Suggested Vegetables for Indoor Gardening

It’s getting close to winter time here in the States. Last year during this time I was wrapping up my growing season on my fire escape garden. This now that I’m on the left coast I can grow on my balcony garden year round.

Not everyone is that fortunate when it comes to their growing season. For most of you the season has pretty much ended unless you’ve built a cold frame or hoop house to extend your season.

Just because the weather has dropped doesn’t mean that you can’t continue to grow or start to grow your own. If you have access to a windowsill that gets about 6-8 hours of sunlight a day, you can grow.

Here’s a list of some shallow rooted veggies and herbs that will do well in a small indoor garden:

Lettuces & Leafy Green (order seeds)
Spinach (order seeds)
Kale (order seeds)
Collard greens (order seeds)
Parsley (order seeds)
Cilantro (order seeds)

That’s a good starting point for veggies that can be grown indoors during the colder months.

Are there any other suggestions?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8ZZpf1Hu7E

Anonymous December 3, 2010 at 6:37 pm -

Sprouts! Don’t forget it’s easy to grow sprouts on a window sill in a jar! Yummy on sandwiches, as salad garnish, in ramen soup….. and many different types!

Also wheat grass 🙂
Mike Lieberman December 4, 2010 at 6:34 pm -

True. Got some broccoli sprouts growing on my kitchen table right now.
Junglemn December 6, 2010 at 1:10 am -

i was gonna say i would add stalky greens like brocoli celery cauliflauer also i know these are more fruit than veggie but winter squash goose berry blueberries and not sure of the real name but my grandfather use to have what he called winter berries looked like cherries but tasted likea peach
Mike Lieberman December 6, 2010 at 4:12 pm -

Appreciate the feedback.
Squidwurd32 December 12, 2010 at 10:23 am -

but how do you actually plant these? Can you get some collard greens or parsley or celery at the store and then replant them? I ask because the collard greens and celery almost always grow new leaves in the center when they are IN MY FRIG, I don’t believe it but I don’t know anything about plants but I’m trying to learn to grow them, starting with the planting process. I know it must be pretty basic for someone like you…
Farm with a View December 24, 2010 at 9:10 am -

Here in L.A., I’ve got micro lettuces growing on our west-facing windowsill in recycled 2.5 gallon water jugs. (Tried spinach but it got infested with tiny hopping bugs, which kinda grossed me out especially being indoors.)

Here’s how we built the jugs: http://www.farmwithaview.com/indoor-container-gardening-experiment/
Mike Lieberman January 3, 2011 at 2:54 pm -

Nice. Those look pretty sweet.
Harmonyfish January 5, 2011 at 10:38 pm -

In your buckets do you always start with a plant? or can you start seedes in your buckets?
Mike Lieberman January 6, 2011 at 3:33 am -

I’ve successfully started with both. Most of what I have not has been started from seed.
Anonymous January 16, 2011 at 10:25 am -

right now (in NY) I have basil, lemon balm, mint, parsley, stevia, and eucalyptus growing in my window! Also, don’t forget mushrooms!
Mike Lieberman January 16, 2011 at 5:48 pm -

Sweet. I wish my windows got more direct sunlight. What kind of mushrooms are you growing?
Growfromhere March 18, 2011 at 7:24 am -

Kia Ora Mike Micro greens – especially blue peas, Paris market carrots small round yummy bursts, Radishes,
Mike Lieberman March 18, 2011 at 1:53 pm -

Thanks for the recommendations.
Anonymous November 1, 2011 at 9:51 am -

i wonder how warm the inside of the house has to be to grow theses veggies. my house is not that warm in the winter especially close to a window.
Mike Lieberman November 1, 2011 at 11:42 am -

I think something like 60-70s should do well.
Jane Meep March 26, 2014 at 3:05 pm -

Most lettuces actually like to be a bit cold. When they’re warm, they bolt pretty quickly.