Author:AMICO’s Founder – Ami Bauer

10 Healthy Edible Indoor Plants to Grow At Home

Everyone loves indoor plants. They make our homes look great, improve air quality and bring a touch of the outside, in. 

With edible plants, however, they add an extra benefit; food! Let’s dive into our top 10 healthy edible plants to grow indoors, so you can add a whole new dimension to your indoor plant collection.

The Best Healthy Indoor Edible Plants You Can Grow In Australia

This list was created by Australian gardeners at Amico with 25+ years of experience. So, you can be sure that these edible plants will grow faster than you can eat them. 

Kidding aside, have a look at the list and enjoy.

• Basil

Growing basil indoors in a container is easy; you just have to make sure it has well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Basil is not that tolerant of water stress, so adequate drainage is a must, keeping the soil somewhat moist but not soggy to avoid rotting. 

Basil will also require some fertilising, for which a general organic houseplant fertiliser will be fine. You can use basil for flavouring foods, and it looks great on the windowsill!

• Spinach

Much like basil, it’s important to keep spinach consistently moist but not soggy. Water regularly, especially during dry periods, and keep the area around the plants free of weeds. Leaf miners are a natural pest associated with spinach, so always check the undersides of the leaves for them. It doesn’t take long for spinach to grow,  and you can harvest it once you see five or six good leaves. 

Spinach is a leafy vegetable that is a very good inclusion in your diet; just make sure you rinse the leaves before using. Mix it with lettuce in a salad, or cook it down for a nutrition boost to any meal!

From spinach to radishes, there are many indoor plants that can be a healthy addition to your meals, saving you a trip to the grocery store.

• Cilantro

Cilantro grows best in an unglazed terracotta pot as it allows for greater moisture and air to go through the roots. Ensure plenty of drainages and make sure the soil is a mixture of potting soil and sand so water can move freely. Thorough watering is important, so water until you see it come out of the drainage holes. 

You only need to water when the soil is dry to the touch, usually more often in the summer months. Cilantro also needs the full sun when growing indoors for four to five hours of sunlight per day.

• Ginger

Ginger plants often take around ten months to mature. Select a spot that offers part to full shade and ensure the root lives in rich, loose soil. It’s a good idea to add lots of compost, and it’s ok to grow ginger in containers, as long as you are using potting soil.

• Rosemary

Growing rosemary indoors is tricky. To ensure success, be aware of and avoid the top three things that kill rosemary plants indoors. These are: 

1. A lack of sunlight 
2. Poor watering practices 
3. Powdery mildew pests 

If you can avoid these issues, you should have a flourishing rosemary plant inside.

Add a touch of rosemary to your home and enjoy a great look, stunning scent and of course, a wonderful garnish to your meal.

• Tomatoes

Tomatoes are warm-season veggies that have a plant that dies back in cold temperatures. So, no home-grown tomatoes in winter, however tomatoes do thrive indoors. They don’t even need a very big pot! There is nothing quite as fresh and sweet as a homegrown tomato!

• Mandarin Oranges

You can grow mandarin oranges in a container, but it needs to be three times bigger than the seedling’s root ball. Ensure well-draining potting mix with compost and always avoid the bottom of the plant is too wet (once again, drainage is the key).

• Meyer lemon

Growing Meyer lemons requires patience, as fruit production takes around two years. However, they offer very attractively, evergreen foliage with fragrant flowers, so the fruit is a bonus. Meyer lemons are best in large containers and away from freezing temperatures.

• Lettuce

Lettuce will grow well indoors all winter long. It does, however, depend upon available sunlight, which is why it is best on a windowsill or beneath some grow lights if possible.

Lettuce, along with other edible plants can grow indoors as long as they are placed on a windowsill and direct from the sunlight.

• Bok choy

Finally, we end with one of our favourites, bok choy. Select a container that is at least 8 to 10 inches wide with sufficient drainage holes, and make sure it is two-thirds full with well-draining soil. Plant a bok choy seed 1/2-inch deep and make sure it gets eight hours of sunlight per day.

How Amico can Help You Take Care of Your Edible Plants Indoor

Amico is Sydney’s gardening expert and that means your indoor garden as well. If you need a little help getting started, or even a hand bringing your plants back to life, give us a call. From a garnish to a side salad, we’ll help get your edible plants healthy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have some more questions about your edible garden? Check our helpful FAQ section:

What is the most popular edible plant? 

The most popular indoor plant is quite subjective. For some it’s microgreens, and for others, it’s citrus trees. Essentially it comes down to what grows best in your space, and it can often take a few goes to figure this out.

What does it mean for a plant to be edible? 

An edible plan can safely be eaten by humans. There are many indoor plants that look great as a decoration, but have the bonus of being a healthy addition to a meal. Save yourself some grocery money and grow your own food!

What are the benefits of growing edible plants indoors?

