If you do want to venture outside but you have limited room for planting, a hanging basket can give you above-ground growing space – and you can get them for around a fiver.
If you're lucky enough to have a garden with some soil and space for digging, go ahead and start planting (but perhaps check with your landlord and neighbours first!).
You can also grow things like tomatoes, strawberries or potatoes in grow bags, as long as you have some outdoor space. They can cost as little as £3 and will have all the nutrients your plants will need.
For more deep-rooted vegetables such as carrots or potatoes, you can also try using a garden dustbin. Sounds odd? Totally works.
Finally, you could always see if your university has an allotment you can use. More than 60 different institutions have signed up to the NUS Student Eats programme where you can grow your own fruit and veg, and local councils may also have shared allotments you can hire too.
What do you need to grow food at home?
Gardening might sound like a hobby that comes with a whole host of expensive kit, but you really don't need much to get cracking with growing some food.
If you're growing indoors, you'll really just need some appropriate pots, seeds and good quality soil, but that really is about it.
If you're growing outside then you might want to invest in a watering can or some wooden stakes and garden wire for things like tomatoes (as they grow upwards on a vine).
A spot of fertiliser will help speed up growth and keep your soon-to-be-food at its best. You could use Baby Bio branded products for this, but they're a bit expensive so a regular dry fertiliser (such as Growmore or blood, fish and bone fertiliser) is decent for any veg, and only needs to be used a few times a year.
You'll only need to invest in hardcore things like shovels or trowels if you're going to be putting stuff in the ground of your garden, but you can get these fairly cheaply on Amazon too.
Leave room for drainage
All of these plants require well-draining soil, which means you’ll either need to use a pot with holes in the bottom or pile up some stones in the bottom of your pot before adding soil to let water drain through the stones.
If you choose to use a pot with holes in the bottom, just be sure to put a shallow drainage container under the pot. (Eco-chic aesthetic aside, no one wants a puddle of dirty water on their floor.)
Get some good potting mix
For each of these plants, feel free to purchase potting mix at a garden center or make your own. (You can choose whether or not you want to stick with organic soils.)
While each plant may grow best in a slightly different soil environment, an all-purpose potting soil is, well, what it sounds like: suitable for a variety of growing purposes.
Find the right lighting
Many of these plants grow best in areas that receive lots of sunlight and remain fairly warm throughout the day — so look around your place for your sunniest spot.
However, if you don’t have sunny windows (or if the area is low-temperature), you may want to invest in some grow lights.
These specialized bulbs help maintain optimal light and temperature for plants, regardless of outside weather or indoor conditions. The really good news? They’re not super expensive and start at around $15.
Onions and garlic
As the ultimate staple ingredient to... well, just about everything really (including our easy chicken traybake recipe), growing garlic and onions at home can save you loads of cash.
Not only are they super easy to grow at home, but if you store onions correctly, they can last up to eight months and garlic bulbs will keep for months in the freezer (you can break off just one clove at a time and keep the rest frozen).
How to grow onions and garlic
To grow onions and garlic at home, look out for those green shoots (the ones that normally mean your bulbs need binning) and plant them as whole onion bulbs or single garlic cloves in well-drained soil (either in the ground or in a large grow bag).
Try to make sure they're in soil by around spring or autumn and leave them to do their thing (remembering to water them of course).
Potatoes
Whether you prefer to roast 'em, boil 'em or mash 'em, potatoes are ideal for loads of tasty dishes, like our cheese and onion rosti recipe. Better yet, you can easily grow them in an old garden dustbin.
The great thing about potatoes is that they're happy to grow just about anywhere so long as you have a few basics covered.
How to grow potatoes
Fill an old bin, a grow bag or even an old potato bag/sack half full with compost. Then, plant one or two whole potatoes in there. The trick is not to plant too many, as they need a lot of space for the roots to sprout and grow, so if they're too packed in, this won't work.
Once you start to see the green shoots emerge above the soil, cover with a bit more compost, wait until they emerge again and then repeat.
Continue this process until the bag/bin is full, and 10–20 weeks later, your potatoes will be ready for eating (when the foliage starts to wither, they're ready to be dug out). Remember to keep them well watered!
Make sure your bin/bag is propped up on top of some bricks to allow water to drain out, and if you're growing them inside, cover the bottom of the bin with stones before you add your soil so excess water will drain to the bottom.
