Starting your own garden and growing your own foods is super fun and exciting, but can be very intimidating for those who don't know a single thing about it other than having to water their plants. That is totally normal! Good news is that gardening doesn't always have to include acres of land or a giant greenhouse. You can start growing foods in your own kitchen and backyard no matter how big or little the space is. Here are some easy ways to start gardening in your own home and some easy foods to begin with!

Indoor

Starting a little garden indoors is something that anyone can do and is a great place to begin. Some things are easy to grow inside are herbs and micro greens. You can also start go grow fruits and vegetables like pineapple, romaine lettuce, chives, fennel and carrots from food scraps you would otherwise just throw away. Below is a walk through of how to start growing some of these foods in your own home using just a glass of water! It can't get easier than that!

Outdoor

There are basic tips when it comes to learning how to garden and getting started in your own backyard! Checking the type of soil that you have (sandy, clay, dirt, etc.) is the first step. You can then know what type of plants to grow and any kind of changes in soil you will need to make. Making sure you have enough space for crops to grow and watering based off of the needs of what you are growing. Many people try to use less pesticides on their garden which is important as well, and using natural mulch and compost will make for rich and nourishing soil for your plants to grow in!

Romaine Lettuce

Step 1: Cut off the stem of the head of Romaine about 1 inch long.

Step 2: Place the stem in a dish of water about 1/2 an inch deep.

Step 3: Place the dish on a window sill or a spot that gets lots of sunlight.

Step 4: Change the water in the dish every 2-3 days.

Step 5: Watch your lettuce start to grow!

Carrots

Step 1: Cut off the top of the carrot about 1-2 inches from the root.

Step 2: Place the top in a dish of water about 1/2 an inch deep.

Step 3: Place the dish where there isn't too much sun but just enough where it is getting some light.

Step 4: Change the water in the dish every 2-3 days.

Step 5: Carrot tops will begin to grow and you can then plant them in soil to start growing the actual carrot!

Chives (Green Onions)

Step 1: Cut the stems of the chives off about 1 inch long.

Step 2: Place the stems in a dish of water about 1/2 an inch deep.

Step 3: Place the dish on a window sill with lots of sunlight.

Step 4: Change the water in the dish every 2-3 days.

Step 5: Watch your chives grow and never have buy them again!

Pineapple

Step 1: Cut off the crown of a pineapple.

Step 2: Using two toothpicks, poke them through the crown on the pineapple in the shape of a cross.

Step 3: Use the ends of the toothpicks to hold the crown at the top of a jar of water so it is only submerged about 1/2 an inch.

Step 4: Place the jar of water on a window sill will just enough sunlight.

Step 5: Change the water in the jar every 2-3 days.

Step 6: Watch the pineapple start to grow roots, and from there plant the crown in soil where a whole pineapple will begin to grow!

Growing Microgreens

Requires: microgreen seeds, a shallow container, a spray bottle, potting mix, a war and sunny windowsill, scissors

If you’re only just starting out with growing your own food, microgreens are an excellent beginner’s project. Microgreens are a luxury food item, often seen on menus at high end restaurants as garnishes or for salads. While they’re expensive to purchase, they’re rather cost efficient to grow yourself.

Microgreens are a variety of premature, edible greens that can be harvested 7-21 after germination, when they reach a height of about 2 inches. There are a plethora of different types of microgreens, each with their own nutritional benefits and unique flavors. However, the easiest microgreens to grow are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, mustard, chia, sunflower or buckwheat microgreens. What’s amazing about microgreens is that they are packed with nutrients, specifically potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and copper. While it varies for different plants, microgreens can contain up 40 times more nutrients than their fully mature counterparts.

Here are the steps to growing these nutrient rich plants right in your home. Be sure to first read the instructions on the seed packet for any special deviations that may exist in the planting process.

Begin by filling your shallow container with an inch or two of moistened potting soil. For containers, you can use anything from pie pans to take out boxes.
Scatter your chosen microgreen seeds amongst the soil. Press the seeds into the soil using your hand.
Cover the seed with a thin layer of more soil and mist the soil with your spray bottle
Place your microgreens by a window sill where they will get 4 hours of direct sunlight a day. In the winter months, they may need more sunlight.
Mist your microgreens once or twice daily to keep the soil moist
After about 2-3 weeks, when your microgreens look like they’re ready to harvest and have reached a height of about 2 inches, cut the microgreens at the bottom of the stem with scissors

Be sure to rinse your microgreens thoroughly before preparing them to be eaten. Microgreens can be stored in a plastic bag in your refrigerator, but are best served fresh.

For a full list of microgreens you can grow at home check out this site.

For ideas about how to prepare your microgreens, check out these recipes.

Photo Credit (Romaine, Carrot, Chives, Pineapple): https://walkingonsunshinerecipes.com/how-to-re-grow-lettuce/https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/children/grow-carrot-tops.htmhttps://tastyseasons.com/how-to-grow-green-onions-from-cuttings/https://www.garden.eco/how-to-grow-a-pineapple-in-water