You don’t need a backyard to grow your own food—just a sunny windowsill, a few containers, and the right plants. When I first started gardening in an apartment, I was amazed at how much I could grow in a small space.
These 20 edible plants are perfect for beginners and thrive in pots, balconies, or even kitchen counters. I’ve grown most of them myself, and they’ve added fresh flavor and a little greenery to everyday life.
If you’re ready to give growing a shot, this list will make it easy and fun!
1. Basil
Nothing beats the aroma of fresh basil leaves between your fingers. This fragrant herb grows quickly in a small pot near a sunny window, ready to elevate your homemade pizzas and pasta dishes.
Water basil when the soil feels dry and pinch off flower buds to encourage leafy growth. The more you harvest, the bushier it grows, giving you a continuous supply for months.
2. Green Onions
Save those store-bought green onion bottoms instead of tossing them! Place the white roots in a glass of water, and within days, you’ll see new green shoots emerging from the center.
Change the water every few days to prevent sliminess. These kitchen scraps will regrow several times before losing vigor, providing fresh garnish for soups, salads, and stir-fries with zero planting required.
3. Cherry Tomatoes
Tiny but mighty, cherry tomatoes deliver big flavor in compact packages. Choose dwarf varieties specifically bred for containers and place them in your brightest spot – they’re sun worshippers that need at least 6 hours of direct light daily.
A 5-gallon pot provides enough room for roots to spread. The joy of plucking sun-warmed, sweet tomatoes straight from your windowsill makes any care effort worthwhile.
4. Mint
Famously vigorous, mint practically grows itself with minimal supervision. This aromatic herb actually prefers being slightly neglected and will reward even the most forgetful waterer with fragrant leaves for teas, cocktails, and desserts.
Keep mint in its own container as it tends to take over. The refreshing scent also acts as a natural air freshener for your apartment while deterring pests like spiders and ants.
5. Microgreens
These tiny powerhouses pack more nutrients than their fully-grown counterparts. Sprinkle seeds like radish, sunflower, or broccoli on a shallow tray of soil, mist daily, and harvest within two weeks when they’re just a few inches tall.
No special equipment needed – a takeout container with drainage holes works perfectly. Microgreens add gourmet flair to sandwiches and salads while requiring minimal space or commitment.
6. Lettuce
Crisp, fresh lettuce can grow right on your kitchen counter in a shallow container. Choose loose-leaf varieties that allow for cut-and-come-again harvesting – snip the outer leaves and let the center continue growing for weeks of salads.
Lettuce prefers cool conditions and moderate light, making it perfect for north-facing windows. The quick results (about 30 days from seed to first harvest) provide instant gratification for impatient gardeners.
7. Chives
With their mild onion flavor and pretty purple flowers, chives offer both culinary and visual appeal. Simply snip what you need with scissors, leaving about an inch of growth, and they’ll keep producing new shoots.
Chives thrive in partial sun and forgive occasional neglect, making them perfect for busy apartment dwellers. Their compact growth habit means they won’t outgrow their pot, staying tidy for years with minimal care.
8. Cilantro
Love it or hate it, this polarizing herb grows quickly from seed to harvest in about three weeks. Plant new seeds every few weeks for a continuous supply, as cilantro tends to bolt (go to seed) quickly, especially in warm conditions.
The entire plant is usable – leaves for Mexican and Asian dishes, stems for soups, and the seeds (known as coriander) for spice blends. Cilantro prefers cooler temperatures, making it ideal for air-conditioned apartments.
9. Ginger
Start with a fresh ginger root from the grocery store that shows some bumpy growth nodes. Partially bury it in soil, keep consistently moist, and within weeks, tropical-looking shoots will emerge.
Ginger grows slowly but steadily, eventually forming a lush, ornamental plant. After several months, you can carefully dig up sections of the rhizome as needed while leaving the rest to continue growing.
10. Spinach
Nutrient-dense and quick-growing, spinach thrives in containers at least 6 inches deep. The leaves can be harvested young as baby spinach or allowed to grow larger, providing multiple harvests from the same plants.
