Our 19 Favorite Edible Plants to Grow in Pots and Containers

Growing edible plants in pots and containers is rewarding, accessible, and versatile across garden scales. Containers make it easy to grow an edible landscape in small spaces like patios, balconies, and courtyards without compromising yield or flavor.

Pots also offer more control over growing conditions like soil quality and sun exposure, and moisture levels are easy to manage. Whether relying solely on containers for your bounty or embellishing in-ground beds, edible specimens become a potted highlight.

‘Cherry Falls’ is a compact, vigorous grower that produces in abundance and starts early in the season. The variety is heat-tolerant and low-maintenance. Perhaps best of all (aside from the tasty fruits) is that the stems drape without the need for staking or additional support. ‘Cherry Falls’ is a determinate bush tomato.

When it comes to growing tomatoes in containers, knowing whether they’re determinate or indeterminate helps. Determinate tomatoes grow well in containers, with a set growth rate and fruit production in a single flush during the season. Indeterminate types continue to grow and produce all season, with varied harvests. They also grow well in containers, as long as the container is large enough and the soil volume is adequate. Since vines grow tall, they benefit from staking, caging, or trellising.

Cucumber ‘Spacemaster 80’

	botanical name Cucumis sativus ‘Spacemaster 80’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3’

‘Spacemaster 80’ produces full-size cucumbers on vines that don’t take up much space. They make ideal edible plants for containers and raised beds, with smooth, dark 8-inch cukes delicious for fresh eating. Or, harvest them small for pickling.

‘Spacemaster 80’ is disease-resistant against a number of common cucurbit problems, including mosaic virus, powdery and downy mildews, and scab. They’re ready from seed in just over 60 days.

Cucumbers love warmth, so wait to sow seeds until after the final frost and when soil temperatures warm above 60°F (16°C). The warmer, the better for these heat lovers, even up to 90°F (32°C). Cucumbers do best with direct sowing to minimize root disturbance during transplanting. In cool climates with short growing seasons, start them indoors four to six weeks before you plan to transplant. Biodegradable pots or soil blocks help to minimize transplant disruption.

Tomato ‘Glacier’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Glacier’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 30”

‘Glacier’ is a Swedish bush variety that tolerates cool spring temperatures and sets fruit before other selections. Its two-inch, extra early rounds also pack the flavor as one of the tastiest among early varieties for its sweetness. 

‘Glacier’ tomatoes are semi-indeterminate and produce in succession after the initial flush. Stems benefit from a cage or staking for high yields of the golden-red fruits.

Sow ‘Glacier’ after the final frost and as temperatures warm (though they may tolerate light frost). Start seeds indoors four to six weeks before transplanting. Fruits are ready about 6 weeks after transplanting.

Cucamelon ‘Mouse Melon’

	botanical name Melothria scabra ‘Mouse Melon’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5-10’ vines

Cucamelons come in a bite-sized package, as little “watermelons” the size of grapes. ‘Mouse Melon’ is a fun and novel cucurbit with mottled green skins and a cucumber flavor, with some tartness thrown in. Cucamelons are highly productive vines and fruit from summer into fall.

Cucamelons become more sour as they ripen (also called Mexican sour gherkins). Enjoy them fresh off the stem or pickled. Begin harvesting ‘Mouse Melon’ in 70 days. Feature the edible plant in hanging baskets and vertically on trellises in containers.

Pumpkin ‘Jack Be Little’

	botanical name Cucurbita pepo ‘Jack Be Little’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-5’ vines

Spring and early summer are the times to plant winter squashes, including pumpkins. With a long maturation period, we’ll enjoy them in time for autumn and as Halloween porch decor.

A darling miniature, ‘Jack Be Little’ pumpkins grow only three to four inches around and two inches high. Vines are ideal for trellising as specimens in containers. Each plant sets six to ten of the bright orange fruits. To grow the pumpkins in containers, choose a five-gallon or larger pot that’s at least 18 inches deep. 

In addition to decor as perfect petite pumpkins, ‘Jack Be Little’  is a good eating squash. Fill it with savory ingredients like tomatoes and feta or butter and cinnamon, and bake it whole. ‘Jack Be Little’ has a long storage life of up to one year.

Trailing Nasturtium ‘Single Blend’

	botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Single Blend’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-6’ vines

Trailing nasturtium ‘Single Blend’ cascades over container edges and spills from hanging planters. Round, fresh green leaves are a soft backdrop to tubular blooms in yellow, orange, and red. Blooms are a favorite for hummingbirds and other pollinators for their nectar.

Nasturtium is both ornamental and edible. The leaf and flower have a peppery flavor and make a pretty summer garnish. The vine perennializes and spreads heartily in zones 9-11. Elsewhere, it grows as an annual that prefers mild conditions (not overly hot or cold).

