Leafy greens are a practical first indoor crop. A small tray, fresh growing mix, and a reliable light can produce cut-and-come-again baby leaves through much of the year.
Choose a simple crop
Start with leaf lettuce, arugula, or a baby-greens seed mix. Use a clean, shallow food-safe tray with drainage holes and place a waterproof tray beneath it. Fill with fresh seed-starting or potting mix.
Sow and light
Scatter seeds evenly, cover according to the seed packet, and gently moisten the mix. Keep the tray warm for germination. Once seedlings emerge, place them close enough to an LED grow light to prevent weak, stretched growth, following the light maker’s distance guidance. A bright window alone may not provide enough winter light.
Water and harvest
Keep the mix evenly moist but never waterlogged. Thin crowded seedlings so air can move between plants. Cut baby greens when they reach about four to six inches tall, leaving the growing point for possible regrowth. Wash leaves before eating.
See University of Maryland Extension’s indoor greens guide for planting and harvest details.