Spinach appreciates cool conditions and moderate light, making it suitable for east or west-facing windows. Its compact growth means you can grow enough for regular salads even in limited space.
11. Lemon Balm
This lemony-scented member of the mint family brings a bright, citrus flavor to teas and desserts without requiring actual citrus trees. Rub a leaf between your fingers for an instant mood boost from its refreshing aroma.
Lemon balm grows enthusiastically in containers with minimal fuss. The pretty scalloped leaves also have calming properties – keep a plant by your desk to reduce stress during work-from-home days.
12. Radishes
For nearly instant gratification, few plants beat radishes – from seed to harvest in just 3-4 weeks! Their shallow root system means they can grow in containers as little as 4-6 inches deep.
Choose small varieties like ‘Cherry Belle’ for container growing. The peppery crunch of homegrown radishes adds zip to salads, and watching their round shoulders push up through the soil provides a satisfying visual indicator of success.
13. Rosemary
This woody, aromatic herb brings Mediterranean flavor to roasted potatoes and chicken dishes. Once established, rosemary thrives on neglect – it actually prefers soil on the dry side and won’t complain if you forget to water occasionally.
Its upright growth habit and pine-like fragrance make it both decorative and practical. Rosemary can live for years in the same pot, developing a bonsai-like appearance with minimal pruning.
14. Pea Shoots
The tender tips of pea plants offer the sweet flavor of fresh peas without waiting for pods to form. Soak regular dried peas overnight, then sow densely in a shallow container of soil for harvest in just 2-3 weeks.
Cut when they reach 3-4 inches tall, leaving the lowest set of leaves to potentially regrow. These nutritious greens add crunch to stir-fries and sandwiches while requiring minimal light or space.
15. Thyme
This tiny-leaved herb packs huge flavor into a compact plant that’s perfect for small spaces. Thyme’s trailing habit makes it ideal for hanging baskets or the edges of container arrangements where it can cascade attractively.
Extremely drought-tolerant once established, thyme thrives in the often-dry conditions of heated apartments. Its subtle woodsy aroma permeates the air when you brush against it, creating a sensory experience beyond just cooking.
16. Arugula
The peppery kick of fresh arugula elevates any salad from ordinary to gourmet. This fast-growing green goes from seed to harvest in about 30 days and doesn’t mind the cooler temperatures often found near apartment windows.
Harvest the outer leaves when they’re 2-3 inches long for baby arugula, or let them grow larger for a more intense flavor. The distinctive lobed leaves add visual interest to your indoor garden as well as your plate.
17. Dwarf Peppers
Compact pepper varieties bred specifically for containers bring bright colors and spicy flavors to small spaces. Ornamental peppers like ‘Pretty in Purple’ or tiny Thai chilis combine decorative appeal with culinary usefulness.
Place in your sunniest spot and water only when the soil feels dry. The colorful fruits last for weeks on the plant, providing both visual interest and ready-to-pick seasonings for your cooking.
18. Oregano
This Mediterranean herb brings pizza and pasta flavors to your fingertips with minimal fuss. Its trailing habit makes it perfect for hanging planters where the aromatic leaves can cascade over the edges.
Oregano actually develops stronger flavor when slightly stressed, so don’t worry about occasional underwatering. The tiny white flowers that appear in summer are edible too, adding pretty garnishes to summer dishes.
19. Sprouts
No soil, no sunlight, no problem! Bean sprouts, alfalfa, and broccoli seeds transform into crunchy, nutritious additions to sandwiches and salads using just a jar and water.
Rinse twice daily to prevent mold and harvest within 3-5 days when tails appear. This countertop crop requires zero gardening knowledge while delivering fresh, living food even in the dead of winter.
20. Strawberries
Compact alpine or day-neutral strawberry varieties produce small but intensely flavored berries in containers. Their pretty white flowers and trailing habit make them as ornamental as they are delicious.
Choose hanging baskets or strawberry pots that allow plants to spill over the sides. Few experiences match the satisfaction of plucking sun-warmed berries from your own windowsill for morning cereal or dessert.