From the chives in the big garden pots, to the little pots of mint and coriander sitting on the kitchen windowsill, these experiences were the first to pique my interest in gardening. As more and more people are looking to branch out in their experimentation with edible crops, it’s becoming very clear that green finger fever isn’t just confined to the countryside. Urban agriculture is really taking off, with people growing food in the most improbable places: rooftops, balconies, windowsills, and every other little nook and cranny that is available to them. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Pots are obviously not just for city dwellers – they can also offer a valuable alternative if your soil is too poor to grow in, and can often be much more accessible to growers with physical differences and disabilities. So, what kind of vegetables are on offer for container growers, and which will provide the best yields when grown in a small space? Here, we take a look at the top 11 vegetable varieties to grow in pots. As a general rule, hybrid and dwarf varieties of plants are usually a good bet in pots, as they require less space to grow. Below, you’ll find a list of the top 11 types of veggies to grow in pots, with several of our favorite cultivars for each that are particularly well suited to container growing.
1. Beans
Minimum pot depth: 12 inches. Thanks to their attractive foliage and flowers, green beans are a great addition to any balcony or courtyard. You can read more about growing green beans here. There are two ways to approach growing beans in pots. You can either choose a “bushy” variety of bean, which will grow happily in a pot without any extra support, or you can choose to grow a climbing variety, and run pole beans up a trellis. This is ideal for making the most of your vertical space, as you can run them up walls and fences. ‘Porch Pick’ Bush Beans ‘Porch Pick’ thrives in full sun, and is ready for harvest in 55 days. Seeds are available from Burpee.
Scarlet Runner
This fiery-colored plant produces small, red, heart-shaped flowers and delicious, nutty beans. ‘Scarlet Runner’ Pole Beans Growing vertically up a trellis is ideal for small spaces, and this bean will grow eagerly up a simple bamboo teepee. This bean grows impressively easily, and it’s perfect for continuous picking, which is fantastic for potting up in an easily accessible space near the kitchen. Pods are ripe for the picking in 60-70 days, and should be picked when fairly short, between four and six inches. They may be used as snap beans, and the pods are edible. You can find seeds available at Burpee.
2. Beets
Minimum pot depth: 12 inches. Perfectly suited for growing in small spaces, beets are nearly un-beet-able in this category. The only consideration is that they need a fairly deep pot to be able to develop freely. A pot with 10 to 12 inches of depth is ideal to encourage adequate root growth. Read more about growing beets in containers here. Most varieties of beets will happily grow in pots. Here are a few favorites to choose from.
Chioggia
For a fun twist, try this gorgeous candy-striped beet with alternating red and white rings from the outside of the beet to the center. ‘Chioggia’ Beet Seeds An easy-to-grow plant that takes only 55 days to mature, ‘Chioggia’ can thrive in either full sun or partial shade, meaning it’s perfect for slightly shaded balconies and courtyards. It has a sweeter taste than many other beets, so you may be able to convert some alleged beet-haters with your homegrown harvest. Seeds are available from True Leaf Market.
Detroit Dark Red
This deep red, sweet beet is excellent both when harvested as a baby, an ideal option for small spaces, or it can also be harvested later on when the roots are more mature. ‘Detroit Dark Red Medium Top’ Beets ‘Detroit Dark Red Medium Top’ produces beets that are about three inches long, if allowed to grow to maturity, that are ready to enjoy in 59 days. This plant requires full sun. You can find seeds and seed tape at Burpee.
3. Chard
Minimum pot depth: 8 inches. In a competition for the best crop for container gardening, it’d be hard to beat leafy greens and lettuces. Fast-growing and productive, these undisputed kings of the realm of edible potted plants make an easy and delicious potted crop. Even better, leafy greens and baby lettuces need hardly any space to thrive, and have shallow root systems so they will happily grow in smaller containers. What’s more, greens are one of the few potted veggies that don’t need much sunlight, and they will happily thrive somewhere a bit more shaded. Growing salads sure isn’t “rocket” science. To start, there’s chard. This underrated plant offers a beautiful leafy and (sometimes) colorful bouquet, and it’s superb for growing in containers. Read more about growing chard in containers here.
Rainbow Mixture
With mixed red, white, pink, and yellow stalks, this rainbow seed mix produces chard that is as beautiful to look at as it is enjoyable to eat. ‘Rainbow Mixture’ Swiss Chard This striking vegetable grows best in a sheltered spot, and is ready for harvesting in 50 days. You can find your seeds at True Leaf Market.
Ruby Red
Another visual stunner, this variety of chard produces striking ruby red stalks and dark green leaves all the way through summer, and even into the fall. ‘Ruby Red’ Swiss Chard With a refreshingly bitter taste, this crop can be harvested after 60 days. It grows well in full or partial sun. Find these seeds at True Leaf Market.
4. Chili Peppers
Minimum pot depth: 12 inches Chili peppers are perfect for spicing up small spaces. Both productive and pretty, they do, however, need a sunny and warm place to grow. But as long as you can provide that, they will happily thrive. Read more about growing chili peppers here.
