Easiest crops to grow at home
10 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in the Home Garden
If you’re a beginner, it’s helpful to know which vegetables are easiest to grow from seed. Plus, growing from seed is less expensive, offers more variety, and has a higher success rate. Our list below includes vegetable seeds that can be sown directly into your garden soil. Some are also suitable for transplanting.
Should I Grow Vegetables from Seed or Transplants?
There’s nothing wrong with starting your garden from small plants which you purchase (known as “transplants”)—in fact, many people do! In fact, there are a handful of vegetables that can be challenging to grow from seed and are best purchased as young plants from a garden store/nursery (tomatoes, for example, can be finicky to start from seed). Transplants also allow you to get a head start on growing tender vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, which require a long, warm growing season.
That said—unless you have a short growing season—many vegetables are easy enough to start from seed at home.
Here are a handful of the benefits of starting from seeds:
- Seeds are much cheaper, especially in greater quantities. They often keep at least a couple years, and they can be shared with friends and neighbors, too.
- Seeds offer much more variety than the often limited choice of transplants in a nursery. Just take a look at these seed catalogs and let the dreams begin!
- Some vegetables do not survive being transplated from one place to another.
- Starting from seed means that you can sow seeds directly in the garden, which opens the door to growing crops such as corn, melons, squash, beans, and peas, which simply do not grow as well when transplanted from one place to another.
- Starting plants from seed means you can ensure they are healthy and strong right from the start.
This is not a complete list, by any means, but these are considered some of the easiest and most common vegetables that can be grown at home.
1. Lettuce
We’ve never known a garden that cannot grow lettuce.
Lettuce can be sown directly in your garden bed, or started indoors for transplanting. It’s one of the few crops that can be grown all year in our climate, but in hot weather it should be shaded and harvested at smaller sizes. Lettuce growth slows in shade; it is also slower to go to seed, or “bolt,” which means that it can be harvested for longer.
An endless assortment of leaf shapes and shades of green and red means you’ll never get tired of growing new lettuce varieties. Leaf lettuces can be cut as they grow, and you can enjoy several harvests from the same plant by just snipping off what you need each time.
If you want full heads of romaine and head lettuce to develop, thin them. Allow for 8 to 10 inches between plants. As you thin young plants, save the delicate small leaves for salads.
See our Growing Guide for Lettuce.
Pole beans require some sort of structure to climb! Photo by Smereka/Shutterstock.
2. Green Beans
Beans grow even in fairly poor soils, because they fix the nitrogen as they go! Bush varieties don’t require trellising, but pole varieties provide a more extended harvest. In cool areas, snap beans are easiest. In hot areas, lima beans, southern peas, and asparagus beans are also very easy to grow. All bean plants are fast growers and thrive in warm, moist soil.
See our Growing Guide for Green Beans for more information on planting and growing beans!
Peas! Photo by DigiCake/Shutterstock.3. Peas
Plant peas as soon as the soil can be worked—2 weeks before the average last spring frost for your region, if possible. To harvest a continuous supply of peas during the summer, simultaneously sow varieties with different maturity dates. Then sow more seeds about 2 weeks later. Continue this pattern, sowing no later than mid-June.
See our Growing Guide for Peas.
Radishes. Photo by Udra11/Shutterstock.4. Radishes
Radishes can be harvested in as little as 24 days after planting, and can be inter-planted with slower-growing vegetables.
You can plant radishes as soon as you can work the soil in the spring.
Sow each seed 2 inches apart or more, or thin them to this spacing after they sprout. Cover the seeds with about half an inch of compost or soil.
Here’s a tip: Radish seeds are natural companions to carrots. Mix radish seeds with carrot seeds before you sow, especially if your soil tends to develop a tough crust. The quick-to-sprout radishes will push up through the soil, breaking it up for the later-sprouting carrots. As you harvest the radishes, the carrots will fill in the row.
See our Growing Guide for Radishes.
5. Carrots
We’re including carrots only because they’re super easy to grow as long as they’re planted in loose, sandy soil during the cooler periods of the growing season—spring and fall (carrots can tolerate frost). Not all carrots are orange; varieties range in color from purple to white, and some are resistant to diseases and pests.
Many beginners find their carrots are short and deformed.
This is typically due to poor, rocky soil, so it’s important to provide soft, loose soil that drains well. Mix in some sand and really loosen it up. Also, it is essential to THIN carrot seedlings to the proper spacing so that they’re not overcrowded. Be bold! Thin those seedlings if you want carrots to form properly.
Learn more in our Growing Guide for Carrots.
