This post shows you vegetables you can easily grow in containers!
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Thinking about vegetables you can grow in containers in your space next summer? It’s easier than you might think!
If you live in an apartment building, the sun reflects objects to make a warmer environment on your balcony or patio.
This works out perfectly since the majority of plants love the sun!
On the other hand, moisture will be your number one issue in warmer temperatures. You may need to water your plants daily to keep moisture high. If it’s super hot, you may even need to water twice a day!
Unsure about the weather conditions in your area? Be sure to check your planting hardiness zone.
7 easy Warm-Weather Vegetables You Can Start Growing in Containers This Summer
1. Cucumbers
As a vining plant, you might think an apartment balcony or patio space is too small to grow cucumbers but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
All cucumbers need is a sunny location, soil high in organic matter, and plenty of water.
It’s a smart idea to train them to a trellis.
Not only will this lessen the chance of pests and disease, but the fruit will develop cleaner and straighter.
Harvest tip: Pick cucumbers while they are small for the freshest taste!
2. Peppers
Peppers thrive in warm weather and produce their best fruits with consistent temperatures.
Peppers can be classified into two groups: sweet or hot.
Sweet peppers are eaten raw, cooked, or dried while hot peppers are usually dried and used as an addition to spices.
Plant peppers in warm well-draining soil and water regularly. Protect them from intense sun with mulch and keep the moisture content high to harvest in about 2 to 3 months!
Harvest tip: Sweet peppers can be picked at any stage but allow ripening to a deep color for a sweeter flavor!
Use hot pepper varieties, as needed.
3. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a hearty, healthy, and easy vegetable found in most southern American households.
When times are hard, sweet potatoes are a filling and valuable commodity to have on hand.
The key to successful sweet potatoes is soil preparation! A moderately fertile sandy loam soil is ideal. If using heavier potting soil, a mixture amended with homemade compost or horse manure is best.
Harvest Tip: Allow the roots to dry out in the sun for several hours and then place potatoes in a warm room for 10 days to cure. (This allows the starch to turn to sugar for maximum flavor and taste!)
4. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a tangy base for many dishes. There are plenty of varieties to plant that will thrive in most conditions.
If you don’t have a lot of space, grow a dwarf tomato variety like Tiny Tim or Pixie.
Inexperienced gardeners can easily grow these in a 5-gallon bucket. As they mature, buy a tomato cage or stake the stem with a branch and plant clips for support.
Plant tomatoes in well-fertilized soil with at least 6 hours of full sun.
Note that soil high in too much nitrogen will result in overdeveloped vines and low to no fruit production.
Harvest tip: You’ll know your tomatoes are ready when you can easily pull them off the vine. If you feel resistance, give them a little more time.
5. Beans
Beans are a beginner gardener’s favorite and grow well in warm weather in pretty much any soil.
Beans are usually either edible-podded or shell-type.
Edible podded can be harvested and eaten as they grow while shell types grow to maturity and are removed from the pod and cooked separately.
Considering how cheap beans are at the grocery store, I wouldn’t say this is the most cost-effective vegetable to grow.
But it never hurts to learn to grow your food. Beans will adapt to pretty much any soil but add fertilizer once the plant is about 4-6 inches high. This will benefit production.
Harvest Tip: Use beans when they are young and tender on the plant for a regular harvest. Only allow shell types to fully mature before picking.
6. Eggplant
Looking for uncommon vegetables to grow in containers? It’s not very often that you see eggplant in American households but you should reconsider!
Eggplant is highly beneficial with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
This vegetable also adapts pretty well to growing in containers.
While all plants are susceptible to insects, there is a huge community of them that truly love eggplant. Use neem oil regularly to repel them or pick them off yourself.
Harvest tip: Eggplant is ready for harvest when it has a shiny glossy coating. If there’s browning, that is a sign of overripeness.
7. Collard Greens
Another traditional crop of the South, collard greens are extremely tolerant to hot weather.
These are also shallow-rooted plants that are ideal for growing in standard 5-gallon buckets.
Keep plants moist in a nitrogen-rich soil. Or add a nitrogen fertilizer to the plant about every 3 or 4 weeks.
Harvest tip: Pick from the outer leaves as they develop to keep the plant producing all summer!
This list is highly dependent on your zone and conditions but I hope it’s a helpful starting guide to growing vegetables in containers for beginner enthusiasts!
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