Apartment Gardens: Grow Your Own Veggies Right From Your Windowsill

Whether you live in Northwest Iowa, Southeast South Dakota, or Central Nebraska, growing a garden in our area’s fine dirt is something nearly all of us feel compelled to do. And, as many of our Oakleaf residents know, we don’t let the fact that we live in apartments slow us down.

Windowsill gardens are all the rage, and for good reason. They offer fresh, organic produce and herbs while also providing fresh air and pretty green scenery. And, bonus, you don’t need a green thumb to get them to grow.

Let the sunshine in.

While it’s possible to grow some herbs and greens in a low light, the best windowsill gardens get about six to eight hours of sunlight each day. Maximize the amount of sun your plants get by making sure the curtains are opened each day, and rotate your pots and plants to make sure they reach evenly on all sides.

• Lower light vegetables: Root and leaf crops like lettuce, mustard greens, arugula, and beets.
• Sun loving vegetables: Herbs, like basil and parsley, and fruit-bearing plants like tomatoes, green beans, and peppers.

Pick your pots.

The beauty of a windowsill garden is the fact that plants will grow in almost any container, as long as they are cared for and the container has proper drainage. You could use decorative planters, hanging baskets, mason jars (with a few pretty rocks in the bottom to help with the drainage requirement), or tin cans, stripped of their labels and wrapped prettily with twine. Size will matter for pots; the larger the plant, the bigger the planter you’ll need to get. Whatever you choose, go for both form and function. After all, you’ll look at these every day, and your plants will need to live in them.

Find the right soil.

It may be tempting to grab topsoil from any number of our Iowa and Nebraska cornfields. Don’t. Topsoil doesn’t translate well to houseplants, and if you’re going to go through all the work of making a garden, best keep it as organic and clean as possible. Use packaged potting soil or composted soil, which are known for their lightweight, high drainage, and sterile qualities. Fill your containers, pressing gently, and leave about an inch of space around the rim.

Get to planting.

Plant your seeds according to package directions, paying special attention to spacing and depth. You can also plant established plants in your pots. This works particularly well for herbs where you are eating the leaves of the plant and not the fruit of the plant itself for the natural pruning of the leaves will keep the plant from growing out of control. 

Keep it rich and watered.

No matter where you put your apartment garden, plants grown in containers need regular fertilization, and a liquid all-purpose fertilizer seems to work the best, although at half the strength. Aim for every four days or so. Water according to feel; never let the soil get soggy with standing water or so dry it gets dusty.

What will you plant in your apartment garden this year?

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