How to Grow Beans, Peppers and Squash Under Lights

Beans, potatoes, and squash growing indoors under lights can it be done? I believe if the will exists to do a thing then the way to do that thing can be found. The question is just because you can do a thing is it a good idea to do that thing?

I have grown beans indoors, pole beans but only under natural light. I was fortunate enough to live in a house with a great alcove that let the sun in for most of the day; otherwise I would have had to use artificial lighting in order to get a crop.

There are great grow lights out there, but the best ones are not cheap, at least, not yet, so is it worth it from a dollars and cents perspective to grow vegetables indoors under lights? The answer here is not a simple yes or no; you can set up a fairly expensive do-it-yourself hydroponic system and grow some of your own food, how much well that depends upon how much space you can commit to the indoor garden and whether or not you are willing and able to pay the electricity bill.

Let’s forget about the cost and examine the feasibility of growing beans, potatoes and squash indoors. It is possible to grow all three of these plants in an indoor hydroponic garden. It takes some knowledge but once you have done your research you will be able to set up a system that produces the crops you are looking for.

One of the major differences between gardening indoors and out, is that outdoors, the gardener has help from the sun and rain for example, from insects, birds and many, many small creatures that live in the soil; in fact outdoors the successful gardener builds soil and then grown plants in that soil.

Indoors, the gardener has fewer helpers and must provide the light, the food and basically satisfy all the plants’ needs.

Squash is a space hog and if you plan on adding it to the indoor garden, the garden design must take this demand into account. Trellises will work for zucchinis and smaller squashes. This way the vines will grow up and not get in the way, be sure the trellis you use is strong enough to bear the load.

Basements are an ideal space to set up the indoor garden. The artificial lights will be on for hours (16-20) at a time. Get a timer and use it to regulate lighting.

If your goal is to provide some of your own food, year round, an indoor hydroponic vegetable garden will enable you to do so. You are not likely to save any money, but you will have the satisfaction of growing your own.