Growing

Basil

Susceptible to: Damping Off

Common Pests: Aphids, Flea Beetles

Growing Information

Basil grows well in containers indoors at any time of year provided you can supply enough light. The LGT variety, Sweet Basil,produce vigorous plants that grow big, mid-green leaves and is glorious for pesto. Sow seeds in peat pellets for LGT gardens or sow seeds 1cm (½”) deep in sterilized seed starting mix. Basil is prone to damping off, so once seeds sprout, make sure they are adequately ventilated, and kept under very bright light. Watch for signs of flower buds forming and pinch these off to promote more foliage.

LGT Varieties

Sweet Basil. Large leaf, sweet flavor. Start seeds in peat pellets or sow 1cm deep in soil. Plant Height 45 cm. Germinates in 5-10 days. Matures in 80-90 days.

Harvest Information

Keep picking the growing tips and the 2 pairs of leaves below them for the kitchen. More branches sprout more leaves. For a large harvest, you can cut off as much as a half the plant at once. Tear basil rather than chop with a knife because when you chop you will notice the basil going dark. The oil stays in the leaf and does not properly flavour your food. Try to add just before serving so as to get the full aroma and effect. Cooking for any length tends to make the minty side of basil come to the forefront.

Beans

Susceptible to: White Mold, Mosaic Virus, Fusarium Wilt, Blossom Drop

Common Pests: Aphids

Growing Information

There are two types of beans: bush beans and pole beans. Bush beans will grow compact (only 12-18 inches tall). Pole beans can be grown but must have a trellis or string to climb. Pole beans will often climb out of the grow lights, and so will benefit from growing near natural light. Beans can be started in peat pellets or sown directly into LGT containers. For pole beans, set seeds 7-10cm (3-4″) apart and 3cm (1”) deep at the base of a support, such as trellis or string. The smaller the bean, the more tender. Too much nitrogen fertilizer is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity.. Wet leaves on crowded plants are subject to diseases. Thin plants to increase air circulation and try not to touch the plants while they are wet. Leave pods on plant to dry for seed saving.

LGT Varieties

Purple Peacock Pole Bean. Climbing plant produces dark purple 12cm pods, turning green when cooked. Open-pollinated. Can be directly seeded or in peat pellets. Plant seeds 3-4cm apart and 1-2cm deep. Germination 5-10 days, warm soil. May grow up to 2m tall. Matures in 70 days.

Mascotte Bush Bean. Bush bean produces long, green 12cm green pods. Does not require trellis. Open-pollinated. Can be directly seeded or in peat pellets. Plant seeds 3-4cm apart and 1-2cm deep. Germination 5-10 days, warm soil. May grow up to 2m tall. Matures in 50 days

Harvest Information

Harvest beans when the pods are full but before you can see the outline of the seed inside. Harvesting continually will encourage more bean pods to form. You will probably be picking beans for several weeks. Try to avoid picking beans if the leaves are wet.

Cucumbers

Susceptible to: Lack of Pollination, Bacterial Wilt, Mosaic Virus

Common Pests: Whiteflies

Growing Information

Cucumbers can take up a fair amount of space, unless you choose compact variety; however, they have shallow root systems, making them suitable for container growing. Cucumbers need very warm soil to germinate. Plant 2 seeds into each peat pellet and thin to the strongest seedling. Most cucumbers, have male and female flowers and will depend on hand pollination, like the variety Patio Snacker <see handout for instructions>. Poor pollination can cause cucumbers to be misshapen and stunted, such as tapered at one end. Our Diva Hybrid cucumber (most common in LGT gardens) is a greenhouse variety of cucumber meaning that it has only female flowers and does not require pollination. Diva Hybrid are a semi-bush variety, but will begin to vine. You can leave the vine to grow on top of the soil or train your cucumber up a trellis or utilize a pole of your light stand to trellis. Take care not to over-fertilize cucumbers with nitrogen, as this can increase growth of the vine but decrease the amount of fruiting.

LGT Varieties

Diva Hybrid. Germination 7-10 days. Matures in 52 days. Semi-bush habitat, may grow 90cm in height. Mature fruits are 4-6”, slender and smooth, glossy green in colour. Does not require pollination (all female flowers).

