Click on the picture to enlarge the image and try to guess what the queue is in the photo. It is unlikely that anyone will succeed if they have not seen this photo before. Below I will explain what it is and how it relates to the header.

For the second year now, I have been tirelessly trying to convey to everyone: there will be a big and long crisis, we must learn to survive, there will not be enough reserves, we must have land and feed ourselves from it, because there will not be enough wages for food. At first, few people believed in it, now, however, they believed in the crisis - and it’s hard not to believe when it is already in front of your eyes, but most still believe that this will not last long, in a year or two it will settle down. Well, somewhere in the third or fourth year of the crisis, they will begin to guess that this is more serious than they thought before. And they will rush to look for a piece of land somewhere nearby. Yeah, two months ago they also rushed to buy dollars at 78 rubles, now they bite their elbows. The same thing will happen to the land around megacities - they will buy at exorbitant prices and curse themselves for not doing it sooner.

This photo is especially for stubborn optimists: look at what is happening today in other countries, and tomorrow it may happen here. This is the grocery line in Caracas, Venezuela. Literally kilometers. Despite the fact that the authorities forbid spending the night in queues, and in general, each citizen is allowed to stand in them only 2 times a week - on other days they simply won’t sell anything to him.

But Ukraine is very close, and we still have to go through the crisis and disasters that are taking place there - I just hope that we will not have a war. We are just 2-3 years behind them in terms of economic ruin, so there is still a long way to go.

The inevitable global crisis will spur the decline of our economy, the decline in living standards, and the growth of unemployment. People will save literally on everything, including food, but you still want to eat every day. And here the further development of the situation is possible according to two scenarios.

The first is the one you see in the photo. If populist socialists come to power, they will keep prices low for products, and as a result they will simply be swept off the shelves. As it was under Brezhnev. And as it is now - in a hypertrophied form - in Venezuela.

The second is what is happening in Ukraine now. If the liberals remain in power, for whom the invisible hand of the market and the right to private property are above all else. Store shelves will literally burst with goods, but people simply will not have money for them.

Something similar happened during Khrushchev's time, when salaries were still relatively low. The stores had everything, and no queues. People looked at this abundance, but bought mainly bread, milk and margarine. The poorest - combiner (there was such a mixture of animal fats for frying). Butter cost 3.20-3.50 and not everyone could afford it. So that it does not disappear, it was added to sour cream - then all sour cream was 30% fat. Bored salesgirls, having nothing to do, lined up huge pyramids of canned food on shelves and showcases: stew, condensed milk, cream, saury and other delicacies.

Then, dear Leonid Ilyich, in order to make the people love him more, he began to raise wages at a rate exceeding the growth in the production of consumer goods. The shelves were empty, sour cream was "lowered" to 15% (the people were very indignant), the pyramids were built from unnecessary seaweed. Of course, there was no hunger, but in order to fill the refrigerator, it was necessary to spend many hours in lines. Particularly passionate battles flared up for sausage.

And so the people beckoned from behind the hillock with an abundance of this very sausage, like a donkey with a carrot. And the people were seduced, and sank their teeth into this sausage, and turned a blind eye to the plundering of the country, to gangster grabbing, to sweet speeches about capitalist happiness. And now this same sausage is being taken away from him again, capitalist happiness turned out to be short-lived. But then everyone was still at school explained: crises are the inevitability of capitalism.

Well, we have already passed a few minor inevitability, we are used to it. But now the ninth wave is coming, it will sweep away everything. Hoping for government help is stupid. The socialist state was obliged to help the people, and did this, although at the expense of the people themselves: it did not pay the hard workers in full, but supported the poor. There were no particularly rich, just as there were no particularly poor. Leveling.

And now we have a capitalist state, and we already know from past crises who it helps: bankers and oligarchs. Billions of dollars are spent to support banks and monopolies, and the people get a penny. Therefore, the salvation of drowning people is the work of the drowning people themselves. If you don’t take care of personal food (and not only) security today, no one will do it for you.

Stocks will run out, money will burn in the fire of inflation. And only the land will give a harvest to its owner every year. Growing a crop is like printing money for the same amount as it is worth. To sew a dress is also to print money for the cost of this dress in the store. Knitting socks or a sweater is the same. Print money at home to reduce your dependence on external adversity. This is the only way to survive in the coming years, and maybe even decades. The more money you print, the less government money you need. Anyone can print their own. To get government, you must at least have a job, and not everyone will have it. Social payments (pensions, benefits) will be negligible.