6. Cucumbers
Prepare in advance for cucumbers; amend the soil with a fertilizer high in nitrogen and potassium to support the plant’s large yields. If possible, plant cucumbers in the sun next to a fence. The fence will serve as support for climbing and act as a shelter. Or plant them near corn. The corn will trap the heat that cucumbers crave and also serve as a windbreak.
See our Growing Guide for Cucumbers.
7. Kale
Like it or not, super-nutritious kale is very hardy and can grow in a wide range of temperatures. It can be harvested at many different stages, and the buds and flowers are edible, too! Mustards and collards are closely related to kale and are also easy to grow.
Set out plants any time, from early spring to early summer and kale will grow until it gets too hot. Plant again the fall, especially if you live in the southern United States. Another nice thing about kale is that it only gets sweeter after being hit by a couple frosts. Try kale baked, stir-fried, or steamed. Enjoy in salads, smoothies, omelettes, casseroles, or wherever you’d use spinach.
See our Growing Guide for Kale.
8. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard—or simply “chard”—is a member of the beet family. It does well in both cool and warm weather. It is a nutritional superfood, high in vitamins A, C, and K as well as minerals, phytonutrients, and fiber—plus, its rainbow of colors are beautiful!
See our Growing Guide for Swiss Chard.
Beets. Photo by Darasp Kran/Shutterstock.9. Beets
You haven’t lived until you’ve tasted beets you’ve grown yourself. We mean it! Nothing compares to garden-fresh beets, boiled or roasted until tender.
The quirky seed capsules contain two or three beet seeds, so the seedlings will always need to be thinned.
Sow the seed capsules about an inch deep, and 4 inches apart.
Harvest the roots at any time up until they’re the size of a tennis ball. While you’re waiting for them to plump up, why not try a few of the leaves? They can be used just like spinach, giving you two harvests from one plant.
See our Growing Guide to Beets.
10. Summer Squash (Zucchini)
Summer squash and zucchini like well-composted soil and need plenty of space (plant them 3 to 6 feet apart in warm soil and lots of sun.) Soon enough, you’ll have so many zucchinis, you’ll be leaving them on neighbors’ doorsteps! Always water at the soil level—not the leaves—to avoid powdery mildew.
See our Growing Guide for Squash and Zucchini.
The above crops are some of the easiest vegetables you can grow, but there are many, many more veggies for you to try! Check out our complete library of Growing Guides for advice on planting all the popular vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers.
And now that you know which seeds are easiest to grow, see our Tips to Starting Seeds Indoors!
Free Online Gardening Guides
We’ve gathered all of our best beginner gardening guides into a step-by-step series designed to help you learn how to garden! Visit our complete Gardening for Everyone hub, where you’ll find a series of guides—all free! From selecting the right gardening spot to choosing the best vegetables to grow, our Almanac gardening experts are excited to teach gardening to everyone—whether it’s your 1st or 40th garden.
8 Easiest Vegetables to Grow (Even If Don't Know Gardening)
Raising a garden offers many benefits to the gardener.
It is much healthier to grow your own food. You are fully aware of what has gone into the product and know what you are eating.
A vegetable garden also saves a lot of money.
Many are intimidated to take on the task, but starting a garden can be simple if you grow the right crops. There are many that yield a great product and don’t require a ton of work.
To encourage you to start with this very rewarding task, we compiled a list of the easiest vegetables to grow, so that anyone can have success.
1. Lettuce
There are many types of lettuce that can be grown. You can grow leaf lettuce which is great for a mixed green salad.
You can also grow head lettuce such as Romaine or Iceberg.
The seeds can be found at most any general store and are very inexpensive. You also have the option of picking up lettuce plants at your local nursery.
Lettuce is a cool weather plant so it can be planted in early spring or fall. Lettuce seedlings can actually handle a little bit of frost. As long as the temperatures don’t dip below 45 degrees Fahrenheit then the plants should do just fine.
If by some chance the temperatures do drop or if you experience some snow, just cover the plants with plastic or a sheet, and they should be fine. Lettuce can actually be grown year round in a cold frame greenhouse because of its hardiness in cold weather.
What makes lettuce so easy beyond the fact that it is cold resistant, is that it can be direct sown. When first learning how to garden, starting your own seeds can be a difficult task.
Here you can learn more about starting seeds on a budget.
Planting items that can be directly sown makes planting a lot easier. Just be sure to go over where you directly sowed a few weeks later. You’ll notice that some areas probably have too many plants clustered together.
It is important to thin a few of those out so the plants have room to grow.
