Grow More in Less: Container-Friendly Vegetables for Small Gardens

Growing food in containers allows endless possibilities for urban gardens. I started my gardening journey with containers because of the limited space that I have. I also wasn’t sure what space I wanted to commit to having a garden.

Although I primarily grow food in raised beds, I still use containers to add real estate, and grow additional crops in my garden. This guide explores the best container-friendly vegetable varieties that thrive in small spaces (some of which I’ve grown).

Container gardening in an alley.

Why Choose Container Gardening for Small Spaces

Container gardening allows gardeners to grow fresh food in unconventional small spaces that don't require commitment to a traditional large plot.

Advantages include:

• Space efficiency: Use vertical and horizontal space creatively.

• Mobility: Move containers to catch sunlight or protect plants from harsh weather.

• No Commitment: Great for renters who don't own property or move frequently

• Soil control: Customize soil mix for optimal plant health.

  
  

Over the years I’ve gotten savvy with adding crops to my garden without spreading into my yard (out of consideration for hubby and the kids recreational area) by growing in containers. The primary thing that allows me success to grow in containers is knowing which plant varieties thrive in containers.

Plant Varieties

Plant varieties are specific crops within a plant species that are selected based on the plant’s characteristics like size, flavor, color, and growth habit. If you've ever seen a seed packet or plant, and notice a cultivar name in quotes like "Sungold", "Marketmore 76", "Dwarf Blue Curled", or any other info like "hybrid", "heirloom", "container-friendly", or "dwarf", then this will give you insight as to the variety of the plant you're growing.

Key Factors for Selecting Container Vegetables

When buying seeds and plants for containers, pay close attention to the following growth traits to determine whether it’s a good candidate for a container or small space garden:

• Size: Choose dwarf or bush varieties that stay compact.

• Growth habit: Plants with upright or trailing habits work well.

• Root depth: Shallow-rooted vegetables suit smaller pots.

• Harvest time: Fast-maturing crops provide quicker results and can be succession planted.

• Sunlight needs: Most vegetables require 6+ hours of sun daily.

  
  

With these in mind, here are some top container vegetable varieties to try.

Best Container Friendly Vegetable Varieties

1. Leafy Greens

Leafy greens are the best candidates for growing in small spaces because they grow quickly, and don’t require deep containers. You can pack multiple lettuce plants into one container unlike brassicas (i.e. cabbage, broccoli, etc.).

• Container Size: 6-8 inches deep

• Care Tips: Harvest leaves regularly to encourage new growth; keep soil moist.

• Plants by Variety:

  • Spinach: 'Baby Spinach', 'Space', 'Bloomsdale Long Standing', 'Melody'

  • Lettuce:

    • Head Lettuce Varieties: 'Butterhead', 'Romaine', 'Crisphead', 'Tom Thumb', 'Little Gem'

    • Leaf Lettuce Varieties: 'Salad Bowl', 'Oakleaf', 'Lollo Rossa', 'Mesculin'

  • Arugula:

    • 'Rocket', 'Astro', 'Wile Arugula'

  • Swiss Chard:

    • 'Bright Lights', 'Fordhook Giant'

  • Bok Choy:

    • 'Baby Bok Choy', 'Toy Choy'

  • Mustard Greens:

    • 'Red Giant', 'Green Wave'

  • Kale:

    • 'Dwarf Blue Curled', 'Red Russian', 'Dwarf Siberian', 'Starbor', 'Scarlet Kale', 'Redbor'

These greens in addition to many other container-friendly leafy greens prefer cooler temperatures. Some can even be grown year round when grown indoors under grow lights.

Lettuce and kale plants thriving in containers on a deck

2. Heat-Loving Veggies

After the last frost, it's safe to grow these warm weather vegetables outside. These heat-loving varieties are great candidates for growing in containers because they may either grow a few feet tall, are bushy, grow in a dwarf compact size, or are considered determinate, which means they produce all their fruit at one short time.