And the last. Printing your own money (growing food, sewing, knitting, crafting) is not as easy as it might seem. You have to be able to do this, and to be able to do it, you have to learn. And you need to study now, then it will be late and hard, and without the right to make a mistake.

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Sometimes I want to go out on the balcony, like Jamie Oliver, pick up my own grown vegetables and herbs and stir up something stunning from them. And the balcony, by the way, looks much prettier if there are not old pieces of iron that are stored there, which it’s time to send to the landfill, but fragrant herbs and vegetables.

website chose some interesting plants that take root well on the windowsill or on the balcony.

Pepper

On the windowsill you can grow a hot pepper for pizza diablo. It will require a warm, bright place and varieties suitable for home cultivation: Carmen, Flint, Spark, Ryabinushka, Bride, Indian Summer, etc.

The bushes are very pretty and do not require large pots. Up to 50 fruits can be tied on one plant. The optimum temperature is 25-27 degrees Celsius.

Carrot

For growing carrots at home, it is better to take mini-varieties such as "Parmex", "Sophie", "Granddaughter". They grow in 80-90 days and do not require much space - a pot or container will suit them just fine. You can also take a funny round variety "Round Baby".

The soil for carrots should be light and well drained. The vegetable can be grown in cut plastic bottles. The optimum temperature is within 13-24 degrees Celsius.

Mint

Mint is a non-capricious and undemanding plant. It can grow on your windowsill or balcony, even in winter, if you arrange additional lighting. It can be grown from cuttings and seeds. If it is possible to dig a stalk in the country at home or with friends, it is better to use this method. Mint grown from seeds is not as actively accepted, and it will take longer to wait for the harvest.

It is important to remember that the plant loves well-moistened soil. And, when choosing a place for it, keep in mind that the lighting should be good, but direct sunlight is best avoided. The optimum temperature for mint is 20-25 degrees with a plus sign.

green onion

To grow green onions at home, special dexterity is not required. But still, it is worth considering some nuances: the bulb that you will plant should be round, dense to the touch and without traces of rot, the root cup should be well formed.

Immediately after planting, it is worth putting the onion in a cool, dark place so that the root system is better formed, and only then the feather will need a lot of light. The optimum temperature is 18-20 degrees, you should not overheat, because then the growth of greenery will stop.

Basil

Any variety of basil grows well in flower pots and boxes. It is better for him to allocate a sunny place, water well, keep warm and provide good drainage. For planting, you can use both cuttings and seeds. At the same time, the cuttings will quickly give the first crop, but will not last long, as they will quickly bloom. Harvest from seeds will have to wait longer, but such a bush will last longer.

The optimum temperature for basil is 20-25 degrees Celsius. In winter, lighting is required for about 3-4 hours to increase daylight hours.

cucumbers

To grow cucumbers on the windowsill or on the balcony, you should take a closer look at the hybrid varieties that are marked with the F1 icon. If all conditions are created for the plant, it can produce 3-4 dozen fruits. Here you will have to tinker a little with seedlings, but after transplanting into boxes, you will only need to water and trim the antennae.

Planted plants in containers with a volume of at least 5 liters. It is important to remember that cucumbers are large watermelons and the earth must always be moist. The optimum temperature is 21-24 degrees Celsius.

Tomatoes

Dwarf varieties are usually chosen as homemade tomatoes: Minibel, Florida Petit, Balcony Miracle, etc. You will have to take the most illuminated place in the apartment to this miracle. It will be necessary to start with seedlings, then plant them in containers, tie them up, feed them and protect them from the cold. This is one of the most troublesome balcony crops, but pride in the work done and horticultural talent is attached to the harvest.

It is important to remember that tomatoes, like all plants, love water, but they are easy to pour. Therefore, watering should be done carefully. The optimum temperature is 23-25 ​​degrees Celsius.

Sorrel

Sorrel, in addition to its wonderful taste, is distinguished by the fact that it calmly tolerates shaded places. It can be grown from the rhizomes of 2-4-year-old plants with buds or from seeds of varieties such as Maykopsky, Altaisky, Odessa broad-leaved.

It can grow at both 5 and 20 degrees Celsius and even withstands slight frosts. So you can keep it on the balcony until the last, and if the balcony keeps heat well, then do not clean it for the winter. The leaves are cut at a height of 8-10 cm, this must be done carefully so as not to damage the growth buds.

