Container gardening has totally changed the way I look at small spaces—my little balcony went from bare and boring to a leafy escape I actually look forward to tending. It’s proof that you don’t need a big yard to enjoy fresh flowers, herbs, or even a few homegrown veggies.
All it takes is a few pots, some good soil, and the right plant choices to turn a corner of your patio or windowsill into a mini oasis. I’ve found that even hanging baskets and old crates can work wonders when you get creative.
If you’re craving a bit of green in your life but short on space, container gardening might be just the thing. With the right setup, your little patch can thrive all season long.
1. Herbs That Keep On Giving
Fresh herbs from the grocery store cost nearly as much as a whole plant sometimes. Growing your own means having access to fresh flavors whenever cooking calls for them.
Basil, rosemary, thyme, and mint all do remarkably well in containers at least 6 inches deep. Just make sure to give mint its own pot – it tends to take over if planted with others.
I’ve kept a rosemary plant going for three years in the same container, moving it indoors during winter. Nothing beats stepping outside to snip fresh herbs while cooking dinner.
2. Cherry Tomatoes For Tiny Spaces
Small-fruited tomato varieties produce surprisingly well in containers that are at least 12 inches deep. Determinate or bush varieties like ‘Tiny Tim’ or ‘Patio Princess’ stay compact while still yielding plenty of sweet fruits.
Give them full sun and consistent moisture. Adding a tomato cage or small trellis when planting helps support the stems as they grow and become heavy with fruit.
My container tomatoes on a south-facing balcony produced enough for daily salads last summer. The key was using a self-watering pot during the hottest weeks.
3. Strawberries In Hanging Baskets
Strawberry plants naturally spill over edges, making them perfect for hanging baskets or railing planters. Their shallow root systems don’t demand deep soil, so even small containers work well.
Alpine or day-neutral varieties provide berries throughout the growing season rather than just one big harvest. Position them where you can easily reach the fruits as they ripen – they’re best picked immediately.
The plants I hung outside my kitchen window last year were not just productive but acted as a living curtain, filtering the harsh afternoon sun while providing sweet treats.
4. Peppers For Sunny Spots
Compact pepper varieties bring color and spice to container gardens. Both sweet bell peppers and spicy varieties grow well in pots at least 12 inches deep, provided they receive 6-8 hours of direct sunlight.
Look for varieties specifically bred for containers, like ‘Redskin’ or ‘Cute Stuff Red.’ These plants stay manageable while still producing full-sized fruits throughout the summer.
Last season I grew three different pepper plants in a row of matching containers along my driveway. The sunny spot was perfect, and having different varieties meant I could choose between sweet or spicy depending on what I was cooking.
5. Salad Greens For Continuous Harvest
Shallow-rooted lettuce, arugula, and spinach thrive in containers as little as 6 inches deep. Using the cut-and-come-again method lets you harvest outer leaves while the centers continue growing for weeks of fresh salads.
These greens prefer cooler temperatures, making them perfect for spring and fall container gardening. During summer heat, move them to partially shaded spots to prevent bolting.
A wide, shallow container near my kitchen door has been my salad bar for three seasons now. Sowing new seeds every few weeks ensures I never run out of fresh greens for daily salads.
6. Dwarf Citrus Trees
Meyer lemons, key limes, and kumquats have been bred into compact versions perfect for large containers. Their glossy leaves stay green year-round, and the fragrant blossoms and colorful fruits make them both ornamental and productive.
Choose a pot at least 18 inches wide and deep with excellent drainage. These trees need consistent moisture but never soggy roots. Moving them indoors during winter in colder climates is necessary.
The dwarf Meyer lemon on my patio produced enough fruit for multiple batches of lemonade last year. Its scented blooms in spring attracted bees and filled the air with the most amazing citrus perfume.
7. Cascading Petunias
Wave petunias and their trailing cousins create dramatic color that spills over container edges. Unlike older varieties that needed constant deadheading, newer types are self-cleaning and bloom continuously from spring through fall.
They perform best in containers with excellent drainage and at least 6 hours of sun. Regular feeding keeps the flower show going strong all season long.
A neighbor first introduced me to wave petunias growing in her window boxes. The purple and white flowers created such an impressive display that I immediately added them to my own container collection, where they’ve become summer staples.
8. Ornamental Grasses
Adding movement and texture to container gardens, compact ornamental grasses like Japanese Forest Grass or Blue Fescue create visual interest without taking much space. Their arching forms complement other container plants beautifully.
Most need just moderate watering once established. The rustling sound they make in the slightest breeze adds another sensory dimension to container gardens that flowers alone can’t provide.
When my containers looked too static and formal, adding a few ornamental grasses completely transformed them. They’re especially stunning in late summer when many send up delicate seed heads that catch the light.
9. Succulents For The Forgetful Gardener
Sedums, echeverias, and haworthias store water in their fleshy leaves, making them remarkably resilient in containers. Their architectural forms create living sculptures that need minimal care and attention.
Shallow containers with excellent drainage work best. The trick is finding the right balance – they need some water, just not very often. A gritty cactus soil mix prevents root rot.
My kitchen windowsill has housed the same succulent arrangement for two years now. I water it maybe once every three weeks, and it continues to grow and even flower occasionally, asking almost nothing in return.
10. Compact Blueberries
Newer dwarf blueberry varieties like ‘Top Hat’ and ‘Northblue’ have been developed specifically for container culture. Beyond their sweet summer berries, they offer spring flowers and brilliant fall foliage.
