|
|
Post by indoorgrowingrev on Mar 24, 2015 3:26:13 GMT -5
Dear Community Members, My name is Ivo Konstantinov and I am a 28 yo entrepreneur from Sofia, Bulgaria. I've been growing indoor and outdoor gardening with my family since I was able to walk. Now, with my team who are a passionate group of young growers and entrepreneurs, strive for perfection, innovation and healthy living are working on a revolutionary project which is in its very early stages. I would love to chat with everyone of you and gather opinions and know-how on Indoor Growing of herbs, spices and veggies. Our visions is for a healthier lifestyle by Indoor Growing right in your kitchen where you cook... this has even more benefits than you can imagine! - Educating on growing different cultures. - Educating your family in continuing the tradition and keeping the best practices as well as developing them. - Growing your own food and herbs. - Bio-food varieties and flavors. - Shaping our food needs on a global scale. Genetically modified seeds and food are overflowing the market today. It's getting harder and more expensive to eat healthy. That's why I dream of a future where everyone will grow their own food in a automated process right near your cooking table. We are constantly pushing the envelope higher and higher in our goal to gather growers opinions and know-how in order to shape our vision even better to feed the global needs! I can state clearly that I am not going to advertise, pitch or sell you anything ever! I am here in order to educate myself and get to know your growing habits and desires. In that line of thoughts - I have made a general Google survey which I will be happy to show you. My First SurveyThank you for your cooperation and I am looking forward to communicating with everyone here!  Best Regards, Ivo Konstantinov |
|
|
|
Post by brownrexx on Mar 24, 2015 10:08:47 GMT -5
I do not grow vegetables or herbs indoors except for when I start my seedlings in the spring.
|
|
|
|
Post by indoorgrowingrev on Mar 24, 2015 10:21:01 GMT -5
Dear Brownrexx,
Thank you for your input!
How so you prefer outside growing? Is it because of the nice climate all year around where you live? Or maybe you have a beautiful garden and maintain it regularly?
Best Regards,
Ivo Konstantinov
|
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Mar 24, 2015 10:26:44 GMT -5
I am the same.
I want my gardens to have the sun and wind, have the bees and other pollinator insects involved. And I love being outdoors as I garden for the same, and to hear the birds and bees.
I can only imagine growing indoors if there was to be a catastrophe that required us all to remain indoors for a very long period of time.
I pray that does not happen.
We have cold winters with occasional snow, so I cannot grow year round. But I fill my freezer for the winter months
One other comment, GM seeds are not "overflowing the market today" They are not available to home gardeners. Only to commercial farms.
|
|
|
|
Post by brownrexx on Mar 24, 2015 10:27:47 GMT -5
I have a nice big outdoor garden, as do most of the posters on this site.
My growing season is only part of the year as we have frigid temperatures over the winter. I am on the east coast of the USA.
I can and freeze lots of vegetables for winter use. Herbs can be dried if I want to save them. |
|
|
|
Post by OregonRed on Mar 24, 2015 11:03:08 GMT -5
I wouldn't think you could get enough production out of an indoor garden.
I've seen on public television, shows that show those vertical hydroponic systems that go from floor to ceiling,
I like to grow enough to feed me as much as possible
I live in an apartment, so I rent multiple plots at a community garden
|
|
|
|
Post by davidjp on Mar 24, 2015 11:16:43 GMT -5
I would too be a little skeptical about the economics of growing indoors. Around here there are quite a lot of hydroponics stores with light fixtures and really expensive fertilisers etc but I think they are basically all geared to the illegal drug market. At whatever the market price for marijuana is I suspect that you can afford to put quite a bit of inputs into your crop and still be profitable. If and when marijuana is legalised in California I would expect pretty much all of them to disappear. Also would be a good time to buy rural properties in Mendocino county in northern California I suspect. I think there are exceptions though. I saw in the papers an article about growing microgreens underground in central London www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10607635/Growing-Underground-Londons-subterranean-farm.htmlSupposedly backed by Michael Roux whose a well respected high end chef with a few Michellin stars to his name. I can just about see it being profitable in circumstances like this. The infrastructure is already pre existing, its an old wartime air raid shelter 100 ft underground in some of the most expensive real estate on the planet. Above ground are some very fancy high end restaurants willing to pay top dollar for ultra fresh ingredients that haven't been shipped too far. Also grow microgreens, fast turnaround, only a couple of weeks probably from seeding, high density you can grow a lot in a very small area. Also its kind of fun thats its a re-use of something that came from a rather sinister background. I can think of a few other speciality crops that might merit some consideration Forcing early rhubarb in Yorkshires famous rhubarb triangle, but even that requires pre growing tubers the previous year outdoors www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/features/deep-inside-yorkshire-s-rhubarb-triangle-1-6436903Must be other indoor forcing that occurs, Belgian endives, chicories but I don't know much about them. White asparagus? |
|
|
|
Post by indoorgrowingrev on Mar 25, 2015 2:50:46 GMT -5
Dear All, Thank you for your amazing input - it's really informative and helps me a lot! I guess my vision applies more to people living in heavily urbanized cities that have a ~1000 square feet apartment and want to grow or already grow their herbs or spices inside, on their balconies or basement. I am staying far away from marijuana applications and references as there are already hundred of grow-boxes and this is still illegal where I live and in most parts of the world actually. You are most certainly right that outdoor growing is much more fun, enjoyable, profitable and I surely wouldn't compare it, as I already said - my family have been growing outdoor since before I was even born. What are the herbs and spices you use and grow most? I am trying to build a list of herbs, spices and veggies that can be grown in small spaces and produce more than one salad bowl... So far I came up with: Carrots, Garlic Greens, Radishes, Kale, Swiss chard, Beets, Basil, Dill, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Tarragon, Iceberg, Spinach, Romaine, Red leaf, Arugula, Chives, Cilantro and last but not least - Mint. Would you like to add something important I missed In my list? Or maybe have recommendations that some of those cultures would not strive in an automated hydroponic with LED lights environment? I am open to suggestions, criticism and your valuable opinions! THANKS  Best Regards, Ivo Konstantinov |
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on Mar 25, 2015 3:09:40 GMT -5
This brings to mind a program called "Modern Marvels" that talks about seed corn and how it is grown and kept pure at a huge underground growing facility in the US. Of course one has to mimic sunshine, rain, etc. Quite interesting, google Modern Marvels, you might be able to view it there.