Ginger

Ginger is not only a delicious spice, but also a beautiful plant. If planted at home, sprouts can grow up to a meter in height. Plant pieces of ginger root, consisting of at least a couple of sections with live buds. If the root is dry, you can hold it in warm water for several hours to wake up the kidneys.

Plant the root should not be very deep, and until the first shoots appear, water should be very moderate. Keep ginger in the light, but away from direct sunlight. The optimum temperature is 20-25 degrees Celsius.

A pineapple

Growing food with your own hands is a great pleasure. Now it is available even to those who do not have their own plot, free time and the climate is unsuitable. Nothing will stop you, salads, mushrooms and even edible insects.

perfect pizza

With the Grow Your Own Pizza Kit without the fuss and mess, you'll always have the freshest ingredients for yours at your fingertips. All that is required is to place three pots from the kit on the windowsill and water them occasionally. In a few weeks, you will have home-grown three main ingredients for the perfect pizza on your window: tomatoes, basil, and hot and sweet peppers.

Electricity rocks!

With the extremely easy-to-use Click and Grow system, you will be able to grow in your home garden cherry tomatoes, various types of peppers, lettuce, coriander and many other useful plants. The Smart Pot takes care of everything. All that is required of you is to connect it to the network, activate the built-in cartridge and enjoy fresh fruits right from the garden!

DIY garden

If you still miss working with your hands, then choose the AeroGarden system. It will save you from all the unpleasant hassle associated with determining the quality of the earth and the amount of sunlight, the selection of fertilizers and the required amount of water for each plant. It will be enough for you to lay pots with soil in the home farm (the seeds are already inside), fill in nutrients and water and turn on air farm. After just a week, the first sprouts make their way and you can begin to follow the life of your garden! Such desktop garden has built-in automatic lighting and even a display that will show tips for the gardener: that it's time to add water to the tank or add nutrients. On the manufacturer's website, AeroGarden is presented in three sizes, and in addition to the farm, you can order cartridges for growing various crops: fragrant spices, many types of vegetables and flowers.

Food of the future

Insects are an excellent source of highly digestible protein, and scientists estimate that they are very likely to become part of our daily diet in the near future. Representatives of the UN spoke about the prospects for this type of nutrition about two years ago. And now you have a chance to taste the food of the future! The Open Source Bug Farm Kit, the brainchild of Tiny Farms, allows anyone to create a mini-farm in their home to grow the food of the new age - edible flour beetle larvae. According to the first experimenters, such food when cooked, it tastes most like nuts. And for the environment, this type of food production is a real salvation! The kit costs $114 and includes two main containers, a frame for attaching them, an incubator, and a selection device. Simple assembly instructions are included.

Today, space food is delivered to the ISS from Earth, and all space expeditions are supplied with food from the spaceport. But the day is not far off when the astronauts' food will be produced right in space. Already today, active research is underway on the cultivation and production of food in space. Ahead of us is a long-term expedition to Mars, perhaps even its colonization, so the issue of growing food in space is extremely relevant.

Story

The space industry is very young. The conquest of space began only in the second half of the 20th century, but developed by leaps and bounds during the space race. Today, China, Japan and even France have joined space exploration. Such a group of countries, led by space powers - Russia and the United States, continues to explore space. Much has changed since the time of the first manned flight into space, including the nutrition of astronauts. But one thing has remained unchanged - food for astronauts was delivered from Earth, and is still being delivered.

Astronauts from different countries live permanently on the ISS, and the issue of their food is always decided from the Earth. Delivery of 1 kilogram of food costs about 5-6 thousand US dollars. But this is not the main argument in favor of growing food in space. The main argument is the limited capacity in terms of transportation volumes. And if today we can regularly deliver food to the ISS in batches, then in the case of long expeditions, for example to Mars, it is important to figure out how astronauts can supply themselves with food on their own.

Since astronauts are completely dependent on the Earth, there are also unpleasant moments in the history of the ISS related to food. A few years ago, a space carrier carrying cargo for Russian cosmonauts failed to reach orbit. Most of the cargo was food. It was another portion of space food, designed to replenish stocks of already running out of food. The situation was further complicated by the fact that the next launch of a rocket with food for astronauts could be carried out only after a long time. This was due not only to the peculiarities of space flight, but also to the need to find out the reasons for the fall of the first rocket, and the re-mission equipment. The situation was resolved smoothly - ground-based space services were able to resolve all difficulties in time. But the real precedent gave a definite impetus to the development of research on the topic of growing food in space.

