Since I live in an apartment, we sadly don’t have a lot of space for gardening outdoors. While our balcony makes for a great garden during the summer, I like to extend my growing season for as long as possible, so I like to grow fruit indoors whenever I can. If you’re like me and would like to enjoy freshly grown fruit whenever possible, check out these easy fruits you can grow indoors.
Dwarf Cavendish Bananas
YES–it’s actually possible to grow bananas indoors! Though, it will take at least two growing seasons. Dwarf Cavendish Banana plants are rapid growers indoors if they receive at least 7 hours of direct sunlight. They also like it plenty humid, so I had to supplement the plant with it’s own humidifier. Due to it’s love of moist soil, these puppies also attract fungus gnats. For more information about growing dwarf cavendish bananas indoors, check out this guide of mine.
Meyer Lemons
Meyer lemons are perhaps one of my favorite fruits to grow indoors. This is because the fruiting period happens in January, and it’s a nice break from the winter gloom. Meyer lemons also need plenty of sunlight, and should get at least 9 hours of direct sun each day. Expect these to begin producing fruit within two growing seasons, as long as plenty of light is supplemented. Many gardeners (myself included) like to move this plant outside during the summer. However, if you do elect to move it outside, beware of grasshoppers—they love citrus leaves and will decimate your plant quickly if you aren’t careful.
Dragon Fruit
Growing dragon fruit indoors is surprisingly easy and incredibly rewarding. These plants need less sunlight than some of the others on this list and can make due with as little as six hours of direct sun. For best results, place the dragon fruit in a southern-facing window. These plants get pretty large (up to ten feet tall!) when fully mature, but you can easily prune your dragon fruit plant if necessary.
Olives
If you want to feel like you’re permanently on vacation in Italy or Greece—grow an olive tree indoors. These plants are used to the harsh sea air and are pretty tolerant of any growing condition. In fact, I scored my olive tree from a Trader Joe’s a few years ago, and it’s traveled with me to three new apartments. My Olive Tree thrives in full sun, and doesn’t require much water. It does hate drafts–so keep it out of a cold window if you are expecting a storm.
Oranges
Growing citrus in pots is one of the easiest things you can do as an indoor gardener. Check out this guide that I created on growing citrus in pots for more growing information.
Strawberry
Strawberry plants are one of the easiest plants to grow indoors. However, you will have to hand pollinate to achieve the best results. Place your strawberry plant in a hanging container (mine lives in a west-facing window) and water it often. As soon as the flowers appear use a paint brush to pollinate the leaves. It’s so much fun to walk into my office and pick fresh strawberries whenever I want!
Figs
Just so long as you move this plant outdoors in the summer, it is totally possible to grow a fig tree indoors. Check out this guide for more!
Limes
The best lime tree to grow indoors, in my experience, is the Key Lime. They like at least 8-12 hours of full sunlight and produce small, tasty limes. These plants, when grown indoors, typically reach 6 feet tall when fully mature, so it doesn’t require too much grooming to keep things under control. It usually takes Key Limes about two years to begin producing fruit, but if you supplement with a grow light during the winter months, this can help speed things along.
Pineapple
I’ve been growing a pineapple plant from a cutting since the beginning of COVID! That’s right, almost four years total! If my estimations are correct, the plant should fruit this summer. Pineapple plants prefer indirect sunlight for 6-8 hours each day and grow to be only 2-3 feet tall when fully mature. It’s been a treat to watch this one grow and get bigger over the years!
Clementines
Another stupidly simple citrus tree to grow indoors, the Clementine Tree is about to be one of your favorite fruits you can grow indoors. These need at least 9 hours of direct sunlight each day and are another citrus tree that you can move outdoors during the warmer months for best fruit production, which tends to happen within 3-4 years. When grown in containers, Clementine trees only get to be about 3 feet tall.
