This article will be short because windowsill plants are so simple! Making the most of a bit of space or a sunny window requires just a few materials and some creativity. The goal of this article is to give you some handy tips and get you thinking.
Sunny decks, patios, balconies, or a small patch of dirt outside with good drainage are great opportunities to garden. A small pot on a windowsill is not the best for supporting large vegetables or any serious agricultural endeavor (check out the potted plants article for that), but it’s a strategy that can work remarkably well for herbs and other compact plants like radishes and scallions.
Tiered Garden
The question is how to use space vertically instead of just horizontally. You can find plenty of space saving planters for sale, or you can easily recreate something like this yourself. DIY tutorial and image from here.
This clever design gives you the option of moving your garden to follow the sun for optimal exposure:
Image from here.
Image from https://gardentherapy.ca/vertical-herb-gardens/
image from https://makinglemonadeblog.com/diy-deck-idea-shady-seating-and-living/
Almost any vertical structure can be repurposed for a tiered garden. Even old furniture works!
Image from https://www.decoist.com/2015-07-09/small-balcony-herb-gardens/?safari=1&firefox=1
Mounted Garden
If you don’t want to use any space horizontally check out these mounted gardens.
Have natural sunlight but no countertop space? With just pieces of wood, hose clamps, and mason jars you can turn an empty wall into something artful and productive.
DIY instructions and image from here.
Don’t even have a good wall? Make one out of chicken wire!
Image from https://www.decoist.com/2015-07-09/small-balcony-herb-gardens/?safari=1
Image from here, DIY instructions here.
Hanging Garden
Mount your own structure to hang plants from or just hook pots on existing ledges and edges.
Image from here.
DIY instructions and image from here.
Image from here.
Or grow your herbs in shoe pockets!
DIY instructions and image from here.
Not much of a DIY person? Go here to find full kits for sale, including various fancy hanging designs and a mini hyrdoponics farm that doubles as a fish tank.
Hopefully some of these ideas got you inspired! Often setting up a garden only requires a bit of sunlight, seeds, dirt, and some creatively repurposed materials.