You don’t need a backyard to grow your own food. With the right vegetables for container growing and the right pot size, a sunny patio, deck or front step can produce salads, salsa ingredients and fresh herbs all season long.
The trick is matching each plant to a container big enough for its roots.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best crops for pots, the minimum pot size for each one, and my advice on soil, watering and feeding so your plants stay healthy.
What Makes a Vegetable Good for Containers?
A good container vegetable stays fairly compact, has a modest root system and produces a lot of food for the space it takes up. Plant breeders have made this easier by developing varieties made for small spaces.
Look for Compact Varieties
When you shop for seeds or transplants, look for words like “patio,” “bush,” “compact” or “dwarf” on the label. These varieties are bred to stay smaller and still give you a good harvest.
A full-size zucchini or a sprawling heirloom tomato can outgrow a pot fast. A bush or patio version of the same crop will be far easier to manage in a container.
Here’s what I look for in a container-friendly vegetable:
- A mature size listed as small, compact or bush
- A shorter time to harvest
- Roots that don’t need to go very deep
- Plants that produce over a long season, like herbs and peppers
- Crops you can harvest a little at a time, like leafy greens
Match Plants to Your Sunlight
Sunlight is the other big factor. Fruiting crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers and squash need 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day. Without it, they grow leggy and produce little fruit.
Leafy greens and herbs are more forgiving. They can manage with 3 to 4 hours of direct sun, which makes them a smart pick for shadier spots.
If you’re working with a partly shaded space, my guide to growing vegetables on a balcony covers how to make the most of the light you have.
Spend a day watching your space before you buy plants. Note when the sun hits and when it leaves. That simple step saves a lot of disappointment.
Helpful Supplies to Start With
Two products make container growing much easier. The first is fabric grow bags. They’re lightweight, they drain well, and they let roots breathe, which helps prevent roots from circling the pot.
The second is a balanced liquid vegetable fertilizer. Container plants run through nutrients quickly, and a liquid feed is an easy way to keep them fed through the season. I’ll cover how often to use it later in this guide.
Easy Leafy Greens and Herbs
Leafy greens and herbs are the easiest vegetables for container growing because they have shallow roots and tolerate partial shade. Most only need 6 to 8 inches of soil depth.
Lettuce, Spinach and Arugula
Lettuce, spinach and arugula all grow well in containers 6 to 8 inches deep. They don’t need a lot of depth, so wide, shallow containers and trays work fine.
These greens love cool weather. Plant them in spring and fall for the best results. In summer heat, they tend to bolt, which means they send up a flower stalk and the leaves turn bitter.
My advice is to grow loose-leaf lettuce and harvest the outer leaves as you need them. The plant keeps producing from the center, so you get several harvests from one sowing.
A few tips for growing greens in pots:
- Sow seeds every two to three weeks for a steady supply
- Move pots into afternoon shade when the weather warms up
- Keep the soil evenly moist so leaves stay tender
- Harvest in the morning when leaves are crisp
Cabbage is a leafy crop too, but it needs more room. Plan on 5 gallons per plant. If you want to try it, my guide to growing cabbage in containers explains the details.
Herbs for Pots
Most culinary herbs thrive in containers. Give each plant a pot 6 to 8 inches deep, or about 1 gallon of soil.
Basil, parsley, chives, cilantro, thyme, oregano and mint are all good choices. Mint spreads aggressively, so I always recommend growing it in its own pot so it doesn’t take over its neighbors.
Group herbs by their needs. Mediterranean herbs like thyme, oregano and rosemary prefer to dry out a bit between waterings. Basil, parsley and cilantro like more consistent moisture.
If you have pets, keep in mind that some herbs can be harmful to cats and dogs. The ASPCA keeps a list of plants that are toxic to pets, and it’s worth checking before you set pots where animals can reach them.
Green Onions and Other Quick Crops
Green onions need only about 6 inches of soil depth. They grow quickly and you can snip the tops repeatedly.
Radishes also need about 6 inches of depth and are some of the fastest crops you can grow. Many varieties are ready in about a month. I’ll cover radishes more in the root crops section.
| Crop | Minimum Pot Depth / Size | Sun Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Lettuce | 6 to 8 inches deep, wide trays fine | 3 to 4 hours |
| Spinach | 6 to 8 inches deep | 3 to 4 hours |
| Arugula | 6 to 8 inches deep | 3 to 4 hours |
| Herbs | 6 to 8 inches deep, about 1 gallon each | 3 to 4 hours or more |
| Green onions | 6 inches deep | 3 to 4 hours or more |
| Cabbage | 5 gallons per plant | 6 hours preferred |
Fruiting Vegetables: Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplant
Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant all grow well in pots if you give them enough soil and at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun. Pot size is the biggest factor in how well they produce.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are the most popular container crop, and for good reason. But they need more soil than many people expect.
