Every crop, container by container.

Variety names, minimum pot sizes in gallons, sun and water needs, and when to harvest.

7 guides Vegetables · Herbs · Fruit Updated through the growing season

Containers change three things about growing anything: the roots have less room, the soil dries out faster, and you can move the pot to follow the sun. The first two are why advice written for garden beds often does not transfer. A tomato that is happy in the ground will sulk in anything under 5 gallons, and "water when dry" can mean every day in July.

Each guide below follows the same checklist: the two or three varieties bred for pots, the minimum container size in gallons, sun and water needs, what to watch for in the first season, and when to harvest.

New to containers altogether? The beginner guide is a good place to start.

Start here

Choosing what to grow

Start with your light

Count the hours of direct sun your space gets on a clear day. Six or more opens up tomatoes, peppers and squash, while four or fewer suits lettuce, leafy greens and most herbs.
Growing in shade
Check the pot size

Every crop has a container size where it starts to do well, and the index further down this page lists them. If a plant needs more room than you have, a compact variety often exists.
Choosing containers
Start with forgiving crops

Lettuce, radishes, bush beans and most herbs grow quickly and recover well from a missed watering. An early success makes the slower, fussier crops easier to take on.
Growing lettuce
Add a pot of herbs

Herbs take up little room and get used often when they sit near the kitchen door. Basil and parsley are happy in two gallons, chives and thyme in one.
Herbs in containers
Plan for the season

Tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers go out once the nights are warm. Greens and radishes can be sown again in late summer, which keeps the same containers producing well into fall.
Fall containers