Starting a Windowsill Garden

By: Devon Daniusis 

Though COVID-19 has definitely limited the amount of publicly accessible green spaces, it has also illuminated how much can be accomplished from home! Your windowsill is the perfect place to start experimenting with growing plants, herbs and vegetables, and cultivating one’s own produce and seasonings can be one of the most gratifying growing experiences.

To begin, choose the sunniest window in your home, ideally facing south, so your plants get consistent light. If this is not accessible, you might want to purchase a grow LED light to help your plant achieve its full potential. These come in varying shapes and sizes, and might be a worthy investment if you intend to transition your windowsill plants inside during colder months. Modern Farmer’s guide can surely help you find the right one. 

Choosing what to grow that will be fruitful and flavorful comes next. You can start with either seeds, the more economical option, or plants, which will yield faster results. Below are some tried and true choices that thrive in gardens and windowsills alike. 

Scallions -- Who hasn’t seen a water-filled mason jar with beautiful scallion bulbs bobbing on the surface? These are low-maintenance growers and a great way to repurpose the often discarded root. Once you finish a scallion, save the root in water and you will see quick regrowth. From there, plant them in soil in your windowsill and continue to trim periodically. 

Herbs -- Though you can grow larger scale fruits and vegetables at home, if this is your first foray into indoor gardening, herbs are a great place to start! Ones like dill and basil can be started from seed form and are compact at full growth. Do your research about watering and pruning because these delicate plants have their own specific needs. 

Sprouts, Microgreens and Edible Flowers -- The bushels of plant sprouts known as microgreens have dominated the health food market, boasting benefits for skin, eyes, and more! These are easy to grow and there are many varieties to explore. Another subcategory is edible flowers which can be used to garnish just about anything and spruce up a homemade dish. 
​
Once you are up and running, you can also begin incorporating your food waste into your garden by creating your own compost and soil mixture. Windowsill gardening is a great way to try your hand at food production within your own home, and has the potential to greatly impact your consumption and environmental footprint.