If you've been caught by the gardening bug but struggle to work around having available yard space — or access to a community garden plot — you aren't cut completely out of the game yet! Many well-known herbs, flowers, and vegetables can be easily grown inside of compact pots or containers.
All you need to get started is some quality potting soil, a few containers (like window box planters) of the right size, and a little green thumb know-how. Take a look at some helpful links below to gather materials and develop a plan for cultivating an assortment of easy-to-grow vegetables and even fragrant herbs for your big or small yard, patio, or balcony.
Author and master gardener Angela Judd of Growing In the Garden shares eight great vegetables in this list that don't need a plot to be grown, from her book How to Grow Your Own Food: An Illustrated Beginner's Guide to Container Gardening.
You'll be growing plenty of delicious edible delights by the height of harvest season with eight of the best vegetables that are surprisingly easy to grow in containers. (And here are some great ways to cook those vegetables into scrumptious side dishes after you've harvested them from your garden!)
How to Grow Broccoli in a Container
Broccoli plants can get large. Look for compact varieties that grow well in containers. Broccoli grown during cool weather will have a sweeter flavor than its warm-weather counterpart. Good companions for broccoli include dill, chamomile, sage, beets, and onions.
Days to harvest: 100–150 days from seed; 55–80 days from transplant
Size: 18"–24" tall and wide
Difficulty: Easy
Container Size: Five gallons or larger. Container should be 10"–12" deep.
When to Plant Begin planting in the spring 5 weeks before last spring frost date. Broccoli can also be planted in the fall in many climates.
Varieties to Try: Munchkin (small variety that grows well in containers); De Cicco (fast-maturing variety).
Grows Best From: Seed or transplant. When choosing transplants at the nursery, look for compact green leaves on a short stem.
How to Plant
Plant seeds 1⁄4" deep and 3" apart. Thin to 12"–20" apart when seedlings are 2"–3" apart. Plant transplants 12"–20" apart, and a little deeper than nursery-pot level, but not any deeper than the first set of leaves.
Light: Full sun.
Water: Water well until plants are established and then provide regular water. Broccoli grows well with an olla (a clay container for self-watering) or in a self-watering container.
Feed: Benefits from a liquid organic fertilizer application each week, 3–4 weeks after planting.
When to Harvest
Harvest broccoli when the head is full and tight and when the buds are dark green and not opening. If they turn yellow, you’ve waited too long. Harvest broccoli before temperatures are consistently above 75°F. Pick it in the morning for best flavor. Use a sharp knife to cut stalk off at an angle 5"–8" below the head. Cutting at an angle allows water to drain off rather than puddling on the remaining stem. Most broccoli varieties produce smaller side shoots after the main stalk is harvested. Harvest side shoots 2–3 weeks later.
Tips: Insects such as cabbage worms, cutworms, snails, and slugs can ruin young broccoli plants.
How to Grow Cabbage in a Container
Cabbage likes cool but not freezing temperatures. It will not form a head but will instead split or bolt if exposed to too much heat or severe frost. Good companions for cabbage include thyme, dill, chamomile, sage, and onions.
Days to Harvest: 80–180 days from seed; 65–105 days from transplant
Size: 12"–18" tall and 18"–24" wide
Difficulty: Medium
Container Size: Five gallons or larger. Container should be 10"–12" deep.
When to Plant: Begin planting in the spring 5 weeks before last spring frost date. Cabbage can also be planted in the fall in many climates.
Varieties to Try: Savoy Ace (compact curly variety); Early Jersey Wakefield (compact green variety); Red Acre (compact red variety).
Grows Best From: Seed or transplant. When choosing transplants at the nursery, look for small transplants with compact green leaves on a short stem.
How to Plant
Plant seeds 1⁄4" deep and 3" apart. Thin to 12"–20" apart when seedlings are 2"–3" tall. Plant transplants 12"–20" apart a little deeper than nursery-pot level, but not deeper than the first set of leaves.
Light: Full sun.
Water: Water well until plants are established and then provide regular water. Cabbage grows well with an olla (a clay container for self-watering) or in a self-watering container. Once cabbage is almost full-size, cut back a little on watering to prevent the head from splitting.
Feed: Benefits from a liquid organic fertilizer application each week, 3–4 weeks after planting.
When to Harvest
Harvest cabbage when heads are well formed and firm, cutting off at the base with a sharp knife. Young, small heads have the best flavor.
Tips: Cut away the large bottom leaves if they turn yellow. Insects such as cabbage worms, cutworms, snails, and slugs can ruin young cabbage leaves.
How to Grow Carrots in a Container
Carrots do best when grown in a container by themselves or with other faster-growing root vegetables, such as radishes. Carrot seeds take 10 days to germinate and must remain moist until they sprout. Hot weather causes carrots to become fibrous. A frost often improves the taste of carrots. Good companions include tomatoes, lettuce, chives, onions, radishes, and sage.
