Our Favorite Garden Vegetable Seeds for Growing in containers

Your one-stop source for all your vegetable needs.

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Helpful info on the web
Good on-line article on Container Growing Veggies.
Article on basics of container growing.
A good webpage for veggie container growing.
Another one in .pdf format.
A nice article in gardeners.com
A youtube video on growing veggies in containers.
Another youtube video.
A nice homemade video.
Beans
Notes from Jim: Beans can be grown in about any type of container as they do not have a deep root system, but the deeper containers will hold moisture better.

Mixing in a little 8-8-8 fertilize with the soil when filling the container will usually do, but also watering with a soluable plant food every other week will produce the best harvests.


Beans

Cabbage
Notes from Jim: As a rule of thumb, allow about 3 gallons of soil per plant when determining container you will use for most cabbage, but only about 2 gallons per plant for the Dynamo listed below.
Cabbage need a deep root system compared to other vegetables, I suggest about 16" depth for container. For reference, a plastic half whiskey barrel usually measures about 17.5" deep by 26" in diameter ( this would closely equal a square container measuring 16"x16"x24" ) and holds just under 25 gallons of soil. So you could grow about 12 Dynamo plants in a half whiskey barrel.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.


LET831 Katarina
All-America Selections (AAS) Winner 2016. Coleslaw and summer go hand-in-hand and this year, you will be able to enjoy your own fresh, homemade coleslaw with our 2016 AAS Winner Cabbage Katarina F1. This new winner has a perfect smaller head size (4”) and shape to be grown successfully in containers on patios, decks or in-ground beds, possibly as an ornamental/edible border.
Children tend to prefer Katarina to other varieties because it is much milder, even sweeter, than most others, without a trace of bitterness. Great for slaw and salads, it also holds up well in stir fries.
Beating all other varieties to harvest by several weeks, Katarina hybrid is a very sweet, compact summer cabbage you can grow in large tubs and raised beds as well as the vegetable garden. It earned its national All-America Selection award with quick growth, delicious flavor, and smooth texture.
 102mg pack ( about 25 seeds ) $2.95
Chinese Cabbage
Notes from Jim: As a rule of thumb, allow about 5 gallons of soil per plant when determining container you will use for most chinese cabbage, but only about 3 gallons per plant for the Green Seoul and Mizuna listed below.
Cabbage need a deep root system compared to other vegetables, I suggest about 16" depth for container. For reference, a plastic half whiskey barrel usually measures about 17.5" deep by 26" in diameter ( this would closely equal a square container measuring 16"x16"x24" ) and holds just under 25 gallons of soil. So you could grow about 8 Green Seoul and Mizuna plants in a half whiskey barrel.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
Carrots
Notes from Jim: As a rule of thumb, make sure the container you use is at least 12" deep. A window box container that measures 12" wide by 24" long by 12" deep will provide you with a lot of carrots.
Try to space your carrot seeds about 1 inch apart in rows that are 6 inches apart. Pat the seeds into the damp potting soil to ensure good soil-to-seed contact and then cover them with a very light layer of soil. Water the carrots in with a gentle stream of water, being careful not to dislodge the seeds. Carrot seeds are very tiny, so don't worry if you end up seeding them thickly. You'll have to thin them out as they grow anyway.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
W167 Parisian
French novelty, short and round, for any soil, ideal in patio pot, eat raw or steamed, 60 days.
  .250mg package ( about 200 seeds ) $2.95
D9819 Baby Finger Carrots
Tiny gourmet great for salads.
An extra sweet, tiny Nantes type gourmet carrot only 4" long and 1" thick with smooth skin and small core. Perfect for serving whole and great for growing in containers. 65 days.
  $2.95 per 750mg pack ( several hundred seeds per pack )
  1/2 ounce pack 5.95
Cowpeas
Visit Growing Cowpeas in a Container for useful info on growing your cowpeas.
Cucumber
Notes from Jim: Cucumbers seem to be made for container, they can grow in shallow containers and do not require a lot of space. As a rule of thumb, allow about 1 gallon of soil per plant when determining container you will use for growing the varieties listed below .