The key to lettuce is that you can plant small crops at a time and keep fresh lettuce coming in for months. This technique also keeps you from being overrun with too much lettuce at once.
It is a good idea to plant a fresh crop of lettuce every two to three weeks during the growing season.
Planting chives or garlic between lettuce crops will help with keeping pests off of your crops as well.
Be sure to plant your lettuce in well-drained soil with compost. It will be ready to harvest when the lettuce appears full grown. It is best to harvest lettuce early in the morning.
As the day goes on the sun will cause your lettuce leaves to go limp which is not prime for picking.
Here is more information on growing lettuce and a bonus of growing lettuce indoors, as they are some of the easiest vegetables to grow.
| Harvest time | 65-80 days (depending on type) |
| Ideal temperatures | 45-75 °F |
| Planting time | Spring, Fall |
| Spacing | 6-18 inches (depending on type) |
| Germination time | 2-15 days |
| Light preferences | Sun or partial shade |
| Best companion | Carrots, radishes, beetroot |
2.
SpinachSpinach is a very easy crop to grow and deserves a top spot in the easiest vegetables to grow list.
It is much like growing loose leaf lettuce. You will need to plant it in well-drained soil with compost. It can be planted in full sun or light shade. It is best to direct sow spinach.
When you plant your spinach seeds, you will need to go through and thin where you planted a few weeks later. Just be sure to remove any area where you see clusters appear.
Spinach can be planted year round in most climates as it is very cold weather friendly. It can actually survive in weather as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here we have more information on growing Spinach.
| Harvest time | 40-50 days |
| Ideal temperatures | 35-75 °F |
| Planting time | Spring, Fall |
| Spacing | 8 inches |
| Germination time | 6-21 days |
| Light preferences | Sun or partial shade |
| Best companion | Cabbage family, strawberry |
3.
Green BeansGreen beans are a simple plant to grow with an abundant harvest. They are another plant that you will need to direct sow.
There are many different types of green beans so you’ll need to decide what you are looking for. Some people love half runners. They are very tender beans, but they literally run along a vine.
You’ll need to be sure to grow these along a homemade trellis for easier picking.
You can get an idea of how to make a trellis here.
If you decide to plant half runners be advised they have strings. This means when you pick them and are going to fix them to eat you will have to string them.
You can learn how to do that from this video:
Other than learning how to do these few simple tasks, they are very simple to grow.
For those that don’t want to worry about stringing beans or picking beans from a vine, then a bush bean might be right for you.
The name explains them completely.
They are beans that the plant bushes out instead of running along a vine. You can just go along your row of green beans and pull them directly off of the bush. They also don’t usually have strings on them.
In order to plant green beans, you will need to plant them in well-drained soil where they will get adequate sunlight. Place a thick layer of compost over the row. Then you will directly plant the seeds into the compost.
Go over the row with a hoe or rake and lightly cover the seeds with the compost.
In a few weeks you will have tiny green bean plants sprouting in your garden.
Green beans require adequate water. You will notice when they need water as they start to shrivel up. If your green bean plants start to turn yellow it will be because your soil is lacking nitrogen.
You can buy blood meal or bone meal and place it around your plants.
If you have rabbits, their poop will do the same job usually. Green beans are also a favorite for bugs to munch on their leaves.
If you see this, you can set bug traps like this one as a natural alternative to pest control.
| Harvest time | 55-65 days |
| Ideal temperatures | 55-85 °F |
| Planting time | Early summer |
| Spacing | 6 inches, 18 inches (row) |
| Germination time | 8-16 days |
| Light preferences | Sun or partial shade where hot |
| Best companion | Potatoes, cabbages, radishes, peas |
4. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are another simple plant to grow.
Some people really like them while others don’t. The important thing to remember about cucumbers is that even if you don’t like them on a salad, you might enjoy putting them in a jar as a homemade dill pickle.
When planting cucumbers, you can either plant them in your garden or plant them in containers.
Cucumbers can be planted directly into the ground, started indoors three weeks before planting, or you may purchase cucumber seedlings at your local nursery.
Either way, they are a warm weather crop that should be planted after the last spring frost.
If you choose to plant cucumbers in your garden, plant them in well-drained soil with ample sunlight. Be sure to use compost when planting them as well.
Cucumbers are a vine so as long as you give them ample space for their vines to run you will have ample amount of cucumbers. This is another plant that creating a trellis for their vines to run along would be a good idea.
If you decide to plant them in containers, you can plant regular full sized cucumbers or buy a different variety.
