Vegetable Container Size Guide for Gardening
Find the right pot depth and volume for growing vegetables in containers.
| Crop | Min depth | Min size | Spacing | Sun | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | 15 | 4 | 20cm apart or 1 per pot | Full | Pinch growing tips to keep bushy; protect from cold, loves warmth |
| Beetroot | 25 | 8 | 10cm apart; greens also edible | Full | Multi-sow clusters of 2-3; keep moist for tender roots |
| Bush Bean | 25 | 10 | 3-4 plants per 20L container | Full | Bush/dwarf types need no trellis; harvest regularly to keep producing |
| Carrot | 30 | 10 | 5cm apart after thinning | Full | Choose short/round varieties (Parisian, Nantes); loose, stone-free mix prevents forking |
| Chard | 25 | 8 | 20-25cm apart | Part | Harvest outer leaves continuously; very forgiving, decorative stems |
| Chili | 25 | 7 | 1 plant per 7-10L container | Full | Thrives slightly root-bound; let topsoil dry between waterings for hotter pods |
| Cilantro | 15 | 4 | 5cm apart, sow thickly | Part | Bolts fast in heat; sow succession, part shade and cut often |
| Cucumber | 30 | 20 | 1 plant per 20L container | Full | Bush or compact varieties; needs trellis and constant moisture; feed weekly in fruit |
| Garlic | 20 | 6 | 10cm apart, 5cm deep | Full | Plant cloves autumn; stop watering as tops yellow before harvest |
| Kale | 25 | 10 | 1 plant per 10L, or 30cm apart in trough | Part | Cut-and-come-again; sweeter after frost; tolerates part shade |
| Lettuce | 15 | 4 | 1 per 15cm spacing or scatter in trough | Part | Shallow roots; partial shade delays bolting; sow succession for continuous harvest |
| Mint | 20 | 5 | 1 plant per pot only | Part | Invasive roots—always container alone; harvest often to stay lush |
| Parsley | 20 | 5 | 1 plant per 15cm | Part | Long taproot likes deeper pot; cut outer stems, keep moist |
| Pea | 25 | 10 | 5cm apart; short trellis support | Full | Dwarf/bush peas best for pots; pick often to extend cropping |
| Pepper | 30 | 10 | 1 plant per 10-15L container | Full | Loves warm roots; use dark pot and mulch; feed every 2 weeks once flowering |
| Potato | 40 | 30 | 1-2 tubers per 30L bag | Full | Grow bags ideal; 'earth up' as stems grow; early varieties for pots |
| Radish | 15 | 4 | 2-3cm apart, thin early | Full | Fast crop (3-4 weeks); sow every 2 weeks; avoid overfeeding or tops dominate |
| Rosemary | 25 | 7 | 1 plant per pot | Full | Likes dry, poor, alkaline soil; avoid overwatering and wet winters |
| Spinach | 15 | 4 | 5-8cm apart in a wide pot | Part | Cool-season; bolt-resistant in part shade; keep soil consistently moist |
| Spring Onion | 15 | 4 | 2-3cm apart in bunches | Full | Scallions/clump types ideal; resow monthly for steady supply |
| Strawberry | 20 | 8 | 1 plant per 20-25cm, or 3 in 40cm trough | Full | Everbearing/day-neutral suit pots; keep crown above soil, feed after fruiting |
| Thyme | 15 | 3 | 1 plant per 15-20cm | Full | Drought-tolerant; gritty well-drained mix, let dry between waterings |
| Tomato | 40 | 20 | 1 plant per 20L container; indeterminate needs stake/cage | Full | Determinate/bush types suit pots best; water evenly to prevent blossom-end rot |
| Zucchini | 35 | 30 | 1 plant per 30L container | Full | Choose bush varieties; heavy feeder, mulch well and water deeply at base |
No match.
Guideline sizes for typical varieties — larger containers give more room for error and better yields.