It's winter, but that doesn't mean the end of growing things, even in a cold climate.
My daughter was ditching a wine rack that she didn't need anymore, so I asked her if I could repurpose it. She said, "sure." So...
I planted some lettuce seeds in window planters and put them in the bottom. (I need to thin them out, but otherwise, they're growing well.)
I thought about doing something with the wine holders, but that would block the sun from the lettuce. Stay tuned for future ideas, or please share them in the comments.
Most of the herbs are taking off, too...
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| parsley |
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| chamomile |
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| cilantro |
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| oregano |
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| dill |
I placed the plant stand in a south-facing window in the sunroom. The room is only partially heated, so it's a little cooler in there than the herbs would prefer. But there's plenty of sun! As the days get longer, I expect even more success.
How about you? Do you grow herbs and edibles indoors during the winter?
I find it hard to believe you have a daughter old enough to drink wine!
ReplyDeleteHa! Just barely, Jim. LOL. I'm glad she let me take over her unwanted furniture. :)
DeleteWhat a delight to see fresh green sprouts during the dark and cold of this season. I haven't tried growing edibles inside during the winter as Most of the available space is full of houseplants that can take neglect, something that seedlings won't put up with.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's very encouraging, Peter. I know you have a greenhouse full of plants! I have quite a few in the sunroom, too, and I'll have more when I start my summer garden plants, but I wanted to try some lettuce and herbs just for fun. So far, so good.
DeleteThe wine rack is perfect for its new purpose! Although the raised planters in what was my vegetable garden have been repurposed for growing cut flowers, I still have some herbs growing there. You've just reminded me that I usually plant cilantro seeds at this time of year too so I must remember to pick up seeds on my next trip to the garden center. Luckily, our winter is mild enough to allow herbs (and other winter veg) outside. Yes, we're spoiled in SoCal...
ReplyDeleteYes, you are spoiled! Most years, I simply bring in a few plants at this time of year as house plants and let the others die or go dormant. But I got to thinking that lettuce, especially, should be able to thrive in a cooler room. The herb idea happened because the wine rack/plant stand turned on some creative thoughts. ;-)
DeleteLovely... they are growing well there. all looks so tidy. I like the rack.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Endah. I like the new addition, too. I will be even happier when I harvest the herbs and lettuce. ;-)
DeleteA nice way to reuse the wine rack. I have one of those that I use out in the screen house during summer. Hmmmm You have given me a new idea to try out. Maybe after christmas. Our little house is crammed with "stuff" right now. ha... Plus our windows are full of house plants.
ReplyDeleteWe think alike...not surprising. ;-) My first thought was...plant stand! My second thought was how to make the best use of it. I'm sure that will evolve over time and from year to year. The sunroom is my only decent location with sun exposure (well, I guess the upstairs bedrooms, hmmm...), so most of my plants are in there. It has floor-to-near ceiling windows on three sides. In the summer it's shaded, but in the winter it's sunny.
DeleteWhat a brilliant idea. It's so exciting having all these seedlings coming up.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It IS fun. Yes, it's terribly exciting to have new things growing on the darkest days. :)
DeletePerfect repurposing! It’s cheery to see all of those seedlings.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was happy to re-use it for plants! And it will be fun to harvest the produce when it's ready.
DeleteBrilliant reuse! We've got southern windows but the couch is in front of them and I mostly try to take a garden break in winter. Though that means little physical gardening; plenty of garden books and online garden stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks--the sunroom is attached to the house, but it always stays a little cooler because of the windows on three sides. But on bright, sunny days it gets quite warm in there. We keep it closed off to save on heating and because I don't want the pets to get to the plants. I generally take a garden break during the winter, but little plants and houseplants don't take much work.
DeleteI don't grow edibles over the winter but I plan to at some point :) Unfortunately, it will have to be under grow lights as I don't have a good sunny spot at the moment. All of your seedlings look so incredibly healthy - can't wait to see everything as it fills in!
