Published: May 20, 2022 Last Updated: November 16, 2024
Gardening is more popular now than before. Using the rooftops, windowsills, backyards, and balconies, people are growing some fresh vegetables in the tiny space they have.
Growing vegetables in pots (aka container gardeningcontainer gardening Container gardening is the practice of growing plants exclusively in containers, such as pots, planters, or other containers, instead of planting them in the ground.) is perfect for people in a condo or apartment. Pots can also be used if you have poor quality soil that you cannot grow in. There are some plants that grow better in pots. Many vegetables can thrive in containers, so there shouldn’t be a reason your balcony should be empty.
Here are 15 best vegetables to grow in pots this spring. So if you’re ready, let’s jump right in.
Tomatoes – Every gardener knows tomatoes are one of the most productive vegetables to grow in pots or containers. Well, it’s technically a fruit, since it has seeds. Tomatoes need a lot a sunlight, so having tomatoes facing the sun for 5-8 hours will be perfect for them.
Since they don’t like cold weather, so when you carry the tomatoes out, bring in the tomato plant at night if it’s still cold. There are 2 types of tomatoes: indeterminate and determinate. There difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes is that determinate tomatoes are harvested all at once, and indeterminate tomatoes produce a lot of tomatoes and they can grow up to 6ft tall. Cherry tomatoes are an indeterminate variety. Tomatoes is one of the best vegetables to grow in pots.
Potatoes – Potatoes are everyone’s favourite. From french fries, to poutine, potatoes can be used for many things. Growing potatoes in pots or containers is easy. You don’t need to mound dirt over the potato. Potatoes require a lot a water and soil so, they need big pots or containers. Potatoes need plenty of drainage and a lot of sunlight. You can grow potatoes in bags, raised beds, boxes, and buckets.
Peppers – The third best vegetable to grow in pots are peppers and they’ll will add a beautiful look to your small garden. Peppers love to grow in pots, but they need a lot of sun and hot weather. Plant your peppers in a pot that have good drainage and is 1 ft deep. The hot and sweet peppers can be grown in containers.
Beets – Container gardening is perfect for beets, as you can make sure the soil is fluffy. Since beets are small and take up a little space, beets are perfect for container gardening. Since beets are a root vegetable, the container needs to be deep enough for the roots to grow. A pot around 1-2 ft deep should be perfect. Keep your beets in full sun, around 6-8 hrs.
Carrots – The fifth best vegetable to grow in pots are carrots. Just like beets, carrots are perfect to grow in containers. They also take little space. Carrots are a cool weather crop and can be planted 1-2 weeks before the last spring frost date. The carrots need moist and loose soil. If the soil is dry, the carrots will dry out and crack. Carrots need pots 1-2 feet deep since it has long roots. One thing about carrots is that it’s hard to germinate. We have an ULTIMATE GUIDE to Growing Carrots, to help you learn about growing carrots from start to finish.
Lettuce – The sixth best vegetable to grow in pots is lettuce. Lettuce is a cool-season crop, and a fast-growing plant, lettuce is one of the best plants you can grow in pots. Plant your lettuce in pots that drain well. Lettuce should be planted in partial sun. Make sure your lettuce has shade as it can be hot and bolt. Since containers dry out faster than dirt on the ground, you’ll need to water the lettuce more often to keep the soil moist.
Radishes – The seventh best vegetable to grow in pots are radishes, and they’re one of the easiest vegetables to grow in pots because they don’t use a lot a space and can be harvested in under 1 month. Radish is great for kids to grow since they’re so easy and require little work. Radish requires fluffy soil, and they prefer containers that are 1 ft deep. Make sure your radish receives plenty of sunlight.
Spinach – Like lettuce, spinach does not need a deep pot since they have shallow roots. Plant the spinach in pots that are 1/2 ft deep and in a sunny spot. It also grows well in partial shade and can grow in all kinds of spaces, like on a windowsill. It’s also important that you water your spinach.
Kale – The ninth best vegetable to grow in pots is Kale. Kale is one of the most popular vegetables in the world. Kale is packed with nutrients. Plant kale in 1/2 ft deep pot, and use soft soil. Keep your kale in partial shade. Kale grows fast, so if you have 5 plants, you can feed your family with kale without buying it. Just pick off the leaves on the outside and leave the inner leaves to continue growing.
Eggplant – Eggplants need large pots to grow and produce lots of eggplants. They love to be in full sun and hot weather. Plant your eggplant in a pot that’s 1/2 ft to 1 ft deep. Eggplants love water, so keep the soil moist.
Okra – Another great vegetable to grow in pots is okra. Okra loves the warmth of the summer, so plant it to catch the heat. Water the okra regularly and give it lots and lots of sunlight.
Asian Greens – The tweltfh best vegetable to grow in pots are Asian greens. They’re easy to grow and are used in a variety of dishes. These greens grow extremely quick. Plant your Asian greens in a pot that’s 1/2 ft deep. Water it regularly since so they don’t dry out. After 30-45 days, you should have some greens to eat.
Brassicas – The family of brassicas include, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. These plants are big plants, so plant them 1 per large pot. The pot should be 1/2 ft deep since they don’t have very long roots. You can plant broccoli after the last spring frost. It’s best to grow it in partial sun and will require a good amount of water.
Green Onions – The fourteenth best vegetable to grow in pots are green onions and they extremely grow well in containers. As green onions are used in a ton of meals, it’s best to grow it so you’ll have it handy when you need it. You can plant green onions by seed or an easier way is to plant them from those small onions. Plant onions in a 1/2 ft deep pot and keep them in full sun.
Peas – The fifteenth best vegetable to grow in pots are peas. Peas is an excellent vegetable to grow in pots, since they don’t need a lot of horizontal space. Plant them in pots that are 1/2 ft deep in early spring since they’re a cool weather crop. Keep the in full sun and water them often. You can plant peas in early spring and then again in the fall for a double harvest.
Final Thoughts
To summarize it if you have a small space, then these 15 vegetables will grow well in pots or containers. Container gardening can be an efficient way to grow as much vegetables in the space you have. I would suggest to plant root vegetables in taller containers and start with something simple like lettuce or potato. Happy Planting!
