skip to main content
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
  • PHOTOS
    KITCHEN & DINING
    • Kitchen
    • Modular Kitchen
    • Dining Room
    • Home Bar
    LIVING
    • Living Room
    • Home Theater
    • Home Office
    • Staircase
    BED & BATH
    • Bedroom
    • Nursery
    • Kid's Room
    • Bathroom
    OUTDOOR
    • Garden
    • Patio
    • Terrace & Balcony
    • Courtyard
    MORE ROOMS
    • Puja Room
    • Wardrobe
    • Exterior
    • Swimming Pool
    • View All
  • FIND PROFESSIONALS
    DESIGN & RENOVATION
    • Architects & Building Designers
    • Interior Designers & Decorators
    • Civil Engineers & Contractors
    • Design-Build Firms
    • Kitchen & Bath Designers
    • Landscape Architects & Contractors
    • Home Builders & Construction Companies
    • Photographers
    • Specialty Contractors
    HOME IMPROVEMENT
    • Furniture & Accessories
    • Flooring & Carpet
    • Tile, Stone & Countertop
    • Bedding & Bath
    View All Pros View All Services
  • STORIES
    LATEST FROM HOUZZ
    • Houzz Tours
    • Kitchen Guides
    • Bathroom Guides
    • Bedroom Guides
    • Decorating Guides
    • Outdoors
    • Architecture
    HOUZZ TV
    HOUZZ RESEARCH
  • ADVICE
    HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
    • Design Dilemma
    • Before & After
    • Polls
    • Home Decorating
    • Kitchens
    • Living Rooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Dining Rooms
    • Exterior
    • Lighting
    • Paint
    • Building a Home
Kitchen Ideas
Kitchen Ideas
7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment
Top Ideabooks
7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small ApartmentIs a White Kitchen Sensible?These 12 Items Deserve a Spot on Your Kitchen CounterWill a Glass Backsplash Work For My Kitchen?
Appears in
Kitchen Guides
Kitchen Guides
Kitchen Guides
Is a White Kitchen Sensible?
Top Ideabooks
Is a White Kitchen Sensible?The Big Guide: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen StorageThese 12 Items Deserve a Spot on Your Kitchen CounterWill a Glass Backsplash Work For My Kitchen?
Appears in
Recent Ideabooks
See also
Kitchen storageKitchen Ideas
Outdoors
Outdoors
7 Winning Ways to Integrate Wood Into a Building's Exterior
Top Ideabooks
7 Winning Ways to Integrate Wood Into a Building's Exterior8 Best Shade-Loving Plants for Gardens That Get Less Sunshine10 of the Most Restful & Relaxing Outdoor Lounge Areas on Houzz IndiaA Beginner's Guide to a Beautiful Butterfly Garden
Appears in
Recent Ideabooks
See also
BalconiesPools
Balconies
Balconies
8 Best Shade-Loving Plants for Gardens That Get Less Sunshine
Top Ideabooks
8 Best Shade-Loving Plants for Gardens That Get Less SunshineA Beginner's Guide to a Beautiful Butterfly Garden5 Mosquito-Repelling Plants for Your BalconyHow To Furnish Your Balcony on a Budget
Appears in
Outdoors
Garden Guides
Garden Guides
12 Ways to Design a Low-Maintenance Garden
Top Ideabooks
12 Ways to Design a Low-Maintenance Garden8 Best Shade-Loving Plants for Gardens That Get Less SunshineA Beginner's Guide to a Beautiful Butterfly Garden5 Mosquito-Repelling Plants for Your Balcony
Appears in
Recent Ideabooks

7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment

Did you always want to have your own veggie garden but just didn't know where to start? The steps below make it all easy

Ansoo Gupta
Ansoo Gupta29 January 2017
Houzz India Contributor. Urban Farmer. Avid Traveler. Design Admirer, Planet Lover, Marketer. Order Changes.
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
If you live in a big city, chances are that your house is smaller than what you would like and you don’t have a front lawn or a backyard for a kitchen garden of your own. The good news is that you don’t need a lot of space to grow your own herbs and veggies. The other good news is that growing your own food can be extremely therapeutic. And of course, you are assured of a supply of chemical free, pesticide free, yummy vegetables along the way.

