To nail down the actual content, I investigated:
What is the bare minimum of information we need to collect in order to give an accurate recommendation?
What properties of plants would we need to consider?
I made a database in Notion that held this information for a set of around 20 edible plants. This could be filtered to show results for different situations - for example a small balcony with weekly watering in sun, a large patio with daily watering in shade. I tested my database with a range of growing conditions, and narrowed down the content required.
Have a go yourself!
Here are the plants sorted by category.
SpaceLightWaterChallenge levelCollectionsAnd here's the full whammy. You can play with the filters to suit your situation.
Plants | Budget | Annual/Biennial/Perennial | Container | Column | Related to Recipes (Plant) | Related to Jess space (Property 1) | Skills | Water requirements in low season | Source | Time to yield from plant | Water requirements in high season | Planting season from plant | Category | Image | Indoor / Outdoor | Light levels | Maintenance | Users | Difficulty level | Time to yield from seed | Collection | Planting season from seed | Challenge level | Season of yield | Companions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thyme | Medium | Perennial | MediumLarge | Thyme | HarvestingPlantingAdapting supermarket plantsChoosing a containerSoil FeedingWatering | Only when dry | Once a week | Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors)Winter (outdoors) | Herbs | Outdoor | Full sun | Low | easy | Not applicable | Not applicable | Easy | Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors)Winter (outdoors) | ||||||||
Swiss chard | Medium | Annual | Medium | Swiss chard | HarvestingChoosing a containerSoil PlantingGrowing from seed'Pests'WateringFeeding | Once a week | Not applicable | Several times a week | Not applicable | Vegetables | Outdoor | ShadePartial shade | Medium | medium | 4 - 8 weeks | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors) | Medium | Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors)Winter (outdoors) | |||||||
Kale | Medium | Annual | MediumLarge | Kale | HarvestingChoosing a containerSoil PlantingFeedingWateringGrowing from seed'Pests' | Not applicable | Not applicable | Several times a week | Spring (outdoors) | Vegetables | Outdoor | ShadePartial shade | Medium | medium | 8 - 12 weeks | Spring (outdoors) | Medium | Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors) | |||||||
Mustard leaves | Medium | Annual | MediumSmall | Mustard leaves | HarvestingGrowing from seedSoil Choosing a containerWatering | Several times a week | Not applicable | Several times a week | Not applicable | Salad leaves | IndoorOutdoor | Partial shadeFull sun | Medium | johann | medium | 2 - 4 weeks | Hot and spicySalad fiendStir fry | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors)Summer (outdoors)Summer (indoors) | Medium | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Winter (indoors)Autumn (indoors) | |||||
Cos lettuce | Low | Annual | Medium | Cos lettuce | HarvestingChoosing a containerGrowing from seedSoil WateringFeeding | Once a week | Not applicable | Several times a week | Not applicable | Salad leaves | Outdoor | Partial shadeShade | Medium | medium | 8 - 12 weeks | Salad fiend | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors) | Medium | Spring (indoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors) | ||||||
Lemon | High | Perennial | Large | Lemon | PlantingDiseasesPruningHarvestingPlant supportsSoil Choosing a containerFeedingWatering | Only when dry | Immediately | Daily | Spring (indoors)Summer (indoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors)Autumn (outdoors)Spring (outdoors) | Fruit | IndoorOutdoor | Full sun | Medium | LeroyBashHannah | challenging | Not applicable | Urban orchardMediterranean dreams | Not applicable | Challenging | Summer (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Spring (indoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors) | |||||
Coriander | Low | Annual | SmallMedium | Coriander | PlantingHarvestingGrowing from seedChoosing a containerSoil Adapting supermarket plantsWateringFeeding | Once a week | Immediately | Several times a week | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors) | Herbs | IndoorOutdoor | Partial shade | Medium | johann | easy | 4 - 8 weeks | Stir fryHot and spicy | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors) | Easy | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors) | |||||
Pak choi | Medium | Annual | Medium | Pak choi | HarvestingGrowing from seedChoosing a containerSoil WateringFeeding | Once a week | Not applicable | Several times a week | Not applicable | Salad leaves | IndoorOutdoor | Full sunPartial shadeShade | Medium | LeroyBash | medium | 4 - 8 weeks | Stir fry | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors) | Medium | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors) | |||||
Lemongrass | Medium | Perennial | Medium | Lemongrass | PlantingHarvestingChoosing a containerSoil FeedingWatering | Once a week | Immediately | Daily | Spring (indoors)Summer (indoors)Autumn (indoors) | Herbs | Indoor | Full sun | Medium | challenging | Not applicable | Stir fry | Not applicable | Challenging | Spring (indoors)Summer (indoors)Autumn (indoors) | ||||||
Viola | Medium | Annual | Medium | Viola | Yard - Hannah | HarvestingGrowing from seedChoosing a containerSoil FeedingWatering | Only when dry | Immediately | Several times a week | Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors) | Edible flowers | Outdoor | Partial shadeFull sunShade | Medium | EllyJoeHannah | medium | 3 - 6 months | Happy baker | Spring (indoors) | Medium | Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors) | ||||