Days to Harvest: 60–100
Size: 6"–12" tall and wide
Difficulty: Medium
Container Size: Three gallons or larger. Container should be at least 8" deep; 10"–12" deep is even better.
When to Plant: Begin planting in the spring 3 weeks before last spring frost date. Succession-plant carrots every 3 weeks for a continual harvest. Carrots can also be planted in the fall in most climates.
Varieties to Try: Scarlet Nantes; Danvers Half Long; Little Fingers; Chantenay.
Grows Best From: Seeds planted directly in containers.
How to Plant
Carefully plant the small seeds about 1⁄2" apart and cover lightly with soil. Keep soil moist for 10 days until seeds germinate. Thin carrot seedlings by clipping with pruning snips (rather than pulling) to 2" apart when they are about 4" tall.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Water: Water well until plants are established and then provide regular water. Carrots grow well in a self-watering container.
Feed: Benefits from a liquid organic fertilizer application once or twice during the growing season.
When to Harvest
Gently pry soil from around the very top of the carrot when the stalks are thick and tall. If carrot is full-colored and about finger-size, gather greens together and pull. Carrots can be left in the ground for a few extra weeks; harvest carrots as needed.
Tips: After harvesting, trim greens from carrots right away, as they take moisture away from the carrot.
How to Grow Eggplant in a Container
In cooler areas, growing eggplant in containers is more successful because containers heat up more quickly than in-ground garden beds. Eggplant plants can get large; look for dwarf varieties when growing in containers. Good companions include green beans, peppers, and okra.
Days to Harvest: 70–120
Size: 24"–30" tall and wide
Difficulty: Easy
Container Size: Five gallons or larger. Container should be at least 10" deep.
When to Plant: Begin planting in the spring 2 weeks after last spring frost.
Varieties to Try: Bambino; Indian; Fairy Tale.
Grows Best From: Transplant. Look for small, compact transplants without blossoms.
How to Plant
Handle transplant roots carefully. Plant transplants at the same depth as nursery pots and space plants 12"–18".
Light: Full sun.
Water: Water well until plant is established and then provide regular water. Do not let dry out. Eggplants grow well with an olla (a clay container for self-watering) or in a self-watering container.
Feed: Benefits from a half-strength application of liquid organic fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season.
When to Harvest
Harvest fruits when small for best taste. An eggplant that is ready to harvest will have bright, shiny skin and feel firm and heavy for its size. Clip fruit from stem with hand pruners so as not to damage plant.
Tips: Large plants may require staking. Flea beetles can damage eggplant. Cover with garden fabric to prevent. Colorado potato beetle can also be an issue; handpick the bugs off.
How to Grow Okra in a Container
Okra flowers and leaves are edible, both cooked and raw. Okra needs at least 60 days of very warm weather to grow well. In cooler climates, look for short-season varieties, or start seeds indoors. Good companions for okra include peppers and eggplant.
Days to Harvest: 50–65
Size: 2'–3' tall and wide
Difficulty: Easy
Container Size: Five gallons or larger. Container should be 10"–12" deep.
When to Plant: Begin planting okra 2 weeks after last spring frost date and at least 3 months before first fall frost date.
Varieties to Try: Hill Country Red (shorter, fat pods with red tint); Baby Bubba Okra (smaller plant great for containers).
Grows Best From: Seed.
How to Plant
Plant seeds 3⁄4" deep and about 6" apart. Thin to 12" apart.
Light: Full sun.
Water: Water well until plant is established and then provide regular water. Okra grows well with an olla (a clay container for self-watering).
Feed: Does not require supplemental feeding.
When to Harvest
Once okra flowers, it will be ready for harvest in 3–4 days. The taste of okra pods is best when they are harvested at 2"–3" long. Okra pods longer than 4" begin to be fibrous and inedible.
Tips: Make it a point to harvest okra daily while it is producing; leaving pods on the plant slows or stops production. Always harvest okra by cutting with a knife or pruners; pulling the pods off can damage the plant.
How to Grow Peppers in a Container
Peppers require warm weather to grow well. In cooler climates, peppers grow better in containers than in in-ground beds because the soil heats up faster. Pepper plants are brittle and do best with some staking or support to prevent branches from breaking. Peppers contain capsaicin, an oily compound that produces heat. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin the peppers contain. Use gloves when handling hot peppers; do not touch eyes or nose, as capsaicin can burn skin. Good companions for peppers include okra and eggplant.
Days to Harvest: 60–100 days from transplant, depending on variety
Size: 12"–24" tall and wide
Difficulty: Easy
Container Size: Five gallons or larger. Container should be 8" deep.