They actually make a patio cucumber meant specifically to be grown in containers on a patio. If you decide to use this method, fill the bucket with dirt and compost.
Plant one cucumber plant per bucket. Be sure to place them in the sun and water the plant regularly. It is a good idea to fertilize your cucumbers every month or so.
Once the cucumbers grow to full size they are ready to be picked.
| Harvest time | 48-65 days |
| Ideal temperatures | 70-85 °F |
| Planting time | Summer |
| Spacing | 12 inches, 3 feet (row) |
| Germination time | 4-13 days |
| Light preferences | Sun or partial shade |
| Best companion | Beans, carrots, parsley, cauliflower |
5.
Yellow Summer SquashSummer squash is another one of easiest vegetables to grow. It is recommended that you either start your squash seeds indoors or buy squash seedlings for a quicker harvest.
When planting squash be sure to plant them with compost into well-drained soil. Squash enjoy the sun so planting them in direct sunlight or where they will get majority sun throughout the day is important.
Squash grow on a vine as well so be sure to give them ample room for their vines to run. This can be done through a trellis or left to run along the ground.
Water your squash regularly and fertilize once a month or so and your squash should do just fine.
You will know the squash is ready to be picked when they have turned yellow and the stem is easy to break off of the plant.
| Harvest time | 48-65 days |
| Ideal temperatures | 70-90 °F |
| Planting time | Summer |
| Spacing | 12 inches, 3 feet (row) |
| Germination time | 6-12 days |
| Light preferences | Sun or partial shade |
| Best companion | Peas, beans |
6.
Root Vegetables: Radishes and CarrotsRoot vegetables are usually pretty easy to grow. Radishes and carrots are the easiest vegetables of them. I love to grow these vegetables because again, they can be directly sown into the ground or grown in a container.
I actually prefer growing these in containers.
The key to growing successful root vegetables is not overcrowding the seeds and have loose enough dirt for them to grow in. If you decide to plant these vegetables in the ground, you will want to be sure to really make the dirt loose when planting.
Be sure to plant in compost as well.
Radishes and carrots need to be direct sown. Once the seedlings start coming up you will need to go through and thin any clusters so your plants will have room to grow.
If you have clay or other really clumpy dirt, you will need to choose a variety of carrot that is stubbier so it can grow to full capacity without having to push through all of that hard dirt.
If you have good, loose dirt then you should be able to grow full size carrots with no problems.
Radishes can grow to full size regardless.
Maybe you have clumpy dirt but desire to grow full size carrots. That is where container gardening comes into play.
You will need a large container such as a 5 gallon bucket or planters that you could plant a tree in. Fill the bucket with loose dirt and compost. Then you will plant your seeds. You will have to go through a few weeks later and thin out the clumps of seedlings.
Be sure to water your vegetables as needed in the containers. Fertilizing once a month is a good idea as well.
Whether you decide to plant your root vegetables in the ground or in a container, knowing when to harvest is still the same. When the tops of the radishes or carrots get to be big, green, and bushy it is time to pull a few to test the size.
If you pull them, and they appear full grown then it is safe to harvest. If you pull a few to test, and they still have some growing to do then keep watering and fertilizing for a few more weeks.
Then go back and test your product again.
| Harvest time | 60-80 days |
| Ideal temperatures | 60-70 °F |
| Planting time | Spring, Summer, Fall |
| Spacing | 3 inches |
| Germination time | 6-21 days |
| Light preferences | Sun or partial shade |
| Best companion | Peas, lettuce, tomatoes |
7. Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are a very flavorful vegetable that are terribly easy to grow.
Again, these plants are recommended to either be started indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting outside or to just be purchased as seedlings from your local nursery.
Bell peppers love heat! Do not plant them until after all threat of frost has passed.
Be sure to place them in direct sunlight where they will get the most sun all day long. You will need to plant them 4-6 inches apart into well-drained soil and be sure to remember the compost. Then you water them regularly and fertilize on a monthly basis.
Be sure to keep down any weeds that grow around your pepper plants.
That is all there is to it!
In a few months you’ll see beautiful peppers. You’ll know they are ready for picking when they turn bright green (or yellow or red….depending upon what color you planted.)
When they are first starting to ripen they will have a lighter shade of their color. Once they turn that bright, waxy color then they are ready.
If you see them starting to fade then you have let them go too far.
| Harvest time | 60-80 days |
| Ideal temperatures | 70-90 °F |
| Planting time | Early summer |
| Spacing | 18-36 inches |
| Germination time | 8-25 days |
| Light preferences | Sun > 6 hours |
| Best companion | Basil, onions, carrots, radishes |
8.
