With the cost of groceries on the rise, finding affordable, fresh produce can be a challenge. Customers often have to choose between affordability and nutritional value. However, you can sidestep these costs by cutting out the middleman and growing your own vegetables. Why blow your budget shopping farm-to-table when you can be the farm? If you think your apartment is too small to house a mini garden, think again.
Whether you’re renting in sunny Miami, FL, or a cooler climate like Denver, CO, you should have no problem growing your own vegetables from the comfort of your apartment. Here are some of the easiest ones to grow.
What do I need to grow easy vegetables?
Since you won’t be doing your gardening outside, one of the most important things you’ll need for growing vegetables indoors are containers and pots. Container vegetable gardening is a great beginner’s step to learning about gardening and growing veggies indoors and in an urban environment.
For your pots, you’ll want fair-sized containers with drainage holes that will allow excess water to escape so the roots of your plants don’t get root rot. You want them to be big enough that the roots of your plants have plenty of space to develop and grow, but exact sizes vary, as you’ll see below.
You’ll also need good starting and potting soil mixes and fertilizer. There are many great options, and your local gardening center will have the best recommendations. You can also try to make your own compost. This handy guide will set you on the right track.
And, of course, you’ll need sunshine. Observe your home for a day or so to see what areas get the most light and at what times of the day to determine the best places to put your vegetables. And if you live in a place that doesn’t get a lot of natural light, don’t despair! You can always use growing lights.
What vegetables can I grow indoors?
If you don’t have access to a garden or outdoor space for growing vegetables indoors, you’ll want plants that don’t need to grow deep root systems. Otherwise, the plant can’t mature or grow properly and either won’t produce veggies or will be stunted.
“Apartment-friendly veggies like herbs, microgreens, and cherry tomatoes thrive in limited space and sunlight,” says Sabrina from Garden Wizard, an online gardening store. Below, you’ll find our recommendations for some starter vegetables you can grow at home, along with instructions for their individual care.
1. Tomatoes
Everyone loves a juicy, plump, perfectly ripe tomato, and with supermarket tomatoes often lacking in flavor, quality or costing too much, tomatoes are a natural, easy choice for indoor gardening.
You can start growing your seedlings in a planting tray or a small container like a can. Fill with good starter soil, and plant the seeds about a quarter-inch deep in the soil, up to three seeds per hole. Cover the seeds with soil and then water until the soil is moist.
Place the pots in an area that receives lots of warm sunlight throughout the day, and water frequently so the soil doesn’t dry out. You should see germination (the growth of the seed into a seedling) within five to 10 days.
Once the seedlings are a few inches tall and have started to sprout leaves, carefully transfer to a larger pot with potting soil (six-inch or bigger, depending on whether you want one or two plants). You can remove the seedling from its starter pot/planter by placing your hand over the soil at the base of the plant and gently flipping it. Then, gently loosen up the roots from the soil. Be careful not to break or damage the roots while doing so.
Replant in the new pot, water and return to its sunny spot. Keep in the sunshine for about eight hours a day and well-watered (moist, but not soggy). In about two weeks, add fertilizer.
As the plants get bigger, make sure to keep them pollinated by gently shaking or tapping the main stem and leaves of the plant. You may also need to add a stake so the plant has support as it grows bigger. Once the plant starts producing fruit (60 to 80 days), harvest the tomatoes when they’re slightly soft when squeezed and a rich, even color.
2. Bell peppers
Everyone loves a juicy, plump, perfectly ripe tomato, and with supermarket tomatoes often lacking in flavor, quality or costing too much, tomatoes are a natural, easy choice for indoor gardening. Be sure to plant smaller varieties of tomatoes to prevent overcrowding.
2. Hot peppers
Peppers typically thrive in warmer weather with lots of sunlight, but can also do well indoors, partially due to the fact that they’re self-pollinating. Plant them in a pot that’s at least eight inches tall for best results. Peppers tend to do best with 14-20 hours of sunlight, so they may need an alternative light source during the winter or in cloudier climates.
