11 Best Vegetables to Grow in Containers
A Complete Beginner’s Guide
Perfect for beginners
Ideal for small spaces
Fresh homegrown food
Why Container Gardening?
Container gardening is perfect for beginners, apartment dwellers, and anyone with limited space. You can grow fresh vegetables on patios, balconies, windowsills, or any sunny spot!
Space Efficient
Perfect for apartments and small spaces
Easy Control
Better control over soil, water, and pests
Portable
Move plants to optimize sun and weather
Beginner Friendly
Lower maintenance and easier to manage
Container Gardening Basics
Container Size
Minimum 8 inches deep for most vegetables. Bigger containers hold more moisture and nutrients.
Rule of thumb: Larger containers = happier plants
Soil Mix
Use high-quality potting mix, never garden soil. Look for mixes with perlite for drainage.
Best choice: Premium potting soil with compost
Drainage
Essential for healthy roots. Containers need drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
Critical: 1/2″ holes for containers under 10″, multiple holes for larger pots
The 11 Best Container Vegetables
Leafy Greens (Perfect for Beginners)
1. Lettuce
Super Easy
🥬
Container Size
2+ gallons
10+ inches deep
Growing Time
30-45 days
Cut & come again
Light: 3-5 hours direct sunlight (tolerates partial shade)
Temperature: Cool weather crop, 45-75°F ideal
Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, water when top inch is dry
Harvest: Cut outer leaves, leaving center to continue growing
Beginner Tip:
Try loose-leaf varieties like ‘Black Seeded Simpson’ – they’re more forgiving and keep producing!
2. Spinach
Super Easy
🥬
Container Size
2+ gallons
12+ inches deep
Growing Time
40-50 days
Cool season crop
Light: 3-5 hours sunlight, tolerates shade well
Temperature: Prefers cool weather, 35-70°F
Watering: Consistent moisture, avoid overhead watering
Harvest: Cut outer leaves or harvest entire plant
Beginner Tip:
Plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Bolts quickly in hot weather.
3. Kale
Easy
🥬
Container Size
2-5 gallons
12+ inches deep
Growing Time
55-65 days
Cut & come again
Light: 4-6 hours sunlight, tolerates partial shade
Temperature: Very cold hardy, improves with frost
Watering: Regular watering, drought tolerant once established
Harvest: Pick outer leaves regularly
Beginner Tip:
Very forgiving and nutritious. Try ‘Dwarf Blue Curled’ for small containers.
4. Green Onions/Scallions
Super Easy
🧅
Container Size
1+ gallon
6+ inches deep
Growing Time
20-30 days
From sets
Light: 4-6 hours sunlight, tolerates partial shade
Temperature: Cool weather preferred, very hardy
Watering: Keep soil moist but not waterlogged
Harvest: Cut tops, leaving roots to regrow
Beginner Tip:
You can regrow store-bought green onions in water or soil!
Fruiting Vegetables
5. Cherry Tomatoes
Easy-Medium
🍅
Container Size
5+ gallons
14+ inches wide
Growing Time
60-80 days
From transplant
Light: 6-8 hours direct sunlight (full sun)
Temperature: Warm weather crop, 65-85°F
Watering: Deep, consistent watering. Avoid wetting leaves
Support: Needs cage or stake, can grow 4-6 feet
Beginner Tip:
Try determinate varieties like ‘Patio’ or ‘Tiny Tim’ for smaller spaces.
6. Peppers
Easy-Medium
🌶️
Container Size
3-5 gallons
12+ inches wide
Growing Time
70-90 days
From transplant
Light: 6-8 hours direct sunlight
Temperature: Warm weather crop, 70-85°F
Watering: Regular watering, allow slight drying between
Support: May need light staking when fruiting
Beginner Tip:
Sweet peppers are easier than hot peppers. Try ‘California Wonder’ or ‘Mini Belle’.
Root Vegetables
7. Radishes
Super Easy
🔴
Container Size
1-2 gallons
8+ inches deep
Growing Time
20-30 days
Fastest vegetable!
