Top 11 Vegetable Plants To Grow in Containers

Growing vegetables in containers is ideal for those with little space or want a simple container garden. Most vegetables grow well in containers, but you do have to pick the right plants. You will be surprised at the large amount of food you can grow in a few containers. Freshly grown vegetables are in your future!

Beets

To grow beets in a container, you need something that is deep, such as a window box. The rectangle space allows you to plant several beets in one container, just like you would in the garden bed. A container is great for beets because the soil stays fluffy, allowing the root to develop properly.

Carrots

Carrots are another root crop, which means they do well in containers. The soil tends to stay fluffier in containers, so your crop will be plentiful.

Carrots are a cool weather crop, so you need to plant them in the early spring or late summer for a fall crop. The plants require regular watering, or the roots will dry out. You can grow several carrots in one container.

Most varieties do well, but a few choices do better, such as:

• Little Fingers
• Short n Sweet
• Thumbelina

Cucumbers

If you can provide adequate support for cucumber plants, they will do well in containers. Cucumbers are heavy feeders, so you need to make sure you provide regular watering. It is best to grow these plans in a medium or large sized pot. Make sure you select an area that receives full sun, or your harvest will disappoint.

Pick a variety of cucumbers meant for pickling, because you will get a large yield of small cucumbers. That is ideal for a container garden. Install a metal or wire trellis ahead of time; your plants will need them sooner rather than later. Use twine to tie the cucumber plants to the structure.

Green Beans

Green beans come in two types: bush and pole: Pole beans require support to grow upwards, such as a fence or a trellis. Bush beans grow in compactly sized bushes.

Both varieties grow well in pots, so long as you plant the container near a trellis. Beans require full sun, so at least six hours per day. The container should be at least 12 inches deep, but the bigger, the better for the plants. Beans add nitrogen into the soil, so put some celery or kale in the same area as your beans.

Lettuce

Lettuce grows quickly, making it a great choice for containers and new gardeners. You can harvest your lettuce several times throughout the growing season.

Lettuce is a cooler season crop, so you want to plant during the early spring. The plant doesn’t like hot water, and the soil should stay moist. Lettuce needs a wider container rather than a deep one. Plant each lettuce four inches apart, but head lettuce could need a few more inches.

Peas

Fresh peas off the vine beat canned peas any day of the week. Peas like moderate conditions, making them a fantastic choice for containers. You don’t need a large pot, but you will need a trellis if you select a pole variety. Some gardeners prefer a bush pea variety instead.

Because peas prefer cooler seasons, make sure that you water regularly. Peas prefer soil to be slightly moist. Keep the pots in an area that receives full to part sun.

Peppers

Peppers are great choices for containers, especially if you can ensure the plant receives enough sunlight. Peppers need a lot of sunlight to thrive. You don’t want to drown your peppers in water; most do well receive less water than your other plants!

Make sure you use a pot that is at least 12 inches deep. Peppers do best if you fertilize the plant several times during the growing season. Fertilizer helps the fruit to set.

Growing peppers in containers allow you to control their final taste. Sweet and hot peppers develop their flavor based on the amount of sun exposure received. Sweet peppers are sweeter if they receive more sun. Hot peppers are spicier when they receive more sun. You can move your containers around to ensure they get the maximum amount of sunlight.

Potatoes

Growing potatoes is fun. The harvesting is the best time, especially for kids. It is like a scavenger hunt! Potatoes do well in containers, such as a large trash can with drainage holes or burlap bags. The pots should be at least 12 inches deep. Place three to four potatoes in each pot. Make sure you water the potatoes regularly. As the plants grow, you need to continue to add more soil to cover the stems. In a few months, you will have potatoes!

Radishes

Radishes seem to be an underrated veggie, but they grow wonderfully in containers. These veggies grow fast; some varieties mature in three weeks! You want a pot that is wide, such as a window box. The containers doesn’t need to be deep; six inches will work just fine. However, if you grow larger radishes, you may want a pot that is 8 to 10 inches deep.

Spinach

Another great choice for containers is spinach! Spinach does well in areas that receive partial shade. You can even grow spinach inside on a windowsill. They aren’t too picky about location, but spinach doesn’t like weather that is scorching. The plants will go straight to bolt.

Pick a pot that is at least 6 to 8 inches deep. It doesn’t need to be any deeper, but a wide pot is beneficial.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most productive veggie plants you can grow in a container at home. Make sure that your tomatoes receive ample sunlight, at least five to six hours per day. Growing determinate varieties of tomatoes tend to be the best choice because the plants aren’t as large. You will need to provide some staking, but not quite as much as indeterminate tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes also produce high yields in containers.