There are lots of great reasons to grow edible food in containers! Sometimes, that’s just the space we have if we have small yards or balconies. We can also use containers when we are trying to use space efficiently, like on patios, decks, or even under-utilized spaces like sidewalks or cement pads. In addition to providing good food, they can also be beautiful!

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Vegetables

• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Peppers
• Zucchini
• Pattypan Squash
• Lettuce
• Kale
• Spinach
• Arugula
• Chard
• Radishes
• Potatoes
• Pea Shoots

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Fruit

• Strawberries
• Blueberries (Top Hat)*
• Lemons*
• Limes*

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Herbs

• Basil
• Rosemary
• Tarragon
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Parsley
• Lavender*
• Chamomile
• Mint
• Chives
• Sage

Greens

Greens such as kale, lettuce, spinach, arugula, and swish chard are grown easily in containers. Monitor your greens for inch worms – cover with a fine mesh fabric or apply BTK (a food-safe bacillus that only harms inch worms) – and water evenly. Greens would grow well in planting bags, pots, or window boxes, so you have lots of options for where to put them! Microgreens would grow in 6 inch pots on a tabletop or windowsill, which is convenient for adding to sandwiches!

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Tomatoes

By far one of the easiest vegetables to grow in a container is a tomato. You get a lot of bang for your buck with high yields and without a lot of specific knowledge. I’ve grown every type of tomato you can imagine in a container, so I have some wisdom to pass on!

• Tomatoes need a 12 inch container at a minimum, but larger varieties – the ones that need cages – need 18 to 20 inches in diameter. This is because they need a lot of soil to hold the water they require, and they also have a tremendous root ball. Give them the space to grow and they will repay your efforts!
• Cherry tomatoes are a no-brainer here. You can grow tomatoes like Tiny Tim or Tumbler in a hanging basket – hanging over the edge won’t hurt them at all! – or you can grow vining cherry tomatoes like Sweet Million or Sungold in a large pot with a tomato cage. Be sure to prune your indeterminate varieties.
• Fertilize! Fertilizer is essential when growing in containers not just because plants are heavy feeders, but also because the drainage can sometimes cause nutrients to leech. You will want to use a potting mix that contains peat or vermiculite to hold onto water, which will help the nutrients stay in place. Vegetable fertilizers with calcium are necessary to prevent blossom end rot in container-grown tomatoes. Do not re-use soil in containers for tomatoes, but consider planting carrots, beans, radishes, or another crop in a container that was previously used for tomatoes. (Avoid planting potatoes or nightshades like eggplants in soil that previously held tomatoes).
• Water your plants well: they will need consistent and even moisture throughout the growing season. Tomato skins will split if they suddenly get a lot of watering all at once, so you can avoid that by offering water throughout the growing period.

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Peppers

• Peppers grow profusely in containers. Try smaller varieties like Cayenne, Jalapeno, or Sweet Heat in pots that are 10 inches in diameter. Pinch off smaller varieties to encourage bushier growth with stronger plants that produce more.
• For larger varieties of bell pepper, pick a pot that is 12 to 14 inches in diameter. These larger varieties may require staking or a tomato cage to hold up the vegetables.
• Water peppers consistently, but let them dry out slightly between watering. In fact, hot peppers can go through mild periods of drought which will make the peppers hotter!

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Cucumbers

• For many years now I’ve grown a variety of cucumber called Cool Breeze in a container with a tomato cage. We also have a new variety this year called Quick Snack which I am looking forward to trying! Before the cucumbers start flowering, I use a little garden sulphur or copper Bordo to prevent powdery mildew. These grow well in a 12 to 14 inch pot.
• You could grow larger varieties of cucumber in a 20 inch container; Marketmore is a good option here, but any cucumber that vines would work well. Just be sure to provide a large trellis. The trellis should be secured to a nearby wall or fence to prevent the container from falling over in high winds.
• Be sure to water consistently, as it takes a lot of water to grow cucumbers!

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Potatoes

• There are commercially available potato bags that work well for growing potatoes in a container!  
• Start the potato in a few inches of soil in the bottom of the container or bag. As plant produces leaves, add soil a few inches at a time, leaving the topmost set of leaves peaking out at the top. This replicates the process of hilling that would otherwise happen in the ground! Eventually, the soil will reach the edge of the bag or container, and the leaves can keep growing upwards. Potato containers usually have a flap or means of separating an outer container to access the harvest in the fall.
• Soil should stay evenly moist, but not too wet, as this can cause the potatoes to rot. Still, containers will dry out quite rapidly, so monitor the soil frequently.

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Squash

• A regular sized zucchini or small pumpkin would need a 20 inch container at a minimum, which is large, but not impossible! Use a tomato cage or trellis to provide support, and water well and consistently during active growing stages. The pot itself should be heavy enough to not tip over from the weight of the vegetables. These should be started early so that you have enough time for them to produce.
• Patty Pan Squash is a great option for squash that will grow in containers and has enough time to produce successfully. Pick Patty Pans early for a delightful addition to stir fries!

Most fruit trees will not produce in containers in Saskatchewan, but there are a few options if you have a sweet tooth! All fruit grown in containers should be treated as an annual, as they will die in the containers over winter. Strawberries and some Blueberries can be transferred into the ground and overwintered, while Lemons and Limes must be brought inside and treated as a houseplant.

• Grow everbearing strawberries in containers for consistent harvests all season long. Feel free to transfer hardy varieties into the ground at the end of the season.
• “Tophat” is a Dwarf Blueberry that will grow profusely in containers. Be sure to use a fertilizer that is meant for blueberries!
• Lemons, Limes, and other citrus are sold in our Tropicals and Houseplants Department, but worth mentioning here as a fruit you can grow in a container! Use a citrus fertilizer and put in a bright location. Be sure to bring inside in the winter!

Herbs can be potted together, as long as they have enough space! Try combinations for soups, French cooking, or even just your most-used herbs for fresh herbs throughout the season. See our other blog on herb care for more information!

Once you have the right size of container and some ideas of what you can successfully grow, having and edible container garden is a breeze!