Save bucks—and the planet—by growing your own fruit and veggies. No backyard? No problem! Whether you have a conservatory or a window ledge to work with, we have the indoor gardening scheme for you.

Just add water

Try sprouting alfalfa, broccoli, mung beans, sunflower and wheatgrass seeds to sprinkle on salads for a nutrient-rich boost. They need to be fresh to be beneficial, so growing them
in your kitchen makes great sense. Find a sunny, preferably south-facing, window and keep your space clean to avoid the risk of mold. The EasyGreen automatic sprouter yields readyto-
eat plants in 7–10 days. You can put the trays directly into the fridge when the sprouts are ready to eat. easygreen.com

A Garden on Wheels

More ambitious gardeners can grow veggies such as tomatoes and peppers indoors. If your space is cool, short-rooted carrots, beets and lettuce will flourish. Look for miniature varieties that are drought-tolerant. Food Map’s durable bins, made from 100% post-consumer, recycled plastic, let water drain evenly so your plants won’t get wet feet. You can wheel the troughs around to ensure your vegetables get at least six hours of light each day. Most plants need containers no less than six to eight inches deep for adequate root development. Avoid bringing in soil from outdoors since it can harbor diseases and insects; instead, mix together one part potting soil, one part vermiculite, one part peat and one part perlite. Add nutrients every few weeks in a hydroponic solution—organic brands are now available. foodmapdesign.com

Nature’s air freshener

Dwarf citrus trees often bear fruit and sweet-smelling blooms at the same time, filling your home with wonderful scents. Indoors, you can try dwarf bananas, grapefruit or oranges, Key limes and Meyer lemons. Depending on the size of your container, these trees can grow 8 feet high and 10 feet wide, but you can keep them smaller with pruning. The lightweight sculptural form of Design Within Reach’s Gratia Planter orb gives roots plenty of room to grow. Leave space for drainage to avoid rot. As with all indoor plants, trees need watering and plenty of moisture in the air. Give them as much sunlight as you can—at least six hours of full sun. Rotate the pot to ensure all leaves get to bask in the light. For bee-free pollination, distribute pollen from one flower to the next with an artist’s brush. dwr.com

Go for the ten-yard diet by growing your greens in the Food Map bin (left), Design Within Reach’s Gratia planter (top right) or EasyGreen’s automatic sprouter (bottom right).