10 best Vegetables for Containers Garden​ - NextGenFarms (2024)

These are some of the vegetables you will find in our container garden. Container gardening is both exciting and rewarding, but choosing the right plants can make all the difference, especially for beginners. In this comprehensive list, we’ll explore 10 easy to grow vegetables that work great in container gardens. With the right containers and vegetables, you can create a container garden and have a bountiful harvest even in small spaces.

Lettuce.

Lettuce is one of the easiest and quickest vegetables to grow in containers. The fast-growing greens thrive in pots and produce tasty leaves for salads within just a few weeks. Lettuce is a great crop for beginners. Growing Tips:

1. Grow lettuce from seed or seedlings in containers at least 6 inches deep and wide.
2. Scatter seeds across soil surface and barely cover with 1/4 inch of soil or coco peat.
3. Keep soil evenly moist until seeds germinate in 7-10 days.
4. Thin seedlings to 6 inches apart when 2 inches high
5. Site containers in partial sun or light shade
6. Provide protection from hot afternoon sun.

Harvesting outer leaves prompts new leaf growth.With proper thinning, watering, and afternoon shade in summer, lettuce is incredibly easy to grow in containers on patios, porches, and balconies producing fresh greens within weeks.

Green Onions.

Also called scallions, green onions are a versatile container vegetable that regrows after cutting. Their green tops and mild bulbs add flavor to many dishes. Green onions are simple to grow in pots. Growing Tips:

1. Plant sets 1-2 inches apart in containers at least 6 inches deep
2. Cover bulbs with 1/4-inch soil
3. Place in full sun to partial shade
4. Keep soil moist through regular watering
5. Fertilize monthly with balanced liquid fertilizer
6. Snip green tops when they reach 6 inches tall
7. Dig up bulbs as they enlarge
8. Replant every 2-3 weeks for continual harvest

With their easy care nature and long harvest period from continual cuttings, green onions are a great vegetable for container gardening beginners.

Radishes.

Quick-growing radishes mature in as little as 3-4 weeks, making them very gratifying to grow in containers. Their spicy roots and edible pods add a crisp, refreshing element to meals. Growing Tips:

1. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in containers at least 6 inches deep and wide
2. Place containers in full sun
3. Keep soil moist for fast germination and growth
4. Loosen soil and mix in compost before planting if needed
5. Harvest promptly when roots size up for optimal flavor and texture
6. Plant small batches every week for steady supply

Both the roots and young seed pods of radishes are edible. Their fast growth makes radishes ideal for children’s first gardening experiences in containers.

Arugula.

Arugula is a fast-growing salad green with a tangy, peppery bite that makes it a great addition to containers. The hardy leaves thrive with minimal care. Growing Tips:

1. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in containers at least 6 inches deep
2. Keep soil moist until seeds germinate in 5-10 days
3. Thin seedlings to 2 inches apart
4. Site containers in partial shade in summer
5. Harvest leaves when they reach 3 inches by cutting above lower leaves
6. Continual sowing extends harvests

For an easy and flavorful container crop, add some spice to your patio or balcony with quick-growing arugula grown from seed.

Spinach.

A super healthy leafy green, spinach grows quickly in containers with very little work. The tender spinach leaves can be harvested again and again. Growing Tips:

1. Start seeds 1/2 inch deep in containers at least 8 inches deep
2. Harvest outer leaves when they reach 4 inches long
3. Keep soil consistently moist but not soaked
4. Site out of hot sun around 70°F
5. Cutting leaves prompts continued production
6. Make successive sowings every 2-3 weeks

With basic care, spinach is an easy, nutritious, and productive container crop that thrives with cool weather and partial shade.

Kale.

Ornamental and edible, kale is a cool weather container star that can flourish with minimal care. Its hearty greens tolerate frost and colder temperatures, allowing for harvests long after other crops fade. Growing Tips:

1. Grow from transplants or seeds in pots at least 10 inches deep
2. Keep soil consistently moist through watering and mulching
3. Fertilize monthly with balanced organic fertilizer
4. Site in full sun to partial shade
5. Harvest outer leaves regularly for continual production
6. Dinosaur and Red Russian kale best suited for containers

With simple care, kale produces abundant edible greens packed with vitamins and minerals in containers. It returns year after year in some climates.

Swiss Chard.

A healthy and ornamental leafy green, Swiss chard and its colorful stems thrive in container gardens. Both the leaves and stalks are edible and packed with nutrients. Growing Tips:

1. Grow from seed or transplants in pots at least 10 inches deep
2. Keep soil consistently moist, do not let dry out
3. Fertilize monthly with balanced liquid fertilizer
4. Site in full sun to light partial shade
5. Harvest outer leaves regularly by cutting above base
6. Rainbow chard offers colorful stems

Swiss chard is a rewarding container vegetable with little maintenance required. Its beauty and nutrition make it a great addition to patio and balcony gardens.

Pak Choi.

A quick-growing Asian green, pak choi produces both flavorful leaves and crunchy stalks that work well cooked or raw in stir fries, soups, and salads. This nutrient-dense crop can grow rapidly in containers. Growing Tips: Grow from seed or transplants in pots at least 8” deep

1. Keeps soil consistently moist through regular watering
2. Prefers cool temperatures around 60-70°F
3. Fertilize monthly with balanced organic fertilizer
4. Harvest individual leaves or whole plants as needed
5. Avoid bolting by picking before flowering

With proper irrigation and fertility, pak choi provides an abundant and nutritious harvest in a small space, making it an excellent container vegetable.

Carrots.

Although they require deep pots, it is possible to grow plump, sweet carrots in containers with the right conditions. Loose, fertile soil and consistent moisture produce smooth, tapered carrot roots. Growing Tips:

1. Use tall pots at least 12 inches deep
2. Choose short-rooted and round varieties
3. Keep soil moist and nutrient-rich
4. Site in full sun
5. Loosen soil and mix in compost before sowing
6. Sow seeds 1⁄4 inch deep and thin seedlings
7. Protect from temperature extremes

With adequate soil depth for their tapering roots and attentive care, home gardeners can successfully grow container carrots for fresh eating.

Okra.

A heat-loving vegetable that thrives in warm summer weather, okra can produce an abundant crop of edible pods in patio container gardens. Growing Tips:

1. Start seeds indoors or plant transplants outside after frost
2. Use tall, wide containers, at least 10″ deep and 12″ wide
3. Needs full sun exposure and consistently warm temperatures
4. Keep soil evenly moist through regular watering
5. Fertilize plants every 2-3 weeks with liquid fertilizer
6. Harvest pods when 2-3″ long using a knife or snippers

With its love of hot and humid conditions, okra is perfectly suited for growing in containers where its needs can be met. The fast-growing plants reward gardeners with a prolific supply of nutritious pods.

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