Ideas For Container Vegetable Gardens

vegetable succession planting in metal container

Credit: Julian Wass

You can grow quite a bit of food in just a few pots. These herb and veggie garden ideas for containers also can make cute, stylish additions to your doorstep, deck, patio, or garden.

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Add Color with Containers

multi-colored planted containers on steps

Credit: Cameron Sadeghpour

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Grow Up

hanging basket with basil and tomatoes

Credit: Hopkins Photography

Plant your vegetables in hanging baskets if ground space is scarce. Compact or "bush" varieties are best, though many herbs are also perfect picks for baskets. This pairing of tomato and basil, for example, creates a delicious and attractive display.

Test Garden Tip: Set up a drip-watering system to save you a substantial amount of time with a hose or watering can.

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Be Creative

wine crates planted with flowers and vegetables

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

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Stagger Height

multi-colored containers with vegetables and herbs

Credit: Adam Albright

Select containers of different sizes and create a grouping to offer additional interest. These four containers filled with cucumber, tomato, pepper, basil, thyme, and parsley add lots of visual appeal to a landscape.

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Incorporate Colorful Varieties

red-stemmed swiss chard in gray container

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Use vegetables with attractive foliage, flowers, or fruits in your favorite planters. Here, red-stemmed Swiss chard, glowing Lemon Gem marigolds, and a hot pepper add great color and texture to a container.

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Grow Edible Flowers

painted wooden boxes with vegetables

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Add color and cheer to your containers (plus your salads, desserts, and other dishes) by growing edible flowers. Note how calendula and signet marigolds brighten a planting of Swiss chard, cabbage, basil, and tomatoes.

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Make an Herbal Window Box

scented herbs in container on bench

Credit: Dean Schoeppner

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Use Textural Contrasts

multi-textured plants in containers on deck

Credit: Jason Donnelly

Make a stunning statement even if you're growing all-green plants by combining textures. Here, rosemary's fine, needle-like leaves are a perfect balance to the big, bold eggplant. A potted citrus, lemon verbena, and thyme further enhance the effect.

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More on Texture

onions chives and tomatoes in containers

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Grasses seem to go with everything because of their fine textures show off other plants well. Get the look in your vegetable garden by incorporating onions and chives. They work well with the cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers shown here. And happily, their flavors are a perfect fit, too!

Test Garden Tip: Lemongrass is another great pick for adding a grassy texture.

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Enjoy Climbers

cucumber vines in gray elevated container

Credit: Marty Baldwin

A scrambling cucumber is the star of this container creation. With its big leaves, bright flowers, and yummy fruits, it's a natural showstopper, especially when paired with an upright plant such as rosemary.

Test Garden Tip: Make harvest easy by letting cucumbers grow along the railing of your deck or patio.

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Provide Support

container with obelisk for climbing vinew

Credit: Marty Baldwin

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Try Succession Planting

vegetable succession planting in metal container

Credit: Julian Wass

Gardeners get more produce from a small space by using a technique called succession planting. Once your plants are finished producing fruits or veggies for the summer, replace them with something else (such as a cool-season vegetable like broccoli if the warm weather is coming to an end). For example, the lettuce in this container will fade in summer, allowing you to grow eggplant, pepper, or another heat-loving variety with lovely lemon verbena.

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Keep it Manageable

multiple grey containers with vegetables on deck

Credit: Marty Baldwin

You may be able to get more plants than you think in a tight space. Here, just four pots provide a plethora of produce: Cucumbers, rosemary, Swiss chard, tomatoes, kale, eggplants, basil, peppers, and more. Limit the number of varieties you grow to only what you can use to save time and effort.

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Make Them Handy

easy-access contsainers with tomatoes

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Place your containers where you'll be able to access them easily. It might be right outside your kitchen door, next to the grill to enhance a summer meal, or beside to your favorite bench or chair for convenient harvesting.

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Play off Plants

basil and black pearl pepper in container

Credit: Marty Baldwin

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Match Your Style

colorful plants in front of bamboo screen

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Create a lush look by growing plants that seem to explode with color, texture, and fragrance. See how nasturtiums, signet marigolds, peppers, tomatoes, basil, and pineapple sage fill this area with cottage garden elegance.

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Accessorize Your Container

bentwood trellis in herb container

Credit: Jay Wilde

Leave a little space in your containers for garden decor. Here, a bentwood trellis adds color and interest to a planting of basil, parsley, and chives.

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Add a Touch of Art

planted container surrounded by bee skeps

Credit: Marty Baldwin

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Go Upside Down

plant stand growing hanging tomatoes

Credit: Scott Little

Down is the new up! Why not try growing your tomatoes underneath their pot? Whether you choose hanging baskets, a five-gallon bucket with a hole on the bottom, or something else, it can be an interesting way to cultivate your favorite vegetable.

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