8 Best Vegetables to Grow in Your Container Garden

A container garden is a great way to enjoy fresh vegetables without taking up a lot of space. While almost any vegetable can be grown in a pot, some varieties are better suited to container gardening than others. Here are eight of the best vegetables to grow in your container garden:

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables to grow in containers. They come in various shapes and sizes, and they can be grown in sunny and shady locations.

Cherry tomatoes are a good option for container gardens, as they don’t require staking and can be harvested throughout the season. If you’re looking for a larger tomato to grow in your container garden, try one of the dwarf varieties like ‘Patio’ or ‘Tiny Tim.’ These tomatoes are compact and produce plenty of fruit without taking over your entire pot.

If you’re growing tomatoes in a container, water them regularly and fertilize them every few weeks. Tomatoes are also susceptible to pests and diseases, so check your plants periodically and take action if you notice any problems.

2. Potatoes

Yes, you can grow potatoes in a container! Potatoes are an excellent option for container gardens because they don’t take up much space and can be grown in a wide range of climates.

To grow potatoes in a pot, start with a 12-inch container and fill it with loose, well-draining soil. Plant two or three potato seeds about six inches apart and cover them with two inches of soil. As the plants grow, add more soil to the pot until it reaches the top of the container.

Water your potato plants regularly and fertilize them every few weeks. Potatoes are ready to harvest when the leaves turn yellow and begin to die back. Be sure to harvest your potatoes before the first frost of the season.

3. Green Beans

Green beans are another great vegetable to grow in a container garden. They don’t take up much space but may require some support as they grow, such as a trellis. Green beans are a versatile vegetable that can be eaten fresh, cooked, or frozen.

Green beans are relatively easy to grow and don’t require much care. They prefer full sun but will tolerate some shade. Green beans need well-drained soil and should be watered regularly. To plant green beans in a pot, start with a 12-inch container and fill it with loose, well-draining soil. Plant four or five bean seeds about one inch apart and cover them with two inches of soil.

As the plants grow, add more soil to the pot until it reaches the top of the container. Green beans are ready to harvest when the pods are about four inches long and before the seeds inside have begun to swell. T

4. Lettuce & Salad

These cool-season vegetables are some of the easiest to grow in a pot. All you need is a shallow container at least six inches deep. Lettuce and salad greens prefer full sun but will tolerate some shade. The soil should be loose and well-drained, and you should water the plants regularly.

You don’t even have to start from seed – you can buy young plants from your local nursery or garden center. When transplanting the plants into your pot, space them about six inches apart. When the leaves are big enough to eat, lettuce and salad greens are ready to harvest.

5. Peppers

Red peppers, bell peppers, and chili peppers are great vegetables to grow in a container garden. They need full sun and well-drained soil. Peppers also require regular watering—the soil should be moist but not soggy.

Although peppers can be grown in a small pot, they will produce more fruit if given more room to grow. A five-gallon container is a good size for peppers. When transplanting pepper plants into the pot, space them about 18 inches apart. Peppers are ready to harvest when the fruits are fully grown and have reached their mature color.

6. Radishes

If you have a shallow container, radishes are a great vegetable to grow in it. Radishes don’t need much space and can even be grown in a windowsill planter. They prefer full sun but will tolerate shade, and the soil should be loose and well-drained.

Radishes are easy to grow from seed. Just sow the seeds in your shallow container and thin them out as they grow. Radishes are ready to harvest when the roots are about two inches long.

7. Eggplants

You may not think of eggplants as small-space vegetables, but they can be grown in pots. Eggplants need a deep container to grow in, so a five-gallon pot is a good size. They also need full sun and well-drained soil. Eggplants should be watered regularly, and the soil should be moist but not soggy.

Eggplants are a bit more challenging to grow than some other vegetables, so it’s best to start with young plants from your local nursery or garden center. When transplanting the plants into your pot, space them about 18 inches apart. Eggplants are ready to harvest when the fruits are full-sized and have turned a deep purple color.

If you’re short on space for eggplants, you can also try growing them in a hanging basket, but be sure to choose a large basket to accommodate the plant’s roots.

8. Arugula

Arugula is a cool-season vegetable that is easy to grow in a pot. It doesn’t need much space and can even be grown in a windowsill planter. Arugula prefers full sun but will tolerate some shade.

However, one thing to keep in mind when growing arugula in a pot: it is a fast-growing plant, so you will need to fertilize it regularly. An excellent way to do this is to mix some compost into the soil every few weeks.

Arugula is easy to grow from seed. Just sow the seeds in your shallow container and thin them out as they grow. Arugula is ready to harvest when the leaves are big enough to eat. Don’t wait too long, though, as the leaves will become bitter if they are allowed to grow too big.

The Bottom Lines

Harvesting your vegetables is a great way to save money and get fresh, healthy produce. Even if you don’t have a big garden, you can still grow your own vegetables in a container garden.

These are just some of the best vegetables to grow in a pot. With a bit of care and attention, you can have a thriving container garden that provides fresh produce all season long.