This past week we finished planting our garden and I’m so excited! It is so satisfying looking out and seeing all the pepper and tomato plants, onions, and herbs, as well as all the smaller sprouts- and of course, the anticipation of all the little greens still yet to come! There is something very rewarding about growing your own food, and trying your hand at gardening!

Of course, we may not always be in the position to have a large garden out of doors. While we have been out of apartments and in a home with a yard for almost 5 years, this is the first year we have actual garden boxes to use!

Maybe you’re in an apartment or townhome and don’t have a big yard of your own. Maybe your yard is just a bunch of rocks and clay, waiting to be finished. Maybe your yard just doesn’t have the space for a garden right now.

There could be lots of reasons we can’t grow an outdoor garden- but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the satisfaction of growing your own food! Even if you just grow one plant, you’ll add a little extra life to your home, a hobby on your list of to-dos, and the satisfaction of getting one step closer to being more self-reliant. Here is a list of produce you can grow inside your own home!

1. Herbs are a great way to get your little gardening kick indoors. They make beautiful additions to any kitchen, plus you have the added bonus of their tantalizing aromas in your kitchen! I love being able to cut off a leaf of fresh basil or cilantro when I need it- right from the pot in my own kitchen!
2. Lettuce. There are a few different varieties but you want to find the kind that allow you to pull off a few leaves at a time, such as butter lettuce. This will allow you to keep growing your lettuce plant and enjoy that freshness all summer long!
3. Strawberries. Tasty, but also beautiful! That pop of red would be such a fun addition in any kitchen. This would be a fun one for kids as well- because what kid doesn’t love strawberries??
4. Scallions. These don’t take up much space and are pretty simple to grow, so these are a great option for any new or hesitant gardeners. They’re also super delicious in pretty much anything, so win-win all around!
5. Carrots. You’ll need a deeper pot for these, but as long as you have that you’ll be able to grow some cute little carrots! This is another food that is so versatile and can be served so many ways!
6. Radishes. These don’t need very much sunlight, so they’re a great option for growing indoors. It would also be a fun way to introduce a new food to your family if you haven’t tried radishes before!
7. Tomatoes. Many people actually begin planting these indoors- it’s just when they get bigger that it gets tricky! Tomatoes need lots of sunlight, so if you decide to grow these, you’ll want to place them in a window that gets LOTS of light, or even place them in a pot that you take outside daily (you could just keep it on your porch during the day and in your kitchen at night). You’ll also want to make sure you look for smaller/compact varieties, because tomato plants can get BIG. But they are definitely worth it, because nothing quite beats a fresh tomato and basil grilled cheese sandwich!

Growing plants indoors may be different from an outdoor garden, but it can be just as fun and rewarding with a little creativity! I’d love to hear about your gardens, whether indoors or outdoors! Share your experiences below!