Determinate or dwarf tomatoes need a 5-gallon pot at minimum. A 10-gallon pot is better. These types stay smaller and set most of their fruit over a shorter period.
Indeterminate tomatoes keep growing and producing until frost. They need 15 to 20 gallons of soil and a sturdy cage. In a small pot, they dry out constantly and struggle.
My advice for container tomatoes:
- Choose determinate, dwarf or patio varieties for smaller pots
- Add the cage or stake at planting time so you don’t damage roots later
- Water deeply and consistently to help prevent blossom end rot
- Place pots in the sunniest spot you have
For more on growing them in tight spaces, see my guide to growing tomatoes on a balcony.
Peppers
Peppers are some of the best container vegetables out there. They stay fairly compact and produce for months once they get going.
Plan on a pot that holds 2 to 5 gallons. Smaller hot peppers do fine at the low end. Larger bell peppers prefer the bigger size.
Peppers love warmth. Wait until nights stay reliably warm before moving them outside. A short stake can help support plants once they’re loaded with fruit.
Eggplant
Eggplant needs a 5-gallon pot and plenty of heat and sun. Compact and smaller-fruited varieties are the best fit for containers.
Like peppers, eggplant doesn’t like cold. Set plants out after the weather has warmed. A small stake helps keep the stems upright as fruit develops.
If you’d like to start your own plants from seed, my guide to growing eggplant in pots walks through the process.
| Crop | Minimum Pot Size | Support Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Determinate or dwarf tomatoes | 5 gallons minimum, 10 gallons better | Small cage or stake |
| Indeterminate tomatoes | 15 to 20 gallons | Sturdy cage |
| Peppers | 2 to 5 gallons | Short stake |
| Eggplant | 5 gallons | Short stake |
Vining and Bush Crops: Cucumbers, Squash and Beans
Cucumbers, squash and beans can all grow in containers if you pick bush varieties or give vining types a trellis. Growing up instead of out saves a lot of space.
Cucumbers
Bush cucumbers are the best choice for pots. Give each plant a 5-gallon container with a small trellis.
Even bush types appreciate something to climb. A trellis keeps the fruit off the soil, improves airflow and makes harvesting easier.
Cucumbers need consistent water. If the soil dries out too much, the fruit can turn bitter or misshapen. Pick them often to keep the plant producing.
Zucchini and Squash
Zucchini is productive, but it’s a big plant. You’ll need a container that holds 10 to 20 gallons of soil.
Look for bush or compact zucchini varieties. These stay tighter and are much better suited to containers than sprawling types.
Winter squash and some summer squash can be trained upward on a strong trellis. My guide to growing squash vertically in containers shows how to set that up.
A few squash tips:
- Give plants full sun and plenty of airflow
- Water at the base to keep leaves dry
- Check leaves often for powdery mildew
- Harvest zucchini small, when they’re most tender
Beans and Peas
Bush beans are easy and productive in pots. They need just 2 to 3 gallons of soil and no support.
Pole beans and peas need more room and something to climb. Use a 5-gallon container about 12 inches deep, along with a trellis.
Peas prefer cool weather, so grow them in spring or fall. Beans like warmth and do best once the weather heats up.
Both are great for beginners. If you want crops that go from seed to harvest quickly, check out my list of fast-growing summer vegetables.
| Crop | Minimum Pot Size | Support Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Bush cucumbers | 5 gallons | Small trellis |
| Zucchini | 10 to 20 gallons | None for bush types |
| Bush beans | 2 to 3 gallons | None |
| Pole beans | 5 gallons, about 12 inches deep | Trellis |
| Peas | 5 gallons, about 12 inches deep | Trellis |
Root Crops in Pots
Root crops grow well in containers as long as the pot is deep enough for the roots to form. Short or round varieties are the easiest place to start.
Carrots and Radishes
Carrots need depth. Long carrot types need 12 inches of soil. Short, round types can grow in pots 6 to 8 inches deep.
Loose, fluffy potting mix is one of the big advantages of growing carrots in containers. There are no rocks or heavy clay to cause forked or stunted roots.
Radishes need only about 6 inches of depth. They’re quick, easy and a great crop for kids or first-time gardeners.
My tips for carrots and radishes:
- Sow seeds thinly and thin seedlings so roots have room