There are a multitude of vegetables and herbs that are perfect for growing indoors on the windowsill – varieties that like the comfortable indoor climate and that don’t grow too big. Potted cucumbers, potted tomatoes, mini eggplants, chilies, basil, lettuce, pea shoots and microgreens are all worthy indoor crops that we grow year after year. If you grow during the dark part of the season, it is important to have a grow light that provides extra light for the plants to grow and thrive.
Growing cucumbers indoors is both easy and fun. And it will become the most beautiful plant in the world with its large leaves that climb along your window and frame it like a curtain! It is also grateful to grow – it has enormous growth power and after just 2-3 months you can harvest small cucumbers directly from your window. It can't get more locally grown than that! If you grow indoors, it is important to choose a variety that does not require pollination – you can find our favorite here. Remember to put the cucumber in a large pot, at least 5 liters, and water it with nutrients once a week to maximize the harvest.
Tomatoes are great to grow indoors, just remember to choose a variety with a compact growth habit that doesn't get too big. You can find our favorite for indoor growing here. The tomato is easy to grow and makes a beautiful potted plant – we are particularly fond of those with a hanging growth habit that you can also place in a hanging basket to get vegetation on several levels. Tomatoes require pollination to produce a harvest and you have to take care of this by hand when growing indoors. This is done by dabbing with a brush or with your finger from flower to flower. About 3-5 months after harvest, the plant will produce lots of small red tomatoes that decorate your window like pearls and give a taste of summer. Wonderfully tasty and beautiful!
Eggplant is a fantastically tasty and versatile vegetable. Did you know that it also makes a very attractive houseplant with its large leaves that resemble those of a fig tree? In addition to beautiful leaves and purple flowers, it produces dark purple small aubergines that form small ornaments on the plant. Eggplant requires pollination to produce a harvest, and you have to do this by hand when growing indoors. This is done by dabbing with a brush or with your finger from flower to flower. About 3-5 months after sowing, the beautiful houseplant will produce lots of harvest directly from your own window. It doesn't get more locally grown than that!
Basil is one of our most beloved herbs and it’s easy to see why. It’s beautiful, it smells amazing and it’s versatile and delicious in many different dishes. Growing basil from seed is easy but it does take some time, so make sure to start your seeds relatively early in the season. Basil is a sun-loving water guzzler so make sure to grow it in a sunny window and give it plenty of water throughout the season.
Chili is a perfect crop to grow indoors as it doesn't need much space and thrives well in a pot. It also loves heat, so a warm window with lots of natural daylight is a perfect place for the chili to thrive. Chili seeds take a while to germinate, so it's important to start sowing early in the season - preferably in January-February. If you're going to grow indoors, it's important to choose a variety with a lower and more compact growth habit. Our favorite is Lila Luzi, which will look like a colorful firework on your windowsill and provide lots of hot chilies to spice up your food.