Herbs
Fresh herbs can make even the most boring of meals super tasty, but the problem is that they can cost a fair bob and are difficult to keep fresh long enough to get your money's worth (although these food storage tricks should help).
Having a nice selection of herbs in a window box, outside in pots or in a hanging basket will be a great addition to your cooking essentials.
How to grow herbs
You can either grab some seeds from a garden centre or buy a potted herb plant from the supermarket (you can often find slightly peaky-looking ones in the reduced section – take them home and replant in your window box and they'll come back to life!).
Basil, chives, parsley and sage will grow happily in a sunny window box or in a plant pot by the window, and oregano, thyme, mint and rosemary will all do well both indoors and outside in a garden.
Strawberries
Who doesn't love a juicy strawberry in their breakfast cereal, on porridge or sliced up in a homemade cocktail?
How to grow strawberries
You can plant strawberries in pots, grow bags or the garden, as long as they don't get too waterlogged.
The bonus here is that if you look after them they'll keep producing fruit year after year.
Salad leaves
The great thing about salad leaves is that you can pretty much grow them all year round if you pick different varieties according to the seasons.
How to grow salad leaves
Grow them in the ground if you have space, or in a window box if you have a loose-leaf variety. To spice up your salads, you can also grow spring onions and radishes in plant pots too.
Another amazing thing about salad is how quickly the leaves grow – plant seeds in the summer months and you will have leaves big enough to put on your sandwiches in three or four weeks!
If you find the slugs are eating them before you, some crushed eggshells or salt around your plants will help ward them off.
Chillies and peppers
Hot or not, peppers and chillies are a great way of spicing up any dish – and they're pretty easy to grow, too.
How to grow peppers and chillies
The plants will do just fine in a small pot by your window.
You can grow a variety of different types by seeds – just stick to one per pot and water them little and often. Easy peasy.
Celery
Celery is one of a few mind-boggling veggies that can reproduce themselves if you just eat what you want then stick their roots in some water when you're done.
How to grow celery
All you have to do is put the root in a shallow bowl or cup of water by a window sill, making sure it's not totally submerged (but spraying the top with water occasionally so it doesn't dry out).
A good idea is to stick some cocktail sticks in the sides and rest them on the bowl edges so the top doesn't go underwater.
Amazingly, after about a week, a new little celery head will pop up, and at this point you can transfer it into some soil in a pot or grow bag. You'll have a whole new edible celery within a few weeks!
To save more money on food, it's worth bearing in mind that there are loads of other foods you can regrow from scraps, such as avocados, spring onions and ginger.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a student staple, so why would you not want to grow them yourself – especially when you can use them in our super healthy cod and pesto recipe.
How to grow tomatoes
You can either buy tomato seeds and plant them, or opt for a young plant that already has a vine if you want to start producing sooner.
Once they're of a decent size, you can transfer them to your grow bag, or you can buy special varieties for hanging baskets too.
You might have to use a wooden stake and tie the vine to it with garden wire so the plants stay upright, and investing in some tomato fertiliser will keep them happy and healthy.
Once they've started to turn red, pick them (it's fine if they're still a bit green/unripened) and pop them on your window sill until they fully ripen. Putting your tomatoes in the fridge is a storage no-no!
Cress
For the ultimate in easy-grow food, you really can't get much quicker or easier than cress.
How to grow cress
Grab an old cress pot leftover from one bought previously at the supermarket, or any cheap and shallow plastic pot, and whack in some soil and seeds. Pop it in a sunny spot by the window and keep it watered. Bingo.
Cress is so easy to get going that you could even plant some in an old yoghurt pot, or empty egg-shells if you're feeling really creative.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is great. You can boil it up to make pies, crumbles or just whack it with some custard and it tastes amazing (although never eat it raw or you will be left with a serious stomach ache!).
How to grow rhubarb
The easiest way to grow rhubarb is to get some young plants from the garden centre and plant them either in part of your garden or in a large pot.
They do need top-notch potting soil, so this is where you might have to spend a bit of cash, but rhubarb tends to grow in abundance once it gets going so you should get your money's worth!
Avocados
Why they’re healthy
Avocados are chock full of healthy fats! Two-thirds of their fat is the good-for-you monounsaturated variety.
Plus, they boast plenty of vitamins E and B6 and are high in carotenoids, which have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, Trusted Source breast cancer, Trusted Source, and eye degeneration Trusted Source. No wonder these fruits are one of our favorite superfoods!