TomatoesTomatoes are one of the most sought after produces during the summer time. The reason is because there is no comparison when it comes to homegrown tomatoes. They taste like nothing on a store shelf anywhere!
The amazing thing is that tomatoes are super easy to grow too.
Just like peppers, it is recommended that they be started indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Otherwise, just pick up the seedlings that have already been started at your local nursery.
Tomatoes come in all varieties from Beef steak tomatoes, to yellow tomatoes, to purple Cherokee. The list goes on and on. Try all types until you find the one that thrills your taste buds because they all grow the same.
Once you have your seedlings, plant them in full sunlight in well-drained soil. It is important (just as with the peppers) to be sure that all threat of frost is gone before planting.
Tomatoes love the heat and hate the cold!
Be sure to add your compost around each plant when planting.
Tomatoes will need to be watered regularly and fertilized monthly.
If you see your tomato plants turning yellow they are lacking nitrogen. All you will need to do is add some bone meal or blood meal around the base of each plant and water them. This should help add back the nitrogen that your plant is missing.
That is all there is to growing tomatoes. If you water, they will grow.
Once your tomatoes have turned their proper color and have grown to a good size then harvest them and enjoy.
The only thing that needs to be mentioned in planting both tomatoes and peppers is that you should never plant them together.
Bees will cross pollenate your peppers and tomatoes. This will ruin the flavor of your tomatoes. Be sure to plant a row of tomatoes, then plant another row or two of another crop, and then plant your peppers.
They can be in the same garden, but they need a few rows to separate them.
Planting your own garden can be so fulfilling.
Placing food on the table that you raised from start to finish is quite the accomplishment.
Though growing a garden may seem complex, some of these easiest vegetables will give any beginner success.
| Harvest time | 60-100 days |
| Ideal temperatures | 60-90 °F |
| Planting time | Early summer |
| Spacing | 18-36 inches |
| Germination time | 6-14 days |
| Light preferences | Sun > 6 hours |
| Best companion | Chives, basil, carrots, peppers |
And that is our list of the 8 easiest vegetables to grow, with a clear guide on what to do and when, so you can have great success with your garden.
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Yes No12 vegetables that are easy to grow at home / AdMe
Sometimes you want to go out on the balcony, like Jamie Oliver, pick up your own grown vegetables and herbs and make something stunning out of them.
And the balcony, by the way, looks much prettier if it contains not old pieces of iron that it’s time to send to a landfill, but fragrant herbs and vegetables.
ADME has selected some interesting plants that do well on a windowsill or balcony.
Pepper
You can grow hot pepper for diablo pizza on the windowsill. It will need a warm, bright place and varieties suitable for home cultivation: "Carmen", "Flint", "Spark", "Ryabinushka", "Bride", "Indian Summer", etc.
The bushes are very pretty and do not require large pots. Up to 50 fruits can be tied on one plant. The optimum temperature is 25-27 degrees Celsius.
Carrots
For growing carrots at home, it is better to take mini-cultivars like "Parmex", "Sophie", "Vnuchka". They grow up to 80-90 days and do not require a lot of space - they are quite satisfied with a pot or container. You can also take a funny round variety "Round Baby".
The soil for carrots should be light and well drained.
The vegetable can be grown in cut plastic bottles. The optimum temperature is within 13-24 degrees Celsius.
Mint
Mint is a non-capricious and undemanding plant. It can grow on your windowsill or balcony even in winter, if you arrange additional lighting. It can be grown from cuttings and seeds. If it is possible to dig a cutting in the country house of oneself or friends, it is better to use this method. Mint grown from seeds is not accepted as actively, and it will take longer to wait for the harvest.
It is important to remember that the plant likes well-drained soil. And when choosing a place for it, keep in mind that the lighting should be good, but direct sunlight is best avoided. The optimal temperature for mint is 20-25 degrees with a plus sign.
Green Onions
Growing green onions at home does not require much skill. But still, it is worth considering some nuances: the bulb that you will plant should be round, dense to the touch and without traces of rot, the root cup should be well formed.
Immediately after planting, put the onion in a cool, dark place so that the root system is better formed, and only then the feather will need a lot of light. The optimum temperature is 18-20 degrees, you should not overheat, because then the growth of greenery will stop.
Basil
Any variety of basil grows well in pots and boxes. It is better for him to allocate a sunny place, water well, keep warm and provide good drainage. For planting, you can use both cuttings and seeds. At the same time, the cuttings will quickly give the first crop, but will not last long, as they will quickly bloom. You will have to wait longer to harvest from seeds, but such a bush will last longer.
