The largest marijuana plants are in these planing boxes. We found all of our boxes at yard sales, amazingly. Successful indoor gardening in winter is about saving on space, time and energy costs.

Self-watering planters like Earth Boxes require water less often. I fill them about once a week. They are a hydroponic hybrid of sorts. A layer of soil in the rectangle planter lays over a mesh tray with a water reservoir. The roots of larger plans find their way down to the water and soil that sneaks through soaks it up.

Creeping plants on the surface need water less often, maybe twice a week. Even the low-growing plants get started then transplanted to ensure only the very best are kept.

Watering with our Earth Boxes is a breeze. A full Earth Box with somewhat dry soil will take more than half of a five-gallon pail. I pour premixed nutrient water into a pipe on the side of the Earth Box. The largest marijuana plants are in these planing boxes. We found all of our boxes at yard sales, amazingly. Successful indoor gardening in winter is about saving on space, time and energy costs.

Thinning & Pruning

To keep tight, manageably-sized plants when indoor gardening in winter care must be taken to keep them tidy and not overgrown for more indoor space. Having indoor room to roam (or to get away from teasing siblings) is a valuable resource during the long winter months in Maine.

Marijuana plants are tied back and down the sides of the pot with yard in a draping effect. Lavender is kept in a rounded farm by trimming and drying it for soaps. Pumpkins are up in tall pots on legs allowing them to trundle over the edges of the pots. A well started tomato plant was transplanted in the center.

Cloning softer herbs and spices

Cloning for more intensive planting and continues to keep the genetics through the cloning of only the very best already selected and grown in order to clone and replace. Mist must be spread over tender leaves sticking out the top part of the cloner.

Even florescent drop-down grow lights made for indoor vegetable growing can dry out tender leaves in close proximity. We made a cloner from a plastic bin, mist fountain, and drilled holes in the top to hold the drop-in baskets. But more on that another time.

Indoor gardening in winter is all worth it. My cabin fever is kept at bay, I have plants to dote upon, and a big head-start for spring.