No garden? No problem. A window box is all you need to grow a decent handful of vegetables. In fact, some crops are almost better suited to a box than open ground. Here’s a guide to what’s worth planting and how to keep it all going.

Before you start

Aim for a box or container that is at least 15 to 20 cm deep; anything shallower and the roots will struggle, especially in summer heat.

You’ll definitely need to have drainage holes in your box. Drill a few in the base if they’re not already there, and add a layer of gravel or broken crockery before the compost goes in.

Put some thought into where the box is going to go. Most veg will need at least four to six hours of sun a day, so a south or west-facing window is your best bet if you have the option.

The best vegetables for a window box

Salad leaves and lettuce are the easiest win. Cut-and-come-again varieties mean you snip what you need and leave the rest to keep growing. A single sowing can keep you in salad ingredients for weeks. If you don’t sow all at once, but in stages, you’ll be able to feed yourself for even longer!

Radishes are ready to harvest and eat in as little as four weeks, making them a brilliant crop for impatient or budding gardeners, young or old. Sow little and often for a steady supply.

Spring onions take up almost no space and can be tucked in around other plants. Sow just a pinch every couple of weeks and you’ll have a steady harvest.

Herbs like basil, parsley, chives, and thyme all do well in a box, and having them by the kitchen window means you’ll actually use them. Some are quite aromatic, adding a special something to your room or outdoor space.

Dwarf or patio tomatoes like Tiny Tim or Tumbling Tom work brilliantly if your box gets good sun. For the best results, look for compact varieties bred for containers rather than standard cordon types.

Chillies and peppers love a warm, sheltered spot and will happily spend the whole summer in a window box, especially against a south-facing wall. More hardy varieties are Rocoto, jalapeno and Basket of fire.

Dwarf French beans are a good option if you have the space for a deeper box, as they are compact, productive, and don’t need canes like climbing varieties.

Keeping it all going

It’s important to water your window box little and often rather than give it one big soak. Window boxes dry out fast, especially in wind or full sun.

Feed every couple of weeks once plants are established, particularly tomatoes and chillies, which are hungry crops. Salad crops need less intervention, but you will need to keep an eye on them all the same for pests and watering.

Make sure you deadhead and harvest regularly; picking little and often keeps plants producing rather than running to seed.

A window box won’t feed a family, but it will turn a bare sill or space into something worth checking every morning. And of course, there’s real satisfaction to be found in growing and tasting your own veg!