The optimum temperature for basil is 20-25 degrees Celsius. In winter, lighting is required for about 3-4 hours to increase daylight hours.
Cucumbers
To grow cucumbers on the windowsill or on the balcony, you should look at the hybrid varieties that are marked with the F1 icon.
If all conditions are created for the plant, it can produce 3-4 dozen fruits. Here you will have to tinker a little with seedlings, but after transplanting into boxes, you will only need to water and trim the antennae.
Plant the plants in containers of at least 5 liters. It is important to remember that cucumbers are large watermelons and the ground should always be moist. The optimum temperature is 21-24 degrees Celsius.
Tomatoes
Dwarf varieties are usually chosen as home tomatoes: Minibel, Florida Petit, Balcony Miracle, etc. You will have to allocate the most illuminated place in the apartment to this miracle. It will be necessary to start with seedlings, after which they will be planted in containers, tied up, fed and protected from the cold. This is one of the most troublesome balcony crops, but pride in the work done and horticultural talent are attached to the harvest.
It is important to remember that tomatoes, like all plants, love water, but they are easy to flood.
Therefore, watering should be done carefully. The optimum temperature is 23-25 degrees Celsius.
Sorrel
Sorrel, in addition to its wonderful taste, is distinguished by the fact that it calmly tolerates shaded places. It can be grown from the rhizomes of 2-4-year-old plants with buds or from the seeds of such varieties as Maykopsky, Altaisky, Odessa broad-leaved.
It can grow at both 5 and 20 degrees of heat and even withstands slight frosts. So you can keep it on the balcony until the last, and if the balcony keeps heat well, then don’t clean it for the winter. The leaves are cut at a height of 8-10 cm, this must be done carefully so as not to damage the growth buds.
Ginger
Ginger is not only a delicious spice, but also a beautiful plant. If planted at home, sprouts can grow up to a meter in height. Pieces of ginger root are planted, consisting of at least a couple of sections with live buds. If the root is dry, you can hold it in warm water for several hours to wake up the kidneys.
The root should not be planted very deep, and until the first shoots appear, water should be very moderate. Ginger should be kept in the light, but away from direct sunlight. The optimum temperature is 20-25 degrees Celsius.
Pineapple
To grow a pineapple at home, you need to be patient and find a suitable fruit - bought in the warm season and with an intact tail. The tail is cut with a knife, preferably without pulp, dried for 3-4 days in the light, and then germinated in clean river sand. When the roots appear, after about a month, it can be transplanted into a pot with soil.
Pineapple loves light, warmth and sprays. The fruit will appear about 2 years after planting. The optimum temperature is 23-30 degrees Celsius.
Strawberries
Strawberries can be grown at home all year round, in winter you need to arrange lighting. To do this, you should choose remontant strawberry varieties that bear fruit not once a season, but constantly, for example: "Yellow Miracle", "Queen Elizabeth", "Mount Everest".
You can grow strawberries from seeds, but the easiest way is to buy ready-made seedlings. After 3-4 months, a couple of bushes will give new outlets, and your plantation will increase by 3 times. Meanwhile, as with seed germination, you will have to tinker.
Strawberries are afraid of the cold, so they should be taken out to the balcony only when the weather is warm. The optimum temperature is 18-24 degrees Celsius. It is important to remember that since there are no insects at home, you will have to pollinate the flowers yourself with a brush.
Thyme
Thyme is a wonderful herb. It is very fragrant, tasty and extremely unpretentious. In nature, thyme grows in dry areas with poor soil. Therefore, it is not easy to ruin it at home. The most important thing he loves is light. It is not afraid of direct sunlight, and it can be placed even where other plants will die. The only difficulty is watering: in the sun, the soil in a small volume of the pot dries out quickly, and thyme itself does not like waterlogging.
Also, there is no point in overdoing it with fertilizers - thyme will not appreciate this. It can be grown both from cuttings and seeds.
What goodies do you grow at home?
Kitchen garden on the windowsill. We grow greens and vegetables at home — Botanichka
In the warm season, summer residents and happy owners of country houses condescendingly look at the townspeople who manage to grow greens and even vegetables at home. Indeed, well, how many cucumbers or tomatoes can be grown on a windowsill? But with the arrival of cold weather, and then with the approach of spring, farmers begin to actively use the usable area of their loggias, balconies and window sills in the rooms, because this is a wonderful place (and sometimes the only one) for year-round growing greens and seasonal seedlings. This sub-heading will tell you how to get the most out of your windowsill garden.
