With warmer temperatures starting to roll in, and Daylight Savings Time here—and maybe here to stay—it’s starting to feel more and more like spring. This means that some homeowners are starting to break out their spring cleaning supplies, some are starting projects around the house, and some are eager to get to work in their gardens and yards, to get those special gathering areas looking great for hosting friends and family in the summer. Especially showing off refinished countertops, repaired Corian counters, and reglazed sinks.
With cottagecore style and natural elements increasing in popularity as home design trends, those natural tones and plants aren’t just limited to the back yard or front porch. In fact, more people than ever are starting to take inspiration from nature in their homes—with choices ranging from using soft greens and blues as wall and décor colors (like those popular in bathroom and kitchen color trends for 2022) to remodeling and incorporating larger windows and doors that provide more access to the natural world.
One big way to bring nature into your home? Plants. A recent trend is to incorporate humidity-loving plants into bathrooms to add a spa-like feel, but kitchens can also be a great place to bring some greenery into your home. Even better, plants can add a touch of style while also being deeply practical—an indoor kitchen garden is possible with even a small bit of space.
So where can you get started—and how can The Tub Pros help you in the greater midsouth if you live in the Memphis Metro-area, North Mississippi, and Jonesboro / Little Rock Arkansas areas? Here, we’ll break down the basics of kitchen gardens, and let you know how our services will help you accomplish your own indoor garden.
What is a kitchen garden?
For about as long as there have been kitchens or cooking areas, there have been kitchen gardens. While beautiful, these plots of land—traditionally small, between 20 – 200 square feet—are usually designed with practicality in mind. Usually, an outdoor kitchen garden is placed near the house, where vegetables, herbs, and fruits can be harvested and brought inside easily and on a regular basis. Historically, they were intended to help provide food for a family—today, they can serve the same function, while also being eco-friendly, healthy, and trendy.
What can you do with an indoor kitchen garden?
If you don’t have the space or time to plant an outdoor kitchen garden, an indoor kitchen garden might be more your style. An indoor garden is usually lower-maintenance, since it doesn’t require the weeding of an outdoor garden but still provides a burst of color (and flavor).
The types of fruits, vegetables, and herbs you can grow indoors will depend on the amount of space that you have—and the amount of light that your kitchen gets. But a wide variety of options—from tomatoes and microgreens to herbs and lettuce—can grow successfully inside, even in a small amount of space.
How can I set up an indoor kitchen garden?
Your first step is to determine the amount of space that you want to allocate to a kitchen garden. For some, this might be one or two small pots on a windowsill—for others, it might be a standing plant ladder in an alcove or corner. Once you’ve found the space, determine what kind of light those areas get. Many herbs—like basil, oregano, and rosemary—need windows that can get 6 – 8 hours of light a day, while others, like mint and parsley, only need about 4 hours of light.
To determine how much light a window gets, determine which direction it’s facing. A south-facing window has the strongest, brightest light, while a north-facing window never has direct sunlight, and eastward and westward sills have a mix. Your light conditions might determine which plants you can have—something like tomatoes are unlikely to grow without the direct sunlight of a southward-facing window.
But you can also get creative with placement, and consider letting the plants you want to grow determine which room you place your indoor garden in—maybe you don’t want to contain it completely in the kitchen. Make sure to keep plants safely away from children and pets—though if your furry friends are interested, you might consider growing some cat grass or catnip (a type of mint) for them to nibble on.
After you’ve chosen your plants and windows, it’s time to plant either seeds or seedlings—preferably in high-quality soil that provides nutrients—and always in pots with adequate drainage. Herbs, scallions, lettuce, hot peppers, and tomatoes are choices that can all thrive in indoor environments.
After they’re planted, it’s time to water and wait. Find a balance between over and under-watering—don’t allow the soil to dry out, but don’t overwater, either. A good way to check is to touch the top layer of the soil—if it starts to feel dry, it’s time to water again. You might opt to use some indoor fertilizer, too, though you can also try a natural route—acid-loving plants, like tomatoes, might like your used coffee grounds sprinkled around the base of the plant.
How can The Tub Pros help me?
However you choose to start your kitchen garden, you’ll probably also be making choices on how to make your kitchen look stylish, clean, and well-cared-for. Dated countertops—or counters that are cracked, chipped, burned, damaged, or otherwise showing their age—can drag down the look of a room, and make even the cleanest counter or sink look worn, dirty, and tired.
One solution? Refinishing. This process removes the damaged coating on your counter or sink, repairs any damage, and applies a new coating (even faux granite countertops) making your space look great in a fraction of the time and cost of remodeling.
When it comes to counter and sink refinishing, Memphis and the Greater Mid-South trust the The Tub Pros. So when you’re wondering, “where can I find Corian countertop repair near me?” or “where can I find counter and sink reglazing near me?”, simply call The Tub Pros. Call The Tub Pros at (901) 871-8827 for affordable kitchen updates or use our online tool to get started on your project today. More value added information can be found in our online website article library.