Along with a nice green addition to your home that is also purifying your air, you can cut the grocery list down with a range of healthy food options that you have grown yourself. The supermarket becomes your home with a range of edible indoor plants.

What’s the easiest edible plant to grow in Australia?

You’ll be surprised how many indoor plants can be easy to grow all year round in Australia. The amount of sunlight in your home will also be a significant factor. Once you find the right plants for your environment, only a little care will be required to ensure they flourish. Nonetheless, if you are just starting out, we suggest planting greens

Plants That Last Through Winter in Australia

As the weather chills in Australia, your early spring and summer gardening time becomes a distant memory. However, this does not mean that your garden has to be forgotten about; in fact, there are plenty of plants that last through winter to keep your outdoor areas looking their best.

The experts at Amico have compiled the go-to list of hardy winter plants and flowers so you can make sure your garden looks beautiful all year long.

The best plants to last through winter in Australia

Winter Flowers

Winter doesn’t have to mean zero colour thanks to these wonderful flower options that love the cold!

Coneflower (Echinacea)

The coneflower does not keep its purple colouring in freezing temperatures, but it will be at its strongest and most colourful in Spring if properly cared for in the offseason. The coneflower loves sunlight so should find a home where it can experience full sun. Trim the dead stems after the flowers go dormant and use 1-2 inches of mulch for protection.

Lily of the Valley

It may have a delicate appearance, but the lily of the valley is a hardy plant that can tolerate a lot of shade. This means it only requires partial sun and can thrive during the colder months.

Lily of the valley only requires partial sun and can thrive during the colder months.

Blue Spruce

The blue spruce tree is a gorgeous winter plant. While it prefers full sun, it also acts as a great windscreen. You must keep insecticides away from this tree, as they will dull its hue, and you don’t want to do anything that may dim the beauty of this magnificent plant.

Wintergreen Boxwood

The wintergreen boxwood has shallow roots, which will require mulch ground cover for winter protection. You can manipulate this versatile plant for use as a hedge and strong enough to survive into late winter and all year long.

Catmint

The catmint’s stunning purple beautiful fragrance make it a winter alternative to lavender. The best part is that its flower is exceptionally resilient, and it tolerates partial sun and can even withstand poor soil conditions.

Coral Bells (Heuchera)

Coral Bells are perfect for shady areas, but they must have well-drained soil. These flowers should be moved to the ground in anticipation of the start of winter if they were previously in a container.

Pansies

The pansy can survive very low temperatures; however, some frost-protection techniques are required in the winter. This can be done by covering them with mulch or pine straw which will also protect them from strong winds that will dehydrate the flower. Plant in late winter, ready for early-spring flowering.

We recommend planting pansies in late winter, ready for early-spring flowering.

Hostas

Hostas like partial sun and their fleshy roots mustn’t be exposed to frost, so cover them with mulch. The large hosta plant is prone to dehydration, so the mulch gives a bonus of retaining moisture in the soil.

Primrose

Primroses also have shallow roots, so require mulch protection in the winter for moisture retention. A little bit of light shade is all you should need for these guys.

Lavander

Can lavenders survive winter? Well, English lavenders can be left outside in winter, but non-English varieties can only survive in mild climates. If you have some, transfer them into pots and bring them inside during the colder months.

Winter Fruits and Vegetables

It’s also possible to keep your produce collection running through winter with these great cold-weather options:

Winterberries

Winterberries are a classic winter plant. Best planted in autumn, these plants can handle some pretty chilly weather. Winterberries enjoy full sun and moist soil and are the best way to add colour to your winter garden.

Many vegetables offer windscreen green leaves and food for your cupboard that thrive in winter.

Your veggie patch

The best vegetable options for your winter garden include the following:

• Cabbage
• Onions
• Turnip
• Beetroot
• Potatoes
• English spinach
• Broad beans
• Carrots

How do plants protect themselves from winter?

Plants protect themselves in a variety of ways over winter. For example, some hold onto dead leaves for insulation or use deeper areas of the soil like a blanket for protection against the cold.

Specific evergreens have a special valve in their cells that automatically seals off individual frozen cells preventing a chain reaction of freezing.

Preparing Your Garden For Winter

One of the best ways to prepare your garden for winter is to clean any rotting and finished plants. This not only looks untidy, but old plants can also harbour disease and funguses. In addition, they can house unwanted insects that are feeding on your plants throughout the summer and laying eggs on the plant’s stalks and leaves.

Removing dead plants from the soil prevents pests from getting a head start in the spring.

How can AMICO help

The gardening experts at Amico have years of experience with plants during all seasons. We can provide a cleanup and health check of your garden to make sure it looks its best all winter.

Not only does this save you the time of doing it yourself, but you’ll also enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your garden is perfectly primed to handle the cold. Ask about our gardening and landscaping services in cold winters today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best plants for Australian winters?

