Vegetables are a delicious treat and can be enjoyed all year round. But as the days grow shorter and the weather turns chilly, many gardeners are wondering if they can still produce their favorite vegetables indoors.

While gardening indoors does present challenges, there are many vegetables that are well-suited to growing and harvesting inside the home. Lettuce, microgreens, and herbs are some of the easiest varieties to cultivate.

Leafy Greens

The health benefits of leafy greens are well-known, but they can be hard to get enough of in your diet. That’s why incorporating them into your meals is so important.

You can easily include leafy greens in your salad or in a smoothie, where they can be hidden and still offer the added nutritional benefit.

Adding these nutritious ingredients to a dish like a pasta or grain bowl is a great way to add color and texture without overwhelming the rest of the meal. You can also use these vegetables raw in a soup or stew.

Carrots

Carrots are a great crop for beginners to grow, as they require little care and are easy to harvest. But they do need light and a consistent watering schedule to thrive.

They also prefer cool temperatures, so you should avoid hot weather during germination and development. They can be sown outdoors in spring, but it’s best to wait until the soil is warmer and a few weeks before your average first frost date for an early summer harvest.

Prepare the soil well before planting by tilling it deeply and amending it with a good potting mix. Keep the soil moist by watering when it’s dry about an inch down (stick your finger in to check).

Green Onions

Green onions, also called scallions or bunching onions, are one of the easiest vegetables to grow indoors. They are a member of the allium family and can be grown from seed, purchased transplants, or regrown from scraps.

Scallions can be cultivated in the garden, in containers, or indoors, and can be harvested at any time during the growing season. They produce a globe-shaped flower stalk and large seeds that turn black when mature.

Start seeds indoors about eight weeks before your last frost date or direct sow in the garden after the threat of frost has passed. They are fast-growing and will often reach maturity in as little as 30 days.

Radishes

Radishes are a fast-growing vegetable that can be grown in pots. They need minimal care and are largely immune to most pests and diseases.

When growing radishes, choose a sunny location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If radishes are planted in the shade, they will put all of their energy into producing larger leaves instead of roots.

Water the plants deeply and consistently. This helps the roots grow strong and encourages a healthy plant.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are among the most delicious fruits you can grow indoors. They require a little extra time and attention, but the results are well worth it.

First, pick a plant variety that will thrive in your indoor climate. Tomatoes are heat-loving plants that do best with temperatures around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Next, choose a sunny location that’s protected from cold drafts. Tomatoes also need good air circulation to thrive, so make sure to move the plants around often.

Hand-pollinating your tomatoes is another way to help the plant produce more fruit. When the flowers bloom, lightly tap them with a cotton swab to spread pollen from one flower to the next.

Microgreens

If you’re short of space but love fresh, flavorful vegetables and want to eat your own produce all year round, microgreens are the perfect crop. They take little time to cultivate, and you can grow them on your windowsill for a year-round supply.

Start by choosing a small container that will accommodate your seeds and have drainage holes. Plastic take-out containers, pie tins, and clear salad boxes work well.