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Do you know that not all types of plants and their varieties are suitable for growing at home? And if we talk about a year-round garden at home, then it is imperative to take into account the fact that in regions with a temperate climate, at least in November-December, plants need to be illuminated, otherwise they will not develop normally.
The articles that you will read in this subheading will save you from many mistakes when organizing beds on the windowsill. And here you will learn everything about the rules for growing healthy seedlings - from preparing the soil for sowing, to moving it to open ground. If you have any questions about creating and maintaining a garden at home, ask them on our Forum. Here you will find many like-minded people who will gladly share their experience.
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How to help seedlings and indoor plants when they lack light?
Now it is impossible to imagine our life without all kinds of electronic devices that make our life more convenient. High technologies have “reached out” to a very conservative industry - crop production. And if in industrial greenhouses and greenhouses automatic and semi-automatic plant care systems have been used for a long time, then in private apartments and houses "smart" devices are not so common.
Growing green onions on the windowsill
It's still cold outside, but you want fresh herbs and vitamins. Of course, you can buy them in the market, however, what can compare with self-grown green onions on the window! Moreover, the method is so simple that each of us is familiar with it since childhood. But despite the fact that “it’s easier not to find things,” this occupation has its own secrets, the knowledge of which ensures additional success - better germination and faster harvest.
Which container for seedlings should I choose?
Among the huge variety of options “what to plant seedlings in”, a separate category is purchased packaging. The choice of her today is so great that it is often difficult to understand which is better. On sale you can find cassettes, trays, seedling boxes, cells with an open wall, pots, peat tablets, bags. Each of the presented options has differences - the sizes, volume, quality of the material vary.
I will give a brief overview of what you can buy today for growing seedlings on the window, considering not only the pros, but also the cons of each container category.
Forcing garlic on herbs
If on cold winter days or in early spring you want green garlic, you should not go to the market and buy it at exorbitant prices. It is enough to work a little and organize your own mini-garden on the window, from which you can pick green garlic feathers right in time for dinner. Yes, and in the matter of benefits, such greens win - you will grow it without the use of chemistry. And yet - this is good for the soul, in the off-season, any avid gardener is so short of land - I want to plant, water and harvest something. So, garlic will thank you for your work in just two weeks, and there is not much care for it.
Sunflower microgreens - what is useful and how to grow?
Sunflower sprouts are an ideal microgreen as they are much larger than some other types of microgreens.
They have a slightly nutty flavor and add a delicious crunch to salads and sandwiches. During times when fresh herbs are hard to come by, you can keep a few trays of these easy-to-grow and delicious sprouts in rotation. If you're looking for a nutrient-dense, healthy food that's low in calories and fat, sunflower microgreens are a great option.
Sprouts are not microgreens! What are useful and how to germinate?
Sprouting the seeds of legumes, grains, and vegetables makes them much easier to digest by breaking down the antinutrients often found in these foods. So when you eat sprouted nuts, grains, seeds, or legumes, you benefit from active digestive enzymes that can help improve gut health. Numerous studies have shown that sprouted grains and legumes help regulate blood sugar levels and are beneficial for diabetes.
Harvest all year round - we grow vegetables at home
Getting your own crop of vegetables without leaving your home is real! Agroholding "Poisk" offers to get acquainted with a special series of seeds "Four Summer", which includes varieties and hybrids of vegetable crops that give a bountiful harvest when grown at home: on loggias, balconies or window sills.
A distinctive feature of vegetable crops from this series is their precocity, compact plant shape, shade tolerance. They are most adapted for growing in a home environment. However, to get a guaranteed harvest, it is important to know the basic rules that we will introduce you to.
Home garden free of dirt and bad smell
A mini-garden on the windowsill is not only self-grown plants, but also the central element of the interior, giving comfort and warmth to any room. It simultaneously gives pleasant moments (especially when the cultivation of plants is not accompanied by dirt and unpleasant odors) and makes a profit. Let's try to figure out how to start a small home garden, what plants should be grown in it and what is needed for this.
How to grow microgreens. Agronomist's advice
Microgreens are one of the new trends in global culinary and healthy eating. At first, it was used exclusively as a decoration for haute cuisine.
In the 1980s, restaurants in the United States began using microgreens to decorate dishes. But then the useful qualities of the product for the human body were evaluated. Today, growing microgreens is a profitable agribusiness and an interesting hobby. A wide variety of plants are used to grow microgreens. Most of them are garden crops familiar to us.
