Planting vegetables in containers is especially nice for the urban and suburban vegetable gardeners that have little space for a full-blown vegetable garden. Many vegetables lend themselves beautifully to being grown in containers.
Vegetables that grow well in containers include lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, peas, beans, cabbage, kale, artichoke, potatoes, carrots, and nearly every herb you can name. There’s also some container-loving fruits too, such as blueberries, strawberries, and grapes.
There’s such a wide array of container choices that I advise people to pick two or three types to try in order to figure out which works best for them. Usually, you’ll want to choose the biggest container you can find as it’ll offer the most space for roots, as well as for the rest of the plant to spread out and produce vegetables.
- Terra Cotta – Probably the most well-know and well-used type of container anywhere. They’re produced in an endless variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. Terra Cotta is also less expensive than many other containers. What to watch for as far as Terra Cotta containers is that they’re frost-resistant (check for labeling). Otherwise they could end up cracking during the cold months. Be aware that they tend to dry out faster than most other planting containers.
- Plastic – Plastic is rather a win-win. It’s non-porous, so the soil tends to stay moist longer than its Terra Cotta counterpart. These containers are also very easy to move around even after being filled with soil and planted. However, you may have to really look around to find one that’s honestly attractive.
- Wood – Wood is a great material that looks natural with vegetable plantings. There are small tubs, half-barrels, and troughs made of wood. They’re typically not expensive with the exception of the monster-sized half-barrels. I tend to like wood containers because I can paint them any color I’d like to year after year. They can also be varnished to help prolong their plant growing lives.
- Glazed Stoneware – I love the glazed stoneware pots for growing vegetables. They’re usually quite frost-resistant and come in lovely shades. Typically the glazed pots are a basic round, square, or Terra Cotta shaped container. But, I’ve seen them in other shapes, as well. Because they’re glazed, they hold in that precious moisture much better then the run-of-the-mill Terra Cotta.
- Fiberglass – Fiberglass containers also hold moisture well and their lightweight makes them extremely easy to move around. Generally, they’re formed in a way that mimics other, more pricey containers – which is a plus aesthetically. The only downside would be that they’ll break or crack easier than they more expensive ones.
- Metal – This includes those containers made of copper and galvanized steel, too. While it can be perfect for the right setting, pure metal is quite contemporary and isn’t “warm” enough for me. If contemporary describes your balcony or porch, it may be the right choice for you. Be careful, though. Roots will warm up extremely fast in this type of container and will freeze just as quickly in the winter.
- Concrete and Stone – Natural stone and even concrete containers can be beautiful and house vegetables nicely. These are probably the most expensive type of containers to purchase. The only drawback is that once they’re filled with soil, planted, and then watered – you won’t want to move them. So find a nice little spot for them to live for the entire season.
- Recycled and Up-cycled Containers – Nearly anything is fair game when looking for a container to recycle as a planter. All they need to have is drainage holes and be able to hold soil. Old wheelbarrows, kitchen sinks, shoes, plastic cat litter containers, rusty buckets, tool boxes, BBQs, bicycle baskets, and Easter baskets are all fair game.
A couple of things to keep in mind when you’re choosing containers or pots to grow vegetables. The first is that in this situation you’re truly looking for a container that is solid and has a wide base. Tall, elegant, or statuesque containers are lovely, but may easily blow over in a strong wind.
Think about the weight of the container, as well. Are you the type that tends to do a lot of rearranging? If so, your best bet is to go for the lighter weight pots such as those made of fiberglass or plastic.
For more information on gardening in containers, check out Dwarf Citrus Trees in Containers For Indoor Growing and Make Basic Potting Soil For Indoor Gardening.