• Tomato:

  • Container Size: 5 gallon pot

    • Determinate Cherry Varieties:

      • ‘Tiny Tim’, 'Baby Boomer', 'Patio Princess', 'Balcony', 'Red Robin', 'Orange Hat', 'Husky Cherry Red', 'Gold Nugget', 'Maskotka'

    • Indeterminate Cherry Varieties:

      • 'Sungold', 'Super Sweet 100', 'Black Cherry'

    • Bush/Determinate:

      • ‘Bush Early Girl’, 'Better Bush, 'Celebrity', 'Roma', 'Bush Beefsteak', 'Glacier'

• Cucumber:

  • Container Size: 3-5 gallon pot

    • Bush Varieties: 'Spacemaster', 'Bush Champion', 'Patio Snacker', 'Salad Bush', 'Pick a Bushel'

• Okra:

  • Container Size: 5 gallon pot

    • Dwarf Varieties: 'Baby Bubba', 'Cajun Jewel', 'Jambalaya', 'Blondy'

• Pepper:

  • Container Size: 3-5 gallon pot

    • Compact Varieties: 'Lunchbox', 'Gypsy', 'Redskin', 'Jalapeno', 'Thai Chili', 'Habanero', 'Cayenne'

• Bush Beans:

  • Container Size: 2-3 gallon pot

    • Bush Bean Varieties: 'Provider', 'Contender', 'Mascotte', 'Blue Lake Bush', 'Derby'

Tabasco peppers grown in a GreenStalk Tower

3. Root Vegetables

Root vegetables are also great candidates for growing in small spaces because they don't take up space above ground. They're perfect companions for shallow root vegetables that don't require much space below ground, and are also great to plant near tall plants that can provide shade during hot months as most root veggies prefer cooler temperatures.

• Beets:

  • Container Depth: 8-12 inches

  • Varieties: 'Detroit Dark Red', 'Golden Beets', 'Chioggia', 'Baby Ball', 'Bulls Blood'

• Carrots:

  • Container Depth: 6-12 inches depending on height of carrot

  • Care Tip: Choose short and round varieties, Use loose and bark free soil

  • Varieties: 'Parisian', ''Little Finger', 'Thumbelina', 'Danvers Half Long', 'Chantenay Red Core'

• Radishes:

  • Container Depth: 4-6 inches

  • Care Tip: Succession plant every 1-2 weeks for continuous harvest

  • Varieties: 'Cherry Belle', 'French Breakfast', 'Easter Egg Blend', 'Sparkler', 'White Icicle'

  
  

  

  Carrots harvested from raised beds and containers

Untraditional Vegetables to Consider Growing In Containers

The following list are vegetables that traditionally grow large in size and don't make the best candidates to grow in small space gardens. However, choosing the compact, dwarf, and bushing varieties of these plants allow gardeners to add these vegetables to small space gardens.

• Squash:

  • Container Size: 5-10 gallon

  • Care Tip: Trellis the main squash stem on a wooden stick to grow squash vertically to save space.

  • Varieties by Type:

    • Zucchini: 'Black Beauty', 'Astia', 'Patio Star', 'Raven', 'Eight Ball'

    • Winter Squash: 'Honey Bear Acorn', 'Butterbaby', 'Bush Delicata'

• Potatoes:

  • Container Size: 10-15 gallon grow bags to allow hilling

  • Care Tip: Keep soil moist when growing potatoes in containers.

  • Varieties: 'Yukon Gold', 'Red Pontiac', 'Fingerling', 'Kennebec', 'Red Norland', 'Viking'

• Sweet Potatoes:

  • Container Size: 15-20 gallon

  • Care Tip: Trellis vines to manage plant

  • Varieties: 'Beauregard', 'Centennial', 'Georgia Jet', 'Bush Porto Rico', 'Murasaki'

• Corn:

  • Container Size: At least 10 gallons

  • Care Tip: Choose dwarf varieties, plant seeds 6-8 inches apart, and hand pollinate silks with pollen produced from tassels to increase corn production.

  • Varieties: 'On Deck' (Hybrid), 'Trinity', 'Golden Midget' (Heirloom), 'Blue Jade' (Heirloom)

Potato harvest from grow bag.

Tips for Successful Container Vegetable Gardening

• Choose the right containers: Select containers with drainage holes based on plant’s space and depth requirements.

• Use quality potting mix: Replenish the top layer after each season.

• Water consistently: Containers dry out faster, so check moisture daily.

• Fertilize regularly: Fertilize with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks to replenish nutrients after watering.

• Provide adequate sunlight: Find a sunny location that gets 6+ hours depending on sunlight requirements for plant.

• Rotate crops: Change plant families each season to reduce disease risk.

Maximizing Your Small Space Garden

To get the most from your container garden:

• Use vertical space: Install trellises for climbing plants. Grow vertically on walls, balconies, gutters, and hanging baskets

• Succession planting: Direct sow seeds weekly/bi-weekly for fast growing crops to have a continuous harvest

• Companion planting: Pair compatible plants inside a container based on growing habits to attract pollinators and deter pests

  
  

I hope that this guide will encourage you to think outside of the traditional method of growing in large spaces, and empowers you to use containers to grow the food you love in a small space.

Happy Gardening! 🌱