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Pots & Soil container gardening, honestly

Every crop, container by container.

With the variety names and minimum pot sizes most guides skip. If it says “needs a big pot”, you're on the wrong site.

9 guides Vegetables · Herbs · Fruit · Flowers & ornamentals Updated weekly in season

Growing in containers changes three things about every crop: the roots have less room, the soil dries faster, and you can move the pot. The first two are why most generic advice fails — a tomato that's happy in a bed will sulk in anything under 5 gallons, and “water when dry” means daily 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 kills it in year one, and when to harvest. Nothing is padded to hit a word count.

New to containers altogether? Read the beginner guide first — it'll save you a pot or two.

Crop guides

Start with the high-yield, low-drama crops.

All Easy Big yield Cool season Shade-tolerant Balcony-safe
All 9 guides

Crop index

Every crop we cover, with its minimum pot.

Gallons are the smallest size that reliably works, not the smallest that can survive. Grey entries are on the roadmap.

Where these guides live

01 Getting StartedWhat it costs, what works, what doesn't. The realistic first season. 03 Small SpacesBalconies, patios, rooftops. Honest about wind, weight limits and landlords. 04 Accessible GardeningNo kneeling, no bending, no full grip strength required.

Free download

The container size chart — minimum gallons per crop, on one page.

41 vegetables, herbs and fruits with the pot size that actually works, not the one that “might”. Print it, stick it near your pots. One email a fortnight, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

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