If you want to grow a small vegetable garden but don’t have much room in your yard, container gardens are a great way to do it. This season, a container vegetable garden is a simple way to grow herbs, vegetables, and fruit that are easy to get to.
When spring starts to show itself in small ways, like when the birds sing in the morning as the sun rises earlier, when the Sulphur mountains outside my kitchen window turn emerald, and when new shoots and blooms appear, I immediately think of planting a small vegetable garden. I get so excited about being outside and enjoying the beauty of spring. When I go to my community garden center to get seeds, seedlings, and soil, I make a list of the herbs, vegetables, and fruits I want to plant. I then love digging in the dirt under a blue sky.
This year, I’m creating more container small vegetable gardens. I will always love my bigger vegetable garden and small orchard in Ojai, but I’m loving this little experiment with growing food in pots and other small containers. The plan is to have my pots and containers closer to me. Why not grow my spring herbs right outside my kitchen door so I can quickly cut off a sprig of thyme or basil while I’m cooking? If I grow them in pretty pots or a rustic wine barrel, they’ll be instant seasonal decor that’s both pretty and useful.
One of the best ways to grow a garden is in a container for a small vegetable garden. It’s great for beginners, people with limited space, and people who want to save time, effort, and money. Even if you have the yard space, container gardens showcase the beauty of edible gardening. There are many types of vegetable gardening you can do on a small scale. You can grow trees like lemons, oranges, and olives in bigger pots, herbs like thyme and rosemary in smaller herb pots, edible flowers like lavender, nasturtium, and calendula in pretty flower pots, and strong vegetables like tomatoes, kale, and chili peppers in wooden containers. The best reason to start a container garden is to get a homegrown harvest of healthy, tasty spring fruits, vegetables, and herbs. A container garden is also beautiful, easy to use, creative, and flexible.
Growing vegetables and herbs in containers is an excellent option for urban gardeners or anyone with limited space. With the right plants, pots as small as 6 inches wide can produce a bountiful harvest!
I’ve been container gardening on my apartment balcony for years. Through trial and error, I’ve learned which veggies do best in small pots. The key is choosing plants with shallow root systems. Leafy greens, herbs, cherry tomatoes, and bush beans are ideal. Root crops like carrots and potatoes – not so much.
Below I’ll share my top 18 picks for small space vegetable gardening, plus tips to ensure your potted plants thrive Let’s get growing!
Vegetables That Thrive in Small Pots
1. Lettuce
Lettuce is my number one recommendation for small pot gardening. Their roots are very shallow, so they don’t mind being a bit cramped. I like growing a mix of leaf lettuces for variety – some of my favorites are oakleaf, red sail, and black-seeded simpson. Plant seeds densely, about 1 inch apart. Harvest outer leaves as needed and the lettuce will continue producing.
2. Spinach
Like lettuce, spinach grows well in shallow pots – 6 to 8 inches deep is sufficient. I prefer smooth leaf varieties like Space and Olympia. Sow seeds thickly and harvest by cutting outer leaves. Spinach bolts quickly in summer heat, so plant Successively for continuous harvests.
3. Kale
This super healthy green grows well in a 10 inch pot. Dwarf varieties like Dinosaur kale are best for containers. Remove lower leaves regularly so the plant doesn’t get too big. Kale handles cold weather beautifully, thriving well into winter.
4. Swiss Chard
With bright colorful stems swiss chard is one of the most ornamental veggies to grow. It only needs about 8 inches of soil depth. I recommend container gardening varieties like ‘Bright Lights’ or ‘Rhubarb Chard’. The young leaves are delicious in salads while mature leaves work well in cooked dishes.
5. Bush Beans
These compact, upright beans are perfect for pot culture. Look for bush bean varieties labeled as container or patio types, such as Provider and Contender. Grow 3 plants per 8 inch pot and provide trellises for them to climb. Pick beans young and often to encourage more production.
6. Cherry Tomatoes
You can grow full size tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets, but for small pots, cherry types are best. I love growing a mix of red, yellow and orange tomatoes in my containers! Look for dwarf or patio varieties – Sweet 100s and Sungold are two great options. Cage or stake the plants for support.
7. Radishes
With their quick growing time and small roots, radishes are super easy to grow in containers. Plant seeds densely in a 6 inch pot. Harvest radishes when roots are an inch across, about 3-4 weeks after sowing. Daikon and Champion varieties work particularly well. Replant every 2-3 weeks for continual harvests.
8. Bush Zucchini
If you have a 10 inch deep pot, you can grow patio or container varieties of zucchini and summer squash. They have a more compact, upright growth habit than regular vining squash. Yellow straightneck, patty pan, and sunburst are some of my favorite compact summer squash for pots.
