17 Best Vegetables To Grow On a Windowsill

Want to grow Fresh and Organic vegetables but short of space? No problem! Grow these vegetables on a windowsill year-round.

If you don’t have a big outdoor space to grow your own food, you can still enjoy a sumptuous harvest by growing your own fresh and organic vegetables in a small space of your window! You just need a window that receives some sunshine, and this list of best window vegetables below to start.

Check out the best plants to grow on a kitchen windowsill here

Windowsill Vegetable Gardening

1. Green Onions

Fresh green onions can be a wonderful and delicious addition to your salad bowls and sandwiches. In a small space like a windowsill, you can get enough harvest.

You can even grow green onions in water. See the tutorial! If you want, you can try to grow onions, too. Even in plastic bottles, we have a great article on growing onions in plastic bottles here.

A Tip: If you’re growing green onions in water, change the water every couple of days.

2. Loose Leaf Lettuce

After green onions, growing lettuce is one of the easiest things in windowsill gardening! It doesn’t require a sunny window; a few hours of direct and indirect sunlight is enough. If not, you can also use grow lights.

The best part is you can make decorative arrangements, combining red or green leaf lettuces in the same pot or choosing variegated ones.

A Tip: Wide-shallow containers are sufficient and provide a small crop. Learn how to grow lettuce in a pot here.

3. Tomatoes

Growing tomatoes on a windowsill is easy if you have a south or west-facing window—a great way to grow and enjoy fresh, organic, juicy tomatoes indoors.

For best results, choose dwarf types (cherry, grape, or spoon tomatoes are perfect). Also, some varieties that grow well on windowsill include Early Salad, Red Cushion, Pretty Patio, and Tiny Tim.

A Tip: Cherry tomatoes don’t require a big deep pot, you can use a small to medium-sized container. If you like to grow them in hanging baskets around your windows, it is possible, too! Click here to learn more about growing tomatoes in hanging baskets.

4. Spinach

You can have your own baby spinach leaves, and you don’t need a big yard for this. Just grow it on a windowsill if it receives only a few hours of sun.

A Tip: Keep the soil slightly moist and provide a shallow but wide planter; 6 inches deep pot would be sufficient.

Here’s a helpful guide on growing spinach in containers

5. Chillies

Exotic, hot, spicy, and colorful– You can grow chilies on your kitchen windowsill. But only if it is sunny and warm. Also, the pot you use should be at least 8-10 inches deep.

It’s fun, and you’ll love your plants once they start to flower and fruit. You can make your recipes spicier this way and it’s very rewarding.

A Tip: Provide as much sun as possible and keep your eyes on pests.

6. Carrots

Growing carrots on a windowsill is an amazing way to enjoy a homegrown harvest in small pots or window boxes. This vegetable needs regular watering; otherwise, the roots (carrots) will dry out and crack.

Growing this root vegetable in containers is easy, and it doesn’t take much space, too. Moreover, you can also grow it for carrot greens.

A Tip: Choose smaller varieties.

7. Sprouts

The healthiest stuff you can grow– almost anywhere in your home, also on the windowsill. All you need is a quart jar, a few tablespoons of sprouting seeds, and water.

In a week, you’ll have a jar full of healthy delicate sprouts that you can sprinkle on salads, add to sandwiches, or toss into soups and noodles for a delicious and healthful twist on your favorite recipes.

A Tip: Just read these two articles– here and here.

8. Garlic

Garlic will grow happily on your windowsill. To grow it, buy some fresh garlic from a farmer’s market or grocery store. Plant large, unpeeled cloves with the pointed side up in well-draining soil.

Keep the soil moist, and in a few days, you should see green shoots. You can use the fresh leaves in many recipes in place of garlic. It will taste delicious!

To harvest the leaves, cut them off with a sharp scissor, only a few inches at a time. When the leaves dry, dig up the soil to harvest the garlic bulbs.

A Tip: Choose at least 6 inches deep pot and must read this article for unlimited garlic greens here.

9. Microgreens

A big bowl of green leaves can be a prime source of vitamins A, C, K, and folic acid. These seedlings of herbs and vegetables are even more nutrient-rich and tasty than mature ones.

A Tip: To grow microgreens, you will need seeds of various greens and a wide but shallow tray.

Here is everything about growing microgreens

10. Radishes

Radishes grow so fast and require little care, and don’t mind the small pots. Plus, their leaves are also edible, and you can prepare delicious exotic recipes from them.

They need a full to partially sunny windowsill and slightly moist soil.

A Tip: Ensure the pots you use have sufficient drainage holes, and the potting soil must be well-drained and rich in organic matter, and read this post.

11. Pea Shoots

Not just peas but beans can be grown on windowsills too if there is space and enough exposure to sunlight. They are easy to grow and do well in a bright spot.

A Tip: Dwarf peas don’t require any special support, thus more suitable for windowsill gardening.

12. Herbs

Snipping off fresh herbs every morning before heading to the kitchen gives an unmatched delight. All you need is a rich, well-draining potting mix at a bright south-facing windowsill.

Basil, oregano, and rosemary are some of the varieties that not only add a lip-smacking flavor to your food but will also love the bright, sunny spot.

A Tip: Ensure a combination of direct and indirect light on your window and feed your herbs every alternative week to get the best harvest. You can learn more about growing herbs on a windowsill here!

13. Cress

Engage your kids in something creative by helping them grow cress on your windowsill. They are the easiest to germinate and grow will little care.

Known as the king of superfoods, cress is a nutrient-packed microgreen and with low calories. You may also grow this magic green without soil.

A Tip: Germinate the seeds in a shady space and transfer it to sunlight after visible sprouts.

14. Baby Beetroot

Beetroots are an exotic vegetable packed with antioxidants and cancer-fighting nutrients. They are cluster seeds, which means, several plants sprout from a single source.

They are easy to grow and need fertilized loamy soil to grow. South-facing window sills can be the best spot for the beetroot to receive 4-5 hours of bright sunlight every day.

A Tip: Snip away one or two shoots after germination to encourage more space for the vegetable.

15. Chinese Cabbage

Chinese cabbage can fill your breakfast plate with vitamins C, K, and a considerable level of folic acid, which boosts the defense mechanism of your body.

And the best is this is an easy-to-grow plant that can fit in a small pot due to its compact shape.

A Tip: Fertilize the soil thoroughly and keep it moist to ensure a lush harvest. Learn about growing it here!

16. Arugula

Arugula is an excellent green, loaded with fiber and phytochemicals. Unlike most houseplants, you need to grow this in partial sunlight near the window. You can plant many in small containers and harvest baby rocket leaves for your salad.

A Tip: Arugula prefers moderately cold temperatures, but make sure to move it to partial sunlight in the winter months.

17. Bell Pepper

Sunny windowsills can be a brilliant spot to grow bell peppers for low temperatures and bright light requirements. Besides being an excellent source of Vitamin C, bell peppers are loaded with antioxidants.

Keep checking the heat supply, as intense warmth will turn the vegetable bitter. Learn everything about growing bell peppers in pots here in our article.

A Tip: Do not feed the plant too much nitrogen-rich fertilizer, which will inhibit fruit production.