Gardening with pots is a quick way to make more of smaller spaces – but which edibles and ornamentals are right? Here are some of the best plants for container gardening
Container gardening is a great way to make the most of limited space. Pots allow you to grow more in a patio or balcony area, and container growing can often be easier than bed-based alternatives. But it’s important to consider which are the best plants for container gardening schemes. You may have a hankering for a particular floral variety or edible plant – but will it fare well with restricted growth? Do you have to select dwarf or compact varieties? Will you be able to water it sufficiently? What about special requirements, like staking and supporting?
You always need to think about growing conditions and which plants are best suited to your area’s temperatures, seasons and available sunlight. You also need to make sure that your choice of container is well matched to your plant’s potential for growth in terms of height and spread. That said, many edible and ornamental plants do well in containers. But there are a few you can be sure will not only thrive but flourish in pots. Here, we round up some clear container winners for florals, foliage and edibles.
Make your next container plants absolute winners with Park Seed’s curated seed picks for easy potted edibles. Grab yours at the Gardening Know How Shop.
Choosing the Best Plants for Container Gardening
The best plants for container gardens work in harmony with your growing region, gardening space, and the containers themselves. If you want to grow a lemon tree, choose a large pot with some weight to it so it won’t tip over. A long, trough-shaped container or herb garden planter is great for growing a kitchen herb garden.
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When choosing good plants for container gardening, don’t forget they will need good soil or potting mix, nutrients, water and sunlight. Make sure you consider the specific needs of the ornamentals and edibles you choose to grow, whether they are plants that need plenty of heat and sunshine, or plants that prefer some afternoon shade or a cooler spot.
For instance, the best plants for container gardening in full sun might include annual flowers, but not ferns. You need drought-tolerant plants for full sun containers, and if you are planting mixed varieties in one tub, they must have similar growing needs. With these things in mind, here are some of the best ideas for container-based growing.
Best Ornamental Plants for Pots
The needs of ornamental plants vary considerably. This presents unique challenges, particularly if you are keen on growing both perennial and annual flowers that bloom all summer, and beyond. Many annuals are tropical species that thrive in heat and with lots of moisture. Make sure you know the conditions required for each plant you choose, so you can give them the best care and encourage the best growth and finest flowers.
1. Coleus
Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) is a popular annual grown for its beautiful, colorful, and varied foliage. These are annuals that are hardy only in zones 10 and 11 in North America, so grow them in summer. They grow very well in containers and tolerate a lot of shade.
For the best coleus plant care, provide fertile soil and don’t let it dry out. Remove the flowers as they appear, so the foliage can shine. Planting mixed coleus plants together, they are capable of bursts of vigor and rapid growth, so make sure the container you choose is sturdy and well supported, as well as having good drainage.
2. Hosta
Like coleus, hostas (Hosta spp.) are prized for their foliage and tolerate shade. You might think their considerable scope for growth makes them unwieldy in pots, but actually they grow well in containers. Just select a large pot that can amply support the plant and allow for adequate drainage. Clay, terracotta or stone options help to keep root systems cool.
Grow hardy hostas as perennials in USDA zones 3-8. You can grow hosta plants as container-based specimens in a range of sizes and colors, including blue and variegated leaved varieties. Just make sure you choose a rich, moist soil and a spot with partial sun. Move to a sheltered spot ahead of winter and protect pots from frost.
3. Lantana
Certain ornamental plants like lantana (Lantana camara) are beautiful, but invasive. Growing this pretty flowering shrub in a container is a responsible way to enjoy it, because you are effectively protecting the other plants in your garden. Lantana prefers full sun, and trailing types will also flourish in hanging baskets.
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This ornamental tolerates dry conditions to some extent, which makes it well-suited to container growing. Don’t be tempted to overwater, and make sure containers have ample drainage. Hardy in USDA zones 10-11, you can grow lantana as an annual. Alternatively, bring it indoors and let it go dormant for winter to grow again in spring.
4. Million Bells
Million bells (Calibrachoa spp.) is an example of a plant that actually grows better in pots than it does direct in garden beds. Hardy in USDA zones 9-11, calibrachoa is an annual in most areas. Grow them in hanging pots to make the most of their trailing growth with abundant, small and colorful flowers from early spring to first frosts.
In order to grow calibrachoa plants well in containers, make sure you use a slightly acidic soil and a container with good drainage. Don’t be tempted to overwater as these plants don’t enjoy being waterlogged. As well as positioning in full sun, make sure you top up containers with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season to ensure they boom prolifically.
5. Canna
Canna (Canna spp.) is a striking and popular tropical plant that does well in containers, as long as you keep them in a spot that will benefit from six-eight hours of sunshine daily. Some species are hardy down to USDA zone 7, but in many areas it’s best to store the rhizomes for overwintering. You can also grow sun-loving cannas as annuals.
To get the best from canna lilies in pots and ensure they produce both beautiful leaves and flowers, give them plenty of rich, organic potting soil. Make sure the potting medium is kept moist but not allowed to get waterlogged. Container-based cannas can still grow very tall, so choose a heavy pot that won’t tip.
