What vegetables can be grown in containers?

By Melanie Mathieson
Gardening Guru
As I mentioned in a previous column, you can grow almost any vegetable in a container. Below are some simple guidelines so you can pick a container specific to the vegetable that you want to grow. Follow the directions on the seed package for growing conditions and care instructions, just as you would for an in-ground garden. Make sure your container has adequate drainage holes before you plant it.
Lettuce: leaf lettuce, mesculin, other leafy greens, Swiss Chard and spinach – a box type container with a depth of 6-8 inches. Can also be planted in a hanging basket, very pleasing to the eye. A great thing to plant around the base of larger plants like tomatoes in the larger planters as well, or mixed in with other quick growing plants like radishes and onions. Sprinkle seeds over top of soil. Harvest when ready by trimming with scissors at base of plants. Can be planted over and over if needed and started in the early spring continuing until the snow flies. Head lettuce: needs more room to mature into heads so plant in a container with a depth of about 8-10 inches and space plants about 8 inches apart in the container.
Beets: plant in a box -ike container at least 8 inches deep. Grow just like the lettuce if you are only interested in beet greens but if you want bulbs to develop, space about 3 inches apart in the container. You can also plant quite thickly and thin by plucking out the greens with small beets to enjoy early and then leave some to mature into larger beets for later.
Carrots: the same requirements as beets but make sure the carrots are thinned out so they have room to develop. Pick varieties like Nantes, Thumbelina, Half-long or Little Finger. These varieties produce shorter carrots.
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts and Kale: multiple plants can be placed in a box planter or individual plants can be placed in pots at least 12 inches deep. You may have to use a heavier pot for Brussel sprouts so it doesn’t tip over, because they can get top heavy once they grow and start to develop.
Radishes: can be mixed in with other plants or planted on their own in almost any container with at least 3 inches of depth. Can be planted over and over during the season.
Onions: if growing green onions to be used all summer you only need a container with a depth of about 6 inches. These can also be planted with other crops. If you want to grow bigger onions like Spanish or white you need a container with a depth of about 12 inches.
Cucumbers: Any size container with at least an 8-inch depth. You want to train the cucumber vines onto a trellis so keep this in mind when picking a container. If using a round pot you can insert an obelisk or tomato cage in the middle as a trellis. If using a box planter you can place it next to a post, fence or wall, with a trellis behind it or attach a trellis to one side. Just use your imagination. Cucumbers like early day sun but prefer shade during the heat of the afternoon so keep that in mind when positioning your planter. Melons, gourds, small pumpkins and squashes –zucchini, other small squashes like acorn: grown just like cucumbers but need a container that holds at least 5 gallons of soil per plant. Any of these plants can withstand direct sun the whole day and grow best with maximum light.
Peppers - regular and hot (and eggplant): any pot that will hold at least 3-5 gallons of soil. All types look great in a pot and are easy to grow. Love full sun. May need staking as plants mature.
Tomatoes: many varieties meant specifically for container growing. These can be planted in a container that has at least 5 gallons of soil. Some of these species have a trailing habit so a hanging basket or larger pot may be better so the plant will trail over the edge. These plants are often cherry tomato or smaller fruit producers. Look for names that contain words like a planter, patio or small size in the name i.e. pixie, tiny, small fry, etc. Regular Tomato species: needs a container that holds about 10 gallons of soil or a larger box that has 10 gallons per plant. These plants grow larger than the patio varieties and will need support as they grow. Support with tomato cages, staking or trellises. Install supports in planter right after you place plants in to prevent damaging the roots later on.
Potatoes: Yes! Even potatoes can be grown in a container. A very large container, like an old wash tub or half of a large barrel will work. Make sure you add drainage holes before planting. Place about two inches of potting soil on the bottom of the barrel, then place the seed potato on the bed of soil. Add just enough potting soil over the seed potato to cover it thoroughly. As the green leaves develop and poke about an inch above the soil line keep adding more potting mix to the barrel only to cover the plant thoroughly. Keep doing this until the soil is heaped above the top of the barrel. Once the plant has bloomed and the blooms die back you can harvest a “pot of potatoes”.
Herbs: Most herbs can be grown in a container. Most herbs like their soil to dry out between watering and like many hours of full sun. By using containers for your herbs you move them around if necessary to tailor the conditions to the specific needs of the herbs. Check your care labels before planting and plant herbs with similar requirements together in the same pots.
I suggest that you try some of my container gardening suggestions for growing vegetables as I think you will be really pleased with the results but have fun doing it as well. It is a fun way to garden with children, test out your green thumb or grow vegetables without having to commit to a large in ground garden.