On the other hand, with the right situation & the right equipment, it is possible to grow many herbs and vegetables indoors. But I do agree that the best place to start is to do lots and lots of reading. Container gardening is it's own science, and then to add the indoor component, you've got a lot to learn! Things like potatoes and corn take fairly large, deep containers. Different types of vegetables need different amounts of light, and water, and ambient temperatures. That being said, if you're not afraid of failing & making errors, just start trying! See what works for others, try new things, try combinations of things, and see what happens! The awesome thing about gardening is that there are neverending opportunities to get it right, and to try again if it didn't go well the first time (or the second, or the third...)

Victorville is a tough climate for container gardening. The extreme heat, low humidity, and wind are as difficult for plants to deal with as they are for humans. What you could do is try some summer heat lovers, just for practice. Summer heat loving veggies would be: peppers, and tomatoes. Just try a couple of plants, and make your intent to learn how plants grow on your balcony. Observe, observe, observe. That, long-term, is going to make you successful. I'd suggest not a fancy container, just the largest one you can afford. You could even try to get a large tub or bin that someone is throwing out, or something from a thrift store that you can drill drainage holes in. The reason you want a large container is that larger containers hold moisture in better and longer than small containers. They also keep the roots slightly cooler than small containers, which is another thing you need in that climate. Another thing that you might need is some shade protection. If you can, rig up a sturdy little rectangle of pipe that fits the container, and stands 3 or 4' tall, and cover the "roof" of with shade cloth. Attach the shade cloth with cable ties or wire. You can buy pieces of shade cloth at big box stores. The reason for this, is that your climate is so extreme, so hot in the summer, that even heat loving plants may need some protection from the sun. The cloth can also help protect them from the hot wind. Plant a tomato plant and a pepper plant, and see what you can learn. You may need to water the plants every day. Perhaps even twice a day. Learn to feel the soil with your fingers to see if it is moist or not. Learn to watch the foliage to see if it is stressed or happy. Observe, observe, observe. Good luck! You can do it! Everyone starts from the beginning. You have to start in an extreme environment. But here's the thing--if you can develop some success in an extreme environment, when/if you move to a more mild climate, it will be likely super easy for you to grow a lot of stuff.

Mesclun should do very well. Any kind of greens. But the other things are going to require more sun than you have. You can start off planting a mesclun mix or other baby greens in a flower pot. You should be able to get a crop inside of a month! And it's cut and come again. The English grow their mustard greens in a saucer - you can sprinkle the seeds on a paper towel and they will come up fine as long as you keep it moist. And you can sprout all kinds of seeds (mustard, cress, alfalfa) in the same way or in pot filled with potting mix. No extra light required.

H I Bit, I don't think this particular forum get's that much action, I think you could find much more info on the "Container Gardening" forum; although I can give you some examples of what I use/grow. For the plants you mentioned, I think 2-4 foot T5 6400K Fluorescent bulbs and fixtures would work great, and they're very economical. Here's the fixtures I use (they come with bulbs). https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NMX5EGC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I only grow vegies outdoors in the Summer, but I grow Bonsai & Adeniums (Desert Rose) indoors year around. I also use HPS (High Pressure Sodium) bulbs/fixtures to get the benefit of the full spectrum of light. 6400K Fluorescents cover the Blue end, and HPS covers the Red end of the spectrum. Here's a link for HPS fixtures; which also come with the bulb. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KM1EXXW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Light Hangers - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M398UJ4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 My favorite grow setup is using two of these tables placed side by side, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XW5G4W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and putting a shallow Hydroponic Flood Tray on top of them. https://www.amazon.com/Botanicare-Low-Tide-Tray-4-Feet/dp/B007FNQ1JY/ref=pd_sbs_86_29?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B007FNQ1JY&pd_rd_r=V0T3K8GBAC34AYB8RSKY&pd_rd_w=dU0nY&pd_rd_wg=N8sw4&psc=1&refRID=V0T3K8GBAC34AYB8RSKY (You can find these cheaper at Hydoponic Grow Shops. Shop around.) The Hydro Shop will drill a drain hole for you; then you need to purchase a length of tubing, and an open/close valve. Mine drains into a five gallon bucket beneath the tables. Another way you could go is growing on "Baker's Racks" (which I bought at Target). I place two together. One in front of the other, not side by side. Using the Baker's Racks; you can use hooks to hang the lights right on the shelves. With the Flood Tray setup; you have to hang the lights from the ceiling using "Swag Hooks". (Planning the placement, and using correct measurements Is very important.) My Living room - Here is a link to a thread that's all about container soils. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/2842847/container-soils-water-movement-and-retention-xxii?n=812 (Very informative.) This is in the "Container Gardening" forum, and is written by "tapla" (Al). At the end of this thread; are links to other threads that he has written on various other subjects. (Highly recommended reading.) I hope this has been of some help. Rob