10 Edible Plants You Can Grow Indoors in Winter
When it's cold and gloomy outside, you can brighten up your indoor garden with a selection of edible plants. These 10 herbs and vegetables are ideal for containers, giving you plenty to harvest throughout the winter months.
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When I lived in a small apartment, my only gardening space was indoors. I refused to be confined to traditional houseplants (although I had plenty of those, too), so I added a few herbs and small vegetables to the collection.
Now that I have my own garden, most of my herbs and vegetables live outside in the sun. However, that experience has become invaluable at a time of year when not much is happening outdoors—winter.
There are many edible plants you can grow indoors in winter, including a few you may consider ‘out of season’ at that time. Whether you don’t have much outdoor space or simply want to keep your green fingers busy in the colder months, try growing one of these 10 plants indoors.
Since most of these plants require full sun (in short supply in winter, especially indoors), it’s best to invest in a grow light if you want them to thrive. Alternatively, make sure you have space on a sunny windowsill to keep these container plants happy.
Basil Microgreens
Microgreens are adorable flavor-packed seedlings that are must-haves in an indoor winter garden. Although they are small, they pack a massive amount of flavor into their leaves and come with similar nutritional benefits to their mature counterparts.
Basil can be tricky to grow successfully indoors without a grow light. Luckily, with basil microgreens, you won’t have that problem. Within a week or two, you can start harvesting the adorable leaves, sowing again throughout the winter months. Basil microgreens are also a fun project if you have kids at home.
Quick Snack Cucumber
The first entry on this list may surprise you since cucumbers are neither small nor do they typically grow in winter. But ‘Quick Snack’ is compact enough to grow well in containers, and the help of a grow light and warm indoor protection means you can grow a thriving cucumber plant, even if it’s snowing outside.
Fresh cucumbers mean instant snacks when you’re craving something crunchy. They make excellent candidates for pickling, too. As long as you keep temperatures moderate (around 65°F to 75°F) and ensure your cucumbers get enough light, they’ll produce. Just remember to give them a good support structure and water consistently.
Sandwich Mix Sprouts
If you’re looking for something quick and low-effort, sprouts are the answer. A sandwich mix (this is a blend of alfalfa, clover, and radish seeds) germinates in just a few days, ideal for impatient growers who like to see almost instant results. All you need is a jar, a little water, and a warm spot on your kitchen counter.
Sprouts offer a surprising range of nutrients, packing a lot of benefits into a small size. As the name suggests, they’re great for filling your favorite sandwiches, adding a health boost and excellent flavor. Most people start sprouts indoors year-round, but they’re especially welcome in winter when you’re craving something green.
Salad Mix Sprouts
Like the sandwich mix sprouts, salad mix sprouts are a blend of seeds designed to boost flavor in your salads. This mix includes cool-season favorites like broccoli and kale, and amaranth for maximum nutritional benefits and a pop of color.
Use these sprouts in a fresh salad or hearty winter grain bowl. You can also use them to top off a creamy winter soup for added texture and color. Just like other sprouts, these are a breeze to grow.
Catnip
If you share your home with a cat, catnip is probably already on your growing list. But did you know this herb can also be brewed into tea for humans, too? The leaves have a mild soothing flavor that pairs well with honey, a great choice for cool winter evenings. Your feline friends will thank you too, of course.
A small pot of catnip indoors gives your cats something exciting to nibble on or roll around in when they need to burn off some winter cabin fever. Even if you’re cat-free, you can keep the leaves of this refreshing herb all to yourself. Sow from seed and start harvesting individual leaves as needed once the plant has established.
Stevia
For those with a sweet tooth, you have to try growing your own stevia. Used as a natural sweetener, the leaves of this plant are several hundred times sweeter than sugar. You can use them to sweeten your drinks or desserts with an added anise flavor or process them to make your own liquid sweetener.
It’s a fun way to experiment with a different flavor from the other herbs on this list. Plus, while it’s growing, the plant adds a bit of green life to your winter windowsill. Start stevia from seed indoors, placing it under a grow light for maximum growth potential.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm’s citrusy scent is incredibly welcomed in the middle of winter. The leaves are most often used in herbal teas, but you can also experiment with them in your cooking. The flavor is a great way to transport yourself to summer in the Mediterranean, even when it’s cold and gloomy outdoors.
My favorite pairing with lemon balm in tea is honey and ginger. You can also blend it with mint or other fresh herbs to make your own custom herbal teas. Place your lemon balm in a spot with direct sun (but not too much) and water regularly.
Mint
Speaking of mint, this herb is also a great candidate for indoor growing in winter and possibly one of the easiest herbs to grow overall. It is also incredibly versatile and useful in teas, salads, or desserts.
I love grabbing a bunch and chopping it together with some cilantro to boost the fresh flavor of my salads. Mint also pairs well with lemon balm or basil, so get creative and combine your indoor herbs to create your own signature blends. These plants grow quickly from seed—you’ll be harvesting in no time.
Holy Basil
If you prefer a full basil plant, try tulsi, also known as holy basil. This plant is appreciated for its calming properties, often used in herbal teas. Its leaves have a slightly spicy, clove-like aroma that brings something different to a herbal tea collection.
Tulsi loves warmth and sun, so make sure you choose a warm spot with plenty of light. Be careful when placing the pots close to windows, as cold can collect there, negatively impacting growth. Keep the soil lightly moist, and don’t let it dry out completely to stop the leaves from wilting.
Mexican Tarragon
Mexican tarragon has a subtle anise flavor that’s a good substitute for French tarragon. Its leaves are great in savory dishes, particularly sauces and soups, with a complexity that elevates your cooking with little effort. You can also steep these leaves into a tea with your other indoor winter herbs if you’re feeling adventurous.
Start seeds indoors, giving them warmth (seedling mats help here) and plenty of light. Mexican tarragon isn’t too demanding, as long as it gets a prime spot with enough direct sun.