Light: 4-6 hours sunlight, tolerates partial shade
Temperature: Cool weather crop, 45-65°F ideal
Watering: Keep soil consistently moist
Harvest: Pull when marble-sized, leaves are edible too
Beginner Tip:
Perfect for instant gratification! Plant every 2 weeks for continuous harvest.
9. Carrots
Medium
🥕
Container Size
2-5 gallons
12+ inches deep
Growing Time
60-80 days
From seed
Light: 4-6 hours sunlight
Temperature: Cool weather preferred, 55-75°F
Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, avoid overwatering
Thinning: Thin to 2 inches apart when 2 inches tall
Beginner Tip:
Try short varieties like ‘Paris Market’ or ‘Thumbelina’ for containers.
Climbing Vegetables
9. Peas
Easy
🟢
Container Size
5+ gallons
12+ inches deep
Growing Time
55-70 days
Cool season
Light: 4-6 hours sunlight
Temperature: Cool weather crop, 55-70°F
Watering: Regular watering, especially during flowering
Support: Needs trellis or stakes, can grow 6 feet
Beginner Tip:
Try snap peas or snow peas – you can eat the whole pod!
10. Bush Beans
Easy
🫘
Container Size
5+ gallons
12+ inches deep
Growing Time
50-60 days
Warm season
Light: 6+ hours direct sunlight
Temperature: Warm weather crop, 65-85°F
Watering: Regular watering, avoid overhead watering
Support: Bush varieties need no support
Beginner Tip:
Choose bush varieties like ‘Provider’ or ‘Contender’ for containers.
Essential Herbs
11. Herbs (Basil & Parsley)
Super Easy🌿
Basil
Container Size
1-2 gallons
Growing Time
60-90 days
Light: 6+ hours direct sun
Temperature: Warm weather, 65-85°F
Harvest: Pinch flowers, harvest leaves regularly
Parsley
Container Size
1-2 gallons
Growing Time
70-90 days
Light: 4-6 hours sun/partial shade
Temperature: Cool weather preferred
Harvest: Cut outer stems, leaving center
Beginner Tip:
Herbs are perfect starter plants! They’re forgiving, useful in cooking, and most pests avoid them.
Essential Care Instructions
Watering
- • Check daily in hot weather
- • Water when top inch is dry
- • Water deeply, less frequently
- • Use saucers to catch runoff
Fertilizing
- • Feed every 2-3 weeks
- • Use balanced liquid fertilizer
- • Mix at half strength
- • More frequent than in-ground
Light Requirements
- • Leafy greens: 3-5 hours
- • Herbs: 4-6 hours
- • Fruiting plants: 6-8 hours
- • Rotate containers as needed
Pest Management
- • Inspect plants weekly
- • Remove affected leaves
- • Use companion planting
- • Encourage beneficial insects
Seasonal Planting Guide
Spring
- • Lettuce
- • Spinach
- • Peas
- • Radishes
- • Green onions
Summer
- • Tomatoes
- • Peppers
- • Basil
- • Beans
- • Carrots
Fall
- • Kale
- • Spinach
- • Lettuce
- • Radishes
- • Parsley
Winter
- • Kale (hardy varieties)
- • Green onions
- • Herbs indoors
- • Microgreens
- • Plan next year!
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Using Garden Soil
Garden soil is too heavy and doesn’t drain well in containers. Always use potting mix.
Containers Too Small
Small containers dry out quickly and limit root growth. Go bigger than you think!
Poor Drainage
No drainage holes lead to root rot. Drill holes if your container doesn’t have them.
Overwatering
More plants die from overwatering than underwatering. Check soil moisture first.
Forgetting to Feed
Container plants need regular feeding since nutrients wash out with watering.
Wrong Plant, Wrong Season
Planting warm-weather crops too early or cool-weather crops in summer.
Start Your Container Garden Today!
Container gardening is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can start. Begin with just one or two easy vegetables like lettuce or radishes, and expand your garden as you gain confidence.
Start Small
Begin with 2-3 easy vegetables
Learn & Grow
Each season teaches you something new
Enjoy the Journey
Fresh food and pride in your harvest
Remember: Every expert gardener was once a beginner. The best time to start is now!