When to Plant: Begin planting in the spring 2 weeks after last spring frost, once soil temperature reaches 70°F.
Varieties to Try: Choose a sweet (e.g., Carmen or bell), medium (e.g., jalapeño), and hot pepper (e.g., habanero) for variety.
Grows Best From: Transplant. Choose dense, compact plants and remove any blossoms before planting.
How to Plant
Plant transplants at the same depth as nursery pots and space plants 12" apart.
Light: Full sun.
Water: Water well until plant is established and then provide regular water. Needs consistent moisture. Peppers grow well with an olla (a clay container for self-watering) or in a self-watering container. Do not wet leaves; it may cause fungal disease.
Feed: Benefits from a phosphorus-rich fertilizer at any stage of development.
When to Harvest
Pick peppers often to encourage production, especially early in the season. Fruit left on the plant signals to the plant to stop producing more fruit. Cut (don’t pull) peppers off with pruners to prevent breaking branches. Leave 1" stem attached for longer storage life.
Tips: Remove blossoms from plants for 1–2 weeks after planting to encourage good root development. Spray pepper plant with an Epsom salt solution (1 teaspoon Epsom salt to 32 ounces water) when blossoms appear to increase yield and boost overall health of plant.
How to Grow Summer Squash in a Container
Most winter squash varieties are large vining plants and do not grow well in containers. Choose “bush” or “compact” types of summer squash for container gardening. Good companions include nasturtiums and radishes.
Days to Harvest: 45–60
Size: 2"–3" tall and wide, depending on variety
Difficulty: Easy
Container Size: Five gallons or larger. Container should be at least 10" deep.
When to Plant: Squash needs warm soil to sprout and grow well. Begin planting in the spring after last spring frost. Seeds will germinate more quickly in soil temperatures above 70°F.
Varieties to Try: Spacemaster; Eight Ball; Gold Rush; Patty Pan.
Grows Best From: Seed.
How to Plant
Plant two to three seeds 1" deep. Thin to strongest seedling when second set of leaves appears. Space plants 2' apart.
Light: Full sun.
Water: Water well until plant is established and then provide regular water. Needs consistent moisture. Summer squash grows well with an olla or in a self-watering container. Keep leaves dry to help prevent powdery mildew.
Feed: Benefits from a phosphorus-rich fertilizer every 2–3 weeks during the growing season.
When to Harvest
Summer squash tastes best when small and tender. Harvest squash by cutting through the stem, not the main vine, with a sharp knife when fruits are 4"–6" long. The seeds will get larger and skin will become tougher as the fruit gets larger.
Tips: Cover soil with garden fabric to warm the soil at the beginning of the season in cool climates. Plant cool-season crops like lettuce, radishes, and spinach in the container while you are waiting for soil to warm up in the spring. If you are finding that female fruits are withering and not getting pollinated by bees, try hand-pollination by transferring pollen from the male blossom (long, thin stem) to the female blossom (bulbous stem, looks like a small version of the fruit). Picking the fruit often encourages production.
How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in a Container
Sweet potatoes grow well in very warm weather. You can grow your own sweet potato slips in about 2 months using a mature sweet potato. Bury bottom half of sweet potato in soil and keep warm and moist in bright light until shoots form. You can also suspend a sweet potato in water using toothpicks. Regardless of the method, remove shoots when they are several inches long, remove the leaves from the bottom half of the shoot, and put the bottom half in water. When shoots have several roots formed, they can be planted using the following directions. Sweet potatoes will quickly overtake their container and do best planted alone.
Days to Harvest: 90–120
Size: Vines grow quite large and will spill out of most containers
Difficulty: Medium
Container Size: Ten gallons or larger.
When to Plant: Begin planting sweet potatoes 2–3 weeks after the last spring frost, when the soil temperature is at least 65°F.
Varieties to Try: Beauregard (short-season); Vardaman (compact vines, good flavor).
Grows Best From: Slips (rooted sweet potato shoots grown from a mature sweet potato).
How to Plant
Plant rooted slips 4" deep and 12"–18" apart.
Light: Full sun.
Water: Water well until plant is established and then provide regular water.
Feed: About a month after planting sweet potatoes, fertilize with an organic fertilizer with phosphate and potassium to encourage root development.
When to Harvest
Harvest 90–120 days after planting, before the first fall frost, when the leaves and vines begin turning yellow. Dig down to check size of tubers; harvest when they are at least 3" in diameter. To harvest, cut back vines and loosen soil around the plant; carefully dig up the tubers. Handle tubers carefully to prevent bruising.
Tips: For larger sweet potatoes, do not trim back vines; allow vines to spread and absorb sunlight. For longer storage, cure sweet potatoes after harvesting. To cure sweet potatoes, set potatoes in a single layer (not touching) in a warm (about 80°F), dark area for 10–14 days.