Trailing nasturtiums are easy to grow from seed and develop quickly. They tolerate dry conditions between watering sessions but appreciate cooling shade on hot summer afternoons. For a purple trailer, look to ‘’Purple Emperor’ with blossoms that transition from purple to lavender to soft rose.

Carrot ‘Tonda di Parigi’

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Tonda di Parigi’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2’

For a carrot that defies form and performs beautifully in pots, look to ‘Tonda di Parigi.’ The heirloom has sweet, tender, one to two-inch carrot rounds for fresh eating. The 19th-century French variety translates from Italian to ‘Round of Paris’, and the roots are deep orange globes.

‘Tonda di Parigi’ is best picked small. The petite roots are easy to tuck into small pots, tight spaces, and raised beds.

Cucumber ‘Quick Snack’

	botanical name Cucumis sativus (hybrid) ‘Quick Snack’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 20-24” vines

Another dwarf cucumber to save space while producing big yields is ‘Quick Snack.’ Meant for indoor growing, direct sow this novel mini-cuke in six to eight-inch pots inside. To plant outside, wait until two weeks after the frost or when soil temps are at least 60°F, and ideally 70°F or above (16-21°C or higher).

‘Quick Snack’ is fast-maturing and ready in less than 45 days. Blossoms don’t need pollinating, and indoors, fruits are seedless. The tasty, small fruits are best when young, about two inches long and one inch wide.

‘Quick Snack’ thrives in six to eight hours of sunlight. Situate them on a sunny windowsill or balcony.

Lemon Balm

	botanical name Melissa officinalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 3-7

Lemon balm is a cold-hardy perennial herb that grows beautifully in containers. Its dense, softly mounding habit and tendency to spread make it well-suited to bounded borders. Pots help keep the running, rooting stems in check, while deadheading its small bloom spikes in summer and fall prevents reseeding.

With aromatic leaves, lemon balm brings a burst of citrus for all who brush by. In addition to its refreshing fragrance, the lemony foliage is edible. New leaves are the most tender and flavorful, added to teas and other beverages, soups, sauces, and more. Trim trailing stems to promote a flush of fresh leaves.

Cantaloupe/Muskmelon ‘Minnesota Midget’

	botanical name Cucumis melo ‘Minnesota Midget’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’ vines

‘Minnesota Midget’ offers the best of a muskmelon (cantaloupe) in a small-scale fruit. Vines boast sweet, flavorful, and tender fruits. The compact vines and smaller size also mean early development for a typically long-maturation melon. 

‘Minnesota Midget’ is a 1948 hybrid from the University of Minnesota at St. Paul and remains a favorite today. The productive heirloom bears four-inch muskmelons with heavily netted skins and golden flesh, soft all the way to the rinds. A high sugar content is to thank for the sweet taste.

Melon seeds prefer warm weather to germinate and develop. The early ‘Minnesota Midget’ is ready in 60 to 70 days. The dwarf selection is disease-resistant to Fusarium wilt, a common cucurbit problem.

Acorn Squash ‘Table King’

	botanical name Cucurbita pepo ‘Table King’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4’ vines

‘Table King’ is a winter acorn squash and the perfect serving size for warming up chilly nights. While it’s time to focus on the warm season now, we’ll be grateful for sowing the storable squashes in spring to enjoy later (about 80 days to harvest on this one).

‘Table King’ is an early-maturing variety in the realm of winter squashes. The compact hybrid from the University of Connecticut is an All-America Selections winner for its quality flavor, short vines, and long shelf life. 

The acorn rounds have shiny, dark green skins with prominent ridges. Interior flesh is rich and creamy yellow-orange.

Meyer Lemon Bush

	botanical name Citrus x meyeri ‘Improved’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8-10’
	hardiness zones 8-11

Meyer lemon trees are a hybrid between a lemon and a sweet orange or mandarin, making the yellow-orange fruits sweeter and less acidic than other varieties. Grow the ‘Improved’ Meyer lemon bush in a pot where you’ll enjoy the fragrant white blossoms up close. Their intensely sweet perfume delights twice yearly.

The bush type of the ‘Improved’ Meyer lemon is a younger form of the tree with a more compact growth habit. This makes it easy to grow in containers and adds ease for pruning and picking. Prune them to maintain a shrubby form while enjoying prolific lemons.

The ‘Improved’ variety thrives in warm climates. In zones 7 and lower, bring the container indoors to overwinter and enjoy the tropical feel they bring to the season.

