Container Gardening: Growing Vegetables & Other Edibles in Small Spaces

Do you have a small balcony, a tiny patio, or just a sunny windowsill? You can still grow your own food. Container gardening is one of the easiest ways to start eating fresh, homegrown produce without needing a big backyard. Whether you live in a city apartment or a house with limited yard space, you can grow your own food and enjoy fresh tomatoes, herbs, and greens all season long.

We'll cover everything you need to know about growing vegetables and other edibles in containers for beginners, from picking the right pots to keeping your plants healthy. Later, our founder, Dr. Plant™, The Lazy Gardener, shares pictures of one of her own vertical gardens as well as a few tips on building a vertical garden for a small space. Let's dig in!

What Vegetables and Other Edibles Can I Grow in Containers?

Not every vegetable loves growing in a container, but many can thrive in one. Here are some of the common ideas for vegetables to get you started:

• Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon): Choose a large pot, at least 5 gallons, and a determinate or "patio" variety. Do check maturation requirements to be sure that they have time to ripen in your climate zone.
• Peppers: Compact and productive, peppers of all kinds do well in medium containers with full sun. Don’t forget Shishito peppers (Capsicum annuum)! They’re pretty plants, prolific and fun to eat with family and guests because only every 10th one is hot!
• Leafy greens: Lettuce and Mache (Valerianella locusta) only need shallow containers because these plants have short roots.
• Herbs: Basil (Ocimum basilicum), mint (Mentha x piperita), and parsley (Petroselinum crispum) grow quickly and reward you with fast, reliable harvests. Try Garlic Chives, Shiso and Agastache for more unusual culinary delights.
• Root vegetables: Radishes, fennel and carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) require tall pots so they have room to grow down deep into the soil.
• Bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris): These stay compact and don't need staking like their pole bean cousins. There are a wealth of options that vary in color, favor and texture. Again, do check ‘days to harvest’ and expect a crop only later in summer.

Pick vegetables that match your space, sunlight, and how much time you want to spend tending them. Growing your own food also does wonders for your wellness. Tending plants can ease stress, and eating fresh, homegrown vegetables gives you healthier meals straight from your own container garden. Very satisfying and so many benefits, right?!

Figure 1: Exploring unusual edibles, especially herbs, is loads of fun! Here are just three of our favorites. Left to right: Agastache (Agastache foeniculum), Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum), Shiso (Perilla frutescens var. crispa).

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Going Vertical: Make the Most of Small Spaces

When floor space runs out, look up. A vertical garden lets you grow more food in less square If you want to try a vertical setup yourself, think about:

• Stackable pot towers for herbs, lettuce, and strawberries.
• Window boxes to hang off a balcony railing for herbs and more.
• Wall-mounted planters for shallow-rooted greens.
• Trellises inside large pots for climbing vegetables like cucumbers or pole beans.
• Hanging baskets for trailing plants such as cherry tomatoes.

Going vertical does more than save space. It also improves airflow around your plants, which can reduce disease, and it makes harvesting easier since everything sits at eye level. Trellises against walls add footage and can turn a boring, hot wall into an inviting living wall of greenery. If you plant tomatoes and basil, it will be one that you can eat!

Our founder uses this technique in two ways: she uses vertical pot towers on top of oak trees so that the trees do not blow over in the wind (Figure 1) and a cadawumpus pot stack in her veggie bed to add more growing space for edibles. Stacking pots allows her to grow any mix of ornamentals and edibles in one small footprint. Once you start thinking vertically, we think it's a clever and visually interesting way to turn an ordinarily boring or drab space, such as a balcony, into a functional and inviting place to relax and hang out.

Figure 2: Vertical pot towers of two types: ‘aligned’ (grey pots) or ‘catawumpus’ (red pots). In each pair of images, the left shows the full display and the right image illustrates the stack construction. The construction method and stability of an aligned stack is quick and easy. In contrast, a cadawumpus stack can be quite tricky. These examples are a mixture of ornamental and edible plants (yes, Begonias flowers are edible!), but yours can be any combo you want. Check back for upcoming videos on how to make each one.

How to Grow Vegetables and Other Edibles in Containers

Follow these steps to set up your containers correctly from the start.

1. Choose the right container. Pick a pot with drainage holes so water doesn't pool at the bottom and rot the roots.
2. Add a wheelie! Putting your pot stack on a wheeled platform allows you to rotate it and move it easily to optimize light exposure.
3. Use high-quality potting mix. Skip garden soil, since it compacts too much in containers. Choose a lightweight potting mix instead.
4. Pick the right spot. Most vegetables need six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day, so scout your space before you plant.
5. Water consistently. Containers dry out faster than garden beds, so check the soil daily during hot weather. Best yet, automate the irrigation!
6. Feed your plants. Container soil loses nutrients quickly, so add a balanced fertilizer every few weeks.
7. Harvest regularly. Picking vegetables and fruits as they ripen encourages your plants to keep producing.

Which Container Materials Are Safe for Growing Vegetables?

You have plenty of options when it comes to containers, and you don't need anything fancy:

• Terracotta or ceramic pots, which offer good drainage but dry out faster.
• Fiberglass containers, lightweight, durable and often more affordable.
• Fabric ‘grow bags’, which help prevent overwatering.
• Wooden planter boxes, sturdy and great for larger vegetables.
• Repurposed buckets or bins, as long as you drill drainage holes first.

We're not huge fans of plastic containers, so we recommend reaching for terra cotta, ceramic, fabric grow bags, or wood instead when you can. Avoid containers that once held chemicals, and always wash secondhand pots well before you plant them to avoid pests and diseases.

Indoor Container Gardening for Year-Round Growing

You don't have to stop when the weather turns cold. Indoor container gardening lets you keep growing herbs and small vegetables right on your kitchen counter or a sunny windowsill. Try these indoor-friendly picks:

• Herbs like basil, chives (Allium schoenoprasum), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris).
• Microgreens, which grow fast and need very little space.
• Green onions, which regrow easily from kitchen scraps.
• Garlic! Just stick the ones that sprouted in the fridge 😆 into the pot!
• Cherry tomatoes under a grow light.

Rotate your containers occasionally so every side gets even light, and watch for dry indoor air, which can stress your plants faster than you might expect.

Find Support and Ideas on PlantShare

You don't have to figure this out by yourself. PlantShare connects plant lovers so you can swap tips, ask questions, and share photos of your growing progress. On our platform, you can find many plant profiles on our Favoritz™, get advice on plant care from seasoned gardener Dina Russell or other members, share extra plants, and track your own garden's growth over time.

FAQ

Can I grow vegetables in a pot?

Yes. Most vegetables grow well in pots as long as the container has good drainage, enough depth for the roots, and access to enough sunlight.

What is container gardening?

Container gardening means growing plants in pots, bins, or other containers instead of directly in the ground. It's a flexible option for patios, balconies, and small yards.

How do I grow vegetables in a container?

Choose a pot with drainage holes, fill it with quality potting mix, place it somewhere with plenty of sunlight, and water consistently. Feed your plants every few weeks to keep them healthy.

What containers are safe to grow vegetables in?

Terracotta, ceramic, plastic, fiberglass blends, fabric grow bags, and wooden planter boxes are all safe choices. Just make sure any container has drainage holes and hasn't held chemicals that are not bio-friendly.