Many people mistakenly believe that because they do not have a large plot of land or a backyard to make a garden in, they can't have a garden. One simple space solution is to have a windowsill garden! These smaller gardens are convenient both for the small amount of space they take, but also because they allow you grow outside of your area's grow season.
Where to Grow All you need for a windowsill garden is a sturdy window that is consistently warm and gets some sunlight. South facing windows are usually the best for regular sunlight, you want to have at least 5 hours of sunlight per day.
What to Grow While with enough dedication, you can grow anything in your windowsill gardens, leafy greens and herbs tend to thrive the most. When choosing what to plant, check how much sunlight is needed. Windows usually only provide partial sun, full sun plants may struggle to survive in windowsill gardens. Here are some notes on common plants found in windowsill gardens:
Herbs - These fragrant plants tend to grow well in small spaces and thus thrive in windowsill gardens, plus you get year-round access to them for cooking. You can group some herbs together in the same containers according to water needs. Herbs such as basil, cilantro, and parsley require moist soil while chives, thyme, sage, rosemary, and oregano can handle drier soil.
Onions and Garlic - These are both in the allium family and require minimal space and soil. They only need space enough for the size of their bulbs. Green onions can also grow without soil, just place them in a mason jar of water and they will grow!
Leafy Greens - These plants require less sunlight than most plants and can get by with only 2 - 3 hours a day. The best types of greens to plant in a windowsill garden tend to be plants that do not form a head, but are harvested by the leaf. These include: kale, loose-leaf lettuce, and spinach. Leafy greens don't have large root systems, so they can be planted in shallow containers.
Bush Beans - These tend to be low-maintenance and compact, this means they can easily handle a windowsill setup.
Small Root Vegetables - Vegetables such as radishes and carrots require a little more space, but they offer two edible parts: the roots and the tops. The leafy tops can be chopped up and added to salads
Tomatoes - These tend to need more space than most other windowsill crops, but they are a staple in many home gardens. If you are going to try growing these juicy fruits, choose dwarf varieties and place them wherever you have the most sun, as they want 5 - 7 hours of sunlight a day.
How to Care for Your Plants Make sure your plant containers all have a hole in the bottom for drainage and water regularly. Avoid overwatering as it can cause root rot or plant stress. If your plants start to droop, try rotating the containers so that the plants that get less sun can have the opportunity to be in a more sunny area. Grow lights can also be used to supplement sunlight if your plants are not getting enough sun.