Gardening in pots is a great way to grow plants even if you don’t have a large yard or any yard at all. With container gardening, you can cultivate fresh herbs, veggies, and flowers on a balcony, patio, deck, or windowsill. Growing plants in pots enables gardeners short on space to still reap the rewards of gardening.
When selecting seeds to plant in containers, it’s important to choose compact dwarf plant varieties that grow well confined to a pot Tall sprawling vegetables and vines don’t thrive in containers The secret is picking seeds for plants that naturally stay short and bushy or climbing plants that can be trellised vertically.
Here are the 15 best seeds to grow in pots for small space gardening
Vegetables
1. Tomatoes
You can grow tomato plants in pots as long as you choose a dwarf or bush type. Tomato varieties that don’t need to be staked, like Bush Early Girl and BushSteak, stay under 2 feet tall. They produce a lot of big tomatoes that are great for pots. Indeterminate tomatoes that grow vines are better for pots than determinate tomatoes that stay bushy.
2. Peppers
Grow bell peppers and other sweet or hot pepper cultivars in pots on a sunny patio or balcony. Compact pepper plants like California Wonder bell pepper stay around 1 foot tall, so they don’t need a lot of root space. Select smaller pepper varieties like thumbelina rather than big blocky bell types.
3. Eggplant
Standard huge eggplant varieties won’t work well in containers, but container-friendly dwarf or baby eggplant cultivars are ideal. Little Fingers, Little Italian, and Fairy Tale types only grow 12-18 inches tall and produce petite, finger-sized fruits with great flavor.
4. Bush Beans
Bush beans stay small and straight, which makes them a good choice for growing in pots. Choose bush bean types, like Provider green beans, that grow to be only 16 inches tall when they’re fully grown. Plant beans in a pot that is tall enough to let you trellis them vertically on a stand.
5. Lettuce
Looseleaf lettuce varieties do well in pots and window boxes since they form petite heads. Good compact lettuce cultivars for containers include Tom Thumb, Red Sails, and Little Gem. You can also grow cut-and-come-again lettuce mixes.
6. Carrots
Cabbage is a good place for short Chantenay or round carrot varieties. Thumbelina and Parmex carrots, which are 3 to 4 inches long, are good choices for small spaces. Carrot roots should grow in pots that are at least 12 inches deep.
7. Radishes
Quick-growing radishes mature in just 25-30 days, making them a satisfying early season crop for container gardens. Cherry Belle, Champion, and Easter Egg radishes produce crisp roots in little space. Plant radishes in wide, shallow pots.
8. Green Onions
Green onions and chives are easy-to-grow container crops that reach just 6-12 inches tall. Flavors range from mild green onions to zesty chives. Harvest green onion tops as you need them and cut chives close to the base so they regrow.
9. Leafy Greens
Mesclun salad mix, spinach, kale, arugula, and Swiss chard produce a bountiful harvest of nutritious greens from compact plants. Succession plant for continued container crops.
10. Cucumbers
Bush cucumber varieties stay compact for container growing versus vining types. Good bets are Bush Champion, Bush Pickle, and Spacemaster cucumbers topping out under 2 feet tall. Train vining cucumbers vertically on a trellis in a large pot.
Herbs
11. Basil
This essential culinary herb thrives planted in pots. Columnar basils like Italian Samsung stay upright and neat for compact growth. Pinch off flower buds to keep plants bushy and productive. Move container-grown basil plants indoors in cold weather.
12. Parsley
Curly parsley and Italian flat-leaf parsley are both great small herbs for containers. Parsley is a biennial that regrows each spring. The plants get 10 to 12 inches tall and produce a lot of food all season.
13. Oregano & Thyme
These Mediterranean herbs grow slowly, so their roots don’t mind being confined to a pot. Compact oregano and thyme plants reach just 6-12 inches tall. Flavors intensify when they are grown in containers.
14. Chives
Grass-like chive plants reach 10-12 inches tall and provide flavorful onion chives. Chives are perennial, surviving the winter in zones 3-9. Trim plants regularly to promote regrowth.
Flowers
15. Petunias
Cascading and multiflora petunias are perfect for hanging baskets and containers. Multiflora types like Dreams spread 24-36 inches across but stay just 6 inches tall. Wave petunias cascade gracefully over pot edges.
Tips for Growing Seeds in Pots
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Pick containers at least 6-12 inches deep for adequate root room. Drainage holes are essential.
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Use a quality potting mix, not garden soil which compacts over time.
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Fertilize plants regularly to replenish nutrients that leach from containers.
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Consistent watering is key for container plants. Check soil daily.
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Move pots to follow the sun as it shifts during the growing season.
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Group pots together for added insulation on cold nights.
The benefit of gardening in containers is the ability to grow plants anywhere, even without an actual yard. On an apartment balcony, these compact seed varieties allow you to cultivate tomatoes, peppers, herbs, greens, and flowers in pots tailored to your space. With the right seeds and a bit of care, container gardening success is within your reach!
What Are the Easiest Seeds to Grow in a Cup?
We have easy-to-grow herbs, vegetables, fruits, and flowering plants for you that you can choose from.
- Basil. Growing basil in a cup is a great idea, especially on a kitchen window sill. It only needs a small pot, and if the mug is big enough, it doesn’t need to be repotted. Start growing it indoors and slowly move it outside once it sprouts.
- Mint. You can also grow this herb in cups. Plant it in soil that drains quickly and put a thin layer of mulch over it. Place it in a bright area and keep it wet until it sprouts.
- Rosemary. Rosemary plants can be grown from seeds, which is a great way to add to your kitchen herbs collection. Place the seeds in plastic cups that have substrate in them. Then, sprinkle soil on top of the substrate. It will sprout in a week if you keep it somewhere warm and cozy.