Patio Snacker. Germinates in 7-10 days. Matures in 55 days. Bush variety, compact plants that grow to only 60-75cm (24-30″). Requires hand-pollination when grown indoors (male & female flowers).

Harvest Information

Harvest cucumbers when they reach mature size as indicated above. Keep harvesting to encourage more fruit to form. Gently cut them off the vine; do not break them off. About 30 to 40 days before the you plan to pack up the garden for the year, pinch off all the blossoms on the plants. This will encourage the plants to bring the remaining fruits on the vines to maturity before you plan to dismantle.

Eggplant

Susceptible to: Verticillium Wilt

Common Pests: Aphids, Flea Beetles

Growing Information

Eggplants are beautiful plants which have classically raven-purple, pear-shaped fruits. Eggplant is part of the nightshade family and cousin to tomatoes and peppers.. Plant into peat pellets for LGT gardens to reduce root disturbance, or 5mm-1cm deep in soil. Seedlings do not need much fertilizer, feed when they are 3-4 weeks old using a liquid fertilizer solution (half strength) according to manufacturer’s directions. Keep soil moist, but well drained. Eggplants love light and heat. Eggplants growing in cold soil or exposed to chilly weather will sulk and potentially suffer from insect and disease problems. Loaded with rich, mild, sweet flavor, the LGT variety Patio Baby has mini-fruits (never eaten raw which are delicious baked, roasted, or sautéed—excelling as a side dish, or starring in salads or dips.

LGT Varieties

Baby Hybrid. *Currently testing*. Dwarf plant, ideal for containers. Baby size 5-8cm x 2.5cm glossy, purple fruit. Plant has 45cm spread and height of 40-50cm. Germination 10-15 days. Matures in 45 days.

Harvest Information

Look for firm fruits, with a glossy shine. Harvest the fruit anytime after the fruit reaches half of their size. Harvesting early prevents fruit from becoming too seedy, and will encourage more production from the plants. Dull skin is a sign that the plants are overripe. Overripe fruit turn brownish and the flavor may be bitter. Hold firmly at the blossom end and cut with a knife or pruners. When cutting the fruit, leave 1 inch of stem attached. Eggplants are prickly at the stem end so handle with care. Try to use eggplant immediately after harvesting.

Kale

Susceptible to: Leaf Spot, Damping Off, Downy Mildew

Common Pests: Aphids, Flea Beetles, Thrips

Growing Information

Kale is a very cold hardy crop. Start kale in peat pellets for LGT gardens. Plant 5mm (¼”) deep into soil. Firm soil lightly and water gently. Kale is a nutrient-rich vegetable that can be steamed, baked as chips, used in soup, mixed into di, or frozen for use at a later time. Kale contains higher levels of beta-carotene than any other green vegetable. When grown outdoors, cabbage moths can be a common pest for kale (and other brassicas).

LGT Varieties

Dwarf Curly Kale. Dwarf Green Curled kale seeds is an heirloom Scottish kale dating back to 1865, originally known as Dwarf Curlies. Plants are very compact, growing to only 30-45cm tall, but with delicate, succulent, tightly curled leaves. Sow into peat pellets for LGT gardens. Sow 5mm deep in soil. Germinates in 7-10 days. Matures in 55-65 days.

Harvest Information

Kale can be grown as a ‘cut and come again’ crop for salad mixes cutting when plants are 5-8cm (2-3″) tall. They will re-grow. Or pick leaves from the bottom up on mature plants as you need them. After harvest, store kale in an airtight bag in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.

Lemon Balm

Common Pests: Aphids, Mealy Bugs, Whiteflies

Growing Information

Lemon balm grows well in containers. Start in peat pellets for LGT gardens or to sow in soil, barely cover the tiny seeds with potting soil and keep watering to a minimum. Usually Lemon Balm prefers part shade so choose it for the outsides of your containers. Pick leaves fresh for best aroma and flavor for herbal tea. Germinates in 10-14 days. You can also duplicate lemon balm from cuttings. Rub the light green leaves for a sudden hit of lemon scent. Lemon balm’s Latin name is taken from the Greek word for bee (Melissa), and from the ancient belief that a swarm of honeybees could be attracted to an empty hive simply by placing sprigs of the plant inside. Brown leaves can signify a number of problems, ranging from drafty and cold air to lack of water to excessive sun.

