Today we posted a fabulous summer appetizer video on Chicken Lettuce Wraps. These light and refreshing snacks are perfect for parties, and if you have a garden then you might be able to source the lettuce straight from there. But, what if you live in apartment? Well, even if you have minimal apartment space, all you need is sunlight to grow your very own indoor garden. 

I never had an Italian grandmother – probably because I’m not Italian – so I always had to take advice from my Italian professor in college. If I learned anything in that class, it was that it’s only real pesto if it was made from fresh basil. Using newly picked herbs and vegetables can add a stronger, crisper flavor to your cooking. Having your own garden not only provides you with fresh ingredients everyday, but it can also save you money on groceries as well as add a wonderful aroma to your kitchen.

Some popular plants that can be grown right in your apartment are tomatoes, carrots, onions, lettuce, small potatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries. When deciding what you would like to plant, keep in mind which plants produce the highest yield so you can get the most from your garden. Herbs are a great way to start out. They’re easy to maintain and can be kept right by your window.

Before starting your garden, you need to scout out possible locations, matching them with the plants that are best suited to grow there. Oregano, chives, thyme, basil, tarragon, dill, and rosemary all require full sunlight, so either place these outside on a patio or inside on a windowsill that receives plenty of sun. Lemon balm, mint, and chervil thrive in partial sun. If your garden only receives full sunlight, you can put plants that prefer shade east of taller plants.

Next, look for containers that can hold plants. Items like plastic nursery planters, coffee cans, and milk jugs work just fine. To allow proper drainage, poke holes in the bottom of your container. To keep the area surrounding your plants clean from dirty water, place the containers holding your plants on plates or sheet trays to catch the draining water.

To get things started, determine how to best plant each item in your garden. Plants such as parsley, basil, thyme, chives, and lemongrass should be started indoors with seeds; however, you will see better results from tarragon, mint, and rosemary if they are bought as plants. Plants grown from seeds have specific temperature and moisture requirements. To maintain a humid environment for your plant, you can simply spray the plant and the soil with a spray bottle.

Make sure your plants grow strong roots by watering your garden often. Weeds will create competition for water, so you will want to pull these out whenever possible.

The herbs’ leaves have a fairly potent flavor. One plant of each herb should be sufficient in meeting all of your culinary needs, and you can always grow from there. Good luck!

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