Fragrant greens on the windowsill
We spent New Year's Eve merrily. They even have their own, creating a unique atmosphere, flavors. Do you know what? You will say that there is nothing but needles and tangerines. But you are wrong. These are holidays with the aroma of your own, fresh vegetables and herbs. You get up in the morning, go to look out the window, and there is a green bush from which young cucumbers hang. Onion and dill nearby. What could be better than a healthy vegetable salad? And what a scent in your apartment! Represented? And now in order.
Microgreens - harvest in 10 days
Growing microgreens without exaggeration has become a new trend for all adherents of a healthy lifestyle.
The fact is that young green sprouts contain the maximum amount of useful substances: the plant is at the start of its development and fully uses the supply of seed nutrients. And this is vegetable protein, and mineral compounds, and vitamins, and essential oils, and chlorophyll, and much more.
Winter forcing of greens at home - vitamins without additional lighting
At the height of winter, forcing is one of the best ways to entertain gardeners and a good opportunity to make up for the lack of not only favorite flowers for the holidays, but also vitamin greens. Like any forcing, winter cultivation of vitamin greens is based on accelerated vegetation. It's a productive and "quick" alternative to growing microgreens and planting your favorite plants on your windowsill. For more information on how to grow greens at home in winter, read our article.
How to prolong the fruiting of ornamental peppers on the windowsill?
I would like to extend the period when bright pods adorn the bushes of decorative pepper to infinity.
And the fruits can be present on the plant for six months or more! At the same time, if the beginning of fruiting cannot be accelerated without systemic supplementary lighting, then the completion of fruiting can be delayed indefinitely. Bright colors of decorative peppers are a charming addition to the autumn interior. The main condition for preserving fruits for many months is coolness. But not only plants will need it.
Cucumbers on the balcony - how to achieve a harvest?
Today, real mobile gardens are planted on window sills and balconies, and in the vegetable and herb seed series, the characteristics “potted” or “balcony” have long ceased to be a novelty. But while everyone is tempted by risky peppers and tomatoes, much less capricious cucumbers are not so popular. But a garden pet that is demanding on lighting, heat and humidity gives a small crop even in a pot. Just for this, you should not try to transfer the usual varieties from the garden into a pot format.
Microgreens at home - simple rules for growing
Microgreens, surprising with their nutritional value and beneficial properties, have become a familiar addition to the diet for everyone who cares about a healthy diet. Peculiar concentrates of all useful substances, miniature sprouts are healthy, tasty, and surprisingly beautiful. Microgreens are becoming more and more commercially available these days. But the freshest and healthiest microgreens are easier to grow yourself. Moreover, when growing at home, the choice of plants is not limited to the range of stores.
Kitchen garden on the windowsill - myths and reality
Getting your own crop of greens, herbs, and even vegetables on your windowsill is a very tempting idea. But before sowing lettuce, parsley and mint in pots, it is worthwhile to sensibly assess your capabilities. It is possible to achieve a harvest from a garden on a windowsill only if ideal conditions are provided.
And first of all - the right lighting. In the article, we debunk the myths about growing greens and vegetables at home and “draw” a real picture of a vegetable garden on the windowsill.
Features of growing tomatoes on the windowsill
You can grow a tomato at home almost all year round, but the best time for sowing is still not earlier than January-February, when lighting conditions improve. In the rest of the autumn-winter months, it is better to grow tomatoes using additional illumination lamps so that the day length with good illumination is at least 10 hours. Compact varieties and hybrids of tomatoes are best suited for growing at home. The technology for growing indoor tomato is standard.
Microgreens - what is it and what is it eaten with?
The word "microgreens" in the lexicon of adherents of a healthy lifestyle and lovers of summer experiments appeared relatively recently, so not everyone understands what it is about.
Californian restaurants were the first to use it in the last century. What is it - another fashionable hobby or a new garden format? Who came up with the idea of eating tiny sprouts, what are their benefits, how to properly grow microgreens and how to use them later? Let's figure it out.
Slime onion - useful and tasty garden decoration
The genus of onions (alliums) is very wide and diverse. Even the well-known garlic, strictly speaking, is one of the varieties of onions. Globally, allium is divided into vegetable and ornamental species. And some representatives of the bows are universal - they not only end up on the table, but also decorate the site, complementing decorative perennials in an original way. In particular, these include the slug onion. So far, it can rarely be found in gardens, but this culture deserves more attention.
Provence herbs in the garden and on the windowsill - cultivation and use
Herbes de Provence, or Herbes de Provence, is the name given to mixtures of Provencal Mediterranean kitchen herbs that can be used to enhance the smell and taste of various dishes.
