Spring is the best season for growing. Mild temperatures and moist soil create the perfect storm for gardening. Make spring an exciting season for you by starting a container garden.
Growing in containers is a great way to sidestep the mess and stress of growing.
With the right container, soil, and the right plant, you’ll be harvesting fresh spring harvests in no time. From a window box to a large planter, from tomatoes to parsley, there are many combinations of container gardens that will thrive.
For growing success, pick vegetable varieties that will thrive in spring. Here are the best vegetables for spring container gardening.
For the best vegetables to grow in container gardening regardless of the season, you can visit our master list of best vegetables for container gardening.
Best Vegetables for Container Gardening List
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Pepper
- Radish
- Spinach
- Tomato
Grow any of these veggies now with the complete guide to container gardening.
Best Vegetables for Container Gardening + Tips for Growing
See the best vegetables for container gardening below, complete with the varieties’ sun needs, guides, and tips for planting.
Broccoli
Days to Harvest: 100-150
Sun Needs: Full (6-8 hours)
Guide: How to Grow Broccoli
Plant broccoli in the early spring for best results. It’s important that your broccoli’s main head is fully mature before high summer temperatures arrive. Once you harvest the main head of broccoli, the plant will produce smaller side shoots that you can harvest for months.
Carrots
Days to Harvest: 50-70
Sun Needs: Full (6-8 hours)
Guide: How to Grow Carrots
Plant carrots early spring to midsummer. Carrots take a little longer to grow, but their sweet crunchy harvest is worth it. Be sure to thin out your carrot container garden so there is enough space in your grow bag for every carrot to fully mature.
Cucumber
Days to Harvest: 55-65
Sun Needs: Full (6-8 hours)
Sow cucumbers beginning in mid to late spring. They need a temperature of at least 68°F to germinate properly, so be careful not to plant too early! For best tasting cucumbers, grow in a sunny spot in warm soil.
Eggplant
Days to Harvest: 100-120
Sun Needs: Full (6-8 hours)
If your spring and summers are long and warm, eggplant is the perfect vegetable to grow. For best container gardening results, choose a variety that matures quickly and produces small to medium-sized fruits. Be sure to wait until after the last frost to plant!
Lettuce
Days to Harvest: 45-55
Sun Needs: Part to Full (4-8 hours)
Guide: How to Grow Lettuce
Lettuce is a frost-hardy, quick, and easy grow. Plant in the spring about two weeks before the last frost, then replant right before the first all frost. Depending on the salad green variety, many lettuces can be harvested throughout their grow, delivering slightly different tastes and sizes.
Parsley
Days to Harvest: Immediate from transplant / 70-90 from seed
Sun Needs: Part (4-8 hours)
Guide: How to Grow Parsley
Plant parsley in March or April or once the weather has warmed up. Parsley grows best when planted around 70°F. It’s a delicious herbaceous flair to most dishes — or make Mediterranean tabbouleh!
Grow Pro Tip: To speed up germination, soak your seeds for up to 24 hours before planting!
Peppers
Days to Harvest: 60-120
Sun Needs: Full (6-8 hours)
Guide: How to Grow Peppers
Peppers are perfect for warm weather gardeners. They need full sun and lots of warmth to grow. As such, be sure that all cold-weather threat has passed before you plant seeds. Whatever variety you choose (hot or sweet), you’ll find lots of joy in your pepper garden.
Radishes
Days to Harvest: 22-70
Sun Needs: Full (6-8 hours)
Radishes are super quick growers that have a peppery taste. Plant radishes about 2-3 weeks before the last spring frost. They’ll be ready to harvest in only 3 short weeks!
Spinach
Days to Harvest: 37-45
Sun Needs: Full (6-8 hours)
As soon as the soil can be worked, your spinach garden can be planted. You want your spinach to mature before high temperatures. Hot, long days cause this leafy green to bolt. Make sure that your container is at least 6 inches across for the best results.
Tomatoes
Days to Harvest: 50-90
Sun Needs: Full (6-8 hours)
Guide: Growing Tomatoes Tips
Tomatoes are the quintessential spring vegetable and a joy to grow (although notoriously difficult). Growing in containers can help take the stress off of tomato growing. Start seeds indoors and plant transplants outdoors after all risk of cold weather has passed.
Best Soil for Container Vegetable Gardening
Creating the right soil environment for your plant will set you on the path to a successful harvest.
When growing vegetables in containers, soilless organic potting mixes found at your local store. Organic soils will give your plants better flavor while soilless mixes will aid in moisture retention.
Alternatively, buy a container garden kit with a customized soil option. Gardenuity’s soil mixture is customized to your plant to create the best possible results.
Grow Pro Tip: Add compost and other amendments to your potting soil. This will help you create a robust environment for your plant!
Best Containers for Container Vegetable Gardening
There are a plethora of options for containers — including grow bags, terra cotta planters, plastic containers, and hanging baskets — and each has their own merits.
However, the container with the most consistent results is a grow bag. Grow bags are usually good at draining and aerating. For example, the Gardenuity grow bag is made of micro-fiber that offers optimal air-flow for your roots. All grow bags are lightweight, making them easy to move in and out of the sun (or inside during a storm).
Whatever you choose, be sure that your container has enough drainage and won’t bake your plant.
Additionally, be sure to get a large enough container. Bigger is often better when it comes to container gardening (unless you’re growing herbs on your windowsill). Most vegetables will grow successfully in a 5-gallon container.
How to Get Started
The easiest way to get started growing is to get started. Pick your favorite plant, a container, and a location for your garden. Once you’ve done that, the rest is history!
If you want help with starting your garden here’s how to start a garden in four easy steps.
If you’re a beginner gardener, click here for key spring gardening tips for beginners.
Take Care of Your Container Garden
Once you’ve begun, the next step is tending to your garden. The key to plants growing successfully is to simply pay attention to your garden. By observing your garden daily, you’ll notice signs that your plant is either thriving or struggling before it’s too late. .
The hardest part of taking care of your container garden is watering your garden. This guide on container garden watering tips can help you figure out how much and when you need to water your garden.
Get growing and begin your garden with Gardenuity today!
