Grow These 6 Fruits and Veggies Indoors

If you’ve always taken the first signs of cooler weather as signals to pack up your potting soil and stow away your gardening tools, it’s time we help you change that. As it turns out, there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that can be grown indoors. There’s no need to sacrifice homegrown goodness just because the temperature is turning, or to give up on harvesting your own bounty just because you find yourself bound to an apartment.

If you have always dreamed of serving up your warm beef stew with sweet cooked carrots from your very own garden, you have come to the right place for indoor gardening inspiration. Read on to find out what produce you can grow yourself indoors to freshen up your dinner rotation, whatever the weather.

1. Carrots

Carrots top our list favorites because they are perfect for new gardeners who are still cultivating their green thumbs. Some say it’s actually easier to grow carrots in containers than in an outdoor garden because of their moisture requirements.

Just be sure to choose a container that is deep enough to house the carrots of your choice and keep the soil moist enough to meet their need for hydration. A bountiful carrot harvest only requires the most basic TLC, and the reward is well worth the (minimal) effort.

2. Tomatoes

The versatility of the tomato has secured its spot as a produce staple, so you’ll be happy to know that they also fare well when grown indoors—as long as you like to blast the heat all winter. Smaller varieties, such as cherry tomatoes, seem to hold up better than their larger counterparts.

Tomato plants need ample sunlight (at least eight hours per day) and grow best when the inside temperature is kept between 75 and 85 degrees F. Though they require some maintenance, the payoff is a steady supply of tomatoes to use for hearty soups, sauces, and salad toppings.

3. Leafy Greens

Not only are greens among the healthiest options you can harvest (after all, they are full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber at a low caloric cost), many are also able to thrive in an indoor plot. Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, and arugula are all prime candidates for your indoor garden.

Most of these plants require cooler temperatures and less direct sunlight, so growing greens and tomatoes simultaneously may prove to be a challenge…although that challenge might be worth undertaking if you consider that both ingredients are crucial for making the freshest BLT you’ll ever taste.

4. Avocados

If you’ve ever been frustrated by the avocado selection at your local supermarket, nurturing your very own avocado tree could be a real game changer. Some even say avocado trees come “easy to grow and ready to thrive,” making them another perfect option for beginning gardeners. If you’re ready for infinite guac and perfect avocado toast, consider tending to this plant in your home.

5. Potatoes

So what if potatoes aren’t technically classified (nutritionally) as vegetables? Starchy potatoes are still the perfect complement to the veggies you’ll be growing in your indoor garden. Indoor potato plants require a deep container. Be sure your potatoes are getting plenty of light to ensure a high yield and mashed potatoes for everyone.

6. Strawberries

Your memories of strawberry picking likely involve roaming around vast fields with endless rows of berries in the sweltering heat of summer. However, strawberries can actually be grown indoors year-round, which is good news for those times when you get an undeniable craving for strawberry shortcake in mid-December.

If you want to supplement your veggie garden with this fruity favorite, be sure to place your plant in a sunny location, avoid sudden drops in room temperature, and read up on hand pollination, which sounds harder than it actually is.

As you can see, it doesn’t take a large plot of land or a bright, sunshiny day to grow your own produce year-round. You may find you love gardening so much that you choose to expand this practice to the cultivation of an outdoor garden, or you might decide to swear off that sweaty labor of love in favor of simpler window plants.

Either way, the produce that you produce in your garden is sure to freshen up your food repertoire while providing the benefits of all things healthy and homegrown.