Veg Growing in Pots and Containers

Gardening can be a rewarding and therapeutic hobby, but many people believe that a lack of space confines them to merely admiring others’ gardens. However, you don’t need a sprawling backyard to enjoy home-grown vegetables. With the right choices, container gardening can yield a bountiful harvest, even in the smallest spaces. Here’s a guide to the best vegetables to grow in containers or limited garden areas.

Why Choose Container Gardening?

Container gardening offers several advantages:

• Mobility: Easily move plants to capture the best sunlight or to protect them from adverse weather.
• Space Efficiency: Perfect for urban settings, balconies or patios. 
• Control: Simplifies managing soil quality, moisture levels, and pest control.

Top Vegetables for Container Gardening

Tomatoes

• Varieties: Varieties like ‘Dwarf Tomato Vilma‘ or ‘Tomato Black Cherry’ are ideal. Tomato Vilma can even be grown inside the house on the windowsill.
• Container Requirements: At least 35 cm in diameter with good drainage.
• Care Tips: Stake or cage to support growth, water consistently and feed with an organic liquid feed once a week once plants are 10cm tall.

Peppers

• Varieties: Try ‘Chilli Pepper Biquinho Red’ or ‘Sweet Pepper Habanada’.
• Container Requirements: 25 cm deep for proper root development.
• Care Tips: Place in full sun, use a well-draining peat free potting mix and feed with an organic liquid feed once a week once plants are 10cm tall.

Lettuce

• Varieties: Lettuces such as ‘Lettuce Copacabana Baby Leaf’ or ‘Lettuce Arcade Baby Leaf’.
• Container Requirements: Shallow pots, around 15 cm deep.
• Care Tips: Regularly harvest outer leaves to encourage continuous growth.

Radishes

• Varieties: For a spring harvest try ‘Radish Fire Candle’ or for a later harvest  ‘Radish Watermelon’ are perfect.
• Container Requirements: 15 cm deep.
• Care Tips: Thin seedlings to avoid overcrowding and water consistently.

Carrots

• Varieties: Choose shorter types like ‘Carrot Oxheart‘ or ‘Carrot Gniff‘.
• Container Requirements: Deep pots, around 30 cm.
• Care Tips: Ensure the soil is free of stones and mix in 50% sand to avoid misshapen roots.

Herbs

• Varieties: ‘Basil Lettuce Leaf’ and ‘Basil Purple Ball’ are excellent choices.
• Container Requirements: Small pots work, but larger containers can support multiple herbs.
• Care Tips: Harvest regularly to encourage new growth and prevent flowering.

Green Beans

• Varieties: ‘Dwarf Broad Bean Oscar’ and ‘Dwarf Bean Creso’ are container-friendly.
• Container Requirements: 30 cm deep.

Tips for Successful Container Gardening

• Choose the Right Containers: Ensure they have adequate drainage holes. Consider self-watering containers for consistent moisture.
• Use Quality Peat Free Compost: Regular garden soil is too dense for containers. Use a mix designed for container gardening.
• Water Wisely: Containers dry out faster than garden beds. Check soil moisture regularly and water as needed.  Feed your plants with an organic liquid feed to encourage productivity.
• Maximise Light: Most vegetables need 6-8 hours of sunlight. Use grow lights if natural light is insufficient.

For more on our varieties suitable for container growing, take a look at our website HERE

Container gardening is a versatile and accessible way to enjoy fresh, home-grown vegetables. By choosing the right varieties and providing proper care, even the smallest space can become a productive mini-garden. Start with these easy-to-grow vegetables, and you’ll soon reap the rewards of your small-space garden. Happy gardening!