I’m surrounded by people with envy-inducing gardens. From all my local farmers who participate in my urban share crop to my own mother who has a backyard homestead, I was always jealous of people who could grow their own food. Having the space and ability to grow your own food in San Diego is a rarity, simply for real estate’s sake. We have a backyard, but because we’re on a hill, it isn’t exactly usable, and our outdoor space is heavily reliant on our 1,000-square-foot deck. In the past five years, I’ve spent a lot of time outdoors on my deck finagling my own urban homestead. So if you’re someone like me who doesn’t have ample land to grow your own food on, give these tips a try.

Know your capabilities

There is a fabulous range of vegetables that you can grow without a garden as long as you have space for a few containers.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes need a lot of sun, but they can thrive in containers as long as they have that bright light. If you have a balcony or small outdoor space, try planting some juicy tomatoes! Just make sure the variety you pick will flourish in a container.

Peppers

Bell peppers and jalapenos grow beautifully in containers. Peppers love hot and sunny weather, so again, make sure you have a spot where they can get ample sunlight.

Lettuce

Growing lettuce is the gift that keeps on giving. Just keep snipping above their roots and they will keep producing. As far as sun goes, lettuce prefers moderate sun, so put your pots in a place that gets a lot of sun, but not full sun.

Strawberries

You can plant strawberries in pots, grow bags or hanging baskets, as long as they don’t get too waterlogged. Bonus: if you take good care of them, they’ll keep producing fruit year after year.

Pick food you can grow indoors

If you’re totally lacking in outdoor space, don’t worry! While your options aren’t quite as bountiful, there is still plenty you can grow indoors with a little knowledge.

Microgreens

All you need to grow microgreens is a windowsill. They’re great for salads, sandwiches or sprinkling them on avocado toast for a little extra nutrition. You can find microgreen trays at nurseries, but you can also repurpose items you have on hand: a shallow pie pan, egg carton, old plastic jars, etc. Just make sure you can drill drainage holes into them.

Scallions

Regrowing green onions is one of the easiest ways to garden. Next time you buy scallions at the store, don’t toss the parts you don’t use. Fill a juice-sized glass about halfway with water and place your bulbs in it next to a sunny window. After a few days, your green onions will be fully grown and ready to use again! This little hack is a great way to limit food waste and trips to the grocery store.

Mushrooms

Mushroom growing at home requires a cool, dark, damp place. An unused cabinet or closet will work great — anywhere you can create near darkness and control temperature and humidity. If you don’t want to do all the scientific research, you can also buy a mushroom grow kit that makes it easier than pie. 

Herbs

Build your own mini herb garden on your kitchen windowsill and have fresh herbs whenever you need them. You’ll save money too: just snip what you need and avoid wasting an expensive bundle from the grocery store. Look for harder-to-find varieties like purple basil, strawberry mint or lemon thyme to add some new flavors to your cooking.