The appeal of growing fresh produce indoors attracts many different people. It’s healthier, tastier, and costs less money. But oftentimes, newcomers are intimidated by the huge variety of options when trying to figure out which seeds to plant.
The majority of fruits and vegetables can be grown in a containers with a little work. However, there are a few types that are easier to grow than others. If you’re new to container gardening, these fruits and veggies are a good place to start.
1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are often regarded as one of the easiest foods that can be grown in containers. They are incredibly versatile, able to be grown in a traditional pot or in a hanger designed specifically for tomatoes. Tomatoes are nutritious, flavorful, and above all easily grown and maintained.
The key to growing healthy tomatoes indoors is ensuring that all sides of the plant receive enough light and to keep colder temperatures from reaching them. Indoor-grown tomatoes may not reach the size of store-bought varieties, however, they will still taste delicious and are a great choice for those with limited space or time.
2. Carrots
Carrots contain a huge variety of essential vitamins and nutrients. These little produce powerhouses can easily become a staple of a homegrown diet. Carrots need a larger pot than some other produce–a foot and a half all around is a good starting point.
The soil should be kept moist, but don’t allow it to become soaked. Moss can be laid on top of the soil to help retain moisture, as long as care is taken to ensure the leaves of the plant are still in the light. The secret to growing delicious carrots is to harvest them before they reach their maximum size. Carrots lose flavor the larger they grow, so it’s a good idea to harvest them when they are between 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in diameter.
3. Lemons
Lemons are surprisingly easy to cultivate indoors, so long as you are able to keep the soil moist to simulate the humid environment that they thrive in. Lemons are chock-full of vitamins and make a great addition to an array of recipes. Lemon plants can grow relatively tall, so it’s important to make sure you have enough vertical space to allow the plant to continue growing.
There are other uses for lemons besides eating. Lemons can be used as a cleaning agent or in conjunction with other cleaning agents. The juice of a lemon has powerful antibiotic properties and can be used to prevent a variety of nasty diseases.
4. Potatoes
These hearty, flavorful, calorically-dense root vegetables are the perfect addition to any indoor garden. Potatoes can be grown in a huge variety of containers, so long as there is enough vertical space for the roots to spread and for the potato buds to thrive. In fact, many people grow potatoes inside of those reusable grocery bags, which makes harvesting the buds incredibly easy.
It’s a commonly touted myth that potatoes have every nutrient needed to survive, and while that’s a bit of a stretch, this vegetable does offer an assortment of vitamins and minerals that the body needs. Potatoes on their own aren’t unhealthy, they only get a bad reputation because they are oftentimes fried or cooked in a manner that introduces a lot of extra fat.
5. Green Beans
Green beans are one of the fastest growing vegetables for indoor gardening. The use of small wooden posts can allow them to grow vertically to save more space, and they make a great healthy snack that almost everyone enjoys. Green beans require very little in terms of maintenance, so long as adequate sunlight and soil moisture are maintained.
Should you choose to grow them, you can expect to have an almost non-stop supply of fresh green beans every week. If you find that one plant isn’t supplying enough, you can even cultivate a segment of the original plant into several new pots and they will grow into multiple green bean plants.
6. Mushrooms
Many people overlook the possibility of home-grown mushrooms. Compared to other types of produce, they can come across as mysterious and difficult to cultivate. The reality is that many strains of mushrooms are incredibly easy to grow. These fungi have evolved to be able to adapt to a wide variety of environments in nature.
Mushrooms do not need light to grow and thrive in dark, moist environments. This means you can grow mushrooms in spaces that aren’t capable of growing other types of plants. They also don’t take up much room and require very little maintenance to keep healthy. The most popular mushroom strains to grow are White Button, Oyster, and Shiitake.
7. Strawberries
Strawberries are fairly easy to grow. All you need is plenty of sunlight and a pot with at least 10 inches of space for them to flourish. Strawberries don’t need a lot to survive, and they grow quickly, making them an ideal fruit for growing in a container indoors or in a greenhouse. While they grow quickly, strawberries oftentimes only bloom between mid summer and fall.
8. Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are full of flavor and can add a little bit of flair to just about any dish. They only grow about 12-24 inches vertically and have a long growing season, which makes them beneficial is many ways. You can pick bell peppers early in the growing season, and more will grow in their place without harm to the plant. This, coupled with the long growing season, means bell peppers have a potentially high yield of fresh produce.
9. Chives
Chives, while low in calories, are easy to grow and add a great deal of flavor to your home-grown arsenal. Chives need a lot of moisture, so the soil should be checked daily or at least every other day. They grow in just a few weeks and do not need much space to thrive. Used in conjunction with your home-grown potatoes, you may have a steady supply of delicious and simple meal ingredients constantly on hand.
10. Radishes
These tiny root vegetables are incredibly easy to grow and take only a short period of time to go from seed to edible produce. They are resilient, so if you forget to take care of them for a few days they will recover without any issues. Radishes can be grown in any container with at least 12 inches of space for the roots to propagate, and they only need to be watered every other day.
11. Figs
It seems counterintuitive to try growing a fig tree indoors or in a container, but the reality is that with proper care and pruning you can grow a tree indoors that produces a lot of fruit and doesn’t take up too much space. These trees don’t need as much sunlight as other plants, and once grown to proper size will produce fruit annually for generations to come.
12. Microgreens
As the name would imply, these tiny greens need very little space and are harvested when the plant is between 2 and 3 inches tall. Microgreens can be used as a garnish for a variety of salads and meals and can help add vitamins and minerals to food. These greens need only a small container, soil, water, and sunlight to grow, making them ideal for situations where space is limited.
Very useful information.