5 Apartment-Friendly Plants For Your Windowsill Garden

Are you an apartment-bound nature lover? Do you have a green thumb but don’t have the space for it? Those in need of an indoor garden are in luck. I did the trial-and-error work to see which plants thrive indoors, and which need more sunlight. Here are some plants that grow with just some regular watering and a little bit of sunlight.

Strawberries
This one shocked me, but strawberries grow like weeds indoors. I started my strawberries from seed back in February. Though germination took about a month and a half, I’m glad that I stayed patient and didn’t give up. My strawberry plant had an impressive growth-spurt at the beginning of May, and currently takes up most of the space on my windowsill. Patience, sunlight, and bi-weekly watering is necessary to keep your strawberry plant alive and well, so move your strawberry plant to the sunniest spot on your windowsill. If you start your plant from seed, don’t expect fruit during the first year. Focus on keeping the roots and leaves healthy and your plant should start to produce fruit during its second year.

Scallions
Possibly the easiest plant I’ve ever grown, scallions do exceedingly well indoors, and don’t require much upkeep. If you buy scallions from the grocery store, save the roots and put them in a glass of water. Within a few days, you should see your scallions start to regrow. Once this happens, plant them in a planter with soil, and move to a sunny spot on your windowsill. Be sure to regularly cut them and use them in recipes. Voila, endless scallions.

Dill
Another easy plant to start from seed, this herb has a quick germination time, and will start sprouting leaves within a matter of a few short weeks. Dill doesn’t require as much sunlight as some of the other plants on this list, and takes up significantly less space. A small planter works perfectly for this delicate herb, and once it grows past the seedling stage, you will only need to water it about once a week.

Basil
Quite possibly the best herb of all time, basil is a bit trickier to grow indoors. Basil started from seed will grow quickly, but will require regular pruning in order to stay healthy. Put your basil plant on a window that preferably gets at least 6 hours of sunlight. Basil requires at least an inch of water weekly in order to keep the roots moist and the plant healthy. The extra work that goes into a basil plant is worth it. Whether you want to make your own pesto or just have a light Caprese salad now and then, the benefits of growing your own basil are endless.

Chamomile
The trickiest plant I have grown indoors, chamomile needs special care at the early stages of growth. When starting chamomile from seed, it is imperative not to cover the seeds in soil. If you do this, the seeds will take extra long to germinate, if they germinate at all. Once you do get the seeds to germinate, your chamomile plant will need at least partial sunlight to grow. From this point on, water your chamomile plant once weekly. Your chamomile will be ready to harvest for tea within 2 or 3 months.

Just because you live in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in your fantasy farm life. These tips and tricks will help you start your own indoor homestead without taking up a lot of space.