Mint

	botanical name Mentha spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-3’
	hardiness zones 3-11

Mint is right where it belongs when growing in a pot. The herb creates a low-growing mound of freshly scented leaves to fill a pot and gently trail. Like lemon balm, keeping the running stems contained helps prevent rampant spreading (the stems even root in place if they touch the ground). 

Mint leaves benefit from regular harvesting to promote new growth and fresh, tender shoots. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) and peppermint (Mentha x piperita) are popular species. Cultivars like apple mint, pineapple, orange, and chocolate lend unique undertones to the mint fragrance and flavor.

Mint grows best in consistently moist, well-drained potting media. Dappled light or afternoon shade is best in areas with hot summers. 

Tomato ‘Patio Choice Yellow’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Patio Choice Yellow’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15-18”

With “patio” in the name, we know this hybrid is a tailor-made edible plant for pots and containers. The ‘Patio’ series features compact plants with bountiful cherry fruits. ‘Choice Yellow’ bears masses of bright yellow globes at one and a half inches wide. 

‘Patio Choice Yellow’ is an All-America Selections award winner for its dwarf habit, high production, and garden performance. Heat and humidity-tolerant, it also resists common tomato diseases like tobacco mosaic virus and wilt. 

‘Patio Choice Yellow’ is a determinate bush variety that produces 100 little golden cherries at once. Enjoy them fresh and preserve some for canning and sauces.

Summer Squash ‘Emerald Delight’

	botanical name Cucurbita pepo ‘Emerald Delight’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2’

‘Emerald Delight’ is another compact hybrid that doesn’t compromise fruit size or deliciousness. High-yielding, bushy plants produce loads of tender zucchini. Stems grow three to four feet wide in a bush form. 

Harvest the zucchini at a peak of six to eight inches long (they grow longer if left on the vine). Skins are dark and shiny with a creamy interior. The habit is bushy and open, making the ready zucchini easy to spot and harvest. 

‘Emerald Delight’ matures in only 50-55 days, ideal for areas with short growing seasons or late-season plantings. It’s disease-resistant against powdery mildew and mosaic viruses.

Jalapeno ‘NuMex Lemon Spice’ 

	botanical name Capsicum annuum ‘NuMex Lemon Spice’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2’

These showy chili peppers from New Mexico State University are ornamental in pots and spicy in the kitchen. With a citrus-inspired flavor, the jalapenos start green and mature to bright yellow as a slight tanginess develops. With a medium-hot heat level, they’re versatile, fresh or pickled. 

Peppers are a crop to harvest at varying stages of development, green or fully ripened yellow. The nightshades bring a diversity of flavors throughout their growth phases. 

Another productive pepper perfect for pots is Capsicum baccatum ‘Lemon Drop.’ The Peruvian heirlooms  (also called ‘Aji Limón’) have the heat level of cayenne with citrusy notes and fragrance. These produce a lot of peppers but are slow in doing so. Allow 100 days for fruit. Their unique heritage and flavor make the wait worth it.

Eggplant ‘Jewel Amethyst’

	botanical name Solanum melongena ‘Jewel Amethyst’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 22”

‘Jewel Amethyst’ eggplant brings a twist to the traditional nightshades. These pot-worthy specimens produce loads of petite fruits to harvest at three to four inches long and two inches wide. The little gems are deep purple with smooth, shiny skins.

The more you harvest ‘Jewel Amethyst,’ the more blooms and fruits it bears until fall. Ready in 80 days, the little ovals are firm and mild with creamy interiors. Plants retain a tidy habit, and the showy fruits make them a container highlight.

Eggplants rely on warm temperatures to germinate and develop. Sow seeds outdoors a few weeks after the final frost when soil temperatures reach 70°F (21°C). Get a jumpstart on growth and production by starting seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost for transplanting with consistent temperatures above 60°F (16°C).

Pineberries

	botanical name Fragaria chiloensis x virginiana
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4-12”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Pineberries are everbearing strawberries with unique white berries dotted with red seeds. A hybrid between red and white strawberries, they’re mostly white and gain a pink blush in full sun. They also have a hint of tropical pineapple flavor.

Pineberries fruit from spring through frost on compact plants. They fruit heavily in spring and about every six weeks thereafter. Fruits are smaller than traditional strawberries and more tender, making them a challenge to ship commercially. Fortunately, we can enjoy the delicacy in our home garden.

Like other strawberries, pineberries thrive in containers, vertical towers, and strawberry pots. They enjoy cool, mild temperatures. Plant them from crowns in spring in northern climates. In warm climates, plant them in the fall to enjoy in the cool months.

Bush Bean ‘Maxibel Filet’

	botanical name Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Maxibel’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 22-24”

‘Maxibel Filet’ are long and slender green beans in the French style. They’re sweet and tender, bred to be lean and stringless even at their full size of six to eight inches long.