Blueberries | High | Perennial | Large | Blueberries | DiseasesPruningHarvesting'Pests'Soil Choosing a containerFeedingWatering | Only when dry | Summer following planting | Several times a week | Spring (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors)Winter (outdoors)Summer (outdoors) | Fruit | Outdoor | Full sun | Medium | johann | medium | Not applicable | Happy bakerUrban orchard | Not applicable | Medium | Summer (outdoors) | |||||
Courgette | Medium | Annual | Large | Courgette | Ratatouille | Not applicable | 4 - 8 weeks | Daily | Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors) | Vegetables | Outdoor | Full sun | High | medium | 8 - 12 weeks | Stir fry | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors) | Medium | Summer (outdoors) | ||||||
Rocket | Medium | Annual | SmallMedium | Rocket | HarvestingChoosing a containerGrowing from seedSoil Watering | Several times a week | www.indieherbnursery.com | Not applicable | Several times a week | Not applicable | Salad leaves | IndoorOutdoor | Partial shadeFull sun | Medium | Jess | medium | 4 - 8 weeks | Hot and spicyMediterranean dreamsSalad fiend | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors) | Medium | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors) | ||||
Oriental mixed leaves | Medium | Annual | SmallMedium | Oriental mixed leaves | Harvesting'Pests'Choosing a containerSoil Growing from seedWatering | Several times a week | Not applicable | Several times a week | Not applicable | Salad leaves | OutdoorIndoor | Partial shadeFull sunShade | Medium | Jess | medium | 2 - 4 weeks | Salad fiendHot and spicyStir fry | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors)Summer (indoors) | Medium | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors) | |||||
Chives | Medium | Perennial | Medium | Chives | HarvestingChoosing a containerGrowing from seedSoil FeedingWateringDiseasesPlanting | Only when dry | Immediately | Several times a week | Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (outdoors) | HerbsEdible flowers | Outdoor | Partial shade | Low | easy | 8 - 12 weeks | Salad fiend | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors) | Easy | Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors)Winter (outdoors) | ||||||
Rosemary | Medium | Perennial | Medium | Rosemary | HarvestingSoil Choosing a container'Pests'FeedingWatering | Only when dry | Immediately | Once a week | Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors)Winter (outdoors) | Herbs | Outdoor | Full sun | Low | HannahBashJoeLeroy | easy | Not applicable | Mediterranean dreams | Not applicable | Easy | Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors)Winter (outdoors) | |||||
Apple | High | Perennial | Large | Apple | Apple pie | Yard - Hannah | PruningChoosing a containerSoil FeedingWateringHarvesting'Pests'Plant supportsPlanting | Rarely | 6 - 12 monthsover 12 monthsSummer following planting | Several times a week | Spring (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors)Winter (outdoors) | Fruit | Outdoor | Full sun | Medium | Hannah | challenging | Not applicable | Happy bakerUrban orchard | Not applicable | Challenging | Summer (outdoors) | Mint | ||
Tomatoes | Medium | Annual | Large | Tomatoes | Ensalata tricolorRatatouille | Balcony - Jess | DiseasesPruningHarvestingPlant supportsChoosing a containerSoil 'Pests'Growing from seedFeedingWatering | Not applicable | 4 - 8 weeks | Daily | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors) | Vegetables | OutdoorIndoor | Full sun | High | JoeJess | medium | 3 - 6 months | Mediterranean dreams | Spring (indoors) | Medium | Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors) | Mint | ||
Mint | Medium | Perennial | Medium | Mint | HarvestingAdapting supermarket plantsDiseasesChoosing a containerSoil WateringFeeding | Once a week | Immediately | Several times a week | Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors) | Herbs | Outdoor | Partial shadeFull sunShade | Low | easy | Not applicable | Happy baker | Not applicable | Easy | Spring (outdoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (outdoors)Winter (outdoors) | ||||||
Cress | Low | Annual | Small | Cress | Windowsill - Jess | HarvestingGrowing from seedChoosing a containerSoil Watering | Daily | Not applicable | Daily | Not applicable | Salad leaves | https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1535734668010-da0c7d3085f2?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&q=85&fm=jpg&crop=entropy&cs=srgb&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjYzOTIxfQ&w=4800 | Indoor | Full sunPartial shadeShade | Medium | JessElly | medium | Under 2 weeks | Salad fiend | Spring (indoors)Summer (indoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors) | Easy | Spring (indoors)Summer (indoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors) | |||
Chillies | Medium | Annual | Medium | Chillies | Windowsill - JessYard - Hannah | HarvestingChoosing a containerGrowing from seedSoil FeedingWatering | Once a week | Immediately | Daily | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors) | Vegetables | IndoorOutdoor | Full sun | Medium | BashHannahEllyJess | medium | 8 - 12 weeks | Hot and spicyStir fry | Spring (indoors) | Medium | Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors) | ||||
Basil | Low | Annual | SmallMedium | Basil | Ensalata tricolorRatatouille | Windowsill - Jess | HarvestingGrowing from seedAdapting supermarket plantsChoosing a containerSoil FeedingWatering'Pests' | Several times a week | Immediately | Daily | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors)Summer (indoors)Summer (outdoors)Autumn (indoors)Winter (indoors) | Herbs | IndoorOutdoor | Full sun | Medium | LeroyjohannJess | medium | 4 - 8 weeks | Mediterranean dreams | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors) | Spring (indoors)Spring (outdoors) |