Growing Vegetables in Containers

Below are the basic instructions for growing a variety of vegetables in containers. Note that the suggested planting instructions are for optimal growth. You can often grow vegetables in small containers with acceptable results. Also, the recommended varieties are just a few of many that will do well in containers. If you can't locate these specific types, check your garden center staff for other recommendations.

Suggested planting: Direct seed into a 2- to 5-gallon window box.
Recommended Varieties 
Bull's Blood
Ruby Queen 
Baby Canning 
Red Ace Hybrid 
Burpee Golden 
Early Red Ball

Suggested planting: One transplant per 5-gallon container.
Recommended varieties 
Small Miracle 
Green Comet 
DeCicco

Suggested planting: One transplant per 5-gallon container. Or with small varieties, one plant per gallon container.
Recommended varieties 
Fast Ball

Suggested planting: Direct seed into a 2- to 5-gallon deep container. Thin to 3 inches apart.
Recommended varieties 
Little Finger 
Danver's Half Long 
Short 'n' Sweet 
Thumbelina

Suggested planting: Two transplants per 5-gallon container. If using vining types, grow on trellis or cage.
Recommended varieties 
Salad Bush 
Bush Champion 
Spacemaster 
Park's Bush Whopper II

Suggested planting: One transplant per 5-gallon container.
Recommended varieties: 
Black Beauty 
Orlando 
Patio Mohican

Suggested planting: Sow directly into a 5-gallon window box.
Recommended varieties 
Tendercrop 
Bush Romano 
Contender 
Bush Blue Lake

Suggested planting: Direct seed into a 5-gallon container. Thin to three plants.
Recommended varieties 
Early White Vienna

Suggested planting: Direct seed or transplant into 1-gallon or larger container.
Recommended varieties 
Green Ice 
Salad Bowl 
Red Sails 
Black Seeded Simpson 
Buttercrunch 
Oakleaf 
Tom Thumb 
Little Gem

Suggested planting: Direct seed into 1-gallon or large container. Thin to 2 inches between plants.
Recommended varieties: 
Any green onion or scallion

Suggested planting: Direct seed into 5-gallon container. Grow taller varieties on a trellis.
Recommended varieties 
Sugar Bon 
Mammoth Melting Sugar

Suggested planting: Two transplants per 5-gallon container.
Recommended varieties 
Gypsy 
New Ace 
Long Red Cayenne

Suggested planting: Direct seed into 2-gallon or larger container. Thin to 3 inches apart.
Recommended varieties 
Champion 
White Icicle 
Cherry Belle

Suggested planting: Direct seed into 1-gallon or larger container. Thin to 3 inches apart.
Recommended varieties 
Long Standing Bloomsdale 
Melody

Suggested planting: Direct seed or transplant, two plants per 5-gallon container.
Recommended varieties 
Pic-N-Pic 
Midnight

Suggested planting: Transplant or direct seed four plants per 5-gallon container.
Recommended varieties 
Bright Lights 
Rhubarb

Suggested planting: Transplant one plant per 5-gallon container.
Recommended varieties 
Vilma 
Super Bush 
Patio Princess 
Pixie 
Early Girl 
Tumbling Tom

Suggested planting: Direct seed one plant per 5-gallon container.
Recommended varieties 
Butterbush 
Early Acorn 
Honey Bear