3. Salad greens
Who doesn’t love an insanely fresh, delicious salad? Rather than watching your store-bought lettuce wilt in your vegetable drawer, grow your own for always-fresh greens. Salad greens include iceberg and romaine lettuce, arugula and spinach — they grow quickly and easily on their own.
“Living in an apartment shouldn’t stop you from enjoying homegrown vegetables,” says travel website Viet Linh. “Your tiny garden can consist of hanging planters, pots on tiered shelves, or window boxes. You can grow different types of vegetables in a small space, such as kale, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, basil, or sprouts. These veggies are very easy to grow.”
One of the main benefits of growing salad greens is you can harvest the leaves but the plant keeps growing! Once the plant has reached a healthy size and the leaves are ready, harvest the outermost leaves for your salads while leaving the internal ones to continue growing.
4. Carrots
Carrots are actually among the easiest vegetables to grow indoors, which may come as a surprise since they can grow to be so long. However, you can grow regular carrots indoors without any problem. Carrots are also resilient in colder temperatures, so you can grow them in any climate.
Even for longer varieties, all you’ll need is a 12-inch deep pot or container or one that’s eight inches deep if you’re growing a smaller variety. Easy to grow throughout the year, a great source of vitamins and minerals, and with little upkeep required, you’ll find growing carrots a breeze.
5. Beets
Beets are often called a “superfood,” and with good reason, as they’re packed with nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C. With these and many more health benefits, why wouldn’t you want to have a steady supply at home? Their colorful leaves will also liven up any room.
6. Herbs
There’s nothing better than fresh herbs to add nuance and flavor to a dish, but constantly having to purchase fresh herbs from the store is a pain. So, grow your own little herb garden!
“Stop spending money every time you need a sprig of herbs for cooking and grow your own instead!” says Southside Plants. “Leafy plants like basil, cilantro, and dill will grow best in your apartment with bright but indirect light.”
“Microgreens are teeny and easy to grow in any apartment setting,” adds Helena Gouros, founder of The Urban Garden Companion. “Deliciously healthy, gray-striped organic sunflower shoot seeds, with their nutty flavor and versatility, are ready for harvest at 3-4 inches and over-deliver!”
“Herb plants are a great go-to when deciding what to plant inside your apartment!” says Ellise Uyema from Live Long and Plant. “Vegetables such as cilantro, parsley, and green onions are the perfect addition to your kitchen countertop, and they can be used in a variety of dishes that will become instant favorites.”
7. Lemon trees
This one might take a little more skill, but if you’ve got a green thumb, a lemon tree can be a fantastic addition to your apartment. Smaller varieties can add character to your space along with an aromatic element. With one of these present, you won’t even need air fresheners to keep your apartment smelling fresh.
“A small lemon tree smells fresh and citrusy, gives great energy, and also livens up the place,” says Steven Ip from Cleanzen. “They produce fruit you can use for your meals, tea or for any dish.”
Indoor gardening is easy and fun
There are many more vegetables you can easily grow indoors, but these are some of the classics. Usable for a wide variety of dishes, with great health benefits, and overall very easy and straightforward to tend.
“As a food garden coach, my goal is to encourage people to grow at least one plant they can eat at home,” says Safiyat Hamiss from Tasty Harvests. “I firmly believe that you can grow food anywhere, as long as you provide plants with light, water, space, and soil. Even in apartments, you can use artificial lights, a watering can, plant pots, and potting soil to grow herbs, onions, and leafy greens. With minimal effort and time, some plants can be ready to harvest in under 30 days.”
Whether you’re a newbie to gardening and growing vegetables indoors or you’re a gardening pro looking to bring your love for homegrown plants and vegetables indoors, these easy vegetables to grow in your home are sure to set you off on the right track.