Wintertime Gardening Part I: 5 Easiest Edible Plants to Grow Indoors

One of the challenges of living in a dry, continental climate like the one here in Wyoming is surviving the long winter months. Getting outside can be a challenge and for those that enjoy gardening, the time between fall and spring can feel like an eternity.

But there’s good news! You can grow many vegetables, fruits, and herbs indoors, even if you have a small home or apartment. We’ve put together a short list of easy edible plants that you can grow indoors with some resources to help you begin your wintertime gardening journey.

Photo credit: A Cultivated Nest, "Growing Carrots in Containers" by Manuela Williams

Carrots - Carrots are easy to grow inside with a deep container. You can start the carrots from seed in a pot or window box. Whatever container you choose must be at least 12 inches deep and wide, with holes at the bottom for drainage. Carrots need plenty of sunlight to thrive. Find detailed instructions on growing carrots indoors here.

Photo credit: The Self Sufficient Living, "Tips For Growing Lettuce Indoors In Containers"

Salad Greens - Lettuce, spinach, endive, arugula, kale, and mustard are all easy salad greens to grow indoors. Plus, if you harvest the greens just right, most will regrow several times. Learn more about how to grow salad greens indoors from this article by Maximum Yield.

Photo credit: Diet of Life, "How to Plant Sweet Potatoes Indoors"

Potatoes - Potatoes are eager to make any space their home. From laundry baskets to garbage bags, there’s not shortage of container ideas for potatoes on the internet. You might need a little more space in your home for a crop of potatoes, but they are simple to care for. Try sweet potatoes too! Check out this guide by GrowVeg for growing potatoes in containers or bags.

Photo credit: Olive & Cocoa, "How To Grow a Windowsill Herb Garden"

Herbs and Aromatics - Okay, so this is an entire group of edible plants, but there are many herbs and aromatics that do well in a kitchen window. Cilantro, parsley, lemon balm, chives, ginger, and mint are examples of herbs that are easy to start and care for indoors. Edible flowers like lavender and chamomile are pretty and flavorful. Click here to learn how to create an herb garden for sunny windowsills. For more information on growing ginger indoors, read this.

A variety of microgreens grown right here at Wyoming Food for Thought Project!

Microgreens - Microgreens are young vegetable greens harvested as early as 6 days after germination. A variety of vegetables can be eaten as microgreens and these tiny plants are packed with flavor and nutrients. The most popular varieties are sunflower, beet, pea, radish, and buckwheat. Basil and cilantro have powerful flavor. To grow microgreens, you’ll need a shallow container to plant seeds in and a warm room to help them germinate. This article from Wellness Mama gives step-by-step instructions to grow microgreens in your home.

We hope you found this post on container gardening informative. Don't let this list limit you though! There are many different fruits, vegetables, and herbs that you can grow indoors. Experimentation and research are the fastest ways to expertise.

Tell us what edible plants you have had success with indoors in the comments!

Stay tuned for more posts about indoor gardening in the wintertime including DIY vertical gardens, hanging gardens, and small space composting.