Amy Pennington

It really is as easy as you think it is!

If you’ve spent any time on Pinterest lately, you may have noticed the ever-growing pallet garden trend. They seem like a good idea in theory: Pallets are used (in great quantities!) to ship boxes, cargo, and lumber, and are often discarded in heaps outside big-box stores, making them fairly easy to scrounge up. Plus, they’re a good solution for small-space gardening, as they take advantage of vertical space and fit on even the smallest balconies.

Maybe you’ve tried to grow basil in your kitchen before? And maybe you were lucky to get four leaves — two of which you were actually willing to eat? Trust me, I get it. I didn’t always have a green thumb, but now I’ve literally written the book on indoor gardening. The good news: Plants don’t require a ton to grow (the official list includes light, nutrients, water, and a little bit of love). Here’s how to make sure those needs get met.

You know all those grow-your-own basil kits sold online and in novelty stores? I do not understand them! For starters, they almost never work (or they do … until they don’t). And secondly, they’re just totally unnecessary. Basil is actually not hard to grow, and you’ll have a lot more success if you just do it sans kit. Here’s what you need to know about growing basil in your kitchen without a kit.

Mint is one of those plants that you really cannot mess up. Promise. It can handle the abuse of lack of watering or poor sunlight. The only real risk is that the plant chokes itself (silly, plant!) but that can be avoided easily. Here’s everything you need to know about growing mint in your kitchen. Mint is a considered a “runner” — a plant that sends out horizontal root runners, which produce new stalks. This is both good news and bad news for small gardens.

What if I told you that you could grow your own salad (or, at the very least, a leafy base of arugula) inside the comforts of your kitchen? It’s true, you can! Usually when it comes to indoor gardening, people tend to think of herbs or, well, just succulents. But it’s actually super easy to grow arugula on your windowsill. Here’s what you need to know.

There are two ways to start a garden: You can grow something from seeds, or transplant a start (which is a fancy way of talking about a mini plant that’s already started for you). Which one is better? It depends! It depends on what it is that you want to grow, how much time you have, and your level of experience. Don’t worry, it’s not all that complicated. Here’s a useful guide on both strategies so that you can make the most of your garden space.