Container Gardening: Best Vegetables to Grow in Pots
Don’t have a big garden? No problem! Learn about the best vegetables for container gardening and get tips for growing in pots. Container gardening is a simple way to begin gardening, add more space to an existing garden, or make a garden portable. Over the years, I’ve grown many crops in containers, and these are my top picks for the 20 best vegetables (and fruit and herbs, too!) that grow well in pots.
Container Gardening Tips
- When choosing to grow in containers, look for “dwarf”, “bush”, or “compact” varieties. These are smaller versions of full-size plants that do better in containers.
- Because containers limit the size of the roots and available water, adding an olla to your container helps provide regular water for your plants. The olla is regularly filled with water, which seeps out through the porous wall of the pot into the surrounding soil and root zone of the plant. I use ollas from Growoya in most of my containers.
- If you’re wondering which size container to use, this guide to container sizes will be helpful.
- The type of soil you use is important. Use potting soil made for containers. Regular garden soil is too heavy for containers. If you want to reuse potting soil, use the tips in this guide.
- To learn more about gardening in containers, read my book on this topic. Learn more about the book “How to Grow Your Own Food: A Beginner’s Guide to Container Gardening” in this post or purchase the book here.
20 Best Vegetables for Container Gardening
1. Tomatoes
Choose a large enough pot (at least 10 gallons) and water it well. Tomatoes grow happily when given an oya or self-watering container that will ensure consistent watering. Plant one tomato plant per container, and add a trellis when you plant. Determinate varieties are best for all but the largest containers.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow tomatoes.
2. Peppers
Good drainage is a must for peppers, and containers provide that. Peppers also grow well with an olla. Choose at least a medium size container (5 gallons or larger). They also prefer warm soil; containers will warm up more quickly in the spring. You can bring those same pots inside to overwinter the peppers in cold climates. Provide support for peppers at the time of planting.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow peppers.
3. Citrus Trees
Growing citrus in containers limits their size so that I can add more varieties to my garden. Growing citrus in containers also keeps the roots out of your garden beds. In cooler climates, container-grown citrus can be brought indoors. Use an extra large container that holds at least 20 gallons of soil. Learn how to grow citrus in containers in this guide.
4. Potatoes
I prefer growing potatoes in containers – harvesting is so simple! When the potatoes are done, dump the container into a wheelbarrow. Choose at least a medium size container (5 gallons or larger) and use slightly acidic soil.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow potatoes in containers.
5. Summer Squash
[left]Summer squash can take up a lot of room in your garden but grow happily in a pot (5 gallons or larger). Leave plenty of room around the container for the plant to grow large. Ollas are a great choice to add with squash. Most winter squash grow too large to grow well in containers, but smaller varieties like mini jack pumpkin also do well. Read this post to learn more about how to grow summer squash.
6. Lettuce
Lettuce, spinach, arugula, and other greens are a perfect choice for small containers (2 gallons or larger). Most greens have a small root system and grow quickly. Give lettuce regular access to water (an olla is great for this) and they often grow better in containers. Lettuce is one of the best vegetables for container gardening.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow lettuce.
7. Eggplants
Choose compact varieties like fairytale and bambino. Eggplants prefer warm soil; if you grow in containers, you can plant earlier in the spring—stake eggplants to support branches and grow in a medium size container (5 gallons or larger).
Read this post to learn more about how to grow eggplants.
8. Peas
Put supports in place at time of planting. Peas’ shallow root systems make them a good choice for medium size containers (5 gallons or larger). Peas are easy to plant from seed. Look for dwarf varieties of peas like little Marvel, Sugar Ann, and Tom Thumb.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow peas.
9. Sweet Potatoes
Growing sweet potatoes in a container (at least 10 gallons) keeps them contained. Sweet potato vines grow large; let them grow and direct all that energy to the growing potatoes. Growing in containers makes harvesting sweet potatoes simple – dump the container into a wheelbarrow.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow sweet potatoes.
10. Carrots
Choose a container that is 10-12 inches deep and holds at least 3 gallons of soil. Plant carrots by seed, and thin to 3 inches apart when carrots are 2-3 inches tall.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow carrots.
20 Best Vegetables for Container Gardening (cont.)
11. Cabbage
Cool-season crop that grows well in containers. It grows well in containers that are at least 10-12 inches deep and hold at least 5 gallons of soil.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow cabbage.
12. Onions
I love interplanting these in containers with other crops. Onions are an excellent companion plant. When growing bulbing onions, choose a container at least 12 inches deep. When growing green onions, choose a container at least 6 inches deep.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow onions.
13. Garlic
Garlic is a great choice for containers. Grow it all by itself or interplant with other crops. Garlic grows well even in small containers (2 gallons or larger).
Read this post to learn more about how to grow garlic.
14. Okra
This warm-loving crop grows through summer and into fall. Interplant quick-growing crops like beans or carrots, and then let okra take all the space when those finish. Grows best in a medium size container (5 gallons or larger).
Read this post to learn more about how to grow okra.
15. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard grows happily in small containers (2 gallons or larger). This good-for-you vegetable tolerates a little cold and a little heat. Easy to grow from seed or transplant, harvest as needed for months.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow Swiss chard.
16. Kale
Cool-loving and easy to grow. A frost improves kale’s flavor. Grows well even in small containers (2 gallons or larger). Kale is one of the best vegetables for container gardening.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow kale.
17. Cauliflower
Can be tricky to grow because cauliflower doesn’t like it too hot or too cold. It grows well in containers that are at least 10-12 inches deep and hold at least 5 gallons of soil.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow cauliflower.
18. Strawberries
Growing strawberries in containers keeps them off the ground and away from pests. Day-neutral and ever-bearing types of strawberries do best in containers. Spinach is an excellent companion crop for strawberries. Choose a container that is at least 8 inches deep and holds at least 3 gallons of soil.
Read this post to learn more about how to grow strawberries.
19. Fig Trees
Growing fig trees in containers helps to control their size and slow growth. In cooler climates, they can be brought indoors. Use an extra large container that holds at least 20 gallons of soil.
20. Most Herbs
Most herbs, especially invasive ones like oregano, mint, and lemon balm, grow well in almost any size container and will expand to the size of the container.
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