Whether you have a small balcony, tiny porch, or zero yard space, you may think that growing a small edible garden isn't feasible. But with a little creativity and understanding of the basics of what plants need to grow—sunlight, nutrient-rich soil, and sufficient water—growing vegetables indoors can be a viable and fun option.
Ahead, we spoke to experts about what you need to know about how to grow vegetables inside, tips for success, and which vegetables are best for your indoor kitchen garden.
Tips for Growing Vegetables Indoors
You've decided you want to grow vegetables indoors—but what's the best way to start? Providing proper care for your plants is essential for growth and success. Plants need a lot of sunlight, which is one of the challenges when growing indoors. Choose a spot in the home that receives ample sunlight daily. This is typically a south or west-facing window. Once you find the best place for them, you'll need to be attentive and check on your plants frequently, rotating them to make sure they receive equal light exposure to prevent them from becoming leggy, says Ragan.
If you don't have an area in your home that receives sufficient sunlight, use grow lights. "Supplement natural light with grow lights to achieve a total of 16 hours of light per day, especially during darker months," says Shawna Coronado, author of No-Waste Organic Gardening. One thing that's easier to control is the soil—choose a high-quality potting mix that's designed with indoor gardening in mind, says Ragan.
Then, you're ready to choose vegetable and herb varieties that are suitable for growing indoors and take less time to reach maturity, like the choices below.
Arugula
Arugula is a leafy green with a peppery bite that is great in salads, sauteed, or as an alternative to lettuce in sandwiches. They have rounded or spiky leaves and can be picked within a month after they germinate, or you can wait till they mature at the two-month mark.
"Arugula is an excellent choice for indoor growing because it matures quickly and doesn't require much space," says Coronado. "Place arugula pots near a sunny window with indirect sunlight, or consider using grow lights if natural light is limited." Emily Murphy, gardening author, expert organic gardener, and rewilding educator, says arugula is a hardy plant that can grow in partial to full sun conditions. She advises against placing it in a north-facing window as it typically won't receive sufficient light.
- Time to maturity: 20 to 60 days
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial sun; moist, well-draining soil
Kale
Kale is part of the cabbage family and grows individual leaves instead of a head. Mature leaves are typically ready within two months or you can harvest baby leaves sooner. "Sow seeds by sprinkling them over the soil surface of a container and harvest them as cut and come again greens," says Murphy. "Or grow one or two plants and harvest larger leaves as they mature."
She recommends providing a minimum of four hours of direct sunlight daily. "If your home doesn’t have a west or south-facing window with lots of light, consider supplementing with grow lights—you can even add grow lights to your under cabinet lighting," she says.
- Time to maturity: 50 to 60 days
- Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
Lettuce
"Lettuce is an easy vegetable to grow indoors because it thrives in cooler temperatures and doesn't require intense sunlight," says Ragan. Choose loose-leaf varieties because you can harvest the outer leaves as they grow. "It's a fast-growing plant that can be harvested multiple times, making it perfect for indoor gardening," she says. "To ensure it gets sufficient light, place lettuce near a south-facing window or under grow lights for about 12 to 14 hours a day."
- Time to maturity: 60 to 80 days, depending on variety
- Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
Spinach
Spinach is known for its high nutrients and is part of the Amaranth family, like beets. "Spinach is a fantastic vegetable to grow indoors due to its compact size and quick growth cycle," says Ragan. This leafy green is hardy and low-maintenance. "It can tolerate lower light levels and still produce a bountiful harvest," she says.
You'll want to place your spinach plants someplace bright that receives indirect light, like an east or west-facing window, says Ragan. Or, you can use grow light to supplement a lack of natural light.
- Time to maturity: 25 to 30 days
- Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are part of the nightshade family, like tomatoes, and need sunlight and warm temperatures to grow. "Bell peppers are a versatile vegetable that can thrive indoors," says Coronado. Set yourself up for success by choosing compact varieties that are ideal for growing in pots. "Place pepper plants near a south-facing window, ensuring they receive at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily for optimal growth," she says. If you want to supplement with grow lights, consider 14 to 16 hours total of light per day.
- Time to maturity: 60 to 90 days, depending on variety
- Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
Green Onions
Green onions, also known as scallions, have a mild flavor and are used in many recipes or as a garnish for soups, stews, or tossed in salads. "Green onions are perfect for indoor growing because they are low-maintenance and can be continuously harvested," says Ragan. "They regrow quickly after cutting, providing a constant supply of fresh onions."
Green onions do best in a sunny location that receives direct sunlight. "Place them in a bright spot, preferably near a south-facing window, or under grow lights for about 12 hours a day to ensure they get sufficient light," Ragan says.
- Time to maturity: 70 to 85 days
- Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
Potatoes
A root vegetable, potatoes need sunlight and plenty of space to grow underground. "I’ve had lots of luck growing potatoes indoors—grow bags, larger boxes, or planters are ideal to optimize production (with a typical harvest of about 10 pounds)," says Murphy. Opt for a spacious and deep container for optimal success.
Just remember to be picky about the variety of potatoes you choose to grow—aim for smaller types. "It's essential to choose compact varieties like fingerlings or mini potatoes," says Coronado. "They require a large container with ample drainage and should be placed near a sunny window with at least eight hours of sunlight daily or supplemented with grow lights."
- Time to maturity: 80 to 125 days, depending on variety
- Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
Tomatoes
Juicy, delectable tomatoes in all colors, shapes, and sizes signal summer has arrived; they love the sun and heat. "With well over 10,000 varieties of tomatoes to choose from, you’ll have the best success growing a determinate variety adapted to containers," says Murphy," especially if you have a bright, south-facing or southwest-facing window where a tomato plant can thrive."
You'll also want to consider smaller types, such as cherry tomatoes. Tomato plants need a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day to grow and thrive. If you don't have an area in your home that receives sufficient sunlight, opt for grow lights.
- Time to maturity: 100 to 120 days after sowing seeds; dependent on variety
- Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
Herbs
Herbs are wonderful to grow indoors because they require minimal space, are easy to care for, and provide fresh, aromatic ingredients year-round. There are many options to choose from, including basil, cilantro, oregano, and mint; most need plenty of sunlight to thrive. "Cilantro can thrive with four to six hours of direct sunlight a day while basil and oregano prefer more—at least six or more," says Murphy. "The beauty of herbs is that you can harvest the leaves as you need them [and] when grown indoors, they’re at your fingertips."
You'll want to consider where you place them in your home to make sure they thrive. "Place herbs near a sunny window, ideally south-facing," says Ragan. "Or under grow lights to ensure they receive 12 to 16 hours of light daily."
- Time to maturity: 45 to 70 days, depending on herb and variety
- Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil