The 2010s seem to be the years of small housing and self-sustainability. The tiny house trend is on the rise while attention to organic but cost-saving farming is becoming a wider issue to the point where Whole Foods will soon be targeting broke millenials. Even if you live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment in the middle of a city, you can try your hand at your very own indoor vegetable garden and save yourself a handful of dollars every week at the grocery store while also maintaining a healthy diet. Learn to become the master of your budget, your diet, and gardening with these five easy plants to get you started.
1. Basil
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Growing basil is a great beginner plant to try indoor gardening. And just in time for summer, as they prefer humidity and heat. Not only is basil a fantastic garnish for salads and pasta, but you can also blend pesto with cheese or __ yeast to make homemade pesto. You can also dry basil, store freshly chopped leaves, or freeze them for later.
Be sure to keep your pot soil moist but well-drained, and to spritz your plant with room-temperature water every so often if you live in a dry area. Give your plant at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day, and rotate it to make sure all sides are getting equal exposure. To learn more about growing basil indoors, read here.
2. Lavender
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Lavender is the perfect plant to grow if you are interested in creating your own homeopathic remedies. The scent of dried lavender naturally drives away moths and mosquitoes and provides a calming aroma for humans. You could even go further by distilling your own lavender buds and creating the essential oil that it’s known for, which can be used for minor cuts, skin health, and prevent hair loss. Plus, who can resist those beautiful purple blooms?
Many lavender buds require periods of being outdoors to allow the flowers to reach their full potential, but can be kept inside for the majority of their lives. To learn more about growing lavender indoors, read here.
3. Green Onion
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Green onions are possibly the easiest plant to regrow, and are one of the most useful ones as well. When you are down to the bulb on a green onion stem from the supermarket, simply place it in a jar of water and leave it in the sun, or repot it in moist soil. They regrow quickly and are used in practically every recipe!
Photo Courtesy of 17 Apart
To learn more about growing green onion indoors, read here.
4. Spinach
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What’s great about spinach is that it is sturdy and can grow in almost any available container. As long as the moisture is regulated and the soil is rich, spinach can grow just about anywhere. Care is similar to basil plants, with plenty of sun and a spritz of water every now and again to keep the leaves from drying out. The same can be done with celery, lettuce, watercress, you name it! With spinach’s many nutrients, it’s one of the powerhouse greens you’ll want to keep in your home forever.
To learn more about growing spinach indoors, read here.
5. Cherry Tomatoes
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Tomatoes are slightly more complicated to grow in homes than the other plants on the list, but the simple fact that it can be done deserves to be recognized. Cherry tomatoes especially are far easier to care for indoors than regular heirloom tomatoes, since their fruit takes up less space and matures faster, allowing you to harvest them sooner. Growing your own tomatoes can also add flavor to the fruit, since natural production tends to result in a tastier harvest.
Tomatoes prefer warmer temperatures, and are best planted in the late spring, with plenty of moisture and nutrient-rich soil. Water regularly, but avoid getting leaves wet as this can encourage the onset of diseases. When successful, growing your own cherry tomatoes can be very rewarding.
