🌱 Garden 101: 5 Beginner Tips to Grow Herbs & Veggies Indoors

Start where you are. Use what you have. Grow something.

Let’s be real, gardening can feel intimidating. All the rules, tools, and Pinterest-perfect garden setups? Whew. But here at Camp 8 Garden, we believe in keeping it simple. You don’t need a backyard or fancy raised beds to grow something meaningful. You just need a little light, a little love, and a willingness to begin.

Whether you’re working with a sunny windowsill, a small balcony, or the top of your fridge (yes, that works too), this blog is your green light to start growing herbs or easy vegetables indoors, with no stress and zero perfection.

Here are 5 no-fuss tips to get your hands in the soil and your heart in the garden:

🌿 1. Choose the Easy Ones

Start with plants that don’t need a lot of babysitting. Think of them as the low-maintenance friends of the gardening world.

Top beginner-friendly herbs and veggies to grow indoors:

• Green onions: Regrow from kitchen scraps in a cup of water.

• Basil: Loves a sunny window and grows fast.

• Lettuce or spinach: Easy to grow in shallow containers.

• Mint: Hard to mess up (but keep it in its own pot—it spreads fast).

• Radishes: Quick growers and fun to watch sprout.
  

If you're not sure where to start, go with what you already use in your kitchen. Herbs you cook with often are a great choice.

🪴 2. Use What You’ve Got

Before buying anything, take inventory. You probably have more gardening supplies than you think.

Repurpose:

• Old coffee mugs, jars, or takeout containers = Planters

• Egg cartons = Seed starters

• Mason jars = Water-growing herbs like green onion or basil cuttings

• Tote bins or crates = Mini raised beds

Drainage is key, so poke a few holes in the bottom of your containers or add pebbles to avoid soggy roots.

☀️ 3. Find the Light

Most indoor herbs and veggies need 4–6 hours of sunlight daily. A south-facing window is perfect. If you don’t have that much natural light, don’t stress, consider a cheap grow light from Amazon or your local hardware store. They make a big difference and let you grow all year long.

No sun? No problem. Some veggies like leafy greens (lettuce, spinach) do surprisingly well in partial shade.

💧 4. Don’t Overwater

Most beginners kill their plants with too much love...aka water. Here’s a simple rule: Stick your finger in the soil. If the top inch feels dry, it’s time to water. If it’s still damp, wait a day.

Herbs especially hate soggy feet. Use a spray bottle for daily misting if your home is dry.

Pro tip: Label your watering days until you find your rhythm.

🌱 5. Celebrate the Small Wins

That first sprout? That’s a win. Using your own basil in pasta? Major win. Keeping a plant alive for a full week? We’re throwing a parade.

This is what Camp 8 Garden is all about: growing something not just in your space, but in your spirit. Gardening teaches patience, confidence, and care. It reminds you that transformation happens over time, and that every small effort adds up.

So don’t wait until you have the “perfect” setup. Start where you are. Use what you have. Grow something.

🧑🏽‍🌾 Bonus Beginner Resources

Want to dig a little deeper? Here are some beginner-friendly gardening websites and organizations (including Black-led ones) to support your journey:

• Black Girls with Gardens – Inspires women of color interested in gardening.

• Farming While Black – Comprehensive manual for black people in farming space

• Botantical Interests – High quality seeds and garden supplies

• Camp 8 Garden Amazon Favorites – Shop our Amazon favorites.

🪴 Camp 8 Challenge: What Can You Grow This Week?

Pick one herb or veggie. Just one. Find a cup, a container, or a sunny spot and start. Tag us or share your progress with #Camp8Garden so we can cheer you on. Because remember, you don’t need a green thumb to grow something real. Just a little intention.

• 🎥 The Coop Reveal Is Coming… 👀

  Yes, it’s real. Ray’s Boom Boom Chicken Room is officially the hottest club on the garden circuit. Think moody lighting, jazz-era energy, and hens with main character vibes. We’re dropping the full video tour soon, so stay tuned.

  
  

• 🍳 From the Garden to Your Plate (and Podcast)

  What we grow at Camp 8 doesn’t stop in the soil. It’s showing up in our weekly meal plans, our Let's Cook! Recipe Club, and even episodes of our upcoming Small Steps podcast.

  
  

• 🎯 Ready to Grow Something Better?

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