Current state

NASA has conducted two successful food growing experiments on the ISS. To do this, a special plant growing system was created on the ISS, called Veggie. Both times lettuce was grown, and both times the experiment was a success. The first harvest was sent to Earth for detailed study. The second crop, in August 2015, was eaten on the ISS under the camera lenses live. You can see the recording of this event on the video:

Experiments have shown that lettuce grown in space is no different from earthly lettuce in terms of its nutritional properties. The speed of its growth and other indicators - also corresponds to the earth. But this experiment showed that growing food in space with the current level of technology is an irrational exercise.

It takes a lot of energy and space to grow food in space. As a result, today it is easier and more profitable to deliver food from Earth. But the first steps have been taken, and important data has been obtained. For example, that special lamps are needed to grow green plants. And although plants in artificial conditions can grow without sunlight, but for the usual color of plants, it is necessary to add special lighting. And most importantly, the answer to the most exciting question was received - yes, it is really possible to grow food in space.

The astronauts really ate the second space harvest, but there was no talk of fully providing themselves with food. Lettuce leaves were grown at an enormous cost of energy and took 33 days to grow. It should be added here that there is a limited amount of space on the ISS, so it is simply impossible to solve the issue of subsistence by increasing the "sown" areas. But the experiment showed that under conditions of weightlessness, plants can grow not only in the horizontal "ground". In space, plants do not care what projection the "soil" is in. In addition, experience clearly illustrates that growing food in space requires as much water as on Earth, and that H2O cannot be replaced by any substance.

The ISS grows not only food, but also flowers. At the end of 2015, the aster bud opened for the first time on the ISS. This was another proof that growing plants in space is a reality.

Future

Scientists around the world are working to grow enough food in space to feed 100% of astronauts. Today it is impossible to talk even about 1%, but after some time we are waiting for long expeditions and colonization of planets. The future is growing food in space.

The next long flight is scheduled for 2030 by NASA's expedition to Mars. The flight will take between 150 and 300 days, and in this flight, people will certainly need a source of food produced on board. The capacity of the spacecraft is limited, and so is its ability to carry cargo. Seeds, or young plants, take up less space and are lighter in weight. Scientists have to find the optimal solution to ensure the conditions for the growth of crops. The question is not only in the "soil", but also in watering the plants. Scientists have not yet managed to learn how to replace water. Even in the NASA experiment, the amount of water used to grow lettuce was the same as on Earth. And water in space is no less valuable resource. The conversion of water into food, in a limited space - so far is happening at a disadvantageous rate. But this issue will be resolved.

From the nearest plans - to grow on the ISS not only lettuce, but also other plants. Next in line are the following crops - green pepper, radish, onion, cabbage and potatoes. The set is not random, these vegetables are potential candidates for growing in the space "gardens" of the future. As you may have noticed, scientists are planning to grow crops whose fruits are not only above the ground, but also root crops - radishes and potatoes. For this, a different type of apparatus is being developed, different from the Veggie salad apparatus.

Growing food in space is being worked on not only in Russia and the United States, but also in China. The Chinese space agency plans to build a lunar station by 2030. It has a separate place given to the cultivation of food. At the station "Lunar Palace-1" (temporary name), it is planned to allocate 58 square meters. meters for growing food. This is an unprecedentedly large room for growing plants in space, and even more than a module for the life of astronauts on a future lunar station. So far, Chinese scientists have only tested an analogue of the lunar station on Earth, and the experiment was successful. Based on the results of this experiment, it became clear that the project was viable, but Chinese scientists made adjustments to the space module for growing food. By 2030, perhaps we will see it in action.

The good news is that experiments to grow food in space are not only continuing, but are becoming more and more frequent. We hope that in the near future astronaut food, at least partially, but will be produced in space. This will reduce dependence on the Earth and open up new horizons for space expeditions.

Cucumbers, peppers, carrots and even strawberries! All this can be grown on a balcony or windowsill and there are fresh, eco-friendly, and most importantly, free vegetables and fruits all year round. Right now we will tell you how to set up a mini-garden in a city apartment.

Growing food in urban areas is popular all over the world. So, Britta Riley lives in a tiny apartment in New York. She came up with a vertical hydroponics garden. It takes up little space and brings a good harvest. Britta spoke about her innovation at TED.

