Indoor Growing: How to Bring the Garden Indoors for November

By Ashleigh Smith for True Leaf Market

As the leaves fall and we begin to think of the approaching holidays, it’s easy to think the growing season is over. But for gardeners, November isn’t an ending—it’s an invitation to bring the outdoors in. Whether you have an extra shelf, some space on your countertop, or a full indoor growing tent, you can transform your home into a thriving green sanctuary. Indoor gardening is not only a way to keep your plants alive through winter—it’s a way to keep your spirit growing, too. Elevate your everyday meals, holiday spreads, and treats to share with a touch of your indoor garden harvest this winter!

Benefits of Bringing Your Outdoor Garden Indoors

The joy of gardening doesn't have to end when the temperatures start dropping. Instead, transition your planting to indoor spaces like shelves, countertops, desks, grow towers, and indoor grow tents. The satisfaction of working with your hands in the soil, watching new life sprout, and gathering a harvest can continue year-round. Simply scale down to a more manageable and intimate garden within the comfort of your own home.

Bringing your garden indoors during the cold fall and winter months is both emotionally and practically rewarding. Studies show that adding plants to our home surroundings can boost mood, improve air quality, and reduce stress—something we could all use more of as daylight fades and schedules get booked. Plus, having fresh herbs, greens, microgreens, and sprouts at the ready can elevate your everyday meals and holiday contributions with a burst of fresh flavor you simply can't beat!

Winter Indoor Gardening: How to Choose the Right Plants

The first step to creating a flourishing indoor garden is to choose the right plants for your growing space and lighting accommodations. The use of grow lights will broaden the number of plants you can potentially grow indoors. While many plants like leafy greens and microgreens can be grown with window light, they will be much stronger and more vigorous with additional lighting.

When choosing plants to grow, the largest factor should be what you will use or enjoy most. Also consider how much growing space they need. While many herbs and leafy greens will thrive in containers around 5-8 inches tall and wide, others may require more soil and space to accommodate their root systems. Be sure to plan ahead for the best container size that fits your plant and space.

Easy Edible Options: Herbs like basil, chives, parsley, thyme, and oregano do wonderfully on a sunny windowsill in the spring and summer. When growing in the fall and winter, utilize a grow light for the best results. If you love quick results, try microgreens or sprouts—they germinate fast and are packed with nutrients ready to eat in only a few days. Leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, and arugula can also grow well in containers up to the baby leaf and mature stages.

Decorative Favorites: Not every indoor garden has to be edible. Many houseplants add color and texture to your home while purifying the air. Consider popular holiday favorites like Amaryllis, paperwhites, or easter lilies. Flowers that grow well indoors from seed include begonias, impatiens, coleus, polka dot plant, and sensitive plant.

Productive Vegetable Crops: If you have good grow lights and some experience, tomatoes and peppers can provide ongoing harvests through winter. Choose seeds bred for containers or indoor growing.

Lighting Tips for Indoor Gardening

Light is the single most important factor in indoor gardening success—and it’s often where beginners struggle. Even a bright south or west-facing window loses intensity during short November days. Really, the best option is to use the assistance of a grow light. Look for LED full-spectrum options to support leaf and flower development without generating excessive heat. If you are really serious about growing fruiting plants, like tomatoes, consider investing in some red-spectrum lights designed to support blooming. Place lights 6–12 inches above your plants and keep them on for 12–14 hours per day using a simple timer.

Your Garden, All Year Long

Gardening doesn’t stop when the ground freezes; it simply changes shape. November is the perfect month to rediscover the quiet joy of nurturing life indoors. Start your seeds now for a flourishing holiday season and a delicious, fresh upgrade to your favorite winter meals.

About the Author:

Ashleigh Smith is the Managing Editor at True Leaf Market with a bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Brigham Young University - Idaho. True Leaf Market is a nationally certified organic, non-GMO seed and horticultural company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The True Leaf Market staff specializes in supplying a large selection of conventional, heirloom, and organic seeds to home gardeners everywhere. Learn more about our seeds, supplies, and other growing ideas: www.trueleafmarket.com.

All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.

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