Sill Garden
Apartment herb garden checklist
One page. Renter-safe. Focused on light, drips, noise, and herbs you will actually eat.
Before you buy
- □ Measure counter depth (kit must not hang over the edge)
- □ Decide: separate kitchen vs studio/bedroom (noise rule)
- □ Check for a waterproof tray / boot path (deposit insurance)
- □ Confirm an outlet within cord reach — no extension spaghetti
- □ Pick 2–3 herbs you cook weekly (ignore the 12-pod fantasy)
Starter lanes
| If you… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Sleep near the kit | Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 (silent wick) |
| Have a kitchen corner | AeroGarden Harvest-class (~6 pods) |
| Want under ~$50 | 3 pots + saucers + clip light (if sill is weak) |
| Want silence + DIY | Kratky jar + tray + one LED |
First herbs that forgive apartments
- □ Basil — fast, needs strong light
- □ Mint — forgiving; keep in its own pot
- □ Chives — cut-and-come-again
- □ Parsley — slower; keep evenly moist
- □ Skip cilantro early — bolts fast indoors
Week-one ops
- □ Lights ~14–16h; dark while you sleep
- □ Top up water before the reservoir hits empty
- □ Empty the drip tray — never leave a puddle overnight
- □ Pinch tops when plants get leggy
- □ After cycle one: note which pods you actually ate