MY 5 BEST VEGETABLES Green Beans | Tomatoes | Peas | Potatoes | Lettuce | Our Picks
When I was a kid, I spent time with my folks growing vegetables in our backyard garden. Looking back, I had precious time with my parents, and I learned a new skill. Living in a modern city, you don’t often have the luxury of a back garden however, you can still grow vegetables. You can grow vegetables in a pot or container garden.
To grow vegetables in pots or containers you’ll need potting soil mix, containers, seeds, water, and a sunny porch, patio, or balcony. That simple.
After years of happy container gardening, take a look at my 5 best vegetables to grow in pots or containers.
Green Beans
Green beans are my favorite vegetable to grow in pots or containers. They are easy to grow, easy-care, and mature fast. The bush bean varieties take up little space and the bean pods are sweet and delicious. Check out my step-by-step guide on “How to Grow Green Beans in Pots or Containers“.
There are many varieties of green beans with pods in a variety of colors, however most fall into the following 2 categories, climbing or pole bean, dwarf or bush bean. Climbing beans can reach up to 7 feet (2 meters) high if given a trellis large enough. Bush beans typically grow to around 1.5 feet (40 centimeters).
Beans prefer a soil improved with compost, decomposed manure, and blood and bone. Beans have shallow roots and should be mulched. Improve the soil prior to planting and do not disturb them once established.
In Temperate climates, Green beans are a warm-season crop. In Subtropical and Tropical areas it’s a cool-season crop. In Temperate areas, green beans should be moved outside after the risk of frost has passed. Water at the beginning of the day or in the evening, and water regularly during dry conditions. Watering at these times actually helps the plant retain water. Green beans love full sun.
Green bean seeds crop from around 10–14 weeks of age from sowing. Harvest fresh beans when they reach optimal size (this depends on the variety, so check your seed packet for guidance). Pick the bean pods daily when they are plump and crisp. They are delicious eaten fresh, or you can freeze them so you can enjoy them later. For step-by-step instructions take a look at How to Freeze Green Beans at Home.
If you plan to dry your beans, then allow the pods to dry on the plant. This will maximize the bean size and flavor. To harvest, simply shell and store your dry beans. Now you can use them as you would store-bought dried beans.
Tomatoes
If there is one plant that should be grown in a container, it’s the Tomato. Tomatoes are a must for the container gardener as they are easy to grow and produce a large crop. For more details come and see my article “How to Grow Tomatoes In Containers or Pots“.
Most tomatoes are happiest in big containers with lots of space for their roots. Space also helps with room for support structures like canes. Support is essential as it keeps the heavy fruit from bending and breaking the plants.
Tomatoes are easily grown from seed, you should give this a try. If you choose to buy tomato seedlings, then look for plants that do not have blossoms yet. Young tomatoes don’t like to be cold, so keep them inside until the risk of frost has passed.
TIP Grow your own seed. Save seed from your Tomatoes to grow next season.
Choose a variety of tomato that will fit into the space you have. As a simple rule, the larger the tomato fruit, the bigger the pot it will require, and so the plant will take more space overall. Small cherry tomatoes will need less room and soil than a large Beefsteak-type tomato.
Tomatoes do not like the cold (have I already mentioned that), so do not put them out too early. Once your seedlings are large enough, and the risk of frost has passed, take time to harden off or gradually acclimate seedlings to outside living. This is easy, each day simply move the container indoors before it gets too cold. Once the days are warm enough, they can live outdoors full time. Tomatoes love the full sun but protect them from the wind.
Expect 60 to 85 days from planting your seedlings until you can harvest your first crop. Try to plant seedlings 2 to 3 weeks apart to increase your harvest duration.
Peas
Peas are one of the best vegetables for growing in pots or containers because they grow quickly and easily. Moreover, growing quickly and easily makes them perfect for growing with children. For those of us living in temperate and warm zones, we can get 2 crops of peas per season.
Peas come in 3 main varieties, English Peas, Snow Peas, and Sugar Snap Peas. All the varieties have a vine habit and so require a little support. This means a larger pot or container will give you space for support canes.
Peas are planted in early spring. It’s common to plant seeds and germinate inside. Take the seedlings outside once the risk of frost has passed. Peas prefer rich loam soil with good drainage.