|
|
|
|
Post by brownrexx on Mar 25, 2015 7:40:50 GMT -5
Most of us here do not live in the environment that you have described and some of us are even farmers with hundreds of acres of land. However some do grow in pots on balconies and they almost always seem to grow some tomatoes. There are some plants that are adapted for staying small and growing in pots so I would suggest some tomatoes and maybe peppers.
I have parsley and thyme growing indoors right now but they will be planted outside when the weather gets warmer.
|
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Mar 25, 2015 9:16:35 GMT -5
The only other herbs I grow that are not on your list are parsley and chamomile.
If space is a consideration I would not plant iceberg. It is low in flavor and nutrients. I would want to be maximizing the nutrition I can get from a small area , so I would use the space that the iceberg is planned for with produce of higher nutritional value. (i.e. darker leaf lettuces or some other vegetable)
|
|
|
|
Post by lilolpeapicker on Mar 25, 2015 9:48:01 GMT -5
I only do enough indoor gardening with regard to having a few plants that I overwinter. I would not even consider indoor gardening otherwise because of lack for space and lighting would be difficult. While I start many of my outdoor plants indoor until I transplant them outside, that is where I do most my gardening, veggies and flowers, bushes, etc. Sunshine doesn't cost anything. Indoor gardening would be too expensive for the lighting I would need.
Besides, I like being outdoors mostly. That's where I get most of my vitamin D from. And I agree with DW that iceberg lettuce has very little nutritional value and would rather plant Kale, Romaine, oak leaf lettuces instead. Many would include spinach here as well. Kale has grown in popularity around here. I also grow mustard greens to give an extra boast of flavor to my salads.
|
|
|
|
Post by davidjp on Mar 25, 2015 10:52:13 GMT -5
I've never really grown them but I think microgreens would be a definite market that might be successful in an indoor growing system especially if you're able to market to some high end restaurants in a big city. Theres a seed company here that has a good selection. As i say I've never really grown them but I do notice now when i go to a good restaurant many things come garnished with microgreens www.johnnyseeds.com/c-48-micro-greens.aspxQuick turnaround, high density and high marketable value |
|
|
|
Post by OregonRed on Mar 25, 2015 11:18:48 GMT -5
I have been growing micro greens in pots out back for 10 years, I can get 3 trimmings off each 'hole'.
further, I read the label on what was in there, and then decided to buy bulk in all the seeds, (cheaper) and make my own mixes, (or not mixed)
there's a spicy mix - more mustards - and a mild mix - more chard, beets, collards
celery! makes a great micro green, great on wraps and sandwiches
lately, I got this great idea to purchase as many 'seeds' as possible from the 'bulk bins' at the health food store - they are all organic and all sprout! flowers too! |
|
|
|
Post by indoorgrowingrev on Mar 25, 2015 13:22:53 GMT -5
WoW, I can't begin to thank you enough for this information - it is really gold for me now! Micro greens are indeed a "modern" thing to grow as all of you suggested. They are really easy to grow, take little space and are a valuable add-on to any salad. High-end restaurants are in fact a targeted market group for me. Some of them here do grow their own micro greens and salads during the summer in small gardens just outside of their doorsteps. Dear David, The link is really an important mile-stone to me although ordering seeds from the USA will be a huge no-no because of the distance. I will most probably go seed hunting in the small villages around Sofia (where I live) where most of the villagers grow part of their food and have lots of seeds and in different varieties. The selection in the web-site is really good which will give me solid ground to step on and they have all the pictures and everything as I am not an encyclopedia and don't know every veggie by heart  I wander - as I know for some plants... that newer and newer generations of plants (seeds) deteriorate and loose their quality, mass, ect. Is it the same case with micro-greens in your opinion? I never asked myself this question. Finally, I'd like to share with you a personal photo of mine - the garden that my granny creates and cares for each summer at our house in "Pancharevo". It is not that big but it gives us many veggies, fruits and micro-greens for the whole summer.  Best Regards, Ivo Konstantinov |
|
