December may shut down the outdoor garden in Ohio, but inside, things are just starting to heat up. When frost takes over the beds and daylight gets short, savvy gardeners bring the season indoors with vegetables that thrive under a roof.
With a sunny window, a few pots, and a bit of creativity, they keep the harvest rolling long after winter makes itself at home. These easy indoor growers turn cold, gray days into a fresh supply of crisp greens and tender veggies right from the kitchen counter.
Leafy Lettuce Varieties
Crisp lettuce grows surprisingly fast indoors, making it a favorite choice for Ohio winter gardeners. You can harvest your first leaves in just three to four weeks after planting seeds.
Place containers near south-facing windows where they’ll get at least six hours of sunlight daily. The cool indoor temperatures during December actually help lettuce taste sweeter and less bitter.
Butterhead and loose-leaf varieties work best indoors because they don’t need as much space as iceberg types.
Spinach For Smoothies
Nothing beats the nutrition punch of fresh spinach picked right from your indoor garden. This powerhouse green grows exceptionally well in cooler temperatures, which makes Ohio homes during December absolutely perfect.
Spinach seeds germinate quickly when soil stays consistently moist but not waterlogged. Baby spinach leaves are ready to harvest in about thirty days, giving you a steady supply for salads and smoothies.
Keep the soil rich with organic matter for the best flavor.
Compact Cherry Tomatoes
Did you know cherry tomatoes can actually produce fruit indoors during winter? Dwarf varieties like Tiny Tim or Micro Tom stay small enough for countertops yet deliver surprisingly sweet tomatoes.
These mini plants need plenty of light, so position them under grow lights for twelve to fourteen hours daily. Regular feeding with liquid fertilizer keeps them producing throughout the cold months.
Hand-pollinate flowers gently with a small brush to ensure fruit sets properly indoors.
Fresh Basil Year-Round
Imagine snipping fresh basil for your pasta sauce while snowflakes dance outside your window. No matter if you’re in Ohio, or anywhere in the US, basil thrives indoors when given warmth and adequate lighting, transforming any kitchen into an aromatic herb garden.
This tender herb prefers temperatures between sixty-five and seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. Pinch off flower buds regularly to encourage bushier growth and more flavorful leaves.
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, and you’ll enjoy harvests all December long.
Crunchy Radishes
Radishes rank among the fastest vegetables you can grow, delivering crunchy satisfaction in as little as three weeks. Their compact root systems make them ideal candidates for shallow containers on sunny windowsills.
Ohio gardeners love radishes because they tolerate the drier indoor air better than many vegetables. Sow seeds directly into containers, spacing them about an inch apart.
Consistent watering prevents woody, bitter roots and ensures that signature peppery crunch everyone loves.
Peppery Arugula Greens
Ohio gardeners’ favorite! Arugula brings a sophisticated, peppery kick to winter salads that store-bought greens simply can’t match. This Mediterranean favorite actually prefers cooler growing conditions, making December indoors absolutely perfect.
Seeds sprout within a week, and you can start harvesting outer leaves in just twenty-five days. The smaller you harvest the leaves, the milder and more tender they taste.
Succession planting every two weeks ensures a continuous supply of fresh arugula throughout winter.
Mild Green Onions
Green onions might be the easiest vegetable to grow indoors, requiring almost no special equipment or expertise. Simply place onion roots in water near a sunny window, and watch new green shoots emerge within days.
You can also plant sets in soil-filled containers for a more traditional approach. Harvest the green tops while leaving roots intact, and they’ll regrow multiple times.
Fresh green onions add mild onion flavor to soups, eggs, and stir-fries all winter long.