Living in New Jersey doesn’t mean you need a sprawling backyard to grow your own fresh produce. Many Garden State residents in apartments, condos, or homes with limited outdoor space are successfully cultivating delicious fruits, vegetables, and herbs in containers, on windowsills, or through community garden plots.
Our state’s unique climate offers growing zones 6a to 7b, giving us plenty of options for container gardening from early spring through late fall. The satisfaction of harvesting your own homegrown food is possible even on the smallest balcony or brightest windowsill in urban Hoboken or suburban Cherry Hill.
Ready to start your garden without digging up a yard? These 18 crops thrive in New Jersey’s conditions and adapt beautifully to small-space growing, whether you’re dealing with a sunny patio, a community garden plot, or just a few pots on your apartment windowsill.
1. Cherry Tomatoes
Compact varieties like ‘Tiny Tim’ or ‘Tumbling Tom’ produce abundantly in containers as small as 5 gallons. The plants need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, so place them on a south-facing balcony or patio.
For my Newark apartment, I use self-watering containers to maintain consistent moisture during hot Jersey summers. These little red gems start producing in July and continue until first frost, typically giving you several months of harvest.
2. Lettuce
Growing lettuce in shallow containers allows for multiple harvests from the same plants. Simply snip the outer leaves while leaving the center intact, and they’ll regrow several times.
Morning sun with afternoon shade works perfectly for lettuce in our climate. Jersey gardeners find spring and fall are ideal seasons, as summer heat causes lettuce to bolt. Try varieties like ‘Buttercrunch’ or ‘Red Sails’ for container-friendly options.
3. Bush Beans
Unlike pole beans that climb tall, bush varieties stay compact while producing plenty of crisp pods. A 12-inch deep container can support 4-5 plants, yielding handfuls of fresh beans every few days during peak season.
Direct sowing after the last frost date (usually mid-May in most of New Jersey) works best. Some Jersey community gardeners plant successive crops every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvests throughout summer. ‘Provider’ and ‘Blue Lake Bush’ perform exceptionally well in our climate.
4. Basil
Nothing beats having fresh basil steps away from your kitchen. This aromatic herb thrives in our humid summers and can be grown in pots as small as 6 inches in diameter.
Frequent harvesting encourages bushy growth – just pinch below a leaf junction. Many apartment dwellers throughout Princeton and Montclair keep potted basil on kitchen windowsills year-round with supplemental grow lights during winter. For container growing, ‘Spicy Globe’ and ‘Greek Columnar’ varieties stay naturally compact.
5. Peppers
Both sweet and hot pepper varieties flourish in New Jersey’s warm summers. Each plant needs a 3-gallon container minimum and benefits from stakes to support heavy fruit production.
Peppers love heat but can suffer in extreme temperatures. Placing containers where they receive morning sun but get afternoon shade prevents sunscald in July and August. My Camden balcony garden consistently produces abundant harvests from compact varieties like ‘Lunchbox’ sweet peppers and ‘Cayennetta’ hot peppers.
6. Scallions
These versatile onions grow happily in containers just 6 inches deep, making them perfect for small spaces. You can even regrow scallions from grocery store purchases by placing the white root ends in water until they sprout, then transferring to soil.
Scallions tolerate partial shade, making them suitable for east or west-facing windows or balconies. Many Jersey gardeners maintain a continuous supply by planting new batches every few weeks throughout the growing season. Their shallow roots also make them ideal companions in containers with deeper-rooted vegetables.
7. Radishes
From seed to harvest in just 3-4 weeks, radishes deliver quick gratification for impatient gardeners. Their shallow root systems make them perfect for window boxes or other containers at least 6 inches deep.
Spring and fall plantings work best in our climate, avoiding summer’s heat. Jersey gardeners appreciate how radishes can be tucked between slower-growing plants to maximize space. Varieties like ‘Cherry Belle’ and ‘French Breakfast’ perform consistently well in container environments throughout the Garden State.
8. Strawberries
Alpine or day-neutral strawberry varieties produce smaller but intensely flavored berries all season long. Specialized strawberry pots with multiple planting pockets maximize space, though any container with good drainage works well.
Unlike June-bearing varieties that need more space, these compact plants thrive in containers. Many Jersey balcony gardeners in Asbury Park and Morristown report success with ‘Mignonette’ and ‘Yellow Wonder’ varieties. The plants’ trailing habit makes them attractive as well as productive in hanging baskets.
