10 Plants for Container Gardening
Basil and rosemary in my container garden
My garden is not a patch of soil in the ground, but rather, an assortment of pots living on my balcony. They don't pay rent, but they do provide me with some good eats. In this post, I'll tell you all about my favorite edible plants for container gardening.
Bush-variety squashes
Most squash plants (think: pumpkin, zucchini, butternut squash...) aren't suited for container gardens because they can sprawl up to five feet. However, "bush" squash plants only grow to about 3 feet wide, making them perfect for small spaces. Ask your local garden store to be sure that you're buying a bush squash rather than a sprawling squash.
Although bush squash plants are smaller than sprawling squash plants, you should plant them in a large container, one that is at least 2 feet in diameter. Squash plants are also at their happiest when they have moist soil and full sunlight for at least 6 hours of the day.
Berries
Blueberry, raspberry, strawberry and blackberry plants are perfect for potting. Most berry plants sprawl less than 2-3 feet, but others (especially some types of raspberries) can get a little unruly. Look for berry plants labeled as dwarf or bush varieties or ask a professional before buying.
Most berry plants are perennial, so you can plant them once and enjoy berries season after season. Before planting, note that most blueberry plants don't yield until they are 2-3 years old. After they are mature, they'll have consistently high yields for years to come.
Cucumbers
Cucumber plants love to climb, so they're perfect for utilizing verticle space. When you plant them, simply set up a trellis or cage in the pot so they can reach for the sky. Although they primarily grow vertically they can get pretty large, so only plant one plant per 5- to 10-gallon container. Like squashes, cucumbers love full sunlight and plenty of water. Under the right conditions they also have very high yields, so be ready to feed the whole neighborhood.
Eggplants
Both traditional globe eggplants and more uncommon varieties, like fairytale eggplants or graffiti eggplants, grow well in containers. All eggplants grow on small, bush-like plants that sprawl to about 2-feet. For best results, plant one bush in a 5-gallon pot that is about 12-inches in diameter, and place it in full sunlight. Eggplants yield through the summer and into the fall, so you can enjoy these puppies for months to come.
Green beans
Green beans are available in both climbing and bush variety plants. Either variety can work well in a container garden. If you choose the climbing variety, be sure to use a larger pot (at least 5-gallons) with a trellis, cage or poles inside. If you choose the bush variety, you can fit up to 3 plants per 5-gallon bucket.
Most gardeners prefer to use the bush variety in container gardens because they are better suited for potting and thus usually have higher yields. Whichever you choose, place it in full sunlight and let it drink plenty of water.
Herbs
Most herbs are ideal for potting because you can easily keep them petite and plant multiple herbs in one container. However, be sure to keep mint in a solo container. Mint has a tendency to spread like crazy and will stage a coup if you plant it alongside other herbs.
All herbs thrive with plenty of water in full sunlight or partial shade. You can harvest them outside all summer and into fall, then move them indoors before the first frost to continue harvesting through winter.
Lettuce, Kale and other greens
Lettuce, kale, arugula and chard are a few greens that do well in containers. Greens stay relatively petite, so you can plant them in pots as small as 6 inches in diameter. Alternatively, you could plant a few varieties of greens in a larger container for a delicious salad mix.
Most greens are "cut and come again" plants, meaning that they will continue yielding as you harvest week after week. Greens are also tolerant of both full and partial sunlight. These characteristics make them an efficient use of space in any container garden.
Peppers
Both hot peppers and sweet peppers grow vertically rather than horizontally, making them ideal for potting. They stay fairly small, so a 5-gallon container is perfect for one plant. Peppers need plenty of water and full sunlight for at least 6 hours per day. They yield all summer and into fall, so you'll get plenty of bang for your buck.
Tomatoes
Like cucumbers, tomatoes love to climb and have high yields. From cherry tomatoes to tomatillos to beefsteaks, all tomatoes grow well in 5-gallon containers or larger. For best results, use one 10- to 15-gallon container per plant. Like many veggies, tomatoes love full sunlight and frequent watering. With the right conditions, tomato plants have super high yields through summer and well into fall.
Peas
Snow peas, sugar snap peas and English peas all do well in container gardens. You can plant up to 5 pea plants per 5-gallon bucket and still have high yields. Like cucumbers, peas are climbers. Setting up a cage or trellis in the pot will allow your peas to climb to their heart’s content. Peas are also sun-loving plants. Let these babies bask in full sunlight so you can enjoy big harvests all summer long.