sunflower sprouts. I am making some measurements on how to maximize uniformity, I will post once I am done.

Window herbs. They don't produce much and they're kinda ugly once you start picking on them, but it's nice to have a pinch of something fresh every once in a while.

You know, when it comes to herbs I harvest 3-4 pounds in July, then my wife puts them in the food processor with the same amount of coarse salt (by weight, which means a handful of salt for an armful of herbs), and voila', herbed salt for the whole year. We keep it in the fridge in jars, and take out one jar at a time, and it is 90% of the salt we use. Virtually any herb will work, but moist leaves such as mint and oregano make it a bit cake-y. Drier leaves such as sage, rosemary, chives (and even garlic) will make a salt that does not cake.

Culantro

For the first time ever I've tried growing basil this winter. I have a little cheapy plastic-wrap type indoor "greenhouse" that has a zippered door sitting next to a patio door that faces slightly south-east. I started the seeds in October; 3 times now I've had to cut the plants way back and share the bounty at work. Sometimes when the sun shines rather strongly we have to open the zipper. I am just thrilled. I also have a rosemary that is doing quite well also. Parsley, on the other hand, did awful. It grew about 2 inches or so then died. But it sure is nice to have something fresh and green - and I've discovered that basil leaves on a sandwich can't be beat! I've been toying with the idea of trying to grow Swiss Chard in a pot, also. Anyone ever try that?

Edie

Amazingly, to me, I am still picking red peppers in my just frost free glazed porch. The plants look terrible but the fruit keep coming. They've never lasted this long before. The basil in there was toast weeks ago.

Lots still cropping outside: kales (curly, Red Russian, Tuscan Black), chard, parsley, garlic greens, rosemary, turnips, etc.

Edie, regarding Swiss chard in a pot, the plants can get very big and develop a large root, so you'd need a big pot. Also it cooks down like spinach does so you need a lot of leaves for a serving. Would it survive outdoors for you? Maybe with some fleece on it?

glib -- yes, any info on uniformity of sunflower sprouts will be much appreciated! I'm doing better this time since I used the fire room while they were in the dark, rather than the kitchen that goes down into the 50's at night.

Edie -- that's truly impressive about the basil! Now my husband wants me to try it. But you desperately need a pesto recipe! (the best I've found is the simplest -- basil, garlic, salt, olive oil in the food processor. Done.)

I' have grown chard indoors in the winter -- I used medium sized pots and they produced enough for one frittata every few weeks. That said, I've got chard outdoors now under fleece, and that is working even better.

Carrots:

{{gwi:14227}}

Lettuce, Tatsoi, Vitamin Green, Napa Cabbage, Bok Choy, Tokyo Bekana, Mustard, Arugula, Haikuri Turnips, Radishes
{{gwi:9884}}

3 types of Kale, Chard, Mustard, Napa Cabbage, Tokyo Bekana, Bok Choy, Green onions, Daikon and Turnips
{{gwi:14228}}

More of everything plus cilantro
{{gwi:14229}}

We have 6 high tunnels and grow and sell produce all winter long.

Jay, every time I see your pictures, I want to come be your next-door neighbor!!!

Since what I would use the chard for during the winter is more as a soup ingredient, all I would need is a few leaves at a time. Nice to know that it potentially will work, so I think I will go ahead and start some as`soon as my seed order gets here, which should be sometime this coming week. I do have a couple of nice-sized pots sitting empty right now. Assuming the chard actually grows, then I can start setting the pot outside during the day when the temps start moderating a little bit and maybe keep it going a little longer. Thanks so much for letting me know it can be done!

Elisa - I am totally in shock at how well that basil is doing. A good use for something I usually only use a few weeks in early spring for my seedlings waiting to go outside. I have a couple of small fluorescent lights so on really bad dark days the plants still get some light. The types of basil I am growing are Nufar and Lettuce Leaf. I don't know if the varieties make any difference as to how well they do inside? My (idiot) DH doesn't like pesto. Go figure!

Edie

Just picked another indoor grown tomato. It was better than the last one. This time I let it get real red. I've got 3 plants, all suckers from a sucker started last March/April.

Most winters here are so mild now that kale outdoors is edible most of the time. I have a low tunnel over kale as well. I have chard and some lettuce in a walk-in cold frame.

I have a seedling tray with a light and heating tray so i planted sweet pea's,tomatoes,egg plant,flowers..peppers..Think i planted my tomatoes a little to early my house will be filled with potted tomato plants..

Also, a real easy way to grow some lettuce/salad mix in a house is to fill a 1020 (black trays that are put under seedlings) with potting mix and sprinkle on some salad mix seed. We put them under florescent lights and put some in south facing windows.

Several weeks later you will have some baby salad greens. If you do a tray every week or so, you can have a fresh salad all the time. We have done this before and had two cuttings off of them.

Jay

Sorry to all you northerners(minus Jay), but I love winter growing -- certainly helps save on the water bill. I don't ever have to have frost/freeze protection( I let my maters and peppers go till the first frost.

Right now I have napa cabbage, broccoli, cauli, brussels sprouts, kale, collards, spinach, lettuces, red onions, leeks, swiss chard, bok choy, parsley, cilantro, french thyme, and marjoram.

I also have about 10 lbs of tomatoes ripening on my kitchen table and ghost and thai chile plants(containers) that I bring in the garage every night.

I just wish I had the SPACE Jay has.

Kevin

Yah -- I was asking more what you've got growing inside the HOUSE. See, Jay, you had no business posting those incredible envy inducing photos! :) Actually, I always enjoy seeing your amazing stuff. Especially the carrots. Mine are under bales of hay that I have to wait for a thaw so I can kick over the bale and dig (which I did do today.)

Tomatoes and peppers in the house -- now that's cool. My neighbor drove his tractor by today and yelled out "got any 'maters?" -- teasing me for gardening in January.

Today I picked arugula, cabbage and collard in 58F weather. I diced and baked (with lard and spices) turnips and the last pumpkin, a huge oven pan that will last us the week. I baked the seeds and a kubocha split in three too, the latter for soups.
I still have cardoons (blanched) in the garage, and the aforementioned shoots indoors. I have not even started the kale, the lacinato or the parsnips outside in hoop houses.
Do not be too sorry, we have high quality veggies.

Has anyone grown cucumbers in the house? Will they polleniate??

This post was edited by gardentech on Tue, Jan 15, 13 at 13:12

Don't know if they'll pollinate unless you have a thriving indoor ecosystem like we do (lady bugs, wasps, and cluster flies). But there is always hand pollination with a soft paint brush or strand of cotton.

Right now I have several peppers, a miracle berry plant, and a pineapple overwintering indoors. I'm also growing wasabi which is outside at the moment (it likes the cold).

I did some reading on some different sites, and found there are some varieties that do not need to pollinate. Found some cucumber seed in particular at Park Seed that should work indoors. When I get them started I will post results.

Here is a link that might be useful: Diva Cucumber Seed

In the house you can grow: lettuce, endive and chicories, leeks and scallions from the cut root end, sprouts, herbs, sweet potato plants. I have some superhot peppers I am trying to overwinter.