Harvest Information

Pick leaves throughout the summer for fresh use. The aroma is rapidly lost when dried or stored. Never remove more than about 25 percent of the plant’s mass at any one time, however. Otherwise, these plants are hardy and relatively easy to grow.

Lettuce

Susceptible to: Damping Off, Downy Mildew, Rust

Common Pests: Aphids, Flea Beetles, Leaf Miners, Thrips

Growing Information

Loose-leaf lettuce varieties grow best indoors under lights, such as the varieties provided in the LGT seed packages. Lettuce will usually prefer cooler temperatures, so ensure that lights are not too close. You will want to keep the soil moist to prevent leaves from becoming bitter. It is best to direct seed (broadcast) onto potting soil. Barely cover seed with 5mm (1/4”) soil. Keep soil moderately moist, but well drained. You can use your seed starting trays for your lettuce, as they will have a shallow root system.

LGT Varieties

Bon Vivant. Heat tolerant blend. Light green to bronze red colours. Does best in cooler conditions but requires sufficient light to prevent stretching. Germination 7-10 days. Matures in 45-55 days.

Fast and Furious. Baby-leaf lettuce variety. Perfect for tray growing. Light green to purple colours. Germination 7-10 days. Matures in 35-40 days.

Harvest Information

Frequently harvest your looseleaf greens (pinch or cut) at 8-10cm tall. If you leave the roots in the soil and continue watering them, they will produce another crop in about 8 weeks. Lettuce becomes bitter if left growing for too long, or if the soil if left to dry out.

Nasturtium

Growing Information

Nasturtium is an easy-to-grow annual whose leaves and flowers are edible. Nasturtiums are easy to grow and look striking tumbling from containers or adding bright colour to the garden bed. You can see the hard, almost walnut-like seed coating on Nasturtium seeds. For best germination, you can nick the outer coating with a file, nail or sandpaper(called scarification), to allow water to penetrate the seed coat. You may soak the seeds overnight before planting, but this is not required. Plant into peat pellets for LGT gardens or in soil 5mm-1cm deep. Provide darkness during germination and then bright light. To force blooms, you can start your light timer at 12 hours, increasing to 16 hours for the first month and dropping to 10 hours for the second month.

LGT Varieties

Salad Blend. Red and orange flowers. Bush habit, rather than vining. All parts of the plant are edible. Sow in peat pellets or in soil 5mm-1cm deep. Germination in 7-12 days. Blooms in 55-65 days

Harvest Information

You can pick the nasturtium leaves as soon as the plant is 6 inches tall. Pick the flowers just as they open. Remove old flowers to encourage more blooms. The whole plant is edible; the stems, leaves, flowers, and seed pods. The flowers add an exotic flourish to summer dishes, the leaves and stems pack a peppery punch, and the seed pods can be used as a caper substitute.

Onions/Scallions

Susceptible to: Damping Off, Downy Mildew, Rust

Common Pests: Cutworms, Thrips

Growing Information

In the LGT gardens, it is easiest to grow onions tops using onions sets or scallions from seed or scraps. We don’t recommend growing onions to mature bulbs in the indoor garden, as this can take a long time. You can use onion sets and simply cut the green onion tops as they grow. The other option is to grow scallions. Scallions are considered cut-and-come plants, meaning you can trim them for eating and the plant will continue growing. To start with seeds, place them about 1 cm deep and cover with soil. You can clump them up to start, but once they start to sprout move thin them out until there is about 4-6″ between each plant. Scallions are fairly slow to germinate, so it can take upwards a month to sprout. During this period it’s important to keep the soil moist. The other option is to start with leftover scraps. Simply save the bottom 3-4″ of a store bought scallion, either plant it much like a seed roughly 1.5 cm deep, or leave it in a small glass of water in bright sun.

