If you think you need a big garden to grow your own food, think again. From windowsills to balconies, the right plants can deliver surprisingly generous harvests in even the smallest spaces — as long as you choose wisely.
Author, TV producer and avid urban gardener, Martha Swales, who has been working with Google Gemini to show how AI-powered gardening advice can help people grow food successfully in small spaces, believes success comes down to one key rule: choosing the right plant for the right place.
The biggest small-space gardening mistake
'The biggest mistake people make when trying to grow food in small spaces is choosing the wrong plant for the environment,' Martha tells House Beautiful UK. 'Indoor growing conditions are very different from outdoor ones, and only certain crops thrive indoors. In small spaces, it also makes sense to choose plants that are productive and give repeat harvests.'
So forget sprawling crops or those that take months to mature. Instead, prioritise compact, productive varieties that deliver multiple harvests from a small footprint.
Why repeat-harvest crops are key
When space is limited, every pot and container needs to work harder, so Martha recommends prioritising crops that offer multiple harvests rather than one-off produce.
‘Herbs, chillies and compact tomatoes are often better choices than crops that require lots of space, take a long time to mature or only provide a single harvest,’ she explains.
‘The key principle is always the right plant in the right place.’
The best edible plants for small spaces
So, which plants deliver the biggest returns in the smallest areas? Martha highlights a mix of indoor and outdoor options that are easy to grow and highly productive.
Best indoor crops
Whether you're growing on a windowsill, shelf or kitchen counter, these crops 'offer some of the best returns for the space they require', says Martha.
- Microgreens: Fast-growing and ready in just days, these nutrient-packed shoots are perfect for small trays
- Mushrooms: Ideal for low-light spaces and can be grown in compact kits
- Herbs: Basil, mint, parsley and chives can thrive indoors, be picked continuously and grown on successfully for months.
Best outdoor small-space crops
For patios, balconies and container gardens, Martha says these crops are 'excellent choices because they can be highly productive in containers and small gardens'.
- Trailing tomatoes: Perfect for hanging baskets or containers
- Climbing beans: Grow vertically to maximise space
- Chillies: Compact, colourful and highly productive
- Salad leaves: Quick-growing and ideal for regular picking
The ultimate space-saving staple
Martha's standout recommendation? Cut-and-come-again salad leaves.
'Cut-and-come-again salad leaves are particularly useful because they can be harvested repeatedly and are often more cost-effective than buying fresh salad regularly,' she tells us.
You can simply snip what you need, then let the plant regrow — making it a must-have for small gardens, balconies and patio pots.
Why small-space growing is having a moment
If you follow Martha on Instagram @marfskitchengarden, you'll know her urban gardening projects and veg-packed recipes prove just how much you can grow in even the smallest spaces. And she's not alone. According to Google search data, interest in gardening has risen by 20 per cent year-on-year, with more people looking for ways to maximise compact outdoor areas.
Searches for vertical gardening, container planting and balcony-friendly gardening ideas are all on the rise, while interest in growing food continues to soar – searches for ‘how to grow tomatoes’ now match those for ‘how to grow grass’.
Martha believes this reflects a broader shift in how we think about gardening. 'Gardening is becoming less about having a traditional garden and more about matching plants to whatever space is available,' she says. 'More people are living in urban environments with limited space, but they're realising that gardening isn't only for people with large gardens. You can grow something wherever you are. People are increasingly drawn to the idea that a windowsill, balcony or small patio can still be productive and rewarding.'
Google has teamed up with gardening expert Martha Swales to show how easy it is to grow your own food in small and unexpected places like north-facing balconies, tiny windowsills, and doorframes using Gemini, Google’s AI assistant. From troubleshooting plant health to auditing your home’s light levels, Gemini removes the guesswork. Try it at gemini.google.com or download the free mobile app on iOS and Android.
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