How to grow them
It’s possible to grow an avocado tree from an avocado pit, but doing so may not yield edible fruit… and you might wait a heckuva long time to attain your dreams of homegrown avo toast.
If you want to eat what you sow, it’s best to purchase a dwarf avocado plant. (Varieties that yield the larger green-skinned fruit or the more common black-skinned fruits are equally good.)
To tend to your tree, add some sand to the bottom of a large, well-draining pot before filling it with regular potting mix and planting. Water regularly but make sure the soil is never soggy — avocado roots don’t take well to being waterlogged.
Prune the shoots often, and be sure to place the tree in an area with high ceilings — even dwarf trees can grow higher than 10 feet!
How to harvest them
Green varieties are ready to harvest when the fruit’s skin turns slightly yellow, while darker avocados are ready when their skins have turned almost black.
Ripe fruits can be left hanging on the tree for a few weeks, but wait any longer than that and they’ll start to lose their flavor and texture.
Lemons
Why they’re healthy
Lemons are packed with vitamin C, which helps the body synthesize collagen, absorb iron, and metabolize protein. And though it’s a myth that megadoses of vitamin C can cure the common cold, it is an important nutrient for the immune system.
How to grow them
If you want the option of harvesting fruits right away, purchase a 2- to 3-year-old dwarf tree at a nursery. Bonus: These little trees are so adorable, they may become your new favorite decorative statement.
Choose a clay, ceramic, or plastic pot slightly larger than the root ball of your tree, and make sure it has several holes in the bottom. Fill the drainage dish with stones to allow air to circulate.
Use a potting soil specifically formulated for citrus trees, or choose a slightly acidic, loam based potting mix.
Place the plant in an area that will receive 8 to 12 hours of sunlight each day and will ideally maintain a temperature between 55 and 85°F (12 to 30°C).
Water regularly, but be sure not to oversaturate the soil. (It should be moist, not sopping wet.) Citrus trees like moist air, so regularly misting the leaves with a spray bottle will help keep the leaves perky.
How to harvest them
Most lemons will ripen in 6 to 9 months. Test for ripeness by looking for full color and gently squeezing the rind. A slight “give” indicates lemons are ready for use in zesty drinks, muffins, mains, and desserts.
Mandarin oranges
Why they’re healthy
Your favorite childhood nibbles — mandarin oranges — aren’t just sweet. They’re a decent source of calcium, vitamin C, and fiber, too! Growing your own means you can enjoy them without the added syrups of the canned variety.
How to grow them
Purchase dwarf mandarin orange trees for the best chance of growing fruits successfully indoors. The trees like spacious potswith drainage at the bottom and rich soil.
They also require a sunny location (rotate the plant regularly to ensure that it receives light evenly on all sides). Water regularly, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
The trees can grow up to 6 feet tall, and their root system grows along with them. When the roots begin to grow back on themselves or out of the drainage holes, it’s time to repot in a container that’s at least 2 inches larger in diameter.
How to harvest them
For best flavor, harvest mandarins as soon as they turn orange. When they reach their telltale color, clip or carefully twist and pull the fruit from the tree, making sure that the “button” at the top of the fruit remains intact.
Tomatoes
Why they’re healthy
These red, fleshy veggies have a surprising amount of vitamin C and potassium, and they’re packed with the antioxidant lycopene, a carotenoid associated with vascular health. Trusted Source
How to grow them
Start by selecting one 6-inch pot (for one plant) or a larger pot (approximately 12 inches) if you’d like to grow two plants. For a continuous supply of tomatoes, start one or two new plants from seed every 2 weeks.
Fill the container(s) with starter potting mix and plant seeds about 1/4 inch deep. Water, keeping the soil moist but not soggy.
Place the container in an area that receives substantial sunlight, turning the pot(s) occasionally so all sides have even access to the sun. Expect the seeds to germinate in 5 to 10 days.
When the seedlings are about 3 inches tall, transplant them from the starter mix to potting soil. About 2 weeks after transplanting, add an organic fertilizer to the mix.
Water the plants thoroughly; again, keep the soil moist but not soggy. As the plants grow larger, you may need to stake them to avoid broken stems.
When plants bloom, tap the main stem and larger side branches with your finger — this will help to encourage pollination.
