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The Best Vegetables Suited for Container Gardening

The Best Vegetables Suited for Container Gardening

Growing vegetables in containers is a great option for gardeners who want fresh homegrown veggies throughout the year but who live in a region with cold winters. For gardeners who have little or no lawn space to devote to a vegetable garden such as apartment dwellers, container vegetables are also an excellent gardening method. Although most plants will grow in a pot if provided with an appropriately sized container, some plants do flourish better than others.

That said, I personally will be growing some veggies in pots out on my back patio this year because I just cannot deal with the upkeep required for a large garden.

Choosing Container Vegetables

Although almost any vegetable will grow in a container garden, some vegetables are better suited for container growth. As with any potted plant, the key to successfully growing veggies in containers is to match the pot to the plant. Larger plants need larger containers while smaller plants grow just fine in small containers. Some popular vegetables that grow well and to maturity in pots include:

  • Beets: medium container
  • Broccoli: medium container
  • Brussels sprouts: medium container
  • Cabbage: small container
  • Chinese cabbage: small container
  • Carrots: medium container
  • Eggplant: medium container
  • Garlic: extra small container
  • Green beans: medium container
  • Green onions: medium container
  • Lettuce: small container
  • Lima beans: medium container
  • Onions: large container
  • Parsley: extra small container
  • Peppers: medium container
  • Radishes: medium container
  • Snap beans: medium container
  • Spinach: small container
  • Swiss chard: small container
  • Tomatoes: large container

Plants with large vines can be grown from seeds in pots but must later be transplanted to a larger garden. Other popular fruits and vegetables whose seedlings can be started in containers include:

  • Cucumbers
  • Melons
  • Pumpkins
  • Squashes

However, although these vegetables are favorites among container gardeners, most other veggies will grow in pots. If you absolutely love a plant not listed above, go ahead and experiment with growing it in a container. Given enough light, water, nutrients, and space, you can successfully grow almost any vegetable you like in a pot.

Planting Container Vegetables

Tomato PlantGrowing vegetables in containers requires only minimal time and effort. Begin by filling the pot up with potting soil or compost. If you are growing your vegetables from seed, follow the directions for depth and spacing on the seed packet. If you are transplanting a seedling, dig a hole in the center of the pot large enough to fit the entire root of the seedling. Because moisture and nutrients become depleted from the soil in containers more quickly than the soil in outdoor gardens, make sure to water and fertilize your vegetables regularly. If you are growing seedlings to transplant, do so as soon as the plants are large enough and the weather is warm enough for the specific plant. If you are growing the vegetable to maturity in the container, the plants can be harvested at the same time as outdoor vegetables would be.

Growing vegetables in containers is an excellent solution to inadequate gardening space and cold winters. By choosing the best vegetables suited for container gardening with these tips and instructions, your gardening endeavor can be more than successful. I know that I am looking forward to growing a few tomato plants and maybe some herbs in a few containers on my back patio this year.

References

Suggested vegetables and varieties suitable for container gardening: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/containergardening/herbveggie_vegvarieties.cfm
Vegetable gardening in containers: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/container/container.html

Image Credits

The Best Vegetables Suited for Container Gardening: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tomato-plant.jpg and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Garlic_in_container.jpg
Tomato Plant: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tomato-plant.jpg

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