9. Kale
Remarkably cold-tolerant, kale often produces well into December in most parts of New Jersey. Dwarf varieties like ‘Dwarf Blue Curled’ or ‘Red Russian’ grow beautifully in 10-inch containers while providing nutritious leaves for months.
Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage new growth. The plants actually improve in flavor after light frosts, making them perfect for fall container gardens. Many community garden plots in Elizabeth and Trenton feature kale as a space-efficient crop that withstands our variable climate.
10. Microgreens
These nutrient-dense seedlings grow in containers as shallow as 2 inches deep. From sowing to harvest takes just 7-14 days, making them perfect for impatient gardeners or those with limited space.
A sunny windowsill in any Jersey apartment provides enough light. Many local chefs in Montclair and Jersey City maintain continuous microgreen production year-round indoors. Try easy varieties like sunflower, pea shoots, or radish for your first attempt—they’re nearly foolproof even for beginners.
11. Mint
Growing mint in containers is actually recommended since it tends to spread aggressively in garden beds. A 10-inch pot provides plenty of fresh leaves for summer mojitos and tea.
Partial shade works fine for mint, making it suitable for east or west-facing balconies throughout New Jersey. The plant survives our winters when placed in protected locations. For apartment dwellers in Hoboken and New Brunswick, mint thrives on windowsills with morning sun and provides aromatic harvests year-round.
12. Cucumbers
Bush or “patio” cucumber varieties stay compact while producing full-sized fruits. Each plant needs a 5-gallon container minimum and benefits from vertical support like a small trellis or tomato cage.
Regular harvesting encourages continued production throughout summer. Many Jersey container gardeners in Atlantic City and Vineland have success with varieties like ‘Spacemaster’ and ‘Bush Champion’ that don’t require extensive sprawling space. Consistent watering is essential, especially during July and August heat waves.
13. Chives
These perennial herbs return year after year even in containers, making them economical choices for small-space gardens. A 6-inch pot provides plenty of flavorful green shoots for cooking.
Chives produce pretty purple flowers that attract beneficial insects to your container garden. The plants tolerate partial shade and our Jersey winters when containers are placed in protected locations. Many condo dwellers in Edison and Cherry Hill maintain chives on balconies or patios for years with minimal care.
14. Arugula
This peppery green grows quickly in containers just 6 inches deep. From seed to harvest takes only 30-40 days, and like lettuce, you can harvest the outer leaves while the center continues growing.
Arugula prefers cooler temperatures, making spring and fall ideal growing seasons in New Jersey. The plant tolerates partial shade, so east or west-facing balconies work well. Many urban gardeners in Newark and Camden maintain continuous production by sowing new seeds every 2-3 weeks during suitable growing seasons.
15. Eggplant
Compact varieties like ‘Fairy Tale’ or ‘Patio Baby’ produce smaller fruits but stay manageable in containers. Each plant needs a 5-gallon pot minimum and plenty of sunlight to produce well.
Our hot Jersey summers provide ideal growing conditions for this heat-loving crop. The plants benefit from staking as they become heavy with fruit. Community gardeners in Paterson and Trenton report excellent yields from container-grown eggplants, with harvests continuing from July through September in most years.
16. Swiss Chard
The colorful stems of ‘Bright Lights’ chard make this vegetable both ornamental and edible. Plants grow well in containers 10-12 inches deep and produce for months with regular harvesting.
Heat-tolerant yet cold-hardy, chard often survives from spring through fall in New Jersey’s climate. Taking just the outer leaves allows continuous harvests. Many apartment dwellers in Princeton and Montclair incorporate chard into decorative container arrangements on balconies, combining beauty with functionality.
17. Rosemary
This woody perennial herb grows happily in containers for years. Upright varieties need at least a 12-inch pot, while trailing types work well in hanging baskets.
Rosemary prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade. During winter, many Jersey gardeners in zones 6b-7b leave potted rosemary outdoors in protected locations, while those in cooler areas bring containers inside. The leaves provide year-round seasoning, making this herb a favorite for apartment dwellers.
18. Dwarf Peas
Compact varieties like ‘Tom Thumb’ or ‘Little Marvel’ grow just 8-12 inches tall, making them perfect for containers. A window box or railing planter provides enough space for a satisfying harvest.
Spring and fall plantings work best in our climate. The plants appreciate cooler weather but need full sun to produce well. Many Jersey balcony gardeners in Morristown and Summit plant peas in March for May harvests, then again in August for October picking, maximizing their small growing spaces.