The best edible plants you can grow indoors

If you want to nurture something inside that you can eat without investing in specialized equipment, you just have to think greens.

Greens are higher yield and lower maintenance, with only a few simple wants and needs: adequate light, water and a comfortable environment.

These are arguably the easiest edible you can grow on your windowsill – anything from wheatgrass to alfalfa to soybeans.

Think of what gives your food and drink some kick. Parsley, oregano, basil and lemongrass all work. And unlike outdoor herbs, they can be grown year-round.

Myriad varieties of lettuce, watercress and arugula work well. They form the base of most salads and in cases like kale are a hearty addition to soups.

Green onions can be grown by placing bulbs in water and setting them on a windowsill. Just trim from the top as needed.

“The beautiful thing about doing lettuces and herbs is that they're pretty,” says Smith says P. Allen Smith, PBS host and author of several gardening books.

And harvesting is easy: “Just clip them off and throw them in a salad or whatever you're doing.”