8 Fruits You Can Grow Indoors, According to Experts

potted lemon tree plant — Credit: Oleg Porshakov / EyeEm / GETTY IMAGES

Growing herbs and vegetables in containers is popular; growing fruit indoors is an equally wonderful—and delicious—option. The trick, of course, is providing the correct conditions for growth, which can often take a bit of extra work when harvesting from home.

Light is perhaps the biggest consideration when growing healthy fruits. "These plants need long hours of bright, direct sunlight—which can be tough to replicate indoors," says container gardening expert and educator Cindy Funes. But it's not a dealbreaker.

Here, we spoke to the pros about all of the fruits you can grow indoors. Whether it's a sweet strawberry or a tart blueberry, grow lights and natural light will be your best friend when it comes to making sure these beautiful plants thrive.

Cindy Funes, educator, speaker, and expert in container gardening
Gail R. Nonnecke, Ph.D, a professor in the department of horticulture at Iowa State University

01 of 08

Dwarf Pomegranate

When it comes to growing fruit indoors, dwarf pomegranate trees may not immediately come to mind—but they're an excellent choice. These smaller varieties grow and look more like a small shrub than a tree, so they can be easily grown in a container.

Dwarf pomegranates are hardy and easy to grow, so they're a great pick for beginner gardeners. Just keep in mind that these plants will need to be pruned in order for them to properly fit your home. The best part, naturally, is the shrub's beautiful blossoms—and its tasty, nutritious fruit.

Size: Varies, about 10 feet tall, but can be kept much shorter
Care requirements: Full sun, well-drained soil, never too wet or too dry

02 of 08

Meyer Lemon

Lemon Tree — Credit:
Sphoto / GETTY IMAGES

Homegrown lemons make delicious homemade lemonade, and the Meyer lemon is a terrific option for indoor gardening. It's a hybrid with a sweeter flavor, and its decorative (and fragrant) blossoms can enhance your home.

"It’s one of the easiest fruiting plants to grow indoors, as long as it gets enough light and humidity," says Funes. "It does best in a cool, sunny location, away from heaters and vents. Hot, dry air can stress the plant and lead to insect problems. Good grow lights can supplement any lacking light, as well as a small humidifier for humidity."

Size: About 8 feet tall
Care requirements: Full sun, slightly acidic soil, well-drained yet moist soil

03 of 08

Clementine

You really can't go wrong with clementines. These tiny mandarin oranges pack a lot of taste in an elegant, easy-to-peel package. Plus, a small clementine tree can happily spend its entire life in a container, making it easy to keep indoors in the winter and then move out onto the patio in the summer. You can also just keep it indoors year-round, if you prefer.

"Citrus trees are an easy fruit to grow indoors," says Gail R. Nonnecke, a professor in the horticulture department at Iowa State University. "While the fruit production might be small, the flowers are fragrant, and the trees serve as beautiful indoor plants."

Size: About 4 to 5 feet tall
Care requirements: Well-drained soil, even a little sandy. Be careful not to overwater

04 of 08

Strawberry

strawberries in a pot — Credit:
Getty / Cristofeor Molovanu, 500 px

If you have the space and can supply enough light, then it's possible to grow strawberries in containers at home. Nonnecke notes that you can improve your chances for success by choosing a cultivar that's best suited for indoor growth, like day-neutral strawberries.

However, you'll need to pollinate the blossoms yourself. "They can be pollinated by hand," says Nonnecke. "Brush the open flowers lightly with a small paintbrush that has pollen from another flower—or even the same flower. Spread the pollen from the anthers to the stigmas."

Size: About 8 to 12 inches tall x 12 to 24-inch spread
Care requirements: Full sun, don't overwater, as it can lead to mildew issues indoors

05 of 08

Banana

Believe it or not, you can grow bananas at home. The ones you buy from the supermarket are most likely Cavendish bananas, which can grow to be quite tall, but you can easily grow a dwarf Cavendish in a container.

These dwarf banana fruits are smaller than store varieties, but they're delicious, and it's hard to resist the fun of growing your own bananas right at home. Plus, the tree leaves and bark provide a beautiful, tropical feel.

Size: 5 to 8 feet tall in a container
Care requirements: Monthly fertilizing, full sun

06 of 08

Raspberry

Raspberries have an unmistakable summer tang that's simultaneously sweet and tart. While their spindly and spiky leaves and stems don't offer much in the way of aesthetics, growing these fresh fruits at home can definitely be worth it.

In fact, in some ways, growing these plants indoors is the better option. In a garden, raspberries have a strong, almost invasive tendency and can spread rapidly—growing them in containers eliminates this possibility. A bush raspberry or another variety intended for container use will be your best option.

Size: About 3 feet tall
Care requirements: Full sun, well-drained, slightly acidic soil

07 of 08

Pineapple

It's possible to grow pineapples in your home, but it may be more challenging than other fruits. "Pineapples grow best in a greenhouse where high light intensity and appropriate temperature can be maintained," says Nonnecke.

However, if you have access to a small greenhouse or even a sunroom, then you can grow pineapples far outside their typical range. Plus, they're a great conversation piece.

Size: 3 or 4 feet tall with a 4-foot spread
Care requirements: Indirect but intense light, heat, weekly watering

08 of 08

Blueberry

If you're up for a real test, then you can try to grow lowbush blueberries indoors. The basics of growing them in pots aren't so difficult—they just need some acidity—but it's the temperature requirements that can be a challenge.

Blueberries require a period of cool temperatures so they can go dormant for months. The exact time they need and the exact low temperatures differ from variety to variety. One solution is to find a blueberry bush that can spend some time in an unheated garage or shed and then come back into your warm home and grow again after dormancy.

Size: About 2 feet tall x 2 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun, acidic soil

8 Fruits You Can Grow Indoors, According to Horticulturists