This guest post was written by Emma Croft (emma.croft@getgardening.info

According to medical researchers, tending a home garden is ecological medicine that improves mental health through closeness with nature. Many gardeners harvest their vegetables in the fall and use a compost ritual to nourish their garden through the dormant winter months. However, there is a way to enjoy the benefits of gardening in the cooler months when the snow covers the ground, by growing food in your garage. Here are the details on how to get your garage ready.

How to Use The Space

Indoor garage gardening allows for creativity beyond just a raised rectangular planter. Shelving units will enable you to grow vertically with pallets of small plants on each shelf. Hanging individual bins from the wall or ceiling also works.

How to Regulate the Temperature

Unless you have an insulated and heated garage, the temperature inside will match the outside temperature. To regulate the temperature in this space, start by checking to see if cold or hot air is coming in around your garage windows. If so, before hiring someone to repair it, evaluate several licensed and insured window repair service companies by reading their online reviews. Then, contact a few businesses to discuss your needs, get a quote for the job and request the names of satisfied customers to contact for a referral. The cost of this job depends on the window and the type of repair needed, but you can expect to spend around $290, which is the national average.

If you notice drafts coming from the door, try caulking the affected areas or adding weatherstripping. Once you have taken care of the drafts, you can control the temperature for optimal growing by investing in a grow lights, a space heater or solar lamps. This heating method works best when you plant vegetables or herbs that thrive at the same temperature. You can also create a mini-greenhouse by hanging plastic sheets around your plants. This helps to keep the space at a stable temperature.

How to Get Sufficient Light

A large window with southern exposure should give you all the light you need to grow most winter crops. You can mimic natural light through fluorescent bulbs or grow lights positioned over your plants. Consider running the lights at night to save on electricity costs.

What to Grow in a Garage Garden

Plants that don’t require pollination or an extensive growing space work best in your indoor garden. Root plants like carrots, beets, or parsnips should grow well, as should green vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, and mesclun. The herbs basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and basil thrive in a garage garden too.

How to Garden in a Small Window-Less Garage

You can still get in on this trend even if you have a small window-less garage by growing oyster mushrooms. First, purchase one five-gallon reusable plastic bucket to grow the mushrooms in. Next, drill several small holes in the bucket and fill it with pasteurized organic sugarcane mulch. Then, sprinkle in some mushroom mycelium and put the lid on the bucket. In about three weeks, mushrooms will start growing out of the bucket’s holes.

Another option is to set up a hydroponic garden, which requires very little space to start and is an easy way to grow herbs and greens. Turning your garage into the ultimate gardening space allows you to enjoy the benefits of tending plants in the cooler months. You may even find you want to keep it going year-round.