You don’t need to have a backyard to grow an edible garden—just sunlight and a little patience. There are lots of veggies, and even some fruits, that can be grown indoors. Here are the keys to successfully growing fruits and vegetables inside your home.

The Right Environment

Sunlight

Let’s begin with the obvious—an area in your home that gets plenty of sunlight. Steer clear of places where the light is too direct, though, since too much exposure could burn your plants. The amount of sun your plants need depends on the type of plants you’re growing. Herbs, for example, require less sun. Fruit-bearing plants will need much more light.

If you don’t have places in your home that are sunny enough to accommodate an indoor edible garden, you can always use grow lights. Some folks aren’t too keen on the look of the typical grow light. If you’re one of them you can opt for lights that resemble regular bulbs.

Temperature

The area where you place your garden needs to maintain a temperature that will allow your plants to thrive. Avoid areas that tend to be cold or drafty, and although most vegetables flourish in warmer environments don’t place them near heating vents and fireplaces, since they could cause them to overheat and dry out.

Good Soil and Good Drainage

Choose containers with proper drainage, and always use high-quality potting soil—some experts recommend a mix containing two parts of sterile potting soil, one part of compost, and one part of perlite. The compost enriches the soil with nutrients.

Perlite, which is the round, white material used in potting mixtures, allows for more air circulation around roots and helps improve soil drainage.

Water your plants regularly, and periodically inspect them for diseases or pests.