LGT Varieties

Kincho Scallions. *Currently Testing*. A standard green onion with dark-green leaves and tall, straight, single-stalk stems that do not bulb. Open-pollinated. Germinates in 10-25 days. Matures in 50 days.

Harvest Information

Once the plant reaches 15cm tall, you can harvest scallions. Either harvest the entire plant or you can also simply clip off the top couple inches of the plant, and leave the white bottom and root intact. The scallion will continue to grow after this, and can be re-harvested every couple of weeks.

Parsley

Growing Information

For LGT gardens, you can start parsley in peat pellets. Sow seeds 1cm (½”) deep in soil. Parsley seeds don’t sprout all at once, and can require 3-4 weeks for germination. Parsley likes deep containers. Each parsley plant will grow about 1 foot high. Continue to keep soil moist but not waterlogged to encourage more parsley seed germination.

LGT Varieties

Dark Green Italian Parsley. Rich parsley flavour. Flat, dark green leaves. Sturdy plants with upright stems. Can sow into peat pellets or 1cm deep into soil. Germinates slowly, requiring 3 weeks. Matures in 80 days.

Harvest Information

Once parsley reaches at least 6 inches tall, you can begin to harvest the leaves. Beginning with the outside stems (the ones that grew first), cut the stems close to the ground. As you harvest the stems on the outside of the plant, it will respond with new growth from the center. Avoid shaving off the tops of stems; this stunts new growth.Sprigs can be dried in the food dehydrator. Chop sprigs into the portions that your favourite recipes call for, place into an ice cube tray and add water to cover.

Peas

Susceptible to: White Mold, Mosaic Virus, Fusarium Wilt, Blossom Drop

Common Pests: Aphids

Growing Information

Peas usually require cooler whether and can grow slowly if temperatures reach over 18 degrees celsius. LGT variety, Cascadia snap pea, produces vines that do not need a trellis but tumble about (try putting some twigs in to support them), growing to approximately 60cm (24″) overall. You may sow seeds directly into containers or start in peat pellets. Just be careful not to disturb peas delicate root system while transplanting. Sow seed 5cm (2″) deep. Space seeds 2-7cm (1-3″) apart. The pea is one of the oldest cultivated vegetables in the world. Although its origin is obscured in history, peas were found in excavations in Switzerland dating to the Bronze Age and in an Egyptian tomb at Thebes.

LGT Varieties

Cascadia Snap Peas. Can eat entire pod. Plants grow to ~60 cm and do not need a trellis but propping with twigs or small support is preferable. Open-pollinated. Can be directly seeded or into peat pellets. Plant 4-6cm apart and 3cm deep. When transplanting, careful not to disturb roots. Plants do not like saturated conditions. Germinates in 7-10 days. Matures in 70 days. Harvest regularly to encourage more pods.

Harvest Information

Start picking when plants swell to almost round. Harvesting regularly will encourage new pods to form.

Peppers

Susceptible to: Mosaic Virus, Blossom End Rot, Sun Scald

Common Pests: Aphids, Flea Beetles

Growing Information

Peppers can be relatively slow to mature, and will produce smaller fruits in an indoor garden. They require warm temperatures (above 18 degrees celsius) during flowering stage in order to produce fruit. Peppers can be a tempermental crop in LGT gardens if your room is not consistently warm. Seedlings do not need much fertilizer, feed seedlings with liquid fertilizer when they are 3-4 weeks old (half strength).

LGT Varieties

California Wonder. Standard for bell peppers. ~4” fruits turn from green to crimson as ripens. Open-pollinated. Grows 45-60cm tall. Sow seeds in peat pellets for LGT gardens. Sow 5mm-1cm deep in soil. Transplant 30-60cm apart. Germinates in 10-21 days. Matures in 65-75 days.

Gypsy Hybrid. Early, productive pepper. Grows 45-60cm tall. Conical shape, ~4” long & 2.5” wide fruits turn from green to crimson as ripens. Open-pollinated. Sow seeds in peat pellets for LGT gardens. Sow 5mm-1cm deep in soil. Germinates in 10-21 days. Transplant 30-60cm apart. Matures in 65 days.

