Encyclopedia of Edible Plants

An encyclopedia of edible plants that you can grow on a windowsill in an apartment or house. The links provide recommendations for growing 21 edible plants in pots, including some unconventional ones for indoor cultivation like thyme, lavender, oregano, basil, and others.

Cress

The simplest plant to grow on a windowsill. Cress yields the fastest results (edible by the 5th day after sowing) and delights with its exquisite nutty-mustard flavor. No soil is required for growing sprouts.

Lavender

Everyone knows lavender. Its scent is familiar from childhood, but we often picture a dried bunch of lavender stems rather than a fresh bouquet. Lavender can be grown from seeds at home on a windowsill. Discover lavender’s flavor in cooking and its remarkable skin-restoring properties in cosmetology.

Oregano (Marjoram)

The most aromatic Italian spice that can be grown in a pot. An easy-to-grow herb, oregano will thrive on your windowsill for many years. Very resilient, cold-resistant, and fertile— a good choice for beginner home gardeners.

Rosemary

A perennial spice bush that thrives in a pot. A small plant is sufficient for a family’s culinary needs. It grows easily from cuttings, but is more challenging to grow from seeds.

Thyme

A wonderful Mediterranean spice. Suitable for growing in a pot. It is easier to propagate by cuttings but also grows well from seeds. Low-maintenance if healthy seedlings are grown. A great companion to oregano in the kitchen.

Sage

Possibly the plant with the most diverse varieties. A native of the Mediterranean, sage thrives in a pot. Each decorative variety blooms beautifully and is fragrant. There is only one perennial variety—the medicinal one. I recommend having a bush for sage tea sessions.

Tarragon (Estragon)

A perennial herb well-known for its namesake drink. An absolutely low-maintenance variety of wormwood that can be grown in a pot. An indispensable spice for pickles.

Ginger

Ginger cannot be grown outdoors in our latitudes as it won’t mature. However, in the warm conditions of an appropriate pot indoors, ginger grows quickly and propagates easily from pieces of root.

Melissa (Lemon Balm)

Melissa is easy to grow at home. Proper pruning allows it to bush and accelerate growth. With a pot of Melissa, you can enjoy Melissa tea all year round and garnish drinks and cocktails with fresh leaves.

Coriander (Cilantro)

Coriander greens, cilantro, can be available year-round if seeds are planted in pots every 2-3 months. With ample watering and irrigation, the greens will be plentiful and aromatic.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass in a pot can satisfy a whole family’s need for lemon tea - its growth usually exceeds demand. Completely low-maintenance garden plant for indoor cultivation. Cats love it too.

Laurel

If you get fresh laurel seeds, definitely try growing a bush in a pot. You can root a laurel cutting, and you’ll have a laurel bonsai, low-maintenance but very rewarding.

Hyssop

A pleasant herb for salad, reminiscent of sage but juicier. It has a slight ginger bite, grows well in a pot, and flowers beautifully. It germinates well from seeds and roots easily from cuttings.

Arugula

In my opinion, the best herb for sprouting. It has a nutty-mustard flavor. Along with cress, it is one of the simplest herbs to grow at home. Any salad or sandwich will turn into a dish with a “twist.”

Stevia

By growing 2-3 stevia plants, you can provide your family with a calorie-free sugar syrup. It is not the easiest plant to grow at home as the seeds have low germination rates.

Melothria

An exotic plant from Mexico. It combines the flavors of lime and cucumber and grows and bears fruit well in pots. The seeds have very good germination rates.

Melothria in a Pot on a Windowsill

Basil

One of the most prolific plants, though it is annual. It germinates well and is even better when propagated from cuttings. If sown early in warm autumn (without additional lighting), you will have fresh greens for at least another 2 months. With supplemental light, basil will delight you year-round.

How to Grow Basil on a Windowsill from Seeds

Edible Weeds

So-called “wild food” was undeservedly pushed aside by more sophisticated food, but it is time to remember what we owe to some unassuming weeds - succulent purslane, dandelion, clover, goosefoot. In fact, these plants are far more nutritious than the wheat in our white bread and the Chinese cabbage in our salads. Highly recommended!

Dill and Parsley

Who hasn’t tried sprouting dill or parsley on a windowsill? They may seem like simple herbs, but it’s not always straightforward! Read about the nuances of growing dill and parsley in pots on the site.

Dill and Parsley on a Windowsill

Savory

Another spice that grows well in pots. Savory seeds germinate well, and it has an “Italian” spiciness - reminiscent of oregano and marjoram.

Fenugreek

The most interesting experiment on my windowsill. I hadn’t tried fenugreek before, but fresh seeds turned out to be the flavor of curry. I recommend trying to grow several plants in one pot to harvest!

Fenugreek in a Pot

Encyclopedia of Window-Sill Garden Plants