10 Best Veg for Growing in Containers

Rocket is ideal for growing in containers. Sow evenly into the container, quite close to the surface, and sprinkle lightly with compost. Keep your eye on it and do not let it dry out. I usually mist or lightly water the compost before sowing.

As the name suggests, Rocket is a quick crop to harvest. There should be baby leaves to cut after about 3 weeks and a more mature crop at around 6 weeks, depending on the weather.  Many varieties do well as cut and come again, and at the end of the season you can harvest the seeds for next year. Tips on growing Rocket. 

 All types of lettuce will grow well in containers, especially Little Gem varieties, cut and come again salad crops, micro leaves, cress and radishes.

Remember, slugs are keen on lettuces and the containers will need slug protection. You can grow a decent crop of different lettuces in containers, much fresher and more satisfying than bagged leaves from the supermarkets.

how to grow lettuces.

how to beat slugs and snails.

 Cucumbers are a surprisingly rewarding crop. Home-grown cucumbers are crunchy and juicy, a superior veg to those retailing in supermarkets. You can grow cucumbers inside in a greenhouse, or outside, but you will need to select the right variety for each. There are cucumber varieties solely suitable for inside and outside growing, and the packet will tell you. Growing cucumbers in a container will need a support to accommodate the upright growth, and they will need to be well watered.

More about growing cucumbers. 

 Chillies make a great pot plant and because they need a good amount of warmth, Chillies often crop best grown indoors under cover. In the kitchen on a sunny windowsill is an option.

Chillies need a long growing season and are best germinated late in February or early March. Sow 2/3 seeds to a small container and keep warm and moist. Once the true leaves appear and the seedlings are sturdy enough, pot up into larger containers and grow on. Chillies are easy to grow.

First earlies and salad potatoes are easy and well suited to growing in containers. Choose a good-sized container with drainage holes, potatoes dislike being water logged. Fill the container with quality compost and firm down. Add just 2/3 tubers per container depending on the size of the pot and cover tubers with a thick layer of compost about 20cms. Raise the container off the ground to protect against frost and aids drainage. Protect new top growth from frost.

As new growth comes through earth up in the pot, carefully covering the new growth, taking great care not to damage the stems. Potatoes are ready to harvest once flowering starts and after flowering.

More about growing Potatoes

 Tomatoes are ideal for growing in containers, and in the UK are more usually grown in containers under glass or in a sheltered spot. The UK summers can be a bit cool, and growing under glass offers more heat and significant protection from blight.

Homegrown tomatoes are tasty, but time-consuming to grow. For the best tips on how to get a good crop, checkout growing tomatoes for important advice on watering and feeding.  Tomatoes start off in small containers and need to be potted on to a larger container and then finally into the biggest container in which they will grow for the rest of the season. 

Detailed growing advice and short video about the importance of removing side shoots.

The easiest types of tomatoes for containers are the bush types such as tumbling tom, Sungold which can even be grown in a hanging basket.

Onions generally need too much space to be suitable for growing in containers, but garlic is ideal and easy to grow.

Place a few cloves in a suitable pot, plant about twice the depth of the clove, cover with compost, water and put in a sunny position. You can plant Garlic into containers in autumn or spring, just check the suitability of the type of garlic you purchase.

A bonus is that Garlic stores really well and you can keep it for months over the autumn and winter after harvesting more information on growing garlic.

Strawberries grow in well in a hanging basket or container, and even if grown in a greenhouse the pollinators will do their business and there will be plenty of fruit.

The advantage of growing strawberries in a hanging basket is that you do not need to net them to protect from the birds, or use straw to avoid dirt splashes. The downside is they need regular watering. This You Tube Video includes tips about growing Strawberries in containers.

Had I been more organised when I planted this, I would have included some Nasturtium for extra colour and interest, a thought for next year.

Herbs are ideal container plants, either in separate containers or several planted together.

If planting several herbs together, they need to be tolerant of similar growing conditions. Thus, Rosemary, Thyme and Sage will grow well together. Mint is best in a container of its own and some herbs like it more moist and even a tad shady such as parsley and coriander.  

Tips about growing herbs and herbs for shade

In the main, most beans and peas are too tall and we need too many plants for a decent crop. However, the dwarf varieties of peas and beans grow well in containers, although they may need some slug protection.

As illustrate veg in containers can be combined with annuals to make an interesting display. Illustrated is marigold, Nasturtium and climbing up at the back beans.