- Oregano. It’s also easy to grow oregano from seeds. This herb can also grow well in small pots and will do fine if it is in a sunny window.
- Carrots. Before you plant carrot seeds in the ground, let them soak for about an hour. Put two to three seeds in a cup and cover them with light soil. Thin them later when all the seeds sprout.
- Pole beans. Pole beans are easy and fun to plant with kids. Plant it about ⅓ of the way down in the cup and keep it wet. In about a week, its showy cotyledons and leaves will make it sprout in a big way.
- Pea. People often say that pea seeds are the easiest to grow because they are small. It needs to be buried a little, about 3 to 5 cm deep, so it can grow.
- Beets. Beets, which can handle cold, won’t mind if the seedling cups are left outside to grow or are grown. But it will grow faster if you keep it near a heater or somewhere warm. Plant the seedlings shallowly in pots and keep the soil moist until the plants sprout.
- Broccoli. If you want broccoli to sprout quickly, you should plant it indoors. Plant one to two seeds per cup, and if both of them grow, thin the other one. To grow crops until early winter, it’s best to do it in the fall.
- Cauliflower. Start sowing your cauliflower seeds indoors in early spring. In about 7 days, it will germinate. In order to move the plant outside, you need to wait until it grows four to six leaves.
- Collard greens. Collard greens will also have no problem with cold temperatures. Sow it in your little cups after the last frost. Placing the cups indoors to boost their germination rate.
- Onion. Onions are also great plants to start in cups. Plant two to three seeds in each cup. If more than one grows, thin them out later. To get good yields, you may need to plant it in your garden or in bigger pots.
- Spinach. Spinach is another fun and easy-to-grow salad vegetable. Plant the seeds in sandy soil every two weeks to keep harvesting all season.
- Lettuce. As long as the lettuce gets enough light and the right nutrients, it can be grown in cups alone. Plant one to two seeds in a cup of organic, quick-draining soil.
- Celery. It’s best to start celery in cups instead of directly in a vegetable garden because the seeds are very small. To speed up germination, soak the seeds overnight before planting them in individual cups.
- Cucumber. Cucumber is the best vine plant to grow in cups if you want to grow one. Plant 1 seed in each cup. Water the soil regularly to speed up germination. If the vine gets to 10 cm long, move it outside or to a bigger pot.
- Pumpkin. Pumpkin is also an excellent plant to start in cups. This is a great project for kids to start with because the seeds are big. In each cup, plant one at a time and cover with plastic to help them sprout.
- Pepper. Put 2-3 peppers seeds in each cup. Cover it lightly with soil and keep it wet while it sprouts. When it has four to six leaves, move it to a larger pot or garden bed.
- Tomatoes. Start sowing tomatoes in cups in early spring. Tomato seeds usually grow quickly, so plant one seed per cup. Keep it warm inside and plant it as soon as four to six leaves appear.
- Eggplant. It is best to start eggplants in cups because their seeds are very small. Plant two to three seeds in a cup of wet soil that drains quickly. Plant it outdoors once it puts up 3-5 leaves.
- Watermelon. You can start this vine indoors, which is great after eating fresh watermelon. In the spring or summer, plant two to three seeds in each small planter. Please maintain the soil wet until it emerges.
- Strawberry. When you want to grow fruits in a pot, strawberries are the best choice. Start growing its small seeds in cups or on a damp paper towel to help them get started. Once it sprouted, move it to bigger pots with soil that is high in organic matter.
- Sunflower. Sunflowers are our most recommended flowering plant to start indoors. Plant one seed per cup in the spring or late summer, and keep the soil moist until the seed sprouts. Those who grow it in pots should put them somewhere sunny.
- Marigold. Marigolds have tiny seeds that are very easy to grow. Plant the seeds about 3 cm deep and water the soil only a little until the plants come up. When it gets to be about 5 to 10 cm long, move it to a big pot.
- Poppies. Once it blooms, this flowering plant is very rewarding to take care of. It does well in plastic cups, but it can also be grown in the garden. Make sure that the soil stays wet while the seeds are sprouting.
Even though it’s easy to grow all of these pretty plants, they can still have problems. Find them ahead of time and act quickly. Better safe than sorry!.
What Is the Easiest Seed to Grow Indoors?
Herbs like basil, oregano, and mint are examples of seeds that do not need light and are therefore likely to sprout the most easily indoors.
You’re Being LIED to about Growing in Containers…
FAQ
What seeds are best for pots?
Flowers like marigolds, herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro, vegetables like peppers and cherry tomatoes, and small fruits like strawberries are all good seeds for pots. Make sure to consider pot size and sunlight when choosing seeds for your container garden.
What flower seeds grow well in pots?
Container Flower Seeds & PlantsStrawflower, Tom Thumb Mixed Colors. Cleome, Sparkler 2. 0 Hybrid Mixed Colors. Petunia, Pinkie Pop Hybrid. Viola, Tiger Eye Mix Hybrid. Petunia, Evening Scentsation Hybrid. Zinnia, Forecast. Petunia, Spellbound Wine Red Hybrid. Pansy, Atlas Mix.
What is the easiest thing to grow from seeds?
Carrots, peas, beans and zucchini are the easiest seeds to grow for beginners right in your own backyard. You can start them in July, too.
What is the easiest produce to grow in pots?
9 Fantastic Veggies to Grow in ContainersBush Beans. Carrots. Eggplants. Lettuce. Tomatoes. Garlic. Radishes. Radishes are a cinch to grow and you can easily plant several crops in a single season – even in a small pot. Peppers. Peppers, either sweet or hot, are not only easy to grow, they’re downright pretty.