The Home Growns
What to Plant First: Best Plants for Beginner Small Space Gardens
Can I tell you about the first time I tried to grow tomatoes indoors?
I bought the biggest tomato plant I could find at the nursery, shoved it into a pot that was way too small, put it in a corner with almost no light, and wondered why it died within two weeks. I was today years old when I learned that “full sun” actually means full sun.
But that failure taught me the most important beginner lesson: start with the right plants for your space. Not the prettiest ones. Not the most impressive ones. The right ones.
Here’s exactly where to start. 🌿
The Best Herbs to Grow Indoors and Outdoors
Herbs are the perfect first plant for beginners — and honestly, they’re my forever favorites.
They’re small, they grow fast, they smell amazing, and you can actually use them in your cooking. That little win of snipping fresh basil into your pasta or dropping mint into your morning water? Unmatched.
Basil 🌿
Basil is probably the easiest herb you can grow — and one of the most rewarding.
It loves warmth and needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, so a south-facing windowsill or a sunny balcony is ideal. Water it when the top inch of soil feels dry — not before, not after.
One thing I wish someone told me earlier: pinch off the flower buds as soon as they appear. The moment basil starts flowering, the leaves turn bitter. Pinching keeps it bushy and productive for months.
Grows well in: 6-inch pots minimum, indoors or outdoors.
Mint 🌱
Mint is almost too easy to grow — which sounds like a good thing until it takes over everything.
Here’s the deal: always grow mint in its own container. It spreads aggressively through underground runners and will crowd out every other plant if you let it share a pot. I learned this the hard way when my mint basically ate my parsley. 😅
The upside? Mint thrives in partial shade, which makes it perfect for balconies or windowsills that don’t get full sun. It’s also incredibly hardy — this plant wants to survive.
Grows well in: Any size pot, kept separate from other herbs.
Rosemary 🌿
Rosemary is a slow grower, but incredibly low maintenance once it’s established.
It loves dry conditions and actually prefers to be slightly underwatered rather than overwatered. If you’re the type who forgets to water your plants sometimes — no judgment, same — rosemary is your plant.
It needs 6-8 hours of sunlight and well-draining soil. In cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Dallas, rosemary can live outdoors year-round. In colder climates like Chicago or Minneapolis, bring it inside before the first frost.
Grows well in: 8-12 inch pots, indoors or outdoors.
Lavender 💜
Okay, lavender is chef’s kiss for home decor AND gardening.
It smells incredible, it looks beautiful, it repels mosquitoes naturally, and dried lavender bundles are literally a home decor staple. Growing your own lavender feels like such a luxury — and it’s easier than you think.
Lavender needs full sun — at least 6 hours — and excellent drainage. It absolutely hates sitting in wet soil. Use a terracotta pot with drainage holes and a sandy, well-draining potting mix.
Don’t overwater it. Seriously. Lavender would rather be thirsty than soggy.
Grows well in: 12-inch terracotta pots, sunny balconies, south-facing windows.
Easy Vegetables Perfect for Containers and Small Beds
Yes, you can absolutely grow vegetables in a small space. Yes, even in an apartment.
You just need to choose the right varieties — and there are some that were practically made for container gardening.
Lettuce and Salad Greens 🥗
Lettuce is hands-down the best vegetable for beginners — and I will die on this hill.
It grows fast (ready to harvest in as little as 30 days), it doesn’t need deep pots (6 inches is plenty), and it actually prefers partial shade, which makes it perfect for spaces that don’t get full sun all day.
The trick is to use the “cut and come again” method — snip the outer leaves and leave the center to keep growing. One small pot of lettuce can give you weeks of fresh salad greens.
Best varieties for containers: Butterhead, Little Gem, Oakleaf, and Arugula.
Cherry Tomatoes 🍅
Full-size tomatoes in containers can be tricky. Cherry tomatoes, though? Totally doable.
Look specifically for “patio” or “dwarf” varieties like Tumbling Tom, Tiny Tim, or Patio Princess — these are bred specifically for container growing and small spaces.
They need a minimum 5-gallon pot, full sun (at least 8 hours per day), and consistent watering. Inconsistent watering is actually the number one reason container tomatoes fail — it causes a condition called blossom end rot, where the bottom of the fruit turns black and mushy.
