How to Organize a Home Vegetable Garden: 9 Plants for the Windowsill - A Beginner's Guide, Part 2
What Vegetables and Berries Can Grow on the Windowsill
Spicy Plants
Mint, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme, monarda, and oregano are all capable of growing on a windowsill with minimal care. They can even be combined in the same pot.
Types. There's no need to look for special varieties. Almost all of these species are low-growing, not exceeding 40-50 cm. The exception is rosemary, which can grow up to a meter outdoors. However, it will not reach such a size indoors.
In the center of my window garden is a disheveled rosemary plant. I rarely use it for food and don't shape the bush. I plant it at my summer cottage and bring it back to the apartment in November, as it may not survive the frost.
Sowing time. Spices can be sown at home in any month. However, if you grow them from seedlings, it takes a while. For example, my thyme turned into a five-centimeter bush several months after being sown from seeds. It's easier to buy a ready-made seedling, which you can find on Amazon for just $1.
Conditions. All spicy herbs love sunlight and grow well on a west or south-facing side.
Care. These plants fear overwatering more than drought. Water them when the soil becomes dry. I check the soil with my finger. Don't worry about trimming small branches for food - the plants regrow quickly.
Sugar Peas
Varieties. Choose low-growing varieties of sugar snap peas, such as "sugar girlfriend" or "baby sugar". The price starts at $0.4.
Sowing time. From March to August, but they can be grown all year round in a warm room with additional lighting. For a steady supply of peas, plant them in small batches every two weeks.
Conditions. Peas need a lot of light. If you're growing them on a dark side or on a balcony shaded by trees, it's best to use a phytolamp in addition. In theory, peas are afraid of draughts, but in my experience, even in the open, you get a good harvest.
Care. Peas are moisture-loving plants. Before flowering, water them once or twice a week. During flowering and harvesting, increase watering to three or four times a week. These recommendations depend on temperature, sun intensity, and the number of plants in the pot. Therefore, it's recommended to check the soil moisture at least with your finger. If the soil seems dry, it's time to water.
Asparagus beans
Varieties. There are no special low-growing varieties for windowsill growth. Any variety will do. I recommend curly beans. They yield more than bush beans and look more interesting. To avoid losing the harvest due to diseases, choose varieties that are resistant to fungal infections, such as "Turks". Resistance is usually indicated on the seed packet. The price starts at $0.2.
Sowing time. From April to June.
Conditions. When the daylight hours are up to 12 hours, yields are faster. However, they're suitable for growing even in the far corner of a balcony or on the eastern side.
Care. Beans don't like overwatered heavy soil. Therefore, it's enough to water them once a week or even less often if the soil remains moist. Be sure to loosen the soil after each watering.
During the growing period, feed them three times with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers: when the first true leaves appear, at the beginning of flowering, and during the ripening of fruits. If the bushes of curly beans are very sprawling, part of the leaves can be cut.
Harvest time. Two to three months after sowing.
Zucchini and Cucumbers
Plants. Bushy plants take up less space than stems but will extend about twice the size of the container. For containers, self-pollinating or parthenocarpic varieties are suitable. These varieties don't need pollination: "ajour F1" and "kawili F1", "tsukesha", or round "tondo", "pianchenza", "orange". Such seeds start at $0.3.
Sowing time. They can be grown all year round on a closed balcony where the daytime temperature doesn't fall below +20 °C. If the daylight hours are shorter than six hours, a phytolamp will need to be used.
Conditions. Zucchini and cucumbers enjoy warmth and sun. They grow well on closed balconies and loggias. It's important not to place them too close to the glass to avoid burning the leaves. One plant needs a lot of space - up to 15-20 liters container. To save space, you can sow parsley or dill in the same container. Or plant one pea seedling, which will provide the zucchini with nitrogen.
Care. Watering should be done as the top layer of soil dries, but strictly at the root. Drops of water on the leaves can cause burns and provoke fungal diseases. Don't overwater, or the fruit will rot.
Each month, feed the plants with a calcium fertilizer. A deficiency of calcium leads to fruit apex rot. Yellowing leaves and unnecessary side shoots should be cut off as they prevent the fruit from maturing on the main stem.
If zucchini is not self-pollinating, you'll have to play the role of a bee - transferring pollen from male flowers to female flowers with a brush. It's easy to distinguish them: female flowers already have small ovaries, while male ones don't.
Harvest time. In two months. The fruits grow quickly, so check them every day to ensure they don't overgrow.
You can grow unique varieties of zucchini at home that you may not find in every store.
Celery
Varieties: Celery is available in leaf, petiole, and root varieties. The easiest to grow is leaf celery. Suitable leaf varieties include "Vigor", "Zakhar", and "Tender", petiole varieties include "Golden" and "Malachite", and root varieties include "Diamant" and "Apple". Prices start from $0.1.
Sowing time: March. Before sowing, keep the seeds for five days in a damp cloth, then for the same amount of time in the refrigerator, in the vegetable compartment.
An alternative method is to plant store-bought celery pith in the ground or keep it in water until it develops roots. This should be done in late summer or fall to have greens all winter.
Conditions: Celery prefers sunlight and humid air, so it's better not to place it near a heater.
Care: In summer, it requires frequent watering - a couple of times a week. It's also beneficial to mist it or place an open container of water nearby.