Jalapeno Early
Jalapenos are a classic for use in salsas and dips throughout the summer season. In fact, this is probably America’s favorite type of hot pepper! ‘Jalapeno Early’ Hot Peppers ‘Jalapeno Early’ is an heirloom variety that blooms early in the season, which means the harvest will come more quickly for this type of pepper plant. Expect about 65 to 70 days to maturity, with good yields. Seeds are available from Botanical Interests.
Thai Hot
‘Thai Hot’ peppers grow on eight- to 12-inch plants that are perfect for growing in containers. ‘Thai Hot’ Pepper You can expect a harvest of up to 200 half- to one-inch peppers per plant. These are bright red when ripe, and ready in about 85 days. And they are known for being very hot! Seeds are available from Burpee.
5. Kale
Minimum pot depth: 8 inches. Another space-saving vegetable that’s perfect for pot life, kale is packed full of nutrients. Add it to your smoothies, sautee mature leaves, or pick them young for a fresh, tender option to add to salads. Just three or four plants can supply a family of four with a nice weekly harvest. The main thing to remember is that your pot requires at least a 12-inch diameter, and it’s best to use a well-draining potting mix. Read more about growing kale in containers here.
Dwarf Blue Curled Vates
This type of kale is low and compact, producing beautiful, finely curled, bluish-green leaves in 55 days. ‘Dwarf Blue Curled Vates’ Kale When placed in a location at least partially protected from wind, it can usually withstand cooler spring and winter weather. This variety will produce the best yields if planted in full sun. You can find ‘Dwarf Blue Curled Vates’ seeds at Burpee.
Dwarf Siberian
This dwarf heirloom is very high yielding. Sweeter than most kale varieties, ‘Dwarf Siberian’ is leafy and bright green in color, and it grows well with full or partial sunlight. ‘Dwarf Siberian’ Kale You can expect a harvest in 50 to 60 days. Find seeds for purchase at True Leaf Market.
6. Lettuce
Minimum pot depth: 6 inches. Lettuce, with its shallow root system and easy-going nature, is absolutely ideal for growing in small, shady spaces. Read more about growing lettuce here.
Burgundy Delight
I personally love burgundy lettuce, both for its taste and for the fact that it’s my favorite color. ‘Burgundy Delight’ Lettuce Crunchy and crisp, this lettuce is as perfect growing in small spaces as it is for adding to salads. You can choose to harvest baby leaves, or wait for mature full-size heads to develop. This variety grows best in full sun, and takes 35 to 60 days to mature. You can find seeds at Burpee.
Slow Bolt Arugula
Perfect if you’re feeling a bit fancy, arugula has a distinctive, peppery taste that is a great addition to salads and sandwiches. Slow Bolt Arugula This edible annual looks similar in appearance to a dandelion leaf, with narrow, elongated leaves. Arugula is best adapted to cooler temperatures, so provide a little shade by growing on a porch, or using row covers. But since this variety is slow to bolt, it should do better in the summer months than other varieties, continuing to be productive longer in the season without turning leggy and beginning to flower. Seeds are available from True Leaf Market. Read more about growing arugula with our comprehensive guide.
7. Onions
Minimum pot depth: 4 inches. Onions, especially green onions, grow well in containers. And as a staple in most meals, having a few onions handy nearby will never go amiss. They will provide a flavorful addition to your potted plant collection. Read more about growing onions here.
Tokyo Long White
These space-saving bunching onions are long and thin, and ideal for growing in containers. ‘Tokyo Long White’ Bunching Onions Mature in 65 to 100 days, these onions are slightly pungent, with long white shanks with stiff blue-green tops. These resilient scallions are resistant against pink root as well as smut, Botrytis leaf blight, and thrips. ‘Tokyo Long White’ seeds are available from True Leaf Market.
White Lisbon
This fast-growing, mild onion does not form a bulb, and therefore doesn’t take up too much space. This means they can be planted more densely than other types, which is exactly what the edible container gardener wants to hear. ‘White Lisbon’ Bunching Onions Young plants can be harvested at just 60 days, and mature ones at 120 days. These bunching onions grow best in full sun. Seeds are available from Botanical Interests. Want more information? Learn all about growing bunching onions here.
8. Radishes
Radishes will happily grow in even the smallest container. Scatter some seeds in the pot and give them a healthy, regular watering, and they will grow into a radish-ing potted plant. Read more about growing radishes here.
Solaris Hybrid
This variety produces small, round, bright red radishes that you can expect to enjoy nearly year round, given the right conditions. ‘Solaris Hybrid’ Radishes Robust and fast-growing, this hybrid produces radishes radically quickly. They’ll be ready to enjoy in only 25 days! Follow up with successive plantings for repeat salad-ready harvests. For best results, these should be grown in full sun. You can find ‘Solaris Hybrid’ seeds at Burpee.
