Growing Salads Indoors | Resources

These are the supplies recommended in my new ebook, Growing Salads Indoors.

I’ve linked to examples on Amazon but I always recommend you use what you have, shop locally (used if possible), or borrow items if you can instead of buying new.

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Recommended Resources

• Seeds – Mesclun salad mix seeds or individual leafy greens. Start with 2 to 3 packs each containing at least 500 seeds or 900 mg if sold by weight.
• Shelves – A shelving unit on wheels is ideal.
  Get a basic shelf unit (with wheels) or one that comes with grow lights.
  Or, this shelving unit at Amazon comes with lights too.
• Drip trays – One for each shelf to catch water under your salad pots.
  You could use boot trays like these ones, plastic drip trays, or lids from storage bins.
• Tarp – Waterproof tarp to go under the shelving unit to catch spills.
  Any tarp will do or you could also use an old shower curtain.
• Fluorescent shop lights – 1 light unit per 12 (3.5” wide x 4″ deep) pots or 3-4 light units per 2×4’ shelf (up to 48 pots).
  Here’s some examples of shop lights on Amazon.com.
• LED lights | for seedlings I like LED white lights. For longer-term indoor growing, LED full-spectrum lights work nicely.
• S-hooks and chains or 16-gauge wire – to suspend and adjust height of fluorescent lights as the plants grow.
  If you get the right type of lights, they should have some hanging chains included.
• Power Bar – to plug in multiple electrical cords.
• Timer – to automate when lights and fan turn on and off.
  I find electrical mechanical timers are hit and miss: some work great, others never do. 
• Electric fan to help prevent pest problems.
  Any household fan you may already own should work fine for this. You can also get fans that clip on posts if you prefer something more compact.
• Pots/Containers – plastic, 4” deep with drainage holes.
  I reuse small plastic pots from garden nurseries. Be sure any container you use is food-safe.
  Some garden nurseries also sell the same pots and trays they use for their seed starting.
• Potting Mix– organic potting mix / container mix intended for growing veggies (food-safe).
• Watering can & spray bottle – a long-neck watering can is ideal for reaching under the lights.
  Here’s an example of a watering can I like.

Additional supplies for sowing the seeds indoors

• Bucket or similar container (for combining the soil with water).
• Rubber gloves (if you don’t like to work the soil with bare hands).
• Water (always use room temperature or slightly warmer water when watering indoor plants).
• Waterproof drop cloth for spills and rag for clean up.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