The thermometer read -15° this morning. And while it might warm up enough today to get us out of negative numbers, there’s snow in the forecast and the first crocus won’t pop up its head for months. Yup, it’s been a tough winter so far, but one way we’ve always coped is by cultivating a little summer with vegetables and herbs in pots. Not only do the “crops” improve our mood on bleak winter days, they also improve the taste of just about everything we eat.
You don’t need a green thumb—or an enormous budget—to get started. Just give these plants a try in your house or apartment this winter and reap the benefits through spring:
Herbs
A lot of herbs grow well in pots indoors – and you can keep them that way year-round if you like (nice if you don’t have the luxury of outdoors garden space). Basil is probably the simplest herb of all to grow inside—just plant a packet of seeds and place the pot next to a south-facing window for maximum sunlight. You can also buy cuttings or small starter plants of oregano, parsley, thyme, or rosemary year-round and plant them in small pots. They’ll grow well near a south-facing window.
Have you tried growing vegetables or herbs inside? Tell us what worked best for you.

Greenwrite is a prolific writer with an eclectic range of specialties that reflects her curiosity for just about everything. A former advertising creative director, she makes her home in Vermont, but escapes to a sunny beach whenever the opportunity presents itself.