Use acidic potting mix designed for rhododendrons and azaleas. Containers should be at least 18 inches wide and deep to accommodate their root systems and allow for proper development.
Planting two different varieties improves pollination and fruit set. My pair of container blueberries on the deck produced enough berries for morning cereal for several weeks, with their red autumn leaves providing a bonus season of interest.
11. Lavender For Sunny Spots
Few plants combine beauty, fragrance, and drought tolerance as well as lavender does in containers. English and French varieties stay relatively compact while providing aromatic flowers that attract pollinators.
The key to success is sharp drainage and full sun. Using terracotta pots helps soil dry properly between waterings, preventing the root rot that often troubles lavender.
A row of lavender in pots defines the edge of my small patio. Brushing against them releases their calming scent, and the dried flower stalks brought indoors continue to fragrance rooms long after summer ends.
12. Colorful Swiss Chard
Rainbow or Bright Lights Swiss chard brings edible landscaping to containers with its jewel-toned stems in yellow, pink, orange, and red. The nutritious leaves can be harvested continually while the plants maintain their ornamental appeal.
Plant them in containers at least 8 inches deep with rich soil. They tolerate partial shade but produce best with at least 4-6 hours of sun daily.
Mixed with flowers in my porch planters, Swiss chard created conversation pieces that also contributed to dinner. The young leaves went into salads while larger ones were sautéed as side dishes throughout the growing season.
13. Climbing Nasturtiums
Trailing nasturtium varieties can cascade 3-4 feet from hanging baskets or climb small trellises in container gardens. Both their round leaves and edible flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red add cheerful color.
These plants actually bloom better in lean soil without fertilizer. Too much nitrogen produces lush leaves at the expense of flowers. They’re among the easiest plants to grow from seed directly in containers.
The nasturtiums climbing my balcony railing not only looked charming but provided peppery flower garnishes for summer salads. Hummingbirds discovered them too, adding another layer of garden enjoyment.
14. Dwarf Sunflowers
Varieties like ‘Teddy Bear’ and ‘Sunspot’ grow just 12-30 inches tall while still producing cheerful yellow blooms. Their strong stems rarely need staking, making them ideal container subjects.
Plant them in pots at least 12 inches deep. Unlike their towering cousins, these compact varieties won’t outgrow their welcome or topple in summer storms.
Growing these smaller sunflowers in a large pot by my front steps brought smiles to everyone who visited. They attracted goldfinches that performed acrobatics to reach the seeds, creating natural entertainment right outside my window.
15. Compact Zucchini
Bush-type zucchini varieties like ‘Eight Ball’ and ‘Patio Star’ have been bred specifically for small spaces. Unlike their sprawling garden cousins, these stay relatively compact while still producing plenty of tender squash.
Use containers at least 18 inches wide and deep with rich soil. Regular harvesting while fruits are small encourages continued production and prevents the plant from becoming overwhelmed.
A single container zucchini on my small deck produced more than enough for my household last summer. The yellow blossoms were a bonus – stuffed with herbs and cheese, they made special appetizers for summer gatherings.
16. Colorful Coleus
Modern coleus varieties offer stunning foliage in combinations of green, burgundy, pink, yellow, and copper that hold their color in both sun and shade. Their bushy growth habit fills containers quickly with minimal maintenance.
Though traditionally considered shade plants, many newer varieties tolerate full sun. Pinching back the growing tips encourages branching and creates fuller plants. Removing flower spikes extends the foliage display.
When my shaded containers looked dull, adding coleus transformed them completely. Unlike flowers that come and go, their colorful leaves provided consistent interest from spring planting until fall frost.
17. Miniature Roses
True miniature roses grow just 15-30 inches tall with perfectly formed, small blooms that appear continuously throughout the growing season. Their compact size makes them ideal for containers on sunny patios and balconies.
Choose pots at least 12 inches deep with excellent drainage. Regular deadheading encourages new blooms, while winter protection helps these perennials return year after year in most climates.
The ‘Gourmet Popcorn’ miniature rose in a glazed blue container has been the centerpiece of my small patio for three seasons now. Its clusters of white flowers against glossy green leaves provide the classic rose experience without demanding much space.
18. Sweet Potato Vine
Ornamental sweet potato vines in lime green, purple, or variegated forms create dramatic spills of foliage from containers. Their rapid growth quickly covers the sides of pots, softening hard edges and adding movement.
Combine them with upright plants for the classic “thriller, filler, spiller” container design. They grow best with consistent moisture and at least partial sun to maintain their vibrant colors.
Adding a chartreuse sweet potato vine to containers that seemed too static completely transformed them. The heart-shaped leaves created a living waterfall effect that connected the pots visually with the surrounding patio.
19. Compact Eggplant
Smaller eggplant varieties like ‘Fairy Tale’ and ‘Patio Baby’ produce tender fruits on plants just 18-24 inches tall. Their purple-striped fruits and star-shaped lavender flowers make them ornamental as well as edible.
Plant them in containers at least 14 inches deep and wide. Full sun and consistent watering produce the best yields. The fruits are best harvested young when their skins are still glossy.
Growing these petite eggplants in containers near the grill made summer cooking more inspired. Their small size meant they cooked quickly, and their lack of bitterness eliminated the need for salting before cooking.