9. Beets
Beets can be grown in 8 inch deep containers. Opt for quick maturing, mini varieties like ‘Baby Ball’ or ‘Little Mini’. Thin seedlings to 2 inches apart. Beets are also gorgeous – look for a mix of red, golden and striped varieties! The greens are edible too.
10. Green Onions
Also called scallions or bunching onions, green onions have shallow roots perfect for containers. Plant sets or seeds in a 6 inch pot. Harvest green onions by thinning, leaving some to continue growing. Trimming the tops promotes new growth. They will regrow after cutting for months!
11. Carrots
While carrots technically have a deep taproot, mini and round varieties can thrive in a 10 inch deep pot. Opt for shorter types like ‘Little Finger’, ‘Parisian’, or ‘Thumbelina’. Sow seeds densely and keep soil moist for quick germination. Thin seedlings to 1 inch apart.
12. Cilantro
Both cilantro and parsley do quite well in small containers. Their roots are compact and shallow. Plant 3-5 plants per 8 inch pot. Snip leaves anytime once plants reach 3-4 inches tall. Cilantro bolts quickly in summer heat, so make successive sowings for continual harvests.
13. Bush Peas
Similar to beans, compact bush type peas are perfect for pot culture. Grow 1 plant per 8 inch pot and provide trellises for support. Pick peas when pods fill out, before they start to harden. Remove spent plants after harvest, then replant more peas for fall. Cascadia is a great container variety.
14. Peppers
Compact, small fruited pepper varieties are ideal for container gardening. Opt for dwarf, patio type pepper plants with fruits under 4 inches long. Some great picks are gypsy, sweet chocolate, and red rover peppers. Plant 1 per 10 inch deep pot. Provide cages for support as fruits develop.
15. Eggplant
Eggplants can grow surprisingly well in pots! Look for container specific, mini varieties that grow 12-18 inches tall and wide. Fairy tale is a common compact type with elongated purple fruits. Use 10 inch deep pots and cage or stake plants for support.
16. Arugula
A small pot of arugula provides leaves for frequent salads. This quick growing green has very shallow roots. You can grow it densely, even harvesting with scissors to cut leaves. Plant from seed or sets. Flavor gets spicy as weather warms. Replant every 3-4 weeks.
17. Chives
No potted herb garden is complete without chives! This compact perennial has round hollow leaves that impart a wonderful mild onion flavor. Plant clumps of chives in a 6 inch pot. Snip leaves as needed, being careful not to damage the growing point. Harvest chive flowers too!
18. Basil
A summer garden favorite, basil thrives in small pots on a sunny deck or balcony. Its bushy growth benefits from 8-10 inches of soil depth. Pinch off flower buds to keep plants leafy. Grow different types like sweet, lemon or Thai basil. Bring pots inside before first fall frost.
Tips for Growing Veggies in Containers
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Choose containers with drainage holes and use well-draining potting mix
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For most veggies, opt for pots at least 6 inches deep and wide
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Pick dwarf, bushy, or patio varieties suitable for containers
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Amend soil with organic fertilizer at planting and midseason
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Place in full sun – at least 6 hours per day
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Provide support for vining plants with stakes or trellises
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Consistent watering is crucial – don’t let pots totally dry out
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To extend harvests, succession sow lettuce, greens, radish and other fast growers
With the right plant choices and care, it’s amazing how many veggies you can grow in tiny spaces. Container gardening allows urban dwellers and anyone with limited room to enjoy homegrown produce. Get creative with pot sizes, materials, and arrangements – the possibilities are endless!
Top Reasons to Create a Small Vegetable Garden
Grow Plants Anywhere: You can have a container garden on a windowsill, balcony, front walkway, rooftop, or inside, as long as there is enough light, water, and food every so often.
It’s Easier: Container gardens are easier to take care of than in-ground gardens because they don’t have weeds, pests, or soil-borne diseases. They’re also easier to water and fertilize in small areas, and they require less time and work.
Growing your own food is always the best way to get fresh, tasty food. A small window box of basil, a hanging basket of strawberries, or a 5-gallon tub of tomatoes are just a few examples.
It’s Healthy Time outdoors, vitamin sunlight, and physical activity make gardening healthy for body and mind. Recent research suggests there are mental health benefits from working with plants, even for people who have never gardened before.
They Look Amazing Decorating with plants is always in style. You can decorate any room with your edible garden and nature’s beauty. There are also many pots and containers that can fit any style, from cute and fun to elegant and stylish.
A Long-Term Action: One of the best things you can do for the Earth is grow your own food. Even small steps make a difference, plant by plant.
Get Ready to Grow!
