For those that live in apartments or locales where they don’t have a lot of space, growing plants within containers is a great idea. However, which vegetables grow the best? Below is an overview of the top vegetables to grow in containers.

Peas

Peas may be planted early during spring and later during fall when the temperatures drop. They come in three types, which are snow peas, sugar snap peas and English peas. They work well for succession style planting since the will enhance the soil by adding nitrogen. However, the majority of peas require various levels of support but they grow easily and rapidly.

Squash

This vegetable is simple to grow making it excellent for beginners. However, the downside is that it needs quite a bit of space and a larger container, which should be placed in a spot with good sunlight, and you must place the right type of soil inside the pot and water it consistently. Those that plan to grow winter varieties like butternut squash must be certain the one they select is not a giant squash, since they can weigh as much as twenty pounds and will break open containers which are too small to hold them.

Tomato

Tomatoes are one of the easiest fruits to grow inside containers and taste wonderful. To plant it you’ll want a sizeable repository along with a cage that prevents it from breaking or bending the vines. When shopping for tomato seedlings be on the lookout for stock plants which are shorter and free of blossoms. It is also important to remember that the bigger the tomato type, the larger the pot that you’ll need to grow it. Finally, tomatoes are not cold friendly so make sure they aren’t exposed to frigid temperatures.

Potato

Potatoes which are grown within a container and freshly picked will taste different than their grocery store counterparts. This is because they will contain an elevated water content which results in a flavor which is earthy yet slightly bitter. To grow them successfully within containers, you’ll need a considerable amount of soil as well as water but the end result is worth it. Plus, potatoes are one of the few vegetables that actually grow better in containers since this protects them from blight and fungus.

Lettuce

This is one of the fastest growing container plants on the list. Additionally, planting lettuce within containers will provide greater flexibility when it comes to controlling the pests and weeds which are commonly found in conventional gardens. However, it is important to remember that lettuce is a spring crop so you’ll need to harvest it early in the year although there are also some lettuce types which are capable of withstanding higher summer temperatures. Another technique for extending the harvest is to transfer the container to an area which is cool and shady, since lettuce doesn’t require the same amount of sunlight as other vegetables.