5 Easy Things You Can Grow to Be More Self-Sufficient

Yes, even if you’re notoriously bad with plants.

It doesn’t matter if you have a green thumb or not.

There are plenty of things you can grow year-round indoors. Having an all-season garden can help you become more self-sufficient. Plus, it’s a great way to grow healthy supplements to your diet.

You’ll know how your food has been produced, and you can harvest it all year long. It’s not dependent on the weather, and it can be as simple as adding water and liquid fertilizer regularly. You’ll get to enjoy an all-season garden that supports your health, diet, and finances.

5 Things to Grow Indoors Year-Round

1. Kitchen Counter Salad Greens

I’m a big fan of the kitchen counter salad garden. I bought an AeroGarden a year or two ago. I grow lettuce and other salad greens from water.

The hydroponics planter, which grows plants in water and not soil, makes it easy by alerting me when I need to add water or fertilizer to the container. The greens will grow quickly and keep you eating salad for weeks to come. When the greens start to die out, they’re easy to replace, too.

2. Fruit Trees in a Container

Dwarf fruit trees can often be grown in a container. You can plant lemons, oranges, or other fruit in a container and keep it inside your home. It will still need light, water, and plant nutrients, but it is a way to provide fruit for your home.

Of course, it does take a while. It’s a tree, after all. But it can be fun to watch the process, and there’s nothing quite like plucking a lemon off your own tree and using it in a recipe.

3. Potatoes in a Bag

French fries. Mashed potatoes. Roasted potatoes. Potato salad. Baked potatoes. Potatoes are one of the most versatile foods. Did you know you could grow them in a bag of soil? You don’t have to dig in the ground.

A grow bag is an easy way to have a crop of potatoes to feed your household. A 20-gallon bag could grow five to seven potatoes — or more if you choose baby red potatoes. Each seed potato can yield several potatoes, giving you food for your household.

4. Herbs

Did you know you can also use hydroponics to grow herbs indoors? I also grow these in my AeroGarden, but they grow well in pots, too. They’re great for teas and recipes. Plus, they’re fragrant and can discourage pests. They can also be used for medicinal purposes. My favorites include rosemary, lavender, mint, and lemon balm.

5. Cherry Tomatoes

Tomatoes are also great to plant in the hydroponics container. Growing cherry tomatoes is actually pretty simple that way. It’s great to add to salads, toss in pasta, or just pop in your mouth as a snack.

Getting Started

One hydroponics tank — of any brand — can usually grow anywhere from three to 12 plants, depending on the size you choose. If you’re afraid of pests, you can even purchase zip-up containers to keep pests off your indoor garden.

You will have an initial startup expense to buy the container, and there is a small learning curve. Ultimately, it’s an easy way to grow food in your home all year long and become more self-reliant.