Best Edible Plants for Container Gardening
Containers are an ideal space-saving solution for gardeners keen to cultivate all manner of vegetables, herbs and even fruits. Here are some ideas for the best edible plants for container gardening, with options for spice seekers, cut and come again enthusiasts and bona fide berry lovers.
6. Peppers
Peppers (Capsicum annum) are amongst the very best vegetable plants for container gardening, whether your preference is for sweet bells or spicier chilli breeds. The trick is to get your timings right (start indoors ideally six weeks before the last frost). You should also grow container-based peppers in full sun, rich soil, and a container that drains very well.
Peppers are hungry crops, so keep plants well watered and apply a monthly feed during the growing season. Staking is also a good idea to keep burgeoning crops well supported. Regular direct sunlight is essential to help you get the most intense flavors from spicier pepper varieties such as Habanero or Jalapeno, available from the Gardening Know How Shop.
7. Tomatoes
Tomatoes, like peppers, do well in containers and thrive in full sun with plenty of warmth and a rich soil that drains well. Unlike peppers, however, tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) can grow quite large and need a substantial container. As well as stakes, you may need a cage or trellis for some of the more vigorous or larger, beefsteak varieties. Large self-watering containers such as the Rolling Tomato Planter Pot With Trellis from Vego Gardening, available from the Gardening Know How Shop, help to keep vines off the ground and also regulate hydration.
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Good support, plenty of sunshine, and regular watering and feeding will all help potted tomato plants grow faster. You can also accelerate harvests in containers by choosing fast-growing varieties such as Early Girl from Park Seed, available in the Gardening Know How Shop. Other great varieties include disease-resistant San Marzano and tumbling varieties like Tiny Tim and Moneymaker. If you can’t decide on a color, try Park Seed’s Heirloom Rainbow Blend, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, for an array of purple, black and yellow, pink and green fruits.
8. Lettuce
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an easy veggie to grow in containers. Allowing for the high water content of many varieties, particularly those for cut and come again culture, it’s important to use a potting mix and container with excellent drainage – and water regularly, especially on sunny days. Lettuces grow best in fertile soil that holds moderate moisture.
When growing lettuce in containers, choose the largest pots you can find to give plants plenty of space to grow. Mix and match tastes and leaf textures by planting a blend such as Park Seed’s Organic Salad Bowl Mix, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, to embellish lettuce with spicy mustard greens and arugula. Work around the hottest days of summer when cultivating lettuce in pots, planting in spring and fall. Don’t be afraid of successive sowing for repeat crops over several weeks.
9. Highbush Blueberry
Highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are native to North American and hardy in USDA zones 5-8. This native berry plant (also known as the blue huckleberry) is an upright shrub that will grow incredibly well in a container garden. If you grow a blueberry plant in a pot, you can easily cater to its acid-loving temperament by ensuring that its potting medium is a suitable ericaceous blend.
Choose a large, sturdy pot to accommodate the eventual size and weight-bearing during the cropping season. Potted blueberries will tolerate some shade, but produce the sweetest fruits in sunny spots. They also prefer moist soil with good drainage, so use mulch and water regularly. Choose a reliable variety such as Duke or Bluecrop from Green Promise Farms, both available in the Gardening Know How Shop,
10. Herbs
Herbs are very well suited to container growing, so choose your favorite types and enjoy experimenting. Some herbs, such as mint, are best grown in containers on their own, due to their invasive nature. But many of the easiest herbs to grow from seed can be grown in combination tubs, as long as they have similar needs relating to sun or shade. Many herbs prefer plenty of sunshine, but there is some variation in shade tolerance and soil moisture levels, depending on what you grow. Certain types, such as Chives from the Gardening Know How Shop, add further interest with pretty flower heads, which are also edible.
It’s important to get to know the specific needs of your herbs for the best results. Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme and bay will appreciate plenty of sand or gravel mixed in with their potting medium. For taller herbs like chamomile or dill, use sturdy pots and stakes to keep your potted edibles upright and healthy. Several herbs like parsley varieties, such as Lisette or Italian Flat Leaf, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, have long root systems, so are happiest in deeper containers. Have fun exploring different tastes and textures!
Grow your own veggie pizza using Park Seed’s basil and oregano seeds, plus options for tomatoes, onions and peppers. Buy at the Gardening Know How Shop.
Other Great Container Garden Ideas
- Want container plants to look good no matter what the season? Make sure you’re growing the best plants for pots year round to keep containers bursting with life.
- Keen to cultivate a gorgeous cut flower garden but worried about space? Here’s how to grow a cut flower container garden for every type of growing size.
- If you’re feeling adventurous, buckets are a great way for budget-minded gardeners to flex their crop-growing muscles. Here’s how to grow vegetables in buckets the easy way.
- Who said container succulents had to be ordinary? Explore these dynamic succulent arrangement ideas for containers to add novelty and interest to all manner of indoor and outdoor plantings.
- Keep your potted herb gardens in top-top condition with our curated Herb Garden Supplies in the Gardening Know How Shop – browse seed packs, kits, pots and essential tools for container edible perfection guaranteed.
NOTE – This article was originally published in gardeningknowhow and can be viewed here
