10 Foods You Can Grow at Home Using Small Spaces

The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends the consumption of 400 grams of fruits and vegetables daily. Although Brazil stands out in the production of these foods, only 40% of Brazilians ingest the amount considered ideal by the WHO, according to a survey.

An alternative to increasing this rate and making it a habit is to plant in our own home and thus always have fresh, pesticide-free vegetables available.

In that sense, the awesome.club separated 10 foods for you to grow at home and maintain a healthy diet, even if you don’t have large spaces for a vegetable garden. And, at the end of the post, we have a bonus Special. Just follow!

Lettuce is rich in vitamins such as calcium and iron. In addition, it has calming properties that, if taken at night, help you sleep better.

According to Anvisa, vegetables are one of the foods most contaminated by pesticides in Brazil. Therefore, planting it at home becomes even more attractive and safe. And even in a small space it is possible to have the vegetables always fresh and thus enjoy all their nutritional benefits.

For this, choose the balcony or places close to windows so that the plant can develop in an airy space and have contact with the sun. The container to grow it must have a foot deep and holes to drain the water. Follow below how to produce lettuce at home.

Leave it in the glass for 7 days and then transfer the seedling to a vase.

As shown in the picture below, this planting method can also be used for onion, basil and celery.

Spinach is the famous vegetable of Popeye’s cartoon and, as in the small screens, it can be very beneficial to those who consume it, because it is rich in vitamins and has a high antioxidant capacity, which can even prevent cancer.

Imagine being able to harvest this nutritious vegetable straight from your garden? In that case, you can plant it in a pot in a place in your house where the sun is indirect. Thus, after 40 to 120 days from planting, you can harvest and use the leaves of this vegetable in your recipes. See the illustrated step-by-step below. And here get more information.

Sowing seeds before planting in the pot ensures better control of plant growth. Sowing can be done in a disposable cup or PET bottle. After 40 days, transfer to a vase.

Unlike lettuce, which must be eaten raw, Swiss chard can be cooked and added to soups, stir-fries and dumplings. This vegetable is excellent for maintaining the diet, as it is rich in antioxidants and composed of vitamins that promote the health of the whole body.

To take advantage of all these benefits, the vegetable can also be grown at home, through the preparation of beds, preferably in spring or autumn, which have milder temperatures, between 18ºC and 20ºC — although it is also resistant to warmer climates, up to 30ºC.

See below how to plant Swiss chard and click here to see more information about its cultivation.

Swiss chard can be planted directly in the pot, in its final location, for faster development. After 4 days, germinated plants will appear. In 50 days, with due care in the maintenance of the plant, it will be ready to be harvested and integrated into your meals.

Green bean fruit, the pod is versatile to be incorporated into recipes with hot or cold preparations. Because it is rich in folic acid, it has many benefits for the full development of the baby during pregnancy. Not to mention that its consumption even prevents certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer (most of the large intestine).

This plant can also be part of the garden in your home, as long as it is possible to place it in an environment where it gets direct sun. It is also necessary to check if the pod is the type that grows horizontally forming bushes, or vertically, being necessary to place a wire fence around the planting area. Check out how to produce pod beans in pots, following the recommendations in the figures below. For more information click here.

It is recommended to place a maximum of 2 pod bean seeds in each pot. In the photos above, the plant is in its early stage and at different angles that show the leaves and pod. The harvest is estimated at 80 days, when the color turns brown.

It is considered by many an indispensable seasoning. With it, the recipes gain more flavor, without increasing the calories of the meals. With a marked presence, chives also make a difference in our health, as their consumption brings benefits to the body, such as helping to control blood pressure.

With that in mind, having chives always fresh and present in your diet is possible even without much space to plant them at home. For this, it is necessary to look for a place where there is direct sunlight. The following illustrations show how to plant this vegetable. For detailed information, click here.

For practical cultivation and the fastest growth of chives, it is recommended to plant them from the root — but cut them in half to facilitate the production of new roots.

In 40 days it will be ready to be harvested. Always remembering that, when harvesting, it is necessary to cut the outside leaves, because in the middle of the plant there are new ones emerging.

Originally from the Americas, tomatoes are very nutritious. It concentrates lycopene, which acts as an antioxidant when consumed in sauces and extracts (which are heated).

Even without a backyard, it is possible to have beautiful tomatoes at home, fresh and without pesticides. The cherry type adapts well in pots, as long as it is possible to meet some aspects, such as the depth of the pot, the ideal being 45 cm for the best development of the plant.

In the following images you will find the step by step of tomato planting that can be done at home.

Sift the seeds and let dry for 5 to 7 days

Cucumber is 95% water, so it’s a food that can keep you hydrated if you don’t have water nearby. In addition, it brings several benefits to the body, such as helping to prevent high blood pressure, if consumed regularly.

This is one of the foods most contaminated by pesticides in Brazil, so it is a great alternative to grow it at home. The larger the pot in which it is planted, the greater the space the vegetable will have to develop, thus yielding greater harvests. A wire mesh close to the plant is also recommended so that it can curl up. See below for care and step-by-step instructions for proper cultivation.

Good seeds stay at the bottom of the glass

Carrots have beta-carotene, a substance that stimulates the production of melanin, responsible for skin pigmentation. Thus, its consumption is allied to a perfect and durable tan. Rich in vitamin A, it also contributes to eye health.

Carrot is one of the 5 main vegetables grown in Brazil, but it is also identified as one of the foods that receive the most pesticides, which, as we know, are a risk to our health.

To avoid exposure to these risks and maintain a healthy diet, carrots can be part of your home garden. Choose a place where the plant has direct contact with the sun, in pots at least 20 cm deep. Here’s the step-by-step guide to growing carrots in a pot. See more information here.

Planting from seed makes the growing process more time consuming as it takes 7 to 14 days for the plant to start germinating. So, the tip is to use the very tip of the already germinated carrot.

When some leaves are dry, this indicates that the carrots are ready to be harvested.

With a sweet, refreshing and peppery taste, radish is very popular in oriental cuisine. Quite versatile, in addition to being part of delicious salads, the radish can integrate hot dishes. Regarding health, it is rich in iron, preventing anemia, and in other essential nutrients for the proper functioning of our body.

The most favorable region for planting radishes is the South of Brazil, as it adapts better to colder temperatures, between 10 °C and 20 °C. In other regions, cultivation can be done in spring and autumn. For harvesting, the radish will be ready in approximately 4 weeks.

Following are the steps to plant the radish, in the example the “comet” type. For more information on how and care, including in relation to soil fertilization, click here.

It is recommended to place the seeds in a flower bed, which will be the final place for the plant. Germination occurs in 4 to 5 days. It is essential to observe if, during its development, the root appears in the soil. Whenever this occurs, cover with soil.

The recipes get a special color with green, red or yellow peppers. With a characteristic, slightly sweet taste, it is an excellent food for health, as it has a high amount of vitamin C, which can reduce the severity of colds or even prevent colon cancer.

Having this plant at home guarantees a healthy, organic diet and even works as a decoration for the environments. Peppers adapt to hot climates, but the ideal temperature is between 20 °C and 25 °C. The fruits grow in reduced size above 30 ºC.

It is recommended to place the pot in an area with direct sunlight. The pepper plant should receive water whenever possible, taking care not to soak the soil. Here’s the step-by-step guide to growing peppers at home.

Do you grow any of these foods at home? Which plants mentioned in this post would you like to have in your home garden? Tell us!