In the West, if a product is labeled eco, bio or organic, it means two things. Firstly, these products are grown, harvested and processed in accordance with environmental standards, that is, without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, growth stimulants and other “nasty things”. They have been certified, and serious organizations have guaranteed their quality. Secondly, bioproducts are much more expensive than conventional ones.

Our market for "clean food" is just emerging. The biocertification and control systems have not yet been formed. And the difference in prices between bio-products and ordinary vegetables and fruits sometimes reaches 1,000%! Therefore, for us, the most eco, bio and organic are products grown by our own hands.

But not everyone has dachas and relatives in the village. What should urban children do, who are used to seeing potatoes washed and in nets, and greens in vacuum packs? Grow vegetables and fruits right on the balcony or windowsill.

6 reasons to arrange a mini-garden at home

1. You can treat yourself to fresh, vitamin-rich vegetables and herbs all year round.
2. Saving. Vegetables and fruits are expensive, especially in winter. With a home garden, you no longer have to adjust to the season (we eat plenty of tomatoes only in July, and apples in September).
3. You yourself can grow a plant from a tiny seed with your own hands, you can collect fruits. This is a creative activity that charges with positive energy.
4. You can improve your knowledge of biology, gain useful skills and acquire an exciting hobby.
5. Your children will see how tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables grow and will understand that they do not miraculously materialize in the refrigerator, their cultivation is serious work.
6. You can surprise your friends and acquaintances. Imagine how you will brag about the harvest, showing the window "beds". ;)

What you need to grow vegetables and herbs at home

• Place. Usually this is a window sill or balcony. It is better if they face the sunny side. If not, lamps for additional lighting will be required. If necessary, the window sill can be expanded or shelving for "beds" can be built (the minimum distance between the shelves is 50 cm).
• Capacities. Clay or plastic pots, wooden boxes can serve as beds for a home garden. The main thing is that there are holes in the bottom for draining water. Containers are recommended to be placed on pallets.
• Priming. There are many potting mixes for indoor gardens. As a rule, several layers are made: peat, compost, turf. You can prepare the soil yourself, or you can buy it in a specialized store.
• seeds. Some varieties of tomatoes or cucumbers grow well at home, while others do not even sprout. Therefore, before you start indoor gardening, you need to sit on the forums, read articles on the Internet and find out which seeds to buy.

In addition, you may need fertilizer, top dressing, a thermometer and a vessel for settling water (home plants are watered with water at room temperature, separated from chlorine).

We have the inventory, now we need to decide what to plant. Lifehacker has already written about some vegetables that grow beautifully on the windowsill.

16 FOOD YOU CAN GROW AT HOME

Today we will talk about ten more such plants.

Carrot

Variety : "Amsterdam".
Temperature : 15 to 25 ºС.
Harvest : after ≈70 days.

For growing at home, you need to take miniature varieties of carrots. You can plant in boxes, pots or just cut plastic bottles with holes in the bottom. The soil should be taken drainage.

Seeds are placed in the ground to a depth of about 7 cm. When the carrots sprout and germinate a few centimeters, they need to be thinned out, leaving the strongest shoots at a distance of about 2 cm from each other. It is not recommended to keep the beds in direct sunlight.

You need to water carrots at home often, but you need to make sure that there is not too much moisture, otherwise the root crop will rot. From time to time, you can feed with fertilizers with a low nitrogen content (if there is a lot of it, all the growth will go to the tops). It is also very useful to occasionally loosen the soil.

Pepper

Peppers grown on the balcony

Varieties : "treasure island", "dwarf", "watercolor", "swallow" and others.
Temperature : 25 to 27 ºС.
Harvest : after 100-130 days.

Seeds are first planted in small pots, which are covered with cling film and placed in a warm place. When the first shoots appear (in one to two weeks), several small punctures need to be made in the film. After a while, the pepper will get stronger, then it can be transplanted into large pots or buckets. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the spine. The plant is rooted by a third, after which it is watered with warm (30 ºС) water.

In the future, pepper can be watered every day. This plant loves light, so white spectrum lamps are recommended in addition to natural light. It is necessary to protect home-grown peppers from drafts and direct sunlight.

You can fertilize with nitrogen fertilizers, but potassium salt and potassium chloride will destroy the roots of the plant. With proper care, pepper on the windowsill can delight with fruits for up to two years.

