As is the norm, most gardeners plant seeds on earth. And that’s what you have been doing over the years because you consider the practice natural.
But if you didn’t know, you also have the option of growing seeds in cups before planting them on land. What your seeds need is a medium to grow. And that medium is something that can be imitated in a cup.
This comprehensive guide highlights some of the easy seeds to grow in a cup for you.
1. Peppers
Peppers love sunlight. Ensure to place your cups in an area that receives at least 8 hours of daylight.
They are colorful and succulent veggies that can do with some breathing space in a cup that’s slightly large.
You are better off planting them outdoors to ensure they absorb enough sunlight.
2. Rosemary
If you are a herb lover, you can start with Rosemary seeds in a small space like a cup or a pot. Rosemary is quite sensitive to the medium it grows in.
Avoid using peat moss. Also, ensure your soil has good drainage properties with a higher pH.
3. Basil
Basil grows best indoors. Get yourself a six-inch planter and potting soil.
Basil should grow under some direct sunlight daily. You want to use an easy-to-move cup in your indoor environment to ensure you place it in areas with sufficient sunlight.
During watering, avoid pouring water on the leaves and stems of the plant. Pour the water directly into the soil.
4. Parsley
You love the taste of Parsley in dishes, right? That means they are the perfect plant for you to grow in cups.
The seeds thrive in temperatures between 104 and 176 Fahrenheit and love partial sunlight. At night, bring the plant indoors since it doesn’t love cold.
Keep the soil moist without over-watering the plant to give it the optimum conditions for growth.
5. Strawberry
Strawberries are also among the easy flower seeds to grow in a cup. It does well in scanty sunlight, and having a bright space by the window will do.
If you live in cloudy spaces, put your fears to rest, as strawberries thrive in artificial sunlight as well. Harvest these tasty fruits regularly to give room for new and active growth.
You can grow the plant throughout the year.
6. Oregano
You have another popular plant to grow in small spaces. It’s a sun-loving plant that grows well in cups and pots. This helps you keep their irregular growth in check.
Place it outdoors during the day for sunlight and bring it indoors at night, especially during winter.
7. Sage
We have another herb for you that doesn’t care where it’s planted. Whether indoors or outdoors, the plant will do well with a bit of sunlight peeking through your window curtains or the foliage outside.
Growing sage plants in a cup provides an ideal environment for their growth.
You want to place them on a balcony to balance the indoor and outdoor environment.
8. Thyme
Thyme loves cup space and doesn’t mind growing in confined spaces. A quick tip for you would be to grow all your herb plants, like basil and oregano, in a row of cups.
Thyme doesn’t love too much water. Ensure that you perforate the bottom of your cup to provide it with good drainage.
The herb grows in both winter and summer seasons and can also do well in spring.
9. Spinach
If you are looking for peak health, spinach is the vegetable to go for. Use a large cup, preferably when growing it.
Spinach stems and leaves are pretty sensitive, and you shouldn’t leave them in direct sunlight. Otherwise, you risk them wilting and burning from the heat.
Spinach does well during winter. Keep it well-watered to prevent it from drying out.
10. Chives
Chives grow well in restricted spaces and, therefore, love the cup-growing environment. If it’s the flavor you are looking for in your baked potatoes or soups, chives are the order of the day.
The plant grows throughout the year. You will reap bountifully in the subsequent years after the first harvest.
Sunlight is a basic need for Chives. Ensure they are getting enough of it throughout the day.
During peak winters, it is advisable to plant chive seeds indoors and transplant them after 6-8 weeks in the garden.
11. Lettuce
Any gardener should know that this veggie can grow well in cups. They are not sensitive to their growing environment as much.
The best places for growing lettuce are the balcony or deck, where you have sufficient natural lighting exposure.
When planting, sow them directly in cups and shuffle them for sunlight and constant growth.
12. Quinoa
Are you a lover of whole grains? We got you covered with the quinoa veggie that you can quickly grow in cups.
The veggie is not selective on where it grows. Like lettuce, it can thrive in both indoor and outdoor environments.
The plants grow up to about two feet tall and are very easy to harvest with less budget.
13. Collard Greens
Collard greens are also among the best seeds to grow in a cup. It grows well in all seasons, particularly the summer and winter months.
You want to make sure you are managing it well during the hot summer. Move the plants indoors when it gets too hot.
During winter, provide artificial lighting to keep them growing.
14. Green Onions
Green onions do well in shallow cups that are spacious enough for proper growth. Timing is vital in harvesting.
They fetch more value when succulent and young but become less juicy with age. Go with the growth that suits your needs best.
The trick when growing them is to ensure they have sufficient water and sunlight.
15. Artichokes
Artichokes grow well in large cups. They are pretty expensive seeds in the market.
Maintain regular watering with enough sunlight exposure, and you should have no trouble growing them. Plant seeds in winter if you intend to harvest in spring.
16. Parsnips
Parsnips grow in shallow cups that accommodate growth. You can grow them throughout the year.
They are easy to maintain through the typical gardening processes, such as watering and providing adequate sunlight.
Ensure you weed them for a couple of weeks. Also, ensure drainage is at its best by having holes at the bottom of the cup.
17. Asparagus
Who doesn’t love Asparagus? Your neighbors are going to envy you when they look around your garden on their way to the market.
All you need to do is plant them in a big cup and ensure they receive sunlight daily.
18. Mushrooms
You will find mushrooms handy for adding flavor to your dishes. The best place to keep them is on the balcony, or you could place them on a window sill planter.
19. Sugar Snap Peas
Sugar snap peas are an all-season crop. They grow best when you start them in cups than in the garden.
Sugar snap peas grow better in an outdoor environment than in an indoor one. That means they can’t grow without some good exposure to sunlight.
20. Pole Beans
Pole beans are also conducive to growing in a cup. Ensure an optimum amount of water and a little sunlight to encourage their growth.
Spacing is also crucial to avoid overcrowding the seeds in one place.
21. Beets
Beetroots also fall on the list of seeds to grow in a cup. They need no tending.
Plant the seeds and wait for them to mature before transplanting them outdoor.
22. Broccoli
Broccoli is a great winter-season plant that grows well in cups. The cups should be large and shallow for optimum growth.
The best planting season for broccoli is in the spring, so you can get a bumper harvest in summer.
You also have the option of planting them in early summer and harvesting them in autumn.
23. Celery
Celery seeds need good care. Three-inch high yogurt containers are the ideal planters.
Use seed starting mix on the cups and not potting soil to start them off. Make holes at the bottom of the cup to ensure good drainage.
Press the seeds gently in the soil and ensure you keep the soil moist always until the seeds sprout.
24. Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts are a cool-season crop and can survive well in winter. They also do well in cups and grow from late spring to fall.
25. Carrots
bunch, carrots
All your carrot needs is a perforated cup with an ideal seed starting mix.
Water the soil deeply before you plant, and gently bury the seeds close to the soil surface. Carrot soils should be sufficiently drenched for three weeks running to germination.
You can also lightly mulch the plants to retain moisture.
