California gardeners can keep their harvests going year-round by bringing certain veggies and herbs indoors. These hardy plants adapt well to indoor conditions and keep kitchens fresh with flavor.
Growing indoors is a simple way to extend your gardening season. These 15 picks will inspire California gardeners to bring the outdoors inside this winter.
1. Basil
Fresh basil transforms ordinary dishes into culinary masterpieces, even during California’s mild winters. Place your pot in a south-facing window where it can soak up at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy. Many California herb enthusiasts find that pinching off flower buds encourages leafier growth, giving you more of those aromatic leaves for your winter pasta dishes and salads.
2. Mint
Mint grows like wildfire when given the chance, making it perfect for indoor cultivation. The refreshing scent alone makes it worth growing, especially when California winter air feels stale from closed windows.
This herb thrives in bright indirect light and prefers its soil slightly damp. California gardeners often keep mint in separate containers since it tends to overtake neighboring plants with its enthusiastic root system.
3. Chives
Snip these slender green stalks whenever you need a mild onion flavor in your cooking. They’re surprisingly resilient during California’s cooler months and regrow quickly after harvesting.
A sunny windowsill provides all the light chives need to thrive indoors. Many California home chefs appreciate how this herb continues producing all winter long, requiring nothing more than occasional watering and a trim when you need to garnish soups or baked potatoes.
4. Rosemary
This fragrant Mediterranean native feels right at home in California’s climate. The woody stems and needle-like leaves retain their robust flavor all winter long when grown indoors near a sunny window.
Rosemary prefers drier conditions, so let the soil surface dry between waterings. California cooks cherish this herb for winter roasts and stews, simply snipping what they need while leaving the plant to continue growing throughout the season.
5. Cherry Tomatoes
Yes, you can grow tomatoes indoors during a California winter! Compact cherry varieties adapt well to container life, producing sweet little fruits that brighten winter meals.
They’ll need your sunniest spot and possibly supplemental grow lights during shorter winter days. California tomato enthusiasts often hand-pollinate indoor plants by gently shaking flowering stems or using a small paintbrush to transfer pollen between blossoms.
6. Lettuce
Cut-and-come-again lettuce varieties are perfect for winter windowsills. Harvest outer leaves as needed while the center continues growing, providing fresh salad greens throughout California’s mild winter months.
Moderate light is sufficient, making lettuce less demanding than fruiting plants. California indoor gardeners often sow seeds every few weeks for continuous harvests, enjoying the luxury of fresh, pesticide-free greens when outdoor gardens are less productive.
7. Spinach
Nutrient-dense spinach grows surprisingly well indoors during California winters. The compact plants don’t mind cooler indoor temperatures and produce tender leaves perfect for smoothies, salads, and quick sautés.
Keep the soil consistently moist and place in bright, indirect light. California health enthusiasts appreciate having this superfood growing right in their kitchen, ready to boost the nutritional value of winter meals with minimal effort.
8. Scallions
Regrow scallions from grocery store scraps by placing the white root ends in water. Within days, new green shoots emerge, giving you an endless supply of fresh flavor throughout California’s winter months.
Transfer to soil once roots develop for even longer harvests. California cooking enthusiasts love how these versatile onion relatives keep producing new growth after each cutting, making them one of the most economical indoor edibles during winter.
9. Thyme
This low-maintenance herb asks for little yet gives abundantly all winter long. Its tiny aromatic leaves pack enormous flavor, enhancing everything from roasted vegetables to winter stews in California kitchens.
Thyme thrives in bright light and prefers to dry out between waterings. California herb lovers appreciate how this Mediterranean native adapts easily to indoor conditions, continuing to produce flavorful sprigs throughout the winter months without demanding special care.
10. Microgreens
These seedling superfoods grow from seed to harvest in just 7-14 days, making them perfect for impatient California gardeners. Sprinkle seeds on moist soil, cover briefly, then expose to light once germinated for tender, nutrient-packed greens.
No special equipment needed beyond a shallow container and decent light. California health-conscious cooks love adding these intensely flavored greens to winter sandwiches and salads when garden produce is less available.
11. Oregano
This pizza-perfect herb brings Mediterranean sunshine to California winters. The aromatic leaves maintain their potent flavor indoors, ready to enhance tomato sauces and roasted vegetables throughout the cooler months.
Oregano thrives with good airflow and moderate watering. California cooks with a penchant for Italian cuisine particularly value having fresh oregano on hand during winter, when its concentrated flavor brightens hearty dishes and reminds us that spring gardens aren’t too far away.
12. Kale
Dwarf kale varieties adapt beautifully to indoor growing during California winters. These nutrient powerhouses produce tender leaves for smoothies, salads, and sautés while taking up minimal space on a bright windowsill.
Harvest outer leaves first, allowing the plant to keep producing. California health enthusiasts appreciate how this superfood continues providing fresh, vitamin-rich greens throughout winter months when outdoor gardening slows down.
13. Cilantro
Fresh cilantro elevates California’s beloved Mexican dishes year-round. Growing it indoors during winter ensures you’re never without this distinctive herb that divides taste buds but unites taco enthusiasts.
Moderate light and consistent moisture keep it happy. California cooks find that indoor-grown cilantro tends to bolt more slowly than its outdoor counterparts, providing a longer harvest period of those distinctive leaves for winter salsas and garnishes.
14. Arugula
The peppery kick of fresh arugula brightens winter meals when grown on a California windowsill. This fast-growing green reaches harvest size in just 3-4 weeks, perfect for impatient indoor gardeners.
Moderate light and regular watering yield abundant leaves. California salad lovers appreciate how this sophisticated green continues producing through successive cuttings, allowing you to harvest just what you need while the plant keeps growing through the winter months.
15. Ginger
Start with a fresh rhizome from the grocery store, and watch as this tropical wonder sprouts leaves indoors. While slow-growing, the process is fascinating, and eventually provides fresh ginger for California kitchens all winter.
It prefers warm spots with bright, indirect light. California cooks with a passion for Asian cuisine particularly value having this aromatic root growing at home, where they can snip small pieces as needed for stir-fries and teas without the entire root spoiling.