Cherry tomatoes

Varieties : "pygmy", "bonsai", "bead" and others.
Temperature : 23 to 25 ºС.
Harvest : after 90-100 days (depending on the variety).

The soil, as in the case of pepper, is more convenient to buy ready-made. It is recommended to take a cylindrical container: it is better filled with the root system.

First, the seeds are germinated in small pots: buried to a depth of 1.5 cm, covered with cling film and left in a warm place until the first sprouts. When the tomatoes have risen, they dive into a larger and deeper dish.

It is important that the plant receives uniform lighting. To do this, you can hang fluorescent lamps above the "beds" or regularly turn the containers to the window.

Watering should be done carefully: cherry tomatoes are easy to fill. When the plant grows, it is recommended to loosen the soil from time to time and feed it with mineral fertilizers. If necessary, the tomato stem can be tied to a support (wooden skewer or pencil). It is also important to ensure that pests do not appear on the tomatoes.

By the way, not only cherry tomatoes grow well in home gardens, but also ordinary tomatoes.

cucumbers

Cucumbers grown on the window

Varieties : “room Rytov”, “miracle on the window”, “ant” and others.
Temperature : 21 to 24 ºС.
Harvest : after 35-45 days.

For cucumbers, rather large containers are needed, with a volume of at least 6 liters. The soil should be loose, with peat or compost.

At home, self-pollinating varieties of cucumbers grow well. First you need to prepare the seeds: they are poured into a weak saline solution, those that have surfaced are thrown away. Then, suitable seeds are soaked for 20 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate, after which they are washed on wet gauze and planted in the ground (under the film). When the seedlings sprout and grow up, they can be planted in large containers.

Water homemade cucumbers with warm water every day, but with caution. Leaves can also be sprayed with a spray bottle. Potassium nitrate is recommended as top dressing.

When the lashes of cucumbers form and grow, supports should be built for them so that the plant can trail.

Radish

homegrown radish

Varieties : "carmen", "white fang", "celeste F1" and others.
Temperature : 18 to 20 ºС.
Harvest : after ≈40 days.

It is recommended to plant radishes in wooden or clay containers, but ordinary plastic cups can also be used. Loose, well-drained soil is needed. Seeds can be checked for germination before planting, like cucumbers. After that, they need to be buried to a depth of 1-3 cm.

After planting, the soil must be watered and covered with a film. When shoots appear, the "greenhouse" is removed. Radishes, as a rule, do not dive. But sometimes they put it for two or three days in a lower temperature regime - about 15 ° C. This hardens the plant and contributes to a better harvest.

Five days after the appearance of the first shoots, organic top dressing is carried out, and two weeks later - mineral. Water the radish abundantly as it dries. It is also important that the air in the room where it grows is not dry.

Spinach

homemade spinach

Varieties : "virofle", "gaudry", "gigantic" and others.
Temperature : 15 ºС.
Harvest : after ≈40 days.

Spinach belongs to vegetable greens and is considered very useful. To grow it at home, you need containers 15-20 cm high. Ready-made soil mixtures can be used. The main thing is that peat is included in their composition.

It is recommended to soak the seeds in water for a day before planting. Sowing is carried out to a depth of 1–2 cm. To accelerate germination, containers can be covered with a film. Spinach germinates about a week after planting, then it can be dived.

In winter, when the heating is on in the apartment and when the daylight hours are short, it is recommended to illuminate the plant with lamps and spray it with a spray bottle (in addition to watering).

The crop can be harvested when the spinach reaches 7–10 cm in height.

Basil

Varieties : "Marquis", "lemon", "Baku" and others.
Temperature : from 22 to 24 °C.
Harvest : after 50-55 days.

Basil is one of the most fragrant and favorite spices. At the same time, it is quite unpretentious and grows well on the windowsill.

Basil is planted immediately in large containers (with a volume of at least 1.5 liters). First you need to prepare the soil for planting: pour twice with mineral fertilizers with an interval of five days. The seeds are deepened by 1–1.5 cm. Until the plant sprouts, it must be watered every two days. Further watering is carried out daily, preferably in the morning.

green garlic

Varieties : "Kharkiv", "anniversary" and others.
Temperature : from 18 to 25 °C.
Harvest : after 15-20 days.

As a rule, garlic bulbs are used in cooking. But the green shoots (arrows) are also suitable for gastronomy: they are suitable for making marinades and sauces.

Varieties of garlic are divided into two groups: winter and spring. The latter usually do not give arrows, therefore they are not suitable for growing at home.

