[boigrrrlwonder]

I just moved into an apartment. The porch we have gets almost no light (since there's a porch directly above us and a large apartment building only a couple of yards away from us). There's no backyard. The landlord won't let us plant in the courtyard.<br><br>
But I really really really really really want to grow at least a little of my own food this summer. Can I grow veggies inside without expensive grow lights? Are there any veggies that grow well in containers with little light? Is there some option I'm missing?

 

[root*children]

Do you have a flat roof?

 

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

You can almost always grow greens like lettuce or spinich in the shade although they might be smaller or leggier but still tasty.<br><br>
Also grow lights don't have to be really expencive. You can use a standard florecent fixture and a "full spectrum" tube. You can also use it again from year to year.

 

[Owen'nZoe]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Rhiannon Feimorgan</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10302177"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">You can almost always grow greens like lettuce or spinich in the shade although they might be smaller or leggier but still tasty.<br><br>
Also grow lights don't have to be really expencive. You can use a standard florecent fixture and a "full spectrum" tube. You can also use it again from year to year.</div>
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Many herbs will also grow in the shade. My parents have a very shaddy garden, and they are able to grow basil, oregano, mint (that'll grow anywhere! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">), lovage, chives, parsely...<br><br>
Do you have a sunny window? I'm wondering if you could set up a window box. Depending on your windows, you might be able to rig one up outside, or you could do one indoors...our children's museum has veggies growing in plexiglass containers that are almost like fish tanks, only narrower, so they sit right on the windowsill up against the window pane. The veggies are a little leggy, but seem to grow OK, and the bonus for the kiddies is that they get to see the roots growing against the plexi-glass container...

 

[HydeParkB]

Would you consider community gardening?<br><br>
I garden over my lunch hour and on weekends at a community garden about one mile away from my workplace. I have two plots that are about 20x20 feet, and that provides a LOT of vegetables.

 

[captivatedlife]

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I got my seed catolog today (my first!) and it the back were 2 items taht I'm considering. I still have a lot of questions about them, but I thought I'd pass on the info!