If you start right and start small, that day is not very far when you will be relishing paranthas made with your homegrown methi (fenugreek), or having fresh spring onions in your morning omelette. Here are the basic steps to becoming a successful small-apartment-kitchen-gardener.
Step 1: Assess the sunlight
The most important ingredient for growing edible plants is sunlight. Each plant is a mini factory that converts solar energy into nutrition for us through its leaves and fruits. Study the sunlight in your house. Observe which room or wall gets the maximum and how it moves from morning till the sun sets. Your kitchen garden needn’t necessarily be in the kitchen. It can be out in the small balcony or on a window grill or even in the living room. Sometimes it’s the wall that stays sunlit for a long time. In such cases, consider a vertical herb garden.

REMEMBER that the spot best suited for growing veggies is the one that gets sunlight for the longest duration.
sustainable garden design perth
Step 2: Choose your pots
The great thing about growing vegetables is that it is not just about the plants, it is also about the instant accent that can be infused to the spot you choose. They can become the centre of attention and spark many a conversations. You can grow edible plants in almost any container. You could use old bottles and tetra packs or you can buy pretty-looking metallic, ceramic or wooden pots. Choose as per your interest and most importantly as per the space that you have chosen to start your kitchen garden in. You can get pots to mount on walls or to hang as window boxes.

If you have a terrace or a balcony, you can try square foot gardening in square wooden boxes. Your imagination will go a long way in making your garden interesting.

REMEMBER to ensure that you do not sow too many seeds in one pot. Start with only a few. You’ll be surprised how big a tiny seed can become once it starts growing.
Kate Hansen Photography
Step 3: Carefully choose what to grow
The sun should be your guide when it comes to choosing what you grow. Herbs need just 2 to 4 hours of direct sunlight and vegetables need at least 4 to 6 hours of the good stuff. Keep that in mind coupled with your personal preference.

Perhaps you’d like fresh mint to make your mojitos, or Italian basil for your monthly supply of fresh pesto? Or perhaps beans, ladyfinger, brinjal and tomato for sambar and the occasional soup? Methi, karela (bitter gourd), curry patta (murraya koenigii) and chillies are all very easy to grow too. Lettuce and spinach can provide steady stream of salad greens. For skincare and medicinal purposes, Aloe Vera, tulsi (holy basil), panfuti (bryophyllum) are great for kitchen gardens and every house should have these plants handy. Lemongrass and shankhpushpi (morning glory) will be great for your refreshing cups of tea.

Choose what you would like to grow but stick to just one or two items to begin with.
Falon Land Studio LLC
Step 4: Get the right soil
Once you have figured out your sunny spots and decided on your pots and plants, then go about finding the right soil. These days, many nurseries are selling ready-made potting mix which is a mixture of soil, compost (organic fertiliser) and cocopeat (coconut husk). You could buy ready bags of that.

However, the best way to source good soil is to ask a gardening enthusiast you know in your neighbourhood. They almost always have spare soil. Make sure the soil is allowing the water to seep through and not holding it in, as too much water can rot the roots. Keep a pack of organic fertiliser handy – which you can sprinkle in the pot to ‘recharge’ the soil every month or so.

REMEMBER not to overwater your plants. More plants die due to overwatering than because of any other reason.
Steve Masley Consulting and Design
Step 5: Get seeds and saplings
You have chosen your spot, prepared your containers with potting mix and now you are ready to start growing. The best source of seeds and sapling is again your friendly neighbourhood gardening enthusiasts. It’s not difficult to find them in your building or your lane. Better still, join the gardening groups on Facebook. They love exchanging seeds and you can be assured of quality as well. These groups will become your support system for everything related to gardening.

