If you are starting a container garden, you may be wondering how deep the container should be for each plant. The answer will differ based on the specific type of vegetable you are planting, as each one will have a different type of root system.

There is much to be said about choosing the right size of a container. Containers that are too small will not be able to hold enough water and can end up providing inadequate support for the herb or vegetable. On the other hand, containers that are bigger than they need to be can cause soil to lose its moisture readily.

In this guide, we share with you more about choosing the factors to watch out for when choosing the right containers for vegetable container gardening!

Understanding the General Rule of Thumb

As a general rule, most vegetables will require between 6 to 12 inches of depth in order to grow healthily. For herbs, any container with more than 8 inches of depth will work, whereas you may want to consider pots with a capacity of a few gallons for flowering plants.

When you are unsure, think about how tall the plant you have in mind is, or at least, the part that is visible to you above the soil. Then, look for a container that offers at least half this amount in depth.

Regardless of the size of the container you have gone for, always remember to leave at least an inch of space between the soil and the top of the container to allow water to seep through. Each planter should also have holes at the bottom for water drainage.

The Right Containers for Popular Vegetables

Below, you can find out the size of the container you should be getting for each of these popular vegetables:

• 4 to 5 inches deep: chives, coriander

• 6 to 7 inches deep: thyme, mint, garlic

• 8 to 9 inches deep: cucumber, fennel, radish, leek

• 10 to 12 inches deep: potatoes, summer squash, broccoli, and corn

• 1 gallon: green onions and radicchio

• 2 to 5 gallons: celery, asparagus, bush beans, spinach, peppers, parsley, cauliflower, rosemary, and lettuce

• 5 gallons: pole beans, green beans, horseradish, cantaloupe, pumpkin, and carrots

• 5 or more gallons: zucchini and rhubarb

You will find that some containers have measurements in inches whereas others have a capacity in gallons. With the former, this is referring to the diameter of the opening of the container.

Purchase the Vegetable Seeds and Planters You Need from DIY Tools

Looking to get started on vegetable container gardening? Come to DIY Tools today for all the plant pots and accessories you need. In addition, you can also find our bestselling pack of 43 heirloom vegetable garden seeds to kickstart your vegetable garden! If you have any questions or queries, please contact us and a member of staff will get back to you as soon as we can!