How to grow food in small spaces using pots and containers

Learn how to grow vegetables, fruit and herbs in any small space. Includes a free pot size guide and tips to save money when getting started.

Are you passionate about growing your own food but only have a small space? Do you live in a rental property and want to keep things easy to move to the next place? Do you having tricky shading issues and need to be able to follow the sun during different seasons? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then growing vegetables in pots and containers might be one of the best ways to get started!

Can you grow vegetables in pots and containers?

I’m excited to tell you that yes, you absolutely can grow vegetables, herbs and fruit trees in pots and containers! In fact, this was the only way I grew my herbs and vegetables for many years while living in rental properties across the state. Growing in pots allowed me to easily move my vegetable and herb garden between houses without leaving my hard work behind. If you have a small yard, growing in pots and containers allows you to move them around the garden to control the hours of direct sun or protect your plants from frost in colder climates. Another great method of growing in small spaces is using a hydroponic system, this is a great article on hydroponic growing.

What kind of fruits, herbs and vegetables grow best in pots?

You might be surprised to hear that almost all vegetables can be grown in pots. Everything from salad greens, herbs, tomatoes, kale, broccoli, potatoes, capsicum, beetroot, peas, beans and even pumpkins! This means that you can have fresh veggies even if your only have a little space. Some fruit trees do very well in pots such as dwarf varieties of citrus, apples, pears, mulberries and stone fruits, this is a great way to get fruit trees growing before transplanting into a garden down the track if you get the chance. There is so much potential to make the most of your smaller space or rental garden!/p>

So long as the pots are the correct diameter and depth to allow the root system to develop properly, you are bound to achieve really good results.

What are the best size pots to grow vegetables in?

Pot sizes really depend on what you plan to grow. Shallow rooted plants such as lettuce, spinach, parsley and strawberries do well in more shallow pots, whilst deep rooted or larger plants such as cucumber, tomato, carrots, and beetroot require a deep pot.

Some types of vegetables prefer to grow in the ground such as zucchini and pumpkin, as their root systems spread out quite a lot, so space in an in-ground garden may be best saved for these veggies. If you would still like to grow these in containers, I would recommend allowing plenty of space and depth by using large containers. With the right container for the type of plant, you can grow plenty of fresh produce in small spaces. There are many variations of pots and containers on the market. You may choose to go with simple plastic containers, terra cotta clay pots or a including self-watering planter such as a wicking bed for your container vegetable garden.

For my free guide on how to choose the best pot size for the vegetables you’d like to grow, enter your email address… list of vegetables and corresponding pot sizes!

What varieties are best for growing in pots and containers?

As there is often variation within plant species, it is important to ensure that the plant you are selecting will grow well in a pot. Have a look at the label on the plants you are purchasing and see what the recommended spacing is, this will give you an indication of the minimum pot size required as well as help you to decide how many of that plant will fit in one pot. Dwarf varieties will generally do better in limited space than their full size cousins.

What type of soil should you fill pots with?

When filling your pots or containers, it’s important to use the right type of growing medium. Potting soil is best as it allows good drainage as well as optimal water and nutrient retention. You can add compost to this to give it a good boost of nutrients and soil biology. You can buy potting mix from garden centers which contain a combination of materials, though these can vary greatly between brands and also with brands. If using garden soil, it’s a good idea to add some compost and vermiculite to increase the organic matter and enable better water holding capacity.

I suggest looking for a certified organic potting mix without the addition of chemical fertilisers and wetting agents. You can also make your own potting mix quite easily, you just need a few ingredients. This can save money and you can adjust the ratios to suit you.

How do you plant into pots and containers?

‘Potting up’ a plant from a small pot into a larger pot:

1. Simply fill the larger pot to roughly 2/3 the volume of the pot with potting mix.
2. Gently remove the plant from the small pot, separating plants and teasing out roots if needed.
3. Place the root ball of the plant into the centre of the pot and back fill around the roots with potting mix.
4. Press down around the roots firmly to secure the soil around the base of the plant. Always water in well after potting up. I suggest using an organic fertilizer/soil conditioner such as blood and bone, compost or worm castings and a water-soluble fertilizer/tonic such as seaweed or fish emulsion. It’s important to use organic fertilizers and amendments when growing edible plants, and they’re also better for helping promote healthy soil.

Sowing seeds into a pot:

1. Fill the pot with potting mix.
2. Use your finger to create holes or channels to the desired depth (read your seed packet for instructions).
3. Sprinkle/place seeds into these holes or channels and cover lightly with soil.
4. Water in well and continue to water 1-2 times per day to encourage germination.

What happens if your plant outgrows the pot you have chosen?

This may happen as you get used to knowing what size pot you need for certain plants. If your plant outgrows the pot that it’s in, you may be able to pot it into a larger container, depending on what type of plant it is. Things like tomatoes, silverbeet, herbs, capsicum and chilli will tolerant transplanting. Whereas plants that don’t like their roots disturbed such as cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini, beans and root vegetables may not be your biggest fan if you try and move them. In this case, it may be an option to simply ‘thin out’ the plants within the pot if there isn’t enough room, or you may just have to take it as a lesson and try something different next time!

How often should you water plants in pots and containers?

Potted plants generally need more frequent watering than plants located in the ground. This is because as water drains out of the pot, roots are no longer able to access it. Additionally, black plastic pots heat up quite a bit, causing the soil to dry out more quickly.

For these reasons, it may be required to water up to twice a day during hot, dry periods. Trays that sit under pots to catch excess water can reduce the amount of watering required. Plants are able to access this excess water when they need it.

You can also try the ‘sunken pot’ method, where you partially sink your pots/containers into the ground to reduce the rate of evaporation. You can learn more about sunken container gardening here.

My frugal tips

There are many ways you can be a little bit frugal when getting started with growing in pots and containers. Here are some of my tips

• Source second hand pots – either buy/swap/sell pages, garage sales or your local tip shop. I sourced a bunch of pots from our local tip shop. They were happy to give them away for free! Your local community garden may have some pots they are selling or giving away, or check out Marketplace.
• Recycle something you already have into a pot/container. Old buckets work well, just drill some drain holes and you’re good to go!
• Learn to grow from seed – although this takes some trial and error, growing from seed saves so much money. One packet of hundreds of seeds costs about the same as a punnet of seedlings.
• Save seed – saving seed is an important gardening skill. Once you know how to save seed, you can have an endless supply of vegetable plants for zero dollars.
• Make your own potting mix – although it costs more up front to purchase the ingredients for DIY potting mix, the ingredients go a lot further than a bag of commercial potting mix will.
• Take cuttings – snipping off some rosemary or mint from a friend or neighbours plant can give you a whole plant for free!
• Don’t worry too much about how it looks – I know, I know, my black plastic pots are not the prettiest to look at. But using what I have access to saves so much money, and this money I can invest in something that I value more than having cute matchy pots. You could also upgrade your pots over time!