What Are the Best Vegetables to Grow in Containers?
Container gardening is a versatile and satisfying way to grow vegetables and herbs. It doesn't matter whether you have a sprawling backyard or a cozy balcony. Even people with small windowsills can grow plenty of fruits and vegetables, usually reserved for large gardens.
Container gardening is a way for everyone to grow fruits and vegetables. You can grow leafy greens like lettuce and spinach and root vegetables like carrots and beets.
The secret to success is knowing what vegetables grow best in containers. While you can grow almost any vegetable in a gardening container, you have more success focusing on dwarf, compact, and determinate varieties.
Why Choose Container Gardening?
Container gardening offers many benefits, making it an ideal choice for gardeners of all levels.
First, growing plants in pots gives you better control over the soil environment versus garden beds. That ensures your plants get the precise nutrients and pH levels they require.
Second, gardening containers are movable. Mobility enables gardeners to optimize sunlight exposure and protect plants from harsh weather. For example, if you face a week of sweltering heat, you can move your vegetable plants to a more shaded location.
Third, container soil warms up more quickly than ground soil, extending the growing season for many vegetables.
Finally, gardening containers effectively protect your plants. They minimize the risk of soil-borne diseases and pests. They also significantly reduce weed problems, making garden maintenance simpler and more enjoyable. All these give you a better chance of growing healthy plants.
3 Essential Needs for Container Gardening
When embarking on container gardening, you must keep these three things in mind:
- Soil Quality: Container vegetables thrive in a high-quality, well-draining potting mix that provides essential nutrients.
- Watering: Containers dry out more quickly than garden soil, so consistent watering is critical. Some vegetables, like lettuce and spinach, require moist soil to flourish. Remember, however, that excess water kills plant roots. So make sure your gardening container has drainage holes.
- Sunlight: Most vegetables need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Position containers in a sunny spot or move them to ensure they get enough light.
Choosing a Suitable Gardening Container
Don't enter into container gardening thinking any container will work for potting plants. Your gardening container must match your vegetable plants' growing requirements.
To have a successful vegetable container garden, choose deep and wide pots for your plant's root systems. This will allow the roots to grow vigorously and access the nutrients and water they need.
Vegetables That Need a Deep Container
Carrots, eggplant, and tomato plants have deep roots. Consequently, you'll need a gardening container at least 12 to 18 inches deep. That gives the roots ample space to extend downward.
For example, the EarthBox root and vegetable gardening container is nearly 16 inches deep, so it can handle the larger root systems of carrots, parsnips, beets, and onions.
Shallow-Rooted Vegetables for Smaller Gardening Containers
On the other hand, shallow-rooted vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and most herbs flourish in containers 6 to 8 inches deep. EarthBox offers a smaller herb box planter with a seven-inch depth, perfect for more shallow-rooted plants.
Width is equally important, particularly for plants that spread out or grow bushy, such as zucchini and peppers. These vegetables require wider gardening containers to support that spread. The added width also provides enough surface area for root expansion and stability.
The Best Vegetables for Container Gardening
The best vegetables for containers are those that you like to eat. As mentioned, however, some are better suited for containers.
Depending on your goals, you should also consider the time to maturity. Some vegetables, like radishes, spinach, and lettuce, grow quickly, reaching harvest in 25-45 days.
Others, like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, require 60-90 days before harvesting.
So, let's get to it with a rundown of the best vegetables to grow in containers. For more information, view the growing guides for each. You can also check out plant placement charts to avoid overcrowding your vegetable gardening containers.
Herbs
Herbs are versatile plants that add flavor to culinary dishes. They are also one of the easiest vegetables for container gardening beginners to grow. Some are valuable at repelling pests, so that they can be good companion plants.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 6-10 inches
- Sun Requirements: 2-4 hours of sunlight daily
- Soil pH Requirements: 5.5-8.0. Most herbs generally prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil.
Lettuce
Lettuce is a fast-growing, cool-season vegetable, prized for its leaves for salad greens. It is ideal for continuous harvesting and regrowth.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 6-8 inches
- Sun Requirements: 2-4 hours of sunlight daily, prefers partial shade in hotter climates
- Soil pH Requirements: 7.0-8.0; slightly acidic to neutral soil helps promote crisp, tasty leaves.