Water deeply and consistently. Every single day in summer if needed.
Peppers 🌶️
Peppers are surprisingly perfect for containers — they actually like being a little root-bound.
Both sweet peppers and hot peppers grow beautifully in 3-5 gallon pots on a sunny balcony or patio. They love heat, which makes them ideal for gardeners in Dallas, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
Start with mini bell peppers or banana peppers if you’re a beginner — they’re more forgiving and produce heavily even in small pots.
Beautiful Flowering Plants That Double as Home Decor
Because a garden should be gorgeous, not just functional. 💐
Marigolds
Marigolds are the hardest working flower in a small garden.
They’re bright, cheerful, incredibly easy to grow from seed, AND they naturally repel common garden pests like aphids and whiteflies. Form AND function.
They thrive in full sun and are drought-tolerant once established — perfect for busy women who don’t always remember to water. Plant them around the edges of your container garden for a pop of color that also protects your other plants.
Pothos and Trailing Plants
For indoor spaces and shaded balconies, trailing plants like pothos, string of pearls, and sweet potato vine are absolutely stunning.
They spill beautifully over the edges of hanging baskets and elevated planters, creating that lush, layered look that’s all over home decor feeds right now. And pothos? Nearly impossible to kill. It tolerates low light, irregular watering, and general neglect like a champ.
Geraniums
Geraniums are a balcony garden staple for good reason.
They bloom for months, come in gorgeous shades of red, pink, coral, and white, and they’re incredibly low maintenance. They look amazing in window boxes and railing planters — the kind of setup that makes your balcony look like a European café. ☕
Pet- and Child-Safe Plants for Moms and Animal Lovers
This is so important and not talked about enough.
If you have kids or pets at home, you need to know which plants are safe before you bring anything into your space. Some of the most popular houseplants — like pothos, philodendron, and aloe vera — are actually toxic to cats and dogs.
Safe options for pet and kid-friendly gardens include:
Basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme — all non-toxic to cats and dogs, and useful in the kitchen. Win-win.
Marigolds — safe for pets and kids, and beautiful in containers.
Sunflowers — completely non-toxic, easy to grow, and kids absolutely love them.
Lettuce and most salad greens — totally safe, and kids love harvesting their own food.
Always double-check any new plant on the ASPCA’s toxic plant database (aspca.org) before bringing it home. It takes two minutes and could save your pet’s life.
Seasonal Planting Guide for US Cities
Timing matters a lot in gardening — and it varies depending on where you live.
Here’s a simple breakdown to get you started:
Northeast (New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC)
Last frost date: Mid-April to early May.
Start seeds indoors in late February or March. Move plants outside after Mother’s Day — that’s the general rule of thumb for the Northeast and it’s served me well.
Best spring/summer crops: Lettuce, basil, tomatoes, peppers, marigolds. Best fall crops: Kale, spinach, arugula — these actually prefer cooler temps.
Midwest (Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit)
Last frost date: Mid-May.
Winters are brutal here, so the growing season is shorter. Start seeds indoors in March and don’t move anything outside until late May.
Focus on fast-growing crops like lettuce, radishes, and herbs that can produce before the first fall frost hits in October.
South (Atlanta, Dallas-Ft. Worth)
Last frost date: Mid-February to early March.
You lucky people have a long growing season. You can start planting outdoors as early as February or March and grow a second round of cool-weather crops in the fall.
Watch out for summer heat — lettuce and spinach will bolt (go to seed and turn bitter) quickly in extreme heat. Stick to heat-tolerant varieties and provide afternoon shade during peak summer months.
West Coast (Los Angeles, Seattle-Tacoma)
Los Angeles: You can garden almost year-round. Lucky you. 🌞 Focus on drought-tolerant plants like rosemary, lavender, and peppers during dry summers.
Seattle: Cooler and wetter than most. Your sweet spot for planting is April through September. Lettuce, kale, and herbs love Seattle’s mild, overcast climate.
Okay, now you know WHAT to plant — but do you have everything you need to actually get started? Hit Next below and we’re diving into essential gardening supplies — the exact tools and products worth buying, what’s totally overhyped, and how to set up your first garden for under $50. 🛒 You don’t want to skip this one. 👇
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