Looking to grow chillies/garlic/herbs

[Naga]

I am really keen to get started but it seems quite hard to grow decent crops. I have been lead to believe that as I am going to grow indoors that I will need expensive lighting and what not and I really don't want to spend loads the the leccy bill!

Could you guys give me some advice on growing indoors? I think I can go for garlic outside but for chillies and herbs I would love to grow inside.... if I need lighting then is there an inexpensive way to start up and keep electricity bills to a minimum?

[Capsid]

A windowsill is fine. South facing is preferable. You can catch the light by using foil covered card placed around the plants.

[Naga]

Thanks, if I end up running out of space at some point, could you recommend some energy efficient lighting?

[Capsid]

Any low energy light bulb will do.

[Two_Sheds]

Why are you wanting to grow indoors?
Have you no outside space at all?
Most herbs and chillies grow perfectly well outside ... in containers or in the ground. Basil probably does better indoors, but then it always gets greenfly.

[bobleponge]

I grow pretty much all my herbs outside, on pots, on top of an old bbq stand. Works perfectly well for me.

[Naga]

I can grow outside but I thought it would be a big kinder to them if I keep them in doors as the weather isn't to good in East Anglia at the moment.

[HotStuff]

Herby,

This has been my first year growing stuff, I've had a good crop of chillies from plants grown on a sunny windowsill. The windowsill is shared with several herbs including Basil and Tarragon. My garlic went in a couple of months ago, some into a couple of raised beds I've made, some into pots and some into the ground. As of today, 48 out of the 56 cloves planted in the raised beds are showing significnt growth.

I'm sure some "herbs" require expensive lighting , but nothing I've grown has required much more than some pots, compost, sunlight & water.

[Naga]

Oh yeah the other reason I mentioned about the lights is to give my herbs a little head start. Thanks for your help all.

[Capsid]

I'd wait until spring and grow them outdoors.

[HotStuff]

Oh yeah the other reason I mentioned about the lights is to give my herbs a little head start. Thanks for your help all.

A propagator might be cheaper.

[Two_Sheds]

Oh yeah the other reason I mentioned about the lights is to give my herbs a little head start

It's just too early. It's really not worth the bother until at least January.

then, start your chillies off in a small laptop size propagator (about £12 on eBay)
Herbs don't need heat to get started... sow in Spring.