Location
You can start as soon as you have a place that gets enough sunlight, like a windowsill, hanging basket, balcony, or patio. Full sun should shine on your area for six to eight hours a day, which is what fruiting plants like peppers, tomatoes, and squash need. Less sun, about 3 to 5 hours a day, is good for herbs and leafy greens like spinach and lettuce. Consider your water source in your space. It’s helpful to be close to a hose, but a watering can will do if the pots are small. As temps rise, you could be watering once, if not twice, a day. (If soil feels dry an inch down, it’s time to water. ).
Choosing Containers
There are many types of pots, tubs, and containers, such as terracotta, ceramic glazed in many colors and patterns, plastic (make sure it’s food grade plastic), wood, cement, metal, and fabric. Consider cost, weight, durability, and size. For instance, plastic containers are cheap, light, and don’t last long. On the other hand, terracotta and ceramic pots are pretty, but they can break easily and cost a lot. Reuse containers you already own or look for used or seconds to keep costs down. You can also make a container out of almost anything that can hold soil, like a wheelbarrow, wagon, bathtub, basket, bucket, hanging basket, window boxes, an old boot, or anything else that can hold soil. Use your imagination! Most vegetables need at least 12 inches of soil to grow well, but tomatoes need a 5- to 10-gallon pot. Make sure the bottom of your container has a hole for water to drain out. If you want to protect the surface below the container, you might want to use plant saucers or something else that can collect the water. You can decorate your container garden in a way that shows off your personality, whether you choose a fun, eclectic mix or a uniform, matched set.
Dirty Details
Soil from the yard or garden is not well suited for containers, as it’s too dense and heavy and may be prone to disease and pests. Instead, go soilless with potting mix, which is specially formulated for use in containers. It’s lightweight for better drainage and aeration, and should be free of disease and pests. Potting mix might contain a combination of sand, compost, sphagnum moss and peat, coir, perlite, vermiculite, or pine bark. They’re readily available at garden centers, or you can mix up your own using a recipe (you can find them online) that suits the type of plants you’re growing. It’s a good idea to mix organic fertilizer or compost (make your own by checking out my gardening toolkit) into your potting mix or add it on top just after planting. Then, feed your container plants with organic fertilizer or compost at least a couple times a month to add nutrients. I like to use compost, which I make at home, but you can also purchase it.
Picking Plants
Planting from seed is less expensive and offers lots of variety. But, it takes more time and care. Seedlings are easier because they’ve already got a good start, but they cost more. Herbs like basil, thyme, rosemary, and sage are among the easiest plants to grow in containers. Leafy greens like spinach and lettuces grow well too. Tomatoes are always a summer favorite! Keep in mind that fruit trees do really well in pots, too. I have lemons, oranges, and avocadoes in pots that produce fruit each year. If you live in a cooler climate, you can move those pots in doors if need be. Any fruit or vegetable can be grown in a pot as long as it has enough room and the right conditions to grow.
Growing conditions will determine when you start planting. Where you live matters when it comes to timing. In sunny Southern California, I’m almost ready to plant because the days are getting longer every day. Wait to plant until your temps are done dipping into freezing and your sunlight is predictably consistent. When shopping for seeds, the package will tell you the best conditions to plant. For seedlings, the local garden center is selling those that are ready to plant where you live.
You can do this even if you have short or no garden space. Start with one pot and add more as you like. I’m so excited to embark on my own pot pourri of edible goodness. Grab the Container Garden Shopping List, below, and let’s get started together. Soon, we’ll be able to enjoy our favorite springtime garden-to-table recipes made with fresh food from our own container gardens.
Vegetables You Can Grow In Small Pots | Small Space Gardening
FAQ
What plants are good for tiny pots?
What can I put in small plant pots?
What vegetables can be grown in small pots?
What are the best flowers for small containers?
Which plants are best for small pots?
Aloe Vera plants, known for their medicinal properties, are an excellent choice for small pots in sunny spots. They require minimal water, thriving in dry conditions with good drainage. These low-maintenance plants are perfect for busy gardeners or those new to container gardening. 8. Baby Toes (Fenestraria Rhopalophylla)
What vegetables grow well in pots?
Here are 21 vegetables that grow well in pots. Give beets an early start. After the chance of a hard freeze passes, sow them in a container that is at least 10 inches deep and 24 inches wide. Thin the seedlings to 3 to 4 inches apart so the roots have room to grow and mature. Try ‘Baby Ball’ and ‘Chioggia’.
How do I choose a small pot plant?
When choosing small pot plants, look for those who won’t grow more than about 12-15 inches or so. You also want to look for plants that don’t grow especially large roots, or that won’t easily become rootbound if you don’t move them to bigger pots. There are many beautiful plants to choose from that will stay small and do great in smaller pots.
What can you grow in a container garden?
Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and greens are just a few of the possible candidates for a spring or summer container garden. You can also extend your season with fall or winter kale, onions, roots, and more. When the weather cools, containers offer the ease of moving indoors if needed. The following crops are eager to please in containers!