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Plants That Grow in Containers

93 plants

Quick Answer

You don't need a yard — most of the crops on this site grow well in pots, planters, and grow bags. Container gardening works on patios, balconies, decks, and even doorsteps, and it gives you control over soil and drainage. Below are the plants marked container-friendly in our data, each with its minimum recommended pot size where available.

Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) plant

Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira)

Zones 4a–11b · 50–75 days
beginnerArugula plant

Arugula

Zones 2a–9a · 21–40 days
beginnerAvocado plant

Avocado

Zones 9b–11b · Perennial
advancedBasil plant

Basil

Zones 4a–11b · 30–60 days
beginnerBay Laurel plant

Bay Laurel

Zones 8a–10b · 180–365 days
intermediateBeets plant

Beets

Zones 2a–10a · 50–70 days
beginnerBell Pepper plant

Bell Pepper

Zones 4a–11b · 70–90 days
intermediateBitter Melon (Karela) plant

Bitter Melon (Karela)

Zones 9a–12b · 55–70 days
intermediateBlackberry plant

Blackberry

Zones 5a–9b · Perennial
beginnerBlueberry plant

Blueberry

Zones 3a–9a · Perennial
intermediateBok Choy plant

Bok Choy

Zones 4a–9b · 45–60 days
beginnerBorage plant

Borage

Zones 2a–11b · 50–60 days
beginnerBroccoli plant

Broccoli

Zones 2a–9b · 60–80 days
intermediateCabbage plant

Cabbage

Zones 1a–9b · 70–120 days
intermediateCalendula plant

Calendula

Zones 2a–11b · 50–70 days
beginnerCantaloupe plant

Cantaloupe

Zones 4a–11a · 70–100 days
intermediateCarrot plant

Carrot

Zones 3a–9b · 70–80 days
intermediateCauliflower plant

Cauliflower

Zones 2a–11b · 60–100 days
intermediateCelery plant

Celery

Zones 3a–9b · 90–120 days
advancedCherry Tomato plant

Cherry Tomato

Zones 4a–11b · 55–70 days
beginnerChili Pepper plant

Chili Pepper

Zones 4a–11b · 65–80 days
beginnerChives plant

Chives

Zones 3a–9b · Perennial
beginnerCilantro plant

Cilantro

Zones 3a–9a · 21–45 days
beginnerCollard Greens plant

Collard Greens

Zones 5a–11b · 60–80 days
beginnerCucumber plant

Cucumber

Zones 3b–11b · 50–70 days
beginnerCurry Leaf Tree (Kadi Patta) plant

Curry Leaf Tree (Kadi Patta)

Zones 9b–11b · 180–360 days
intermediateDill plant

Dill

Zones 2a–9b · 40–60 days
beginnerEdamame (Soybean) plant

Edamame (Soybean)

Zones 5a–10b · 70–95 days
beginnerEggplant plant

Eggplant

Zones 5a–11b · 65–80 days
intermediateFenugreek (Methi) plant

Fenugreek (Methi)

Zones 4a–9b · 20–30 days
beginnerFig plant

Fig

Zones 7a–11b · Perennial
intermediateFlorence Fennel plant

Florence Fennel

Zones 4a–9b · 65–90 days
intermediateFrench Tarragon plant

French Tarragon

Zones 3a–9b · 60–90 days
intermediateGarlic plant

Garlic

Zones 3a–9b · 240–270 days
beginnerGerman Chamomile plant

German Chamomile

Zones 3a–9b · 60–90 days
beginnerGinger plant

Ginger

Zones 8a–12b · 240–300 days
intermediateGooseberry plant

Gooseberry

Zones 3a–6b · Perennial
beginnerGreen Beans plant

Green Beans

Zones 4a–11b · 50–65 days
beginnerGround Cherry plant

Ground Cherry

Zones 3a–9b · 70–85 days
beginnerHoly Basil (Tulsi) plant

Holy Basil (Tulsi)

Zones 10a–11b · 45–60 days
beginnerHoneydew plant

Honeydew

Zones 4a–11a · 80–110 days
intermediateHorseradish plant

Horseradish

Zones 3a–9a · 300–365 days
beginnerKale plant

Kale

Zones 2a–9b · 55–75 days
beginnerKohlrabi plant

Kohlrabi

Zones 3a–9b · 45–60 days
beginnerLavender plant

Lavender

Zones 5a–8b · Perennial
intermediateLeek plant

Leek

Zones 3a–9b · 100–150 days
intermediateLemon Balm plant

Lemon Balm

Zones 3a–9b · 60–70 days
beginnerLemon Tree plant

Lemon Tree

Zones 9a–11b · Perennial
intermediateLemongrass plant

Lemongrass

Zones 8b–11b · 75–100 days
intermediateLettuce plant

Lettuce

Zones 2b–9b · 30–60 days
beginnerMango plant

Mango

Zones 10a–11b · Perennial
advancedMarjoram plant

Marjoram

Zones 4a–9b · 70–100 days
beginnerMint plant

Mint

Zones 3a–9b · Perennial
beginnerMoringa (Drumstick Tree) plant

Moringa (Drumstick Tree)

