For those of us with green thumbs, the approach of winter usually brings with it one depressing fact - the end of gardening season! Unless you’re fortunate enough to live in one of those ‘warm states’ we hear so much about (being from Michigan, we’ll never really know what that’s like) it’s generally safe to say that come November you’re not going to able to spend a lot of time outside gardening. And isn’t that a shame? But before you start to dread having to buy your tomatoes and lettuce at the store, there’s a newly growing trend that just might help reverse your gardening blues - indoor gardening! With careful application of the right conditions, there’s plenty of opportunity to grow fresh vegetables indoors until the weather lightens up a little outside. Here’s a few tips to get you started! Get The Right Lighting Let’s face it: even if you have a south-facing window, the few measly hours of sunlight you’re going to get every day aren’t going to be enough to keep your plants healthy. Luckily the solution is easy - fluorescent lighting! Researchers say that two hours of fluorescent light is roughly equal to an hour of sunlight, as far as plants are concerned, which makes an easy and convenient substitute for anything you’re trying to grow. Keep the lights on, and your tomatoes will thank you! Make Sure You Have Enough Space Indoor gardens, if nothing else, have one big thing in common with outdoor gardens in that they both need the right amount of room. While the space requirements will be different for every different plant, making sure you have enough room in your cabinets or pantry to keep your plants close to the light while giving them room to grow. You might want to consider grabbing some extra pantry shelving or kitchen organizers to help increase your available space if you need to give your chives some room to grow. Proper Drainage Depending on what you generally grow in your garden you might not ever consider this, but you’ll definitely want to keep it in mind when you move your garden indoors. As you are now the sole source of water for your plants (since you can’t really count on rainfall while your plants are...well, inside) you need to make sure to pick the right soil and pot combinations to ensure the right amount of water is given to your plants. Clay pots are usually the best to promote water absorption and drainage, and you’re going to want to make sure you’re keeping a careful eye on how much water your plants need and how much they get - the fluorescent lights can dry them out more quickly than sunlight can. Sure, it’s not quite the same as a relaxing day spent trimming plants in the garden, but with these tips your family can still enjoy fresh herbs and vegetables year-round!