ReplyDeleteYou are so patient with growlights. I've never used them, but I suppose I should try it sometime. I'd probably have more even results. I think as the days get longer, the plants will take off. I'm looking forward to salad greens in late January and February. ;-)
DeleteIf the thinnings get big enough they can be microgreens.
ReplyDeleteMy tomato seedlings are trying to march in the kitchen door.
Yes, they will be used for that purpose. :) I know you're in the midst of your summer growing season, and now I'm imagining your healthy tomato plants. Thank you for that imagery.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteA lovely sight, green :-) .. I also have some greens started. I have some mint growing for tea.
Looking forward to watching everything grow with you.
Carla
Hi Carla: Mint! That's a good idea for the pots, too. Yes, it will be fun to compare notes. :)
DeleteGolly that is a heart-warming sight - you have a touch of Spring in your wine rack. When it actually is Spring, the wine rack will look very nice planted up in the garden - I see something with tendrils twining through!
ReplyDeleteInteresting thought, Laura! I hadn't thought to put it out in the garden, but that's a good idea. The materials of the wine rack could easily be hosed down at the beginning and end of the growing season, so it could be used as an indoor/outdoor piece. Thanks for the suggestion!
DeleteThose little herbs look good. Herbs do quite well in winter for us here in Central Texas, which is a good thing because I have no room for them in the house. The stand is a looker!
ReplyDeleteHi Tina: I clipped a few of the herbs and lettuce today, and topped my lunch with microgreens. It was tasty! I'm spoiled with the sunroom.
DeleteI love lettuce...
ReplyDeleteyou have perfect ideas.
have a great weekend
Thank you. I love lettuce, too. I harvested a few of the little leaves today to top my lunch with microgreens. :)
DeleteI love the wrought iron stand. I wonder if you could use it for climbers?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea; I'll give it some thought. Thanks!
DeleteGreat idea to repurpose that stand! Seeing those little sprouts makes me long for Spring (and we've hardly gotten into winter!). I'll be starting my indoor seeds in the new year. Need to clean out my potting shed first!
ReplyDeleteThe new growth is a cheery thing, indeed! I'm looking forward to a quiet January, but after that I'll be antsy for spring, too! It's always interesting to plan out the timing for the indoor seed-starting.
DeleteWhat a great-looking plant stand! It looks like you will have plenty of light. I would love to have a sunroom with space to grow plants and that kind of bright light! Lucky you to have fresh herbs and edibles in the middle of the winter.
ReplyDeleteHi Deb: Yes, the plants have sun on three sides--throughout most of the day--and the room is south-facing. I do feel blessed to have this room; it's why I wanted to buy the house. The seedlings are really starting to fill in now, so I'm expecting even greater results as the days begin to lengthen.
DeleteHow great to see fresh green plant growth. That plant stand is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun, for sure. Re: the wine rack/plant stand...now I feel like I'd like to find another one. ;-)
DeleteI wish I had the kind of windows that allowed me to grow seedlings like that. Of course, if I tried the cats would eat whatever was growing in "their" windows!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I totally understand. This room is closed off from the cat. (His former sister would eat the plants; he tends to use them as a litter box or knock them over.) Any plants I have inside the sunroom go outside during the warmer months, when I open up the sunroom for pet and family living space.
DeleteHi Beth I wanted to thank you for participating in Nature Notes in 2018 and commenting on other posts and wish you a very Happy Holiday Season..Michelle
ReplyDeleteThere are no bright sunny windows in my house due to the shading of the front porch. I do have a few plants that struggle all winter long and will be almost dead when warm weather finally arrives.
ReplyDeleteInstead, I put my effort into my outside winter vegetable garden. Right now it is doing great under the hoop houses. I am in zone 6b/7a (right on the line) and it is amazing what will grow through the winter.
http://getmetothecountry.blogspot.com/2018/11/novembers-garden-2018.html
Jeannie@GetMetoTheCountry