How to harvest them
Tomatoes grown indoors won’t grow as large as outdoor tomatoes, so don’t expect any beefsteaks the size of softballs. Even so, they’ll still be full of homegrown tomatoey taste. When the fruits are red and firm, but with a slight “give” to the touch, they’re ready to eat. Either clip or gently twist and pull the fruits from their stems.
Garlic greens
Why they’re healthy
We say garlic breath is totally worth it. Pungent garlic is a member of the allium family, which may help fight against breast cancer. Trusted Source
It’s also a superfood that’s been linked to improvements in high blood pressure Trusted Sourceand may combat certain strains of bacteria Trusted Source
How to grow them
Growing actual garlic bulbs indoors is a bit tricky, but you can easily grow garlic greens, which can be used just like scallions. Nice to have on hand for when you want to liven up with a sprinkle of something green!
Start by purchasing a few garlic bulbs with small cloves, and don’t be afraid to buy a shattered bulb (i.e., one that’s started to burst or is fully pulled apart).
Select a 4-inch pot with drainage holes at the bottom (a quart-size yogurt container with holes poked through the bottom will also work) and a small bag of potting soil.
Fill the pot with soil to about half an inch below the top of the container. Break the bulbs into individual cloves (leaving the peel on), and push each individual clove about an inch into the soil, pointy end up.
Plant about 12 cloves close together. Water well and place the container in a sunny spot. Make sure that the soil remains moist but not soggy. Green shoots should appear in about 1 week.
How to harvest them
Once the shoots are 8 to 10 inches tall (which will take a few weeks), clip off whatever you need with scissors.
When the cloves start putting up more sprouts, compost the contents of the pot, fill it back up with fresh potting soil, and plant new cloves. (Each clove only sprouts good greens once; for a constant supply, you’ll need to keep re-planting).
Carrots
Why they’re healthy
Carrots are a good source of a variety of vitamins and minerals, including thiamin, niacin, folate, potassium, and vitamins B6, A, C, and K. They even have a decent amount of fiber at 3 grams per cup.
Like avocados, carrots also supply high doses of carotenoids. In fact, carotenoids are named after carrots. (Betcha figured that one out all on your own!)
How to grow them
Purchase carrot seeds and a pot or window box that’s at least a 1.5 square feet, with drainage holes at the bottom. Fill the container to within an inch of the top with a potting mix rich in humus.
(What’s humus, you ask? It’s the organic material that remains after plant and animal matter decays — not to be confused with your fave chickpea dip.)
Water the soil before planting the seeds. Plant the seeds 1 inch apart in rows 6 inches apart from each other, pressing the seeds gently into the soil and covering them with a thin layer of soil.
Place the container in an area that receives tons of light. Keep the soil moist, but not soaked. To help preserve moisture, you can soak some peat moss in water overnight and then spread it on top of the seeds.
Expect the seeds to germinate (i.e., start sprouting) in about 2 weeks.
How to harvest them
Carrots are ready for harvest when they’ve grown to about 3/4 of an inch across the top (just below the green stem). If you can’t see the carrot itself, gently brush aside some soil around the stem so you can size it up.
Note: Though it may be tempting to see how big carrots can get, they’ll start to lose their sweetness and flavor once they surpass their peak size.
To pick the carrots, grab them firmly at the root and wiggle them around a bit, then pull straight up. If you find that the soil is quite hard, water it and then wait an hour or so before retrying the harvest.
Once the carrots have been pulled from the soil, remove the greens immediately, wipe off any excess dirt, and let them dry before storing them in the fridge.
Microgreens
Why they’re healthy
A big bowl of mixed greens can be a stellar source of vitamins A, C, K, and folate. And good things come in small packages: Microgreens (aka seedlings of herbs and vegetables) might have even more nutrients than their full-grown counterparts. Trusted Source
How to grow them
Start by purchasing a variety of seeds, such as radishes, kale, Swiss chard, beets, basil, and dill.
Fill a shallow tray, no more than 2 inches deep (often called “seedling trays”) or a shallow pot with a drainage hole, and fill to the top with potting mix. Moisten the soil with water, making sure it’s damp but not wet.
Sprinkle the seeds evenly over the soil (they should be close to each other but not touching). Sift a thin layer of soil over the top to cover the seeds. Using a spray bottle, lightly mist the soil.
Place the tray on a sunny windowsill in a room that’s between 60 and 70°F (16 and 21°C). Mist or lightly water the soil daily so it remains moist; don’t let the soil dry out, but also make sure that it isn’t waterlogged.