For those who have ever grown onions on a windowsill, garlic will not be difficult to deal with. You need to take winter-grade garlic cloves, preferably with sprouted sprouts. Any soil mixture can be taken. Each clove is planted to a depth of 2-3 cm and at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. Once planted, be sure to water.

The container with garlic should be kept on the most lit window in the house. Water as the soil dries out. From time to time, you can feed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

Mint

Temperature : 20 to 25 °C.
Harvest : after ≈60 days.

Mint has a fairly branched root system, so for planting it, you should take a deep and wide container. The soil is recommended to use peat, varieties - any.

There are two ways to plant mint: seeds and cuttings. The latter is shown in the video below.

To grow mint from seeds, you need to plant them in the ground to a depth of about 5 mm and water. To create a greenhouse effect, you can use a film. Before germination (about two weeks later), the ground should be sprinkled with water every day. After germination, mint must be planted.

Mint is unpretentious. In summer, it must be protected from direct sunlight, and in winter from lack of light and excessive watering. From time to time, the plant can be fed with organic mixtures.

Mature plants can reach a meter in height. As a rule, they have a lot of leaves - there will almost always be mint for tea or homemade mojito.

Strawberry

Varieties : "autumn fun", "home delicacy", "garland" and others.
Temperature : from 18 to 20 °C.
Harvest : after ≈30 days.

Ampel remontant varieties of strawberries are suitable for a home garden. They bear fruit all year round and are not too picky about light. Strawberries can be planted in any soil mixture. But first, drainage (expanded clay, small pebbles) should be poured to the bottom to protect strawberries from stagnant water.

Strawberries can be grown from seedlings or seeds. Both are sold in gardening stores.

Seeds are planted in small containers (for example, plastic glasses), watered abundantly and covered with cling film. After the appearance of the first shoots, the film is removed and the seedlings are placed in a well-lit place. When three or four leaves are formed, strawberries dive into larger containers.

This plant loves light. When days are shorter than nights, artificial lighting should be used. Watering and spraying are carried out as the soil dries. Strawberries are easy to fill.

Solutions with a significant iron content are used as top dressing. During active growth, strawberries become overgrown with mustaches, they need to be tied to supports.

As you can see, growing vegetables, herbs and even berries in a city apartment is not difficult and even exciting.

Estonian startup offers its own automatic mini-farms for growing greens

Estonian startup Click & Grow is working on a technology for growing greens in urban areas. An automatic, refrigerator-sized, vertical smart farm keeps track of the amount of water, nutrients, and lighting that plants need. Minimal maintenance and a drastically reduced amount of water required for growth are interesting features of the farm that can make it popular.

Click & Grow are no strangers to growing plants in cities. A few years ago they had a super-successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, and now they offer "smart pots" and "smart gardens" to everyone. These devices are also designed for growing plants at home. One plant grows in a pot, three in a garden. This is not much, but they also take up space, like a regular flower pot. But, unlike the pot, everything is done automatically.

Smart garden from C&G

Vertical Mini Farm

The unique Smart Soil technology, which Russian scientists also took part in the development of, allows the use of sponge material instead of ordinary earth. It does not compact over time, nutrients are not washed out of it, and it is well permeable to oxygen, which is necessary for plant growth. The smart gardens are equipped with LED lighting, ideal for plant growth, and supply them with just the right amount of water, which only needs to be topped up once a month.

instead of a refrigerator. Vegetarian joy.

While vertical farms are not yet available for general sale, prototypes are already being assembled on order. If it is as simple and cost-effective to operate as the startup's previous products, then the potential for its use is very wide. After all, agriculture is the largest consumer of fresh water, for example, in the United States, farmers use up to 80% of all water consumed by residents. In parts of the world where water is scarce, or in large crowded cities where fresh greens have to be delivered from afar, the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bconserving water, coupled with growing greens "in place" will certainly receive support. After all, even if it is useless to drink yogurt, then no one will argue about the benefits of consuming greens.

Vertical farms in urban areas have long been planned to be built. And they can indeed use 70-80% less water than conventional farms. But their cost, due to the high complexity of the hydroponic system, is tens of thousands of dollars. Smart Farm, on the other hand, the creators promise to deliver at a price of only $1,500. And if not everyone can put themselves such a farm next to the refrigerator, surely large supermarkets will be interested in the opportunity to sell super-fresh greens grown right in the warehouse.