We live in a flat, wld like to grow something edible on a sunny indoor kitchen windowsill.

[DorotheaPlenticlew]

Is this feasible?

It's a reasonably big, deep windowsill and I would really like to just grow something compact in a pot with proper good compost etc, that DS (2.8) can help me with. I know we could do basil, or tomatoes; but tbh he would be far more motivated if it was something he loves, like strawberries. Would that work? Is it too late to start them for this summer?

I'm very clueless about plants, but good at following instructions in words of few syllables.

Any tips welcome

[tatt]

what else does he like as you'd need a deep pot for enough strawberries to be worth the bother. Spring onions or chives would be ideal. How about peas - easy to grow and good from the pod. Would he eat lettuce? Small carrots can be grown in a pot and the tops look good. Or dwarf beans? Not sure if blackcurrants need pollinating but we have some cutting with lots of flower buds forming - might give you quick results.

[getthewineinthefridge]

How big is your pot(s)? How tall can you go? If you can go tall and can have wide pots, then you really open up your options.

A couple of potato plants, though they take quite a bit of room. Lettuce and Rocket (my young son bizarrely addicted to Rocket, just stands next to it in the veg patch and picks it and eats it until I stop him!)

Strawberries might be difficult, sadly, as they do also require quite a bit of room and they SPPPREAD themselves out.

Dwarf beans dont grow too tall, peas and other bean varieites will need sticks to hold up the plants.

[Slugbrains]

We have had container carrots which are erally sweet - grew in a window box or just around pot. We have container srtawberries. special variety for containers. Have only just put them in. So no if quick can be done.

[DorotheaPlenticlew]

I haven't bought any containers yet, but we have room for them to be pretty tall. Very high, tall rooms/windows here.

He is at the age where, having happily eaten green veg as a baby/early toddler, he now insists he doesn't like it . I know growing his own might help re-interest him in eg lettuces, but I'd also still like to try the strawbs if there is a chance ... although I do take your points about impracticality, I'm just not quite ready to discard the dream .

Slugbrains, what variety did you go for, and what kind of containers? I've seen these, which look nice and sell in 3s rather than eg by the dozen.

Also: I've been Googling a bit, but cannot find any info about what type of compost to use -- any advice on that? The site I ijust linked to sells fertilizer, but not actual compost.

[DorotheaPlenticlew]

And lettuce/carrots -- can I do them in quite compact containers too? Would I be able to use the same sort of compost for all these things?

[Slugbrains]

yep to containers and compost.

Erm no idea they were a present from my mum the strawbs. From bakker cant find the exact one mum got buthere is what they do. i suspect you might be able to do a hanging basket for strawbs.

We did hanging basket toms in pots last year as they were more compact. and very yummy.

[noddyholder]

this is nice

[Slugbrains]

found the one she got. it was free with order.
here which explains why we got them she brought a lilac for her garden. not that is what i call using her brain.

[snorkie]

If you have lots of height and enough width a tiered planter might work - but you'd have to stand it in a tray & turn it regularly. Also, make sure you buy varieties of strawberry suitable for growing under glass.

Like this perhaps?

Or a cheaper version here

Or there's a couple of hanging ones here and here

[tatt]

measure your windowsill and see if a strawberry planter would fit.

You can get free veg seeds and good advice here Dig In campaign

[ProfYaffle]

We grow dwarf peas on our playroom window sill, the children love picking and eating the raw pods. You can also grow peas just for the top shoots of the plant as a salad leaf - v trendy this year!

[localmum]

Peppers and tomatoes are easy to grow on windowsills. You can just plan the seeds out of peppers instead of chucking them away.the fruits are quite small, but they grow quickly and taste good.

[taffetacat]

Bearing in mind what you've said about greens, I would go with some dwarf beans - both French and dwarf. You could either sow seed now or buy seedlings from a DIY/garden centre. Either way, you should be eating broad beans come June and French from July.

My DS won't touch beans if I serve them cooked, but picking them straight off the plant? They last 5 seconds. He fights for them with his little sister.

Peppers are good too, get seedlings or small plants though as you are a little late to sow seed. You won't get fruit to eat off them until Sept time though. I don't suppose you live near me............I have way too many pepper plants and would be happy to give you some.

[taffetacat]

I really should preview before I post.

I meant to say.... go with some dwarf beans - both French and broad

[tabbycat7]

cherry tomatoes. We grew Sweet Millions on our bathroom windowsill.