Eggplant
Eggplants produce beautiful purple fruits and large, bushy growth. They offer a substantial yield in the right conditions.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 10 inches or more
- Sun Requirements: Full sun, at least 6-8 hours daily
- Soil pH Requirements: 6.0-7.0; slightly acidic conditions favor eggplant growth.
Carrots
Carrots are a root vegetable that requires depth to grow. Otherwise, they are simple to grow and rewarding to cultivate, with a sweet, crunchy harvest.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 12 inches or more for lengthy varieties; shorter varieties can manage with 8 inches
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH Requirements: 5.5-7.0; slightly acidic soil conditions are ideal for carrot development.
Zucchini
Zucchini is a prolific vegetable that can produce an abundant harvest in gardening containers. Plants grow quickly to produce large yields.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 10 inches or more
- Sun Requirements: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily
- Soil pH Requirements: 5.5-7.0; zucchini can tolerate slightly acidic to neutral soil.
Beets
Beets are a dual-purpose vegetable with both edible roots and leaves. They're also hardy, so that you can grow them in cooler temperatures.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 8-10 inches
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH Requirements: 6.0-7.0; slightly acidic to neutral soil is best for root development.
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard is a leafy green vegetable that's both ornamental and edible, with colorful stems and leaves. The plant is resilient and can tolerate both cool and warm weather.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 6-10 inches
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH Requirements: 6.0-7.5; prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil for optimal growth.
Spinach
Spinach is a fast-growing leafy green rich in nutrients. Its upside is that you can harvest it at baby leaf or maturity for varied uses.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 6-8 inches
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade, with preference for cooler conditions
- Soil pH Requirements: 6.0-7.5; slightly acidic to neutral soil conditions promote leafy growth.
Peppers
Peppers, ranging from sweet to fiery hot, are versatile in cooking and thrive in pots with enough warmth and sun.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 12-14 inches
- Sun Requirements: Full sun, at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Soil pH Requirements: 5.5-7.0; slightly acidic soil supports healthy pepper plants.
Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are a garden favorite. They're known for their rapid growth and sweet, bite-sized fruits, which make them perfect for snacking and salads.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 12 inches or more
- Sun Requirements: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily
- Soil pH Requirements: 5.5-6.8; slightly acidic to neutral soil is optimal for tomato growth.
Beans
Beans (bush and pole varieties) are a staple vegetable that can be easily grown in gardening containers. They produce a steady crop with minimal care.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 8-10 inches for bush beans; 12 inches or more for pole beans
- Sun Requirements: Full sun, at least 6 hours of sunlight daily
- Soil pH Requirements: 5.5-7.5; beans prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil for best production.
Radishes
Radishes are among the fastest vegetables to grow, making them highly rewarding for gardeners who want quick results.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 6-8 inches
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH Requirements: 6.0-7.0; slightly acidic to neutral soil conditions are ideal for radish growth.
Kale
Kale is a nutrient-dense leafy green that's as decorative as edible. It thrives in cool weather and even tolerates frost.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 6-10 inches
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH Requirements: 6.0-6.5; kale is adaptable and can grow from slightly acidic to neutral soil.
Peas
Peas are a delight to grow in the cooler seasons, offering sweet pods. They're also a great companion plant as they boost nitrogen in the soil.
- Soil Depth Requirements: 8-12 inches for bush varieties; at least 18 inches for climbing varieties to accommodate support structures.
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade, with at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. They thrive in cooler temperatures and can tolerate light frosts.
- Soil pH Requirements: 6.0-7.0; peas prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil for optimal growth.
Grow Vegetables Successfully in Containers
EarthBox delivers proven systems for growing vegetables of all types in its gardening containers. Its growing systems are lab-tested and have proven results from thousands of gardening enthusiasts.
Best of all, EarthBox container gardening systems eliminate guesswork. Just add your vegetable plants, water, and plenty of sunshine to put fresh, homegrown produce on your table.