You could also order seed packs and saplings from online gardening websites. Most city nurseries do not sell seeds but check with your neighbourhood suppliers and you will be able to find the right shops closest to you.
Steve Masley Consulting and Design
Step 6: Watch your food grow
Once you have sown the seeds and saplings, look at your plants daily. Miraculously, they will start sprouting and will become tiny plants one fine day – and before you know it, they will flower and bear nice ripe tomatoes or long, shiny green beans!

REMEMBER to interact with your plant daily and let the wonders of nature overwhelm you. Since it’s a small house, chances are that you will encounter and see your plants everyday. This is very good. You will be able to figure out if the leaves are drooping, if the soil is becoming dry due to lack of water, if there’s an insect attack or any other issue that needs addressing. Small houses come with their own advantages!

The times when you have to go out of town, take a neighbour’s help to either come and water your plants every two days or consider leaving plants at their house for a few days. Share your homegrown oregano and chillies with them from time to time to sweeten the deal.
Steve Masley Consulting and Design
Step 7: Enjoy your kitchen garden and keep learning
The more you try to grow food, the more you will learn. Google is your best friend, followed by your local gardening groups.

Once you start growing stuff, you will understand the miracle of nature that you have been missing out on. You will also realise how little we know about our daily food. You might encounter a new challenge everyday but once your tomato plant starts flowering and bearing fruit, you will feel immense joy.

And soon you will become the source of seeds and saplings, helping new kitchen gardeners in your apartment complex and in your neighbourhood. You can also be someone who encourages others to use their small spaces to grow herbs and vegetables as well.

REMEMBER to have fun.

Read more:
How to Grow a Green Thumb
8 Challenges for First-Time Kitchen Gardeners

Tell us:
What tips would you like to share with first-time gardeners? Share in Comments below.
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Comments (14)
See 11 more comments
  • Ashutosh Joshi
    last year
    Hi Ansoo,
    I.am purchasing a 2 BHK for my family. What should I can do to set up an efficient vertical kitchen garden in my balcony.

    My flat is South West facing and receives direct sunlight for 4 hours every day.

    Thanks,
    Ashutosh
  • emmgup
    last year

    Just to make a small correction ( I am a certified horticulturist) we have seeds and SEEDLINGS!

    SAPLINGS are Trees grown from cuttings or small shrubs...

  • Ansoo Gupta
    last year

    Hello @Ashutosh Joshi , firstly, it is very good that you are taking care of this aspect right from the beginning. You should be able to grow most plants nicely. Please take wind etc into account as that dries up the soil. Start with a mix of methi, baingan, okra etc and see how it goes. Vertical garden kits are available easily these days but I suggest, get used to the new microclimate first for 3 months and then set up the vertical garden.

