One of the things that surprises me the most is how often people think you need to have some huge plot of land, or a box outside, or a larger area to be able to grow food like leafy greens. When I explain how easy it really is to grow lettuce or other greens in a container in the window, I get mixed reactions. Some laugh as if I made a joke, others tell me the ‘food wouldn’t be as good.’ (I never understood that one).
Many people do not know that lettuce and other greens grow fast! One of my favorite kinds of lettuce (salad bowl variety) can be picked from in 2-3 weeks and is considered ‘mature’ at 45 days after planting. Most lettuce prefers a cooler environment to grow in but unless you keep your house at 80 degrees, any window should do the trick. A window that gets good light most of the day works best but if there is shade, afternoon shade would be best. It is so easy, I wonder why more people aren’t growing greens year round.
Lettuce and other greens such as mustard have very shallow roots. This helps with container growing in many ways. First, you do not need monstrous, deep pots to plant in. So long as you can get about 6 inches of soil, you will have more than enough room for the roots to spread out and feed the plants that will feed you!
Overcoming the Challenges of Growing Greens in Containers
Because of the shallow roots most greens have, if you don’t keep the soil damp (not soaked), the greens can wilt and you will lose your crop. Another thing to watch out for, especially if growing in windowsills, the hot afternoon sun will be amplified by the glass and can cause your plants to also wilt, get burnt, or trigger a seed cycle. You can avoid this by placing the containers outside when you leave for the day or setting them so they will be shaded in the afternoon.
If you have pets, particularly cats or birds, you need to be careful what you plant! Some greens, spices, or herbs can be very poisonous to these animals! Do your research or ask your veterinarian before sowing seeds.
If growing in the kitchen, humidity and heat can be a problem. If you are boiling a large pot of water (examples would be water bath or pressure canning) or simmering a sauce down all day long, moisture and heat will build up. This can cause the plant to wilt, brown, or even start molding if it happens often. Alternatively, if you are baking breads, cookies, or roasting a turkey, the heat can also have an affect on the health of plants. In both scenarios, having fresh air will help or you can simply pick the container up and move it to a better place until you’re done.
Pests such as aphids and other bugs can be more problematic when growing indoors. Strong, healthy plants are less susceptible to attracting them where they will form a colony and draw the sap (and life) out of the plant. There are several organic and natural ways to rid an infestation and save the plant available on the market. Typically made of some kind of soap with no alcohol or fragrance, things like neem oil, diluted Ivory soap, and simply blasting the plants with water have varying success (depending how bad it is).
Other Easy Plants to Grow Indoors
We have grown many herbs and spices on our windowsill in the kitchen. The price of groceries overall where we live is extremely expensive so to save money and ensure a constant supply. While they are growing, I will use them fresh as I prepare meals, when I’m canning, and give to friends. In most plants like basil, this constant pruning helps encourage even more growth which we use to our advantage! When the container on the windowsill is bursting with whichever tasty herb we are growing, I will go in and harvest the whole lot and dehydrate it! We even reuse the last container we bought at the store. It has been over 2 years since we have bought the following tasty herbs, along with an estimate on how much money we have saved by growing it ourselves.
- Basil – At over $5 for half an ounce of leaves, we have easily saved $40.
- Oregano – The average price for Oregano is around $4-5 per 0.75 ounce container, depending which store you go to. Estimated money saved to date is $12-$14.
- Sage – This is a big one! We love sage and have saved over $40 in two years with the store price being $7 for 0.87 ounces.
- Dill – Though we don’t use much dill, we have saved $6-7 by not having to buy a single container in years! Having fresh to make pickles and pickled garlic wa a special treat.
- Parsley – Parsley is pretty inexpensive overall but it is also extremely easy to grow. We have saved roughly $7-8 by growing and dehydrating our own.
Total savings (not including garlic or green onions): $70 on just a few different spices!
The possibilities on what can grow on your windowsill, small balcony, or even hanging in a well lit corner are wide open. Never think you can’t grow something just because you rent or are limited on space. Think outside the box and adapt!