TIP Peas are Nitrogen fixers, so after your harvest, re-use the soil and container for a new crop.
Peas like to have regular water and sun, so place your container in a sunny spot, but make sure it’s not too hot. Water little and often, be consistent and be careful to keep the soil moist but not wet.
Peas should be ready to harvest about 10 to 16 weeks after sowing, the pods will be swollen with peas. The pods on the lowest part of the plant are the most mature, pick these first working up the plant as they ripen. This is a perfect job to share with a child. Peas not eaten when picked, or later that day, can be frozen to enjoy anytime.
Take a look at my detailed description of “How to Grow Peas in Containers or Pots“.
Potatoes
Who doesn’t love fresh homegrown potatoes? Potatoes are another vegetable that is easy to grow, easy to care for, and mature fast (early season varieties). Did you know you can grow them in pots or containers? This means that you can grow potatoes on any balcony, patio, or sunny corner. Check out my step-by-step guide on “How to Grow Potatoes in Pots or Containers“.
Varieties are available for all but arid zones. Choose several (at least 2) varieties so you have some early season and some late-season potatoes. Use large containers, 5 gallons (20 liters). Early season varieties 2 to 3 seed potatoes per container. Late season varieties 1 seed potato per container.
TIP Here is a list of good-quality garden and container fertilizers.
Buy potato “seed” from a local store. These are potatoes grown specifically for planting. Well-prepared soil is the key to success. Try a mix of potting mix, compost, and blood and bone meal. In reality, virtually any soil will do, provided drainage is good.
Potatoes do not like a lot of water. Water little and often, be consistent and be careful to keep the soil moist but not wet. Try to keep soil moisture consistent, especially during hot or dry periods. The key here is moist, but not wet. Potatoes love full sun, so position your pot or container in a sunny place.
As a general rule, potatoes are ready to harvest at around 15–20 weeks after planting. Early season potatoes can be dug about 4 weeks after the plant has flowered, but later season potatoes should be left for the full 20 weeks. To store your potatoes, keep them in a dark, well-ventilated place, like a bucket or paper bag.
Lettuce
Growing even faster than Peas, Lettuce is one of the best vegetables for growing in pots or containers, as it really grows fast. Because it grows and matures quickly, it’s another vegetable perfect to share growing with children.
There is a huge variety of Lettuce available Iceberg, Cos, Buttercrunch, Mache to name just a few. Some varieties have a very long harvest. Varieties are self-supporting and so can be planted in individual pots to make handling easy.
Lettuce seeds can be sown straight into the pot or container. Keep the seeds moist while they germinate and start to grow, so water them well, especially on warm days. Lettuce likes moist light soil with good drainage.
Lettuce is a spring crop. It does not need as much sun as other vegetables. When spring has moved to summer and the days are getting hotter, move your container to a shaded area to extend your harvest. Water little and often, be consistent and be careful to keep the soil moist but not wet. Focus your watering on the soil and try not to wet the leaves.
Lettuce is meant to be eaten fresh however, you don’t need to pick the whole plant. Just pick off some of the outer leaves as you need them. Break the leaves off near the base. Harvesting in this way helps to keep the lettuce growing longer.
Care For Your Plants
All plants need a little care to help them be their best. They need good soil, enough sun, enough water, enough fertilizer, and pests to be kept away. How much is enough? It varies from plant to plant variety, so I’ve written an article about each vegetable mentioned above. Follow the link to find detailed advice that will take you through all you need to know to achieve success.
Conclusion
For us modern city living folks, growing your own vegetables is completely possible and easily achievable as long as you have a sunny porch, balcony, or patio. You can even grow indoors. My point is, you do not need a lot of space.
The pleasure of growing your own vegetables is far more than just enjoying the delicious results. It’s something to be shared. Spread the knowledge and share the whole process of growing, caring, harvest and storage with a child. By doing that, you’re planting the seed of knowledge that will grow later in their life. I’m one of those children.
Stop reading this article and go grow something. Tell me all about what vegetables you’ve chosen for your vegetable container garden.
Our Picks
High-quality equipment and supplies make all the difference in your garden. Always buy the best quality you can afford. The products below are all items you can re-use on other projects.
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Best All Purpose Organic Potting Soil.
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