Microgardening for Condo and Apartment Living

The benefits of growing your own food are vast, including better-tasting and healthier food at home and cleaner air to boot. But many people are unnecessarily discouraged from growing their own garden because of a lack of space — especially those who live in a condo, apartment, or small home. There’s no reason to be, though.

There are plenty of gardening options for those with limited space. Even in tight living quarters, plants can be grown in small pots on windowsills or placed in stacking planters to take up vertical spaces. With a little effort, everyone can enjoy a productive micro-garden in their own home.

If you’re looking to start gardening in a small space, here’s a good place to start:

Herbs

Fresh herbs are a popular type of plant to grow indoors, whether you have a small space or not, since they can be very useful for cooking. Herbs generally adapt easily to growing in little pots and require minimal maintenance.

The easiest herbs to grow indoors include basil, chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Each of these herbs has slightly different growing instructions based on the amount of moisture or sunlight needed, but none of them are too hard to handle indoors.

Light is the most critical factor for producing healthy herbs. The most straightforward solution in apartment and condo living is to place your plants in an east- or south-facing window to make sure your herbs get adequate lighting.

Fruit-Bearing Plants

Growing fruits and vegetables indoors and in small spaces is not something that very many people do, but it can be done. Fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, strawberries, peas, beans, artichokes, and more all grow very well in small containers and inside.

Tomatoes grow in full sun, so they need to be placed near a window where they will receive the most sunlight during the day. Plant them in a medium-sized pot and put a tomato cage or lattice in the container so that the plant will have support as it grows. Generally, tomatoes are ready to harvest 60 to 80 days after planting, and they can be grown year-round indoors.

Seasonal producers like strawberries grow well indoors, too, and they require less sunlight than tomatoes. They do their best growing in hanging pots and their soil should be kept moist, but not saturated.

Peas and beans also do well indoors as long as they have good drainage, sunlight, and something to climb as they grow upwards. Carrots need to be planted in a container that is at least 12 inches deep and has good drainage, but they, too, can fare well indoors. As they grow, watch for the top of the carrot to reach approximately ¾ of an inch in diameter — this is when they are ready to be harvested.

For more information to help you get started, check out these growing guides:

• Small-Space Gardening: A How-to Guide (PDF)
• Gardening in Small Spaces
• Small-Space Gardening: Grow More in Less Space
• Three Ways to Turn Your Apartment into a Sustainable Garden
• Small Space, Big Taste
• How to Grow Lemon Trees Indoors
• How to Plan a Small-Space Garden
• Apartment Gardening Ideas for Small Spaces
• Raised-Bed Gardening (PDF)
• Small-Space Gardening
• How to Grow Herbs Indoors
• Growing Guide: Making the Most of Your Raised-Bed Garden (PDF)
• Green Gardening Guide (PDF)
• How to Grow Tons of Vegetables in Small Spaces (PDF)
• Gardening in Small Spaces (PDF)
• Easiest Herbs to Grow Indoors (PDF)
• Starting a Small-Space Vegetable Garden
• Growing Fruits and Vegetables in Small Spaces
• Growing Food in the City (PDF)
• Fruit-Growing Manual (PDF)
• Fig Trees for Small Backyards or Container Gardens
• Grow Food at Home: 8 Tips for Growing Food in Small Spaces
• Strawberries in Small-Space Gardens
• How to Grow Your Own Food Even if You Live in a Tiny Apartment
• Growing Corn in Small Spaces