Nothing tastes better than a home-made meal prepared with vegetables, fruit, and herbs from your own garden. Living here in Connecticut, your outdoor garden is good for five months at best. And that’s assuming you have the space for it. But what if climate and outdoor space didn’t matter?

Read on to learn how you can grow food at home with an indoor garden. In fact, follow these simple steps and you’ll be enjoying the fruits (and veggies and herbs) of your labor in no time.

Choose your plants wisely. Not all fruits and vegetables are intended for indoor growth. For example, corn can grow up to 10 feet high – not exactly something you can easily squeeze into your kitchen or basement. Instead, choose dwarf varieties of vegetables and low-growing fruit like strawberries.

Start with the right containers. Make sure the pots are large enough to give roots ample room to grow. Root crops like carrots and potatoes need at least 12 inches of soil depth while lettuce, spinach, and other greens only need about 5 inches.

Buy the soil right. Now that you have the correct containers, invest in a lightweight, sterile potting mix that will promote root growth and plant health. Avoid the urge to use soil from your yard as it could be filled with microscopic pests and disease.

Let there be light. Most vegetation needs at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive, so place your garden in front of a south-facing window. If that’s not an option, you’ll need to augment or replace nature with a grow light.

Water consistently. Soil should be springy and damp; otherwise, roots that alternate between wet and dry may fail to develop properly. Check moisture levels daily by pressing a finger on the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. Or, consider a self-watering planter that will dispense just the right amount of water to keep the soil consistently damp.

Maintain a stable temperature. Many fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers like it warm, around 75 degrees during daylight hours. If you have central air, be sure to supplement your indoor garden with a little extra heat with a small space heater. Cooler-season plants like lettuce and spinach prefer milder temps, around 65 degrees, and will wilt if it gets too warm.

Maintain proper indoor humidity levels. If humidity levels are too high, your garden is at risk of fungal disease. Running a dehumidifier or your home’s central air system can help keep humidity levels between 40 and 50 percent.

Add nutrients. Most potting mix won’t supply your fruits, vegetables, and herbs with the nutrients they need to produce a bountiful harvest. Choose a high quality fertilizer and apply according to manufacturer directions.

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