Hungarian Cheese. Sweet, mini peppers. Grows 45-60cm tall. Flattened and round shape, ~4” wide. Fruits mature to red, orange and yellow. Hybrid. Sow seeds in peat pellets for LGT gardens. Sow 5mm-1cm deep in soil. Transplant 30-60cm apart. Germinates in 10-21 days. Matures in 65-68 days.

Harvest Information

Twist or clip peppers from stem when they reach a usable size. Green peppers left on plants will mature to yellow, orange and red.

Sunflowers

Growing Information

Sunflowers add a burst of colour to an indoor garden. Look for dwarf varieties of sunflowers for your LGT garden. Not all sunflowers are monsters! Varieties like Suntastic stay compact and tidy, particularly when grown in containers. Sunflowers will grow in just about any well-drained soil, and they are drought tolerant. Sow seeds in peat pellets or plant 5mm-1cm (¼-½”) deep. Space dwarf varieties 15cm (6″) apart.

LGT Varieties

Suntastic Sunflowers *currently testing*. Long blooming, dwarf sunflower. Plant grows 25-30 cm high with up to 20 5” blooms per plant. 5-8 days to germination. First blooms after 55-65 days.

Harvest Information

When the back of the flower head turns yellow, it is ready to be cut from the plant. Use as cut flowers.

Swiss Chard

Susceptible to: Damping Off, Bolting

Common Pests: Aphids, Flea Beetles

Growing Information

The succulent leaves of Swiss chard can be used much like spinach. You can even use the big ones to wrap “cabbage” rolls. You can soak swiss chard seeds in a glass of warm water for up to 12 hours to boost the germination process. You can plant seeds into peat pellets for LGT gardens. Sow seeds 1cm (½”) deep, spaced 10-30cm (4-12″) in soil. Chard grows best in full sun, but will tolerate light shade in summer. The colours are richest at full maturity, so give it some time to deliver the rainbow effect. The immature leaves are tender and excellent in salads, while the cooked mature leaves and stalks have a flavour that is milder than cooked spinach.

LGT Varieties

Celebration Swiss Chard. Dark green glossy leaves with vibrant multicolour stems which include red, yellow, and orange. Plants average 50 cm in height. Seeds can be planted in peat pellets for LGT gardens. Sow seeds 1cm deep in soil. Germinates in 7-14 days. Matures in 60 days.

Harvest Information

For salad mix, seed more densely and cut as baby leaves. Cut individual mature stalks using the large outer ones first. It may be easiest to cut swiss chard leaves with safety scissors. Swiss chard is packed with vitamins A, C and K, as well as fiber and protein.

Tomatoes

Susceptible to: Blossom End Rot, Splitting, Early/Late Bight, Fusarium Wilt

Common Pests: Aphids, Flea Beetles, Whiteflies

Growing Information

Tomatoes come in two types: determinate and indeterminate. Determinate are better known as “bush” or “patio” varieties, and have a set-size that they will grow to, making them ideal for container growing or small spaces. These varieties, such as Tiny Tim or Red Robin in LGT gardens do not require pruning. Indeterminate varieties will continue to grow and produce throughout the season and usually requires some pruning and staking. Be sure to always supply tomatoes with added calcium (as dolomite lime) to prevent Blossom End Rot. Try planting LGT variety tomatoes near the edges of containers and let them hang over the side if extra space is needed. LGT varieties can be staked to keep them off the ground, but this is not required.

LGT Varieties

Tiny Tim. Early dwarf plant with ¾” red fruits. Plant grows to 20-40cm in height and 18cm in diameter. Determinate & open-pollinated. Start seeds in peat pellets for LGT gardens. Sow seeds 7mm-1cm deep in soil. Germination 5-7 days. Matures in 60 days.

Red Robin. Early dwarf plant with ¾” red fruits. Plant grows 20 -30 cm high. Determinate variety. Does not require pruning. Start seeds in peat pellets for LGT gardens. Sow seeds 7mm-1cm deep in soil. Germination 17-14 days. Matures in 55 days.

Harvest Information

Twist the fruit carefully from the stem when it is ready to pick. You can try placing a very ripe apple in a basket of green tomatoes. The ethylene gas produced by the ripening apple will stimulate the tomatoes to turn red.