Zones 9a–12b · 90–180 days
intermediateMustard Greens plant

Mustard Greens

Zones 4a–10b · 30–40 days
beginnerOkra plant

Okra

Zones 7a–11b · 50–65 days
intermediateOlive plant

Olive

Zones 8a–11b · Perennial
intermediateOnion plant

Onion

Zones 2a–9b · 90–120 days
intermediateOregano plant

Oregano

Zones 4a–10b · Perennial
beginnerParsley plant

Parsley

Zones 3a–9b · 70–90 days
beginnerPeanut plant

Peanut

Zones 6a–11b · 120–150 days
intermediatePeas plant

Peas

Zones 2a–9a · 55–70 days
beginnerPersimmon plant

Persimmon

Zones 7a–10b · Perennial
beginnerPomegranate plant

Pomegranate

Zones 7a–11b · Perennial
intermediatePotato plant

Potato

Zones 3a–10b · 70–120 days
beginnerPumpkin plant

Pumpkin

Zones 3b–11b · 75–100 days
beginnerRadish plant

Radish

Zones 2a–9b · 22–30 days
beginnerRaspberry plant

Raspberry

Zones 3a–9a · Perennial
intermediateRed Currant plant

Red Currant

Zones 3a–6b · Perennial
beginnerRhubarb plant

Rhubarb

Zones 2a–8a · Perennial
beginnerRosemary plant

Rosemary

Zones 6a–11b · Perennial
beginnerSage plant

Sage

Zones 4a–8b · Perennial
intermediateSavory plant

Savory

Zones 3a–9b · 60–80 days
beginnerScallion plant

Scallion

Zones 2a–11b · 25–45 days
beginnerShallot plant

Shallot

Zones 2a–10b · 90–150 days
beginnerSnap Peas plant

Snap Peas

Zones 2a–9b · 60–70 days
beginnerSorrel plant

Sorrel

Zones 2a–9a · 30–60 days
beginnerSpinach plant

Spinach

Zones 2a–9a · 40–50 days
beginnerStevia plant

Stevia

Zones 8a–11b · 60–80 days
intermediateStrawberry plant

Strawberry

Zones 3a–10b · Perennial
beginnerSunflower plant

Sunflower

Zones 2a–11b · 60–80 days
beginnerSweet Potato plant

Sweet Potato

Zones 5a–11b · 90–120 days
intermediateSwiss Chard plant

Swiss Chard

Zones 2a–10b · 50–60 days
beginnerTaro (Arbi / Colocasia) plant

Taro (Arbi / Colocasia)

Zones 7a–11b · 150–200 days
intermediateThyme plant

Thyme

Zones 4a–9b · Perennial
beginnerTomatillo plant

Tomatillo

Zones 5a–10b · 75–100 days
intermediateTomato plant

Tomato

Zones 4a–11b · 60–85 days
intermediateTurmeric (Haldi) plant

Turmeric (Haldi)

Zones 8a–11b · 240–300 days
intermediateTurnip plant

Turnip

Zones 2a–9b · 45–60 days
beginnerWatercress plant

Watercress

Zones 2a–9b · 30–60 days
beginnerWatermelon plant

Watermelon

Zones 4b–11b · 70–90 days
intermediateYard-Long Beans (Snake Beans) plant

Yard-Long Beans (Snake Beans)

Zones 8a–11b · 60–80 days
beginnerZucchini plant

Zucchini

Zones 4a–11b · 45–60 days
beginner

Frequently asked questions

What vegetables grow best in containers?

Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, greens, herbs, radishes, and bush beans are starter-friendly in pots. Look for compact or "bush" varieties and use a 5-gallon pot for fruiting crops.

What size pot do I need?

Leafy greens and herbs do fine in 1–3 gallon pots; tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants need at least 5 gallons. Larger pots dry out slower and give roots more room.

How often should I water container plants?

Containers dry out faster than garden beds — check daily in summer and water when the top inch of soil is dry. Self-watering planters help keep moisture steady.