Some of the best plants for your garden in Australian winter include Lily of the Valley, Blue Spruce, Wintergreen Boxwood, Catmint, Coral Bells (Heuchera), Pansies, Primrose and a range of vegetables.

What plants flower all year round in Australia?

Some of the most vibrant year-round flowers include:

• Allwood pinks
• Azaleas
• Chrysanthemums
• Fuschias
• Pansies
• Poppies
• Sweet peas

What flowers grow in winter in Sydney?

Some of the best winter-flowering plants for Sydney gardens include:

• Banksias
• Camellias
• Emu Bush
• Grevillea
• Hellebore
• Federation (Marguerite) daisy
• Protea

What vegetables grow all year round in Australia?

Some of the best year-round vegetables to grow in Australia as well as small spaces include:

• Beans
• Peas
• Radishes
• Spring onions
• Rocket
• Beetroot
• Any climbing fruit

Autumn Gardening Guide: What And When To Plant This Autumn

Well, summer is officially done for another year. Autumn brings the ideal time to get planting! 

We are here to answer the question of what plants are best to plant in Autumn.

If you haven’t dug your vegetable patch yet, we will also attempt to answer what vegetables grow in autumn in Australia.

Red autumn leaves are a wonderful sight

Is Autumn a good time to plant?

Autumn is a great time to plant most plants and vegetables. Soil temperatures are still warm enough to encourage root growth, and milder temperatures reduce water stress. Young plants planted into gardens in autumn have a good chance to settle in well, making optimum growth under and above ground before they have to cope with Australia’s unforgiving summer sun. Often spring brings with it a blast of early high temperatures, which can stress younger plants if their roots have not been established.

What to plant in Autumn?

Cannot decide which is the best plant, veggie, or herb for autumn? This list will answer all your questions.

Citrus Trees

Citrus needs a good sunny spot and can be planted in the ground, or if you’re short on space dwarf varieties are ideal for pots in courtyards and on balconies. It’s important to feed these plants regularly to promote healthy green foliage and a bumper harvest. These are best planted at the beginning of Autumn.

Who can argue with having a lovely citrus tree in your garden?

Autumn foliage trees and shrubs

When it comes to shrubs, the question is what is good to plant in autumn? Visiting your local nursery this season is a great time to see a wide variety of autumnal colour, like Japanese maples, crepe myrtles, Chinese pistachio and flowering cherries. Plenty of colour and leafiness – these shrubs will start to produce good results by the following Spring/ early Summer. 

Veggies

If you are wondering what to plant in Autumn when it comes to your veggie patch, it’s an excellent time to plant many underground, root vegetables, especially healthy favourites like kale, beetroot, cabbage, broccoli, onions, Brussels sprouts and silverbeet are perfect for growing in the cooler months. Cooler season veggies like baby leaf spinach, silverbeet, baby beetroot, onions, broad beans, spring onions, kale, lettuce and cauliflower are ideal to plant now.

Root veggies are some of the healthiest items you could possibly eat.

Flowers

Seeds of annual flowers such as sweet peas, Flanders and Shirley poppies and calendula can be sown in autumn and will produce beautiful blooms in late winter and spring. According to my favourite Autumn gardening guide, you can grow them in garden beds, pots or hanging baskets to brighten up your outdoor space. 

Natives

What to grow in Autumn in Australia, nothing can be better than some true Aussie natives! Mild autumn conditions are perfect for planting many Australian native trees and shrubs like bottlebrush, grevillea, banksia, lilly pilly and tea tree. There’s such a huge variety available, ranging from ground covers and hedging plants, to varieties suitable for growing in smaller pots and containers.

Herbs

If you are a herb fan, you might be wondering what to plant in your Autumn garden. Herbs do well when planted in autumn. Coriander, rocket, chives, thai basil and parsley can all be grown from seed or seedlings in autumn and will ensure your kitchen is kept stocked with aromatic and delicious home grown herbs from mid-Winter onwards. 

Bulbs

Part of my favourite Autumn planting guide says to plant bulbs for daffodils, freesias, tulips, hyacinths and anemones and enjoy their show stopping flower displays in late winter and spring. Spring flowering bulbs can be planted in tight groups or line formats in your flower beds, or indeed in small plant pots.

Freesia are an underappreciated budding flower of real beauty

When exactly to plant in Autumn?

So we have answered the question of what should I plant in Autumn? But now we really need to know when. The simple answer is: anytime, but as early as possible. What you want is to plant when the temperatures are beginning to drop off, but before it gets too cold. Typically in Sydney this is later in Autumn, but anytime can work. 

When the Earth tilts further from the Sun (for your hemisphere), you enter Autumn and Winter

So in conclusion, Autumn is the most important time of year to be doing your planting as it’s when you should be planting most of your garden!