Cherry Belle
This popular variety is a fast, easy-growing and easy-going radish. Happy to grow either indoors or out, in the sun or in the shade, the ‘Cherry Belle’ radish is perfect for container growing in any available space. ‘Cherry Belle’ Radishes Mild and delicious, this variety takes only three weeks to grow to full maturity. Seeds are available from Eden Brothers.
9. Spinach
Minimum pot depth: 6 inches. Like leaf lettuce, spinach almost seems made for life in a pot. Like many varieties of lettuce, it develops well in partial shade, and in any kind of space – even on your windowsill. You don’t need a very deep pot, as spinach has very shallow roots. But it is advisable to use quite a wide one in order for it to have the space it needs to spread out. Read more about growing spinach here.
Bloomsdale Long Standing
This variety produces deep green, delectable leaves in abundance, and is a firm favorite of home and market vegetable growers. ‘Bloomsdale Long Standing’ Spinach Adaptable to either sun or shade conditions, this popular spinach cultivar takes 45 to 55 days to reach maturity. Seeds are available from Eden Brothers.
Okinawa
Okay, so this type of “spinach” isn’t quite all that it seems. It’s actually a leafy perennial green that is masquerading as a spinach variety, with many similar qualities. Okinawa Spinach There are many things to love about Gynura crepioides, one of which is that this little leafy vegetable is both ornamental and edible, with an attractive purple underside. Another big plus for this plant is that it is incredibly low-maintenance, requiring next to no effort to grow. Like traditional spinach, this plant is also incredibly good for you, so much so that it is known as “cholesterol spinach,” thanks to the fact that it may help to lower LDL cholesterol levels. Native to Indonesia, it can easily be grown as a houseplant in a sunny window, and also makes an excellent patio plant. It will thrive outside in the summer, but is best sheltered indoors for the winter months.
10. Sweet Peppers
Minimum pot depth: 12 inches. Sweet peppers are so incredibly versatile, you’ll love adding your homegrown harvest to salads and stir fries, stuffing them, and slicing them up to serve alongside bowls of hummus and onion dip. They’re so crisp, sweet, and delicious, I wouldn’t blame you for biting into one like an apple, like Chairman Takeshi Kaga does at the beginning of Iron Chef. Just sayin’… Read more about growing sweet peppers here.
Confetti Hybrid
These petite peppers are a treat for the taste buds, and for the eyes. Ripening from green-striped to red, these multicolored two-inch peppers are ideal for growing in containers thanks to their small size, and they’ll be ready to enjoy in only 55 to 60 days. ‘Confetti Hybrid’ Sweet Peppers This plant does best in full sun, and will grow happily with or without extra support. Plants and seeds are available from Burpee.
Jungle Parrot
This is a sweet and delicious hybrid whose tiny size and high yields make it a perfect patio plant. ‘Jungle Parrot’ Sweet Peppers This plant produces bright, colorful peppers that are two-by-two-and-a-half inches in size, and they’re sure to brighten up your balcony. This hybrid does best in full sun conditions, and peppers will be ready for picking in 75 to 85 days. You can find plants and seeds at Burpee.
11. Tomatoes
Minimum pot depth: 12 inches. Tomatoes are without a doubt one of the most cheerful potted vegetables. Beautiful as well as delicious, tomatoes are both one of the best loved “vegetables” (although technically a fruit, if you want to be picky about it) and an ideal potted plant to grow at home. What’s more, tomatoes are extremely productive in pots. In fact, they tend to be one of the most productive potted crops you can grow, providing around 10 pounds to harvest per plant in a season! Tomatoes need lots of sunlight, so somewhere like a roof terrace or a sunny windowsill is perfect for them. Keep in mind that they will require regular watering. Read more about growing tomatoes in pots and containers here.
Atlas Hybrid
This hybrid type is the first ever beefsteak variety of tomato that has been specifically designed for pot life. ‘Atlas Hybrid’ Tomatoes Perfect for porches and decks in warm, sunny locations, this bushy, compact tomato is beautiful and bountiful, producing hefty one-pound tomatoes. This is a semi-determinate variety, which produces in 65 to 75 days. You can find plants and seeds at Burpee.
Bush Early Girl Hybrid
This determinate hybrid is a fast-growing bushy variety. It produces large, sweet tomatoes in 65 days. ‘Bush Early Girl Hybrid’ Tomatoes Self-supporting and requiring very little help, this variety is perfect for growing in pots. Place them in full sun for best results. You can find ‘Bush Early Girl’ plants and seeds at Burpee.
Dotty for Potted Plants!
There’s no reason why a lack of space means you have to miss out on the magic of growing your own food. Potted vegetables provide the perfect way for everyone to get a bit green fingered, even in the tiniest of spaces. Have you had a go at growing vegetables in containers? Let me know how you got on in the comments section below! Any types of veggies or favorite varieties that we missed here? Let us know! And for more vegetable growing ideas, take a look at some of our other guides such as:
9 Fast-Growing Vegetables and Herbs to Pep Up Your Pantry MenuHow to Grow Tomatoes From Seed in 6 Easy StepsHow to Regrow Lettuce from Kitchen Scraps