In about 3 to 5 days, the seeds will likely germinate — once they do, make sure they get 12 to 14 hours of light each day. Keep the soil moist at the roots, but avoid soaking the leaves.
How to harvest them
Once the seedlings have grown to 1 or 2 inches in height (expect this to take 3 weeks or more) and have about two sets of leaves, they’re ready to eat!
To harvest the greens, hold them at the stem and use a pair of scissors to cut off the leaves, making sure not to cut into the root. By leaving the roots intact, you ensure that your greens will yield multiple harvests.
Eat the microgreens right away or store them in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Scallions
Why they’re healthy
Like garlic, scallions are part of the allium family of vegetables, which has been associated with cancer prevention and may help protect the body from free radicals that damage cells.Trusted Source
How to grow them
Scallions win the prize for easiest kitchen crop. To get them growing, simply buy a bunch, wrap the bulbs together with a rubber band, and place the whole shebang (greens, bulbs, and all) in a glass with an 1 of water.
Change the water daily. When new green shoots appear and the roots have doubled in length (in about 7 to 10 days), plant the scallions in a shallow pot or another small container. Keep the plants evenly watered (i.e., don’t let the soil get too dry before watering) and in full sun.
How to harvest them
Snip the green tops (leaving at least an inch or 2 of the plant in the dirt) as needed. To use the white part of the scallion, harvest the plants when they’re 6 inches tall. Gently pull the white clump from the soil.
Washed and trimmed scallions should keep for a week in the refrigerator To maximize freshness, wrap them in a moist paper towel and store them in a plastic bag.
Tree fruits - including apples
1. Apples can be grown in a container; you can also grow them on the balcony or other small space using a technique called espaliering.
2. Kumquats
3. Avocados (plenty of extra tips online if you search)
4. Blackberries
5. Blueberries (sometimes helpful videos are available online)
6. Pomegranate
7. Cherries
8. Figs
9. Pears
Citrus fruits
Citrus trees in particular are said to be good for beginning gardeners and are easy to grow indoors, so don't let inexperience or lack of outdoor space stop you from enjoying fresh-picked, hyper-local fruit.
10. Dwarf oranges
11. Grapefruit
12. Tangerines
13. Meyer lemons
14. Limes
Tropical fruits
Tropical fruits can also be surprisingly easy to grow indoors, even in non-tropical climates. Such as...
15. Bananas (look for container gardening tips online)
16. Pineapple
17. Papaya
18. Guavas (several varieties)
The real surprises
19. Hops—yes, as in the "spice" ingredient in beer. Turns out they're easy to grow!
20. Aloe Vera
21. Strawberries
22. Tea (well, herbal tea)
23. Quinoa!
The non-surprises
24. Tomatoes
25. Summer squash
26. Other squashes, like acorn and pumpkin
27. Hot Peppers
28. Sweet peppers
29. Cucumbers
Melons
30. Small cantaloupe
31. Jenny Lind melon (an heirloom cantaloupe)
32. Golden Midget Watermelon
Herbs
Just about any herb grows well indoors—just be sure that if you're going to do any container-sharing, you do your research first about which herbs co-habitate well together. (Some will hog water, for example, and leave the others dried out.)
33. Basil
34. Oregano
35. Parsley
36. Rosemary
37. Chives
38. Catnip
39. Thyme
40. Sage
41. Parsley
Leafy Greens
42. Kale
43. Mesclun greens
44. Spinach
45. Swiss chard
46. Lettuces (plenty of options there, from micro-greens to head or loose-leaf)
47. Mustard greens
48. Collard greens
49. Arugula
Root Vegetables
50. Carrots
51. Beets
52. Potatoes
Other healthy-sounding stuff
53. Sprouts
54. More sprouts: mung bean and lentil sprouts
55. Wheatgrass
56. Kohlrabi
57. Turnips
58. Rutabagas
59. Celeriac
60. Parsnips
61. Jerusalem Artichoke
62. Sugar snap peas
63. Rhubarb (not ideal in a container, but it can work)
64. Mushrooms (again, more tips online if you look)
65. Pole Beans
66. Aaaand... asparagus, although some disagree that it does well in a container. Try it if you're ok with a risk!
Bonus 67: You can grow your own loofah, too, but you'd need a garden rather than a container for that.
