My maternal grandma planted useful things on her farm, and my dad did the same - that's Scottish and English heritage for ya!
Although, my dad did have an affinity for a particular houseplant he got - a canelike begonia rex! It grew to 6' tall with lovely pink cascading flowers!
I have to tell you a funny story - when I was about 10, our area schools had a "summer garden" contest that anyone could join. I'd never had a garden of my own before, so I went and got plant strips (3 vegetable strips) and then never weeded my garden. Well, when the judges came by, my garden was horrendous and I never got any kind of award. My Dad said "I told you that you had to tend it, by yourself". I guess I thought my family would look after it
It was one of the many lessons my Dad taught me - no one will do your work for you!