  • Read Related Stories
    7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment
    Kitchen Guides7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment
    By Ansoo Gupta
    Did you always want to have your own veggie garden but just didn't know where to start? The steps below make it all easy
    Full Story14
    Is a White Kitchen Sensible?
    Kitchen GuidesIs a White Kitchen Sensible?
    By Pooja Khanna Tyagi
    White kitchens look sophisticated and crisp but here's what you need to know before you commit
    Full Story1
    These 12 Items Deserve a Spot on Your Kitchen Counter
    Kitchen GuidesThese 12 Items Deserve a Spot on Your Kitchen Counter
    By Charmean Neithart
    Keep these useful tools and accessories out in the open to maintain high function without spoiling the view
    Full Story132
    Will a Glass Backsplash Work For My Kitchen?
    Kitchen GuidesWill a Glass Backsplash Work For My Kitchen?
    By Sarah Warwick
    Coloured or clear, subtle or striking, glass is a versatile way to protect walls. Be inspired by these designs
    Full Story48
    The Future of Kitchens
    Kitchen GuidesThe Future of Kitchens
    By Rebecca Gross
    A survey of industry professionals predicts future trends in global home kitchen design
    Full Story17
    How to Design a Kitchen That’s Easy to Clean
    Kitchen GuidesHow to Design a Kitchen That’s Easy to Clean
    By Victoria Harrison
    Keen to cut down on kitchen cleaning time? Read this expert advice on how to build easy maintenance into your scheme
    Full Story112
    9 Kitchen Scraps That Will Give New Life to Your Plants
    Kitchen Guides9 Kitchen Scraps That Will Give New Life to Your Plants
    By Ansoo Gupta
    We throw out these items every day in trash bins but they are fertiliser gold for the house garden
    Full Story0
    Kitchen Countertop Ideas: Which Counter-Edge Design is Best?
    Kitchen GuidesKitchen Countertop Ideas: Which Counter-Edge Design is Best?
    By Rebekah Zaveloff
    Square, mitered, waterfall or bullnose? See what counter-edge style looks best to you
    Full Story52
    Genius Layouts & Smart Storage: 27 Super Clever Kitchen Arrangements
    Kitchen GuidesGenius Layouts & Smart Storage: 27 Super Clever Kitchen Arrangements
    By Georgia Madden
    Here are 27 inspired kitchen designs on Houzz
    Full Story24
    Want to Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger?
    Kitchen GuidesWant to Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger?
    By Lisa Frederick
    Does your kitchen draw a crowd or crowd you in? Here are 10 ways to make sure your kitchen leaves room to breathe
    Full Story50
    Patterned Floors & Wall Tiles Know How to Command Attention
    FloorsPatterned Floors & Wall Tiles Know How to Command Attention
    By Pooja Khanna Tyagi
    See the ways patterned tiles are used in these spaces and you will know why
    Full Story2
    How to Solve the Kitchen Corner Storage Problem?
    Kitchen GuidesHow to Solve the Kitchen Corner Storage Problem?
    By Tanya Selever
    Here are the top ways to create better access and organisation
    Full Story23
    Keep Your Sanity With These 10 Kitchen Storage & Shelving Ideas
    Kitchen GuidesKeep Your Sanity With These 10 Kitchen Storage & Shelving Ideas
    By Aditi Sharma Maheshwari
    Looking for new kitchen storage ideas? We have a bunch we'd like to share with you
    Full Story0
    30 Stunning Tile Treatments
    Decorating Guides30 Stunning Tile Treatments
    By Georgia Madden
    A beautiful tile is like a work of art for your home – we've rounded up 30 of our favourites for your viewing pleasure
    Full Story16
    A Guide to Kitchen Laminates
    Kitchen GuidesA Guide to Kitchen Laminates
    By Niki Bruce
    Planning a new kitchen? Read this guide on the types of laminate available
    Full Story0
    People who liked this story also liked
    7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment
    7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small ApartmentFull Story
    Is a White Kitchen Sensible?
    Is a White Kitchen Sensible?Full Story
    These 12 Items Deserve a Spot on Your Kitchen Counter
    These 12 Items Deserve a Spot on Your Kitchen CounterFull Story
    Will a Glass Backsplash Work For My Kitchen?
    Will a Glass Backsplash Work For My Kitchen?Full Story
    The Future of Kitchens
    The Future of KitchensFull Story
    How to Design a Kitchen That’s Easy to Clean
    How to Design a Kitchen That’s Easy to CleanFull Story
    9 Kitchen Scraps That Will Give New Life to Your Plants
    9 Kitchen Scraps That Will Give New Life to Your PlantsFull Story
    Kitchen Countertop Ideas: Which Counter-Edge Design is Best?
    Kitchen Countertop Ideas: Which Counter-Edge Design is Best?Full Story
    Genius Layouts & Smart Storage: 27 Super Clever Kitchen Arrangements
    Genius Layouts & Smart Storage: 27 Super Clever Kitchen ArrangementsFull Story
    Want to Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger?
    Want to Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger?Full Story
    • India
    • ABOUT
    • MOBILE APPS
    • PROFESSIONALS
    • BUTTONS
    • FAQs
    • CAREERS
    • ADVERTISE
    • Terms & Privacy
    • © 2021 Houzz Inc.