If you live in an apartment and would like to grow your own food, but aren’t sure where to start, look no further! Here are 7 easy tips to help you get started growing some of your own produce right at home, even if it’s just on your kitchen windowsill or in a small terrace garden!
5 tips for apartment gardening indoors
You don’t need a large yard to garden. If you have an apartment, condo, or another small area, you can grow some of your own food right in your own home! It’s a rewarding and healthy hobby, so give it a try! Here are 10 tips for apartment gardening indoors
1. Grow plants that produce above-ground vegetables. Grow herbs, salad greens, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers vertically on small plant stands to use up vertical space; pack those pots with soil. Better yet? Get yourself a mini-greenhouse for year-round growing potential (even if it's just sitting on top of your kitchen counter).
2. Grow edible flowers. Use edible flowers from seed: Nasturtiums will attract butterflies while they're blooming; marigolds repel pests; calendula is medicinal—and pretty—in salads; chamomile makes tea...the list goes on and on! Flowers also look great in your home, too. Small pots are a great way to grow flowers indoors. Or go bigger with a small planter box or even an old bathtub!
3. Grow herbs. You can grow many of your favorite herbs at home in pots or containers on your windowsill without any additional light source (think basil, rosemary, sage, or thyme). Herbs are versatile tools you can use in cooking all year long and will fill up empty space in an indoor garden with interest and smells that can lift your mood as well as your recipes! A few large pots of fresh herbs make a welcome addition to any kitchen countertop. And if you don't have access to natural sunlight? Simply bring them into a room that gets lots of window light by day. Just put them right back where they were when night falls so they can get enough darkness—and no more than 12 hours per day total—to flourish. No artificial lighting is needed!
4. Choose plants that need little-to-no water. Plants like aloe vera and jade plants do best on their own without extra watering from you. Bonus? They're also good at cleaning indoor air of pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene (hint: those are all in paint!). You can also go with succulents or cacti instead of common houseplants—they're used to arid climates and will do well without your help. But if you live in a humid climate? It's going to be tough to grow any plants indoors! How about just trying some herbs in pretty pots? Or decorating jars with pretty flowers as part of an arrangement right on your kitchen countertop? A bit of beauty adds interest!
5. Grow edible microgreens. If you want a challenge, try growing microgreens yourself! Microgreens are young seedlings grown indoors under lights or outdoors during cooler months; they’re harvested when very small so they retain nutrients and vitamins found only in greens at their peak. They’re often harvested one week after germination and provide an excellent source of essential minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and vitamin C along with potassium and selenium. You can eat them plain, add them to salads or incorporate them into other dishes by blending, roasting or steaming.
What types of plants grow best in an apartment?
Small apartment gardens can be challenging because of space constraints, but there are plenty of plants that grow well indoors. From fragrant herbs to small fruit trees, any plant with a green thumb and a sunny spot will thrive under your care.
In fact, you may find you enjoy gardening so much that your budding interest in urban farming grows into something bigger and better suited to your surroundings. If you like to cook, start small by cultivating some fresh basil on a windowsill or small herb garden just outside your front door; as time goes on, you’ll learn which plants grow best in different climates and spots in your home—and where they flourish best. Need help narrowing down what to choose? Use these tips when deciding what should go on display in your small space
How much water does an indoor plant need?
The key to a successful indoor garden is lots of light and enough water. But watch out: Don’t over or under-water your indoor plants! Too much water can lead to root rot, while too little can cause your plants to become dehydrated.
Follow these three guidelines when watering plants to make sure they get just enough H2O:
1) The soil should be moist, but not wet;
2) Wait until there’s only a 1⁄4-inch of space left in their saucers before you give them more water;
3) It’s best to water your plants from beneath so as not to wash off their leaves (just place saucers on top of pots).
The Best Indoor Plants For Clean Air
If you’re going to be growing plants indoors, your top priority should be keeping your air clean. Research has found that indoor plants can reduce concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in homes by as much as 50%! And many commonly used air fresheners actually release more harmful chemicals into the air than beneficial ones.
Luckily, there are plenty of low-maintenance indoor plants that will help keep your home healthy while adding a little greenery and color to your space. You don’t need to spend a fortune on these—or any—plants either. Most are super affordable, and a few even produce beautiful blooms or attractive fruit you can use in dishes or decorate with! Here are some of our favorite Seed-starting tips:
When it comes to small apartment gardening, a lot of people choose to start seeds indoors. Whether you want fresh salad greens all winter long or already have an idea of what you want to grow but didn’t get enough seeds when you first planted them outside, starting them inside is not only easy but also lets you control what varieties end up where. Planting seeds requires very minimal maintenance once they have germinated, so while it may seem time-consuming now, once they sprout up it becomes second nature.
Growing Fruit Indoors
Many vegetables can be grown indoors, but you’ll have better luck with fruit. Plants like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries require more light than you’ll get from a simple grow light system. If you don’t have much space, focus on smaller plants that can thrive in smaller spaces.
If you do want to grow something more substantial (like a watermelon), make sure it doesn’t take up too much space because your small apartment might not be large enough to sustain bigger crops. Growing an indoor garden will save money and produce healthier food; combine these two benefits with your desire to garden and you won’t have any excuses left!
Good Herbs To Grow Indoors
Vegetable gardens aren’t typically thought of as things that can be cultivated in small spaces. However, if you’re in an apartment and you want to grow a few vegetables and herbs, vertical gardening can be a great solution. It doesn’t take up too much space and it even provides some benefits over conventional gardening methods (including preventing pests from reaching your plants).
Check out these tips for small apartment garden ideas using vertical methods
1) Good herbs to start with include rosemary, thyme, oregano, and basil.
2) For successful indoor vertical gardening, make sure you have sunlight coming into at least one side of your apartment.
3) You may need something extra tall such as bamboo poles or coconut fibers to act as supports for whatever pots or vases you use—the last thing you want is herb-flavored tea!
4) Many books will tell you not to water your apartment plants unless they show signs of dryness. If a plant seems well hydrated throughout its growth cycle but then dries out right before harvest...don't blame bad luck: just don't let that happen again!
All About Vertical Gardening In Small Spaces
If you’re looking to start an indoor garden in a small space, vertical gardening is your best bet. Since vegetables need a lot of room to grow, growing vertically is a great way to take up less horizontal area and save money by using fewer pots.
And since it doesn’t require any complicated tools or serious upkeep, vertical gardening is a fun hobby for beginners and experienced growers alike. The key thing to keep in mind with vertical gardening is that you need lots of light if you want your plants to flourish. So if you have some windowsills or areas that get lots of natural light, it’s a great way to bring life into your home and impress guests.