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Vegetables to Grow on a Windowsill

If you don’t have a garden, greenhouse or allotment, a bright windowsill can still provide a surprisingly productive growing space. From fresh salad leaves to herbs and even compact root crops, you can grow a good selection of vegetables indoors — all year round.

Growing on a windowsill is ideal for beginners or anyone short on space. It’s low-cost, low-maintenance, and gives you regular access to fresh ingredients right where you need them — in the kitchen.

What Makes a Good Windowsill Crop?

  • Compact size and shallow root systems
  • Can tolerate cooler indoor temperatures
  • Don’t require large pots or deep compost
  • Prefer bright, indirect light or full sun

Most success comes from quick-growing crops that can be harvested regularly and don’t demand much space. Think salad leaves, herbs, microgreens, and some smaller root vegetables.

What You’ll Need

  • A sunny, preferably south-facing window (east or west-facing can also work)
  • Shallow trays, small pots or recycled containers with drainage holes
  • Multipurpose or seed compost
  • Saucers or trays to catch water runoff
  • Optional: liquid feed for herbs or long-term plants

Best Vegetables and Herbs for a Windowsill

Crop Notes
Lettuce (cut types) Sow little and often; pick young leaves for salads
Rocket Quick, spicy leaves – sow every 2–3 weeks
Spinach Small harvests possible; prefers cooler spots indoors
Spring Onions Grow from seed or regrow supermarket ones in water
Radishes (small pots) Best in deeper pots; ‘French Breakfast’ is a good variety
Beetroot (baby leaves) Grow for leaves in shallow trays, not for root size
Carrots (mini types) Use deeper containers for ‘Paris Market’ or ‘Atlas’
Herbs– Basil, Parsley, Coriander, Chives All thrive on sunny windowsills with regular watering
Microgreens – Mustard, Pea Shoots, Cress Quick crops ready in 7–21 days in shallow trays

Sowing Tips for Indoors

  • Keep compost moist but not waterlogged
  • Rotate pots daily to prevent legginess toward the light
  • Harvest regularly to encourage new growth
  • Use cooler windowsills for spinach and parsley
  • Basil and coriander prefer warmth and full sun

Can You Grow Year-Round Indoors?

Yes — especially salad leaves, herbs and microgreens. During darker winter months, growth will be slower, and you might need a grow light if natural light is limited. But many crops can still be harvested regularly in small amounts.

For continuous harvests, sow new trays or pots every 2–3 weeks. Even if you just have one sunny window, it’s possible to keep something fresh growing throughout the year.

Good to Know

  • Avoid placing pots above radiators as it causes fast drying
  • Clean windowsills and trays regularly to prevent mould
  • Shallow trays are great for leafy greens and microgreens
  • Repot herbs into deeper containers if keeping them long term