Cucumber
Varieties: It's better to choose early-ripening parthenocarpic varieties and hybrids that form fruit without pollination, like "Regatta", "Photon", "Tandem", and shade-harvesting "Claudia F1". Prices start from $0.5.
Sowing time: April - June. If the seeds are untreated (i.e., not colored), soak them for a couple of hours in "Epin-extra". It's better to sow them directly in their permanent location, planting two or three seeds per hole and thinning out excess plants later with scissors.
Cover the seeds with a 1.5 cm layer of soil and a film until the seedlings emerge.
Conditions: Cucumbers prefer a sunny, draft-free spot away from open windows.
A pot of at least 5-8 liters is needed, along with ample space and a trellis or the ability to tie the plant to the curtains or ceiling.
Water every other day, and daily in sunny weather or when fruits appear. Spray as often as you water. Feed with liquid organic and complex fertilizer once a week.
Now, let's discuss how to shape the bush. When the first five or six fully developed leaves appear, remove side ovaries and shoots to strengthen the roots. Afterwards, don't touch the ovaries, but pinch the side shoots above the second or third leaf. Cut off the top of the main vine when the cucumber reaches approximately the height of the window. Remove yellow or diseased leaves immediately.
Tomato
Varieties: Suitable choices include fast-maturing dwarf varieties such as "Button", "Bonsai", "Balcony Miracle", "Minibell", and others. Avoid cherry tomatoes as they can grow up to two meters. Choose varieties labeled "for growing in pots" or "balcony variety". Prices start from $0.3.
Sowing time: January - March. For a steady supply of tomatoes from June through October, sow seeds at multiple times.
Cover tomato seeds with a centimeter layer of soil, spray generously with water, cover with film, and place in a warm area, such as on a radiator. Ensure the soil doesn't dry out: if there are no visible droplets on the film, it's time to spray the soil again.
This is what the seedpods - embryonic leaves - look like
These are already tomato and pepper seedlings with "real" leaves, ready to be planted in a permanent place.
Conditions. Tomatoes prefer light and warmth, so growing them in southern or western windows is ideal.
Care. Each plant requires a pot of at least five liters. If you plan to grow multiple plants in one container, adjust the volume accordingly. Tomatoes can be co-planted with basil to enhance the fruit's flavor.
Water the plants every three to four days, depending on soil moisture and air temperature. Feed the plants with complex fertilizers for tomatoes and peppers every ten days.
Special room varieties of tomatoes don't require pruning and pinching like greenhouse tomatoes. However, it's necessary to remove yellowing and excessive lower leaves.
Be cautious when handling tomato plants. Their stems and leaves release a dyeing juice when touched, which can stain. Therefore, it's recommended to wear gloves and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.
Harvest your tomatoes four to five months after sowing.
Even dwarf tomato varieties require support. Once they reach 15-20 cm, tie them to a stake.
Pepper
Apartment-dwellers often grow hot peppers. They add a splash of color to windowsills, fruit for several seasons, and yield enough harvest from a single bush to share with neighbors. Sweet peppers, on the other hand, only yield enough for a few salads. Avoid placing hot and sweet pepper bushes near each other, as the sweet peppers could take on the heat.
Varieties. Choose compact varieties that are indicated as suitable for balconies, containers, or pots. For instance, the hot "Phoenix" or "Queen of Spades", and the sweet "Topic". These seeds start at a price of 0.5$.
Sowing time: February-March. Like tomatoes, peppers should first be sown as seedlings to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. Cover the containers with film and place them in a warm spot, such as atop a radiator. Regularly moisten the soil with a sprayer to prevent it from drying out.
A phytolamp can enhance seedling growth by providing additional light. Once a couple of true leaves appear, you can transplant them into larger containers.
Conditions. Peppers thrive in sunny, warm, and highly humid conditions, but dislike drafts. It's best to place them near a closed window or cover them with a film.
Each pepper plant requires a pot of up to five liters.
Pepper grows well next to the following plants: parsley, lettuce, spinach, thyme, velveteen, and nasturtium. In the attached photo, it's grown alongside strawberries.
Care: Water generously every three to four days, and provide complex fertilizer every ten days. If the room's air is dry, consider placing a water container near the pot. Don't forget to mist the plant every few days.
An adult plant should be tied to a support.
Harvesting: This is typically done four to five months after sowing.
Strawberries
Varieties: It's best to choose remontant varieties, which bear fruit several times a year. The price starts from $1.2.
Ampel varieties, grown in hanging pots, are decorative and can serve as an attractive adornment when hung with strawberries.
Sowing time: March. Using tweezers, distribute the seeds on the soil surface and spray generously. Avoid watering as the seeds are small and might sink too deep. Cover the pot with plastic wrap and place it in a warm area. Sprouts should emerge within two to three weeks.
If you have purchased a ready seedling, remove it from the pot, spread the roots and add soil. Ensure the growing point, where new leaves sprout, remains on the surface.
Conditions. Select pots that can hold about three liters for each plant.
Care. Water the plants a couple of times a week and provide nutrients every two to three weeks. When the strawberry begins to bloom, manually pollinate it by brushing all the flowers.
Remove the runners - they sap energy and hinder the growth of the berries.
Harvest Time: With proper care, the first berries should appear by the end of summer.
We'd love to hear about the interesting plants you're growing on your windowsill!