I suggest about 10" depth for container. For reference, a container measuring 12"x12"x16" would hold about 10 gallons of soil and would sustain up to 10 plants.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
IP085 Pick A Bushel Hybrid
Plant your own pickle factories.
Be prepared to be pick lots of cukes from these compact plants. The medium green, white-spined fruits are sweet, firm and crisp, ready to pick only 50 days from sowing at 3 inch gherkin size for great pickles or left to grow to 6 inch length for slicing fresh in salads.
The semi-bush vines grow only 24 inches long, so they are well-suited for growing in patio containers as well as the garden. Plants have excellent heat tolerance and disease resistances to CMV, Scab and MMV. 50 days.
1.4g pack ( about 50 seeds ) $5.95
Spacemaster 80 Cucumber
BM61 Spacemaster 80 Cucumber
Monoecious. A great container grown cucumber and good for small garden spaces. 60 days. 7 1/2 to 9 inch blocky fruits on dwarf 18 to 24 inch vines. Good flavor. Never bitter. Adapted to a wide range of climates. CMV, Sc. The Spacemaster 80 cucumber is a large variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Spacemaster 80 is green and smooth, and grows to be seven to nine inches long. Since this variety is mature in sixty days, a steady harvest can be achieved by planting regularly throughout the season
  1.10g pack contains at least 25 seeds $2.95
Eggplant
Notes from Jim: As a rule of thumb, allow about 5 gallons of soil per plant when determining container you will use for most standard size eggplants, but only about 3 gallons per plant for the varieties listed below.
I suggest about 12-16" depth for containers. For reference, a plastic half whiskey barrel usually measures about 17.5" deep by 26" in diameter ( this would closely equal a square container measuring 16"x16"x24" ) and holds just under 25 gallons of soil. So you could grow about 8 eggplants ( varieties listed below ) in a half whiskey barrel.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
G026 Baby Eggplant
A new mini vegetable. Plants are compact and bear loads of miniature fruit that can be deep fried whole. One of the new rages in miniature veggies. Perfect for container raising. Fruits are very tasty.
  75mg Package ( usually about 15 or more seeds ) $2.95
  50 seeds $5.95
W174 Round Mauve Eggplant
4" round, warm lavender, few seeds, great non bitter eating, compact plant for patio pot, 65 days.
 10 seeds $2.95
Lettuce
Notes from Jim: Lettuce are another vegetable that seem to be made for container, they can grow in shallow containers and do not require a lot of space.
You can grow lettuce in almost any type of container that are 6 inches deep.
Stagger sowing times in containers and enjoy lettuce throughout the year.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
IP160 Red Salad Bowl
Maroon-red, deeply cut and finely divided leaves, very attractive in tossed salad. Red Salad Bowl is a long-standing, slow-to-bolt and early maturing lettuce that grows well all season and can be harvested over period of time. Its maroon-red, deeply cut and finely divided leaves are crisp and delicious and make an eye-catching addition mixed with green lettuce. Some tolerance to late-season mildew. 50 days.
  1,000 seeds $3.95
IP158 Parris Island COS
Hardy heirloom strain with sweet flavor and crisp texture.
Named after Parris Island, SC, this heirloom variety bred by the USDA and Clemson University was introduced in 1952. The sweet flavor and crisp texture have earned it a devoted following. Growing to about 10-12" tall, the large heads have deep green leaves that turn to a creamy yellowish-white at the heart. Highly disease resistant. 68 days.
  $2.95 per 850mg pack ( several hundred seeds per pack )
Melons
Notes from Jim: As a rule of thumb, allow about 5 gallons of soil per plant when determining container you will use for growing the melons listed below.
I use a trellis on my melons, I just have to be sure to secure vines to the trellis extremely well once fruits start to develop, this keeps the fruit from pulling the vine from the trellis.
Melons need a deep root system compared to other vegetables, I suggest about 16" depth for container. For reference, a plastic half whiskey barrel usually measures about 17.5" deep by 26" in diameter ( this would closely equal a square container measuring 16"x16"x24" ) and holds just under 25 gallons of soil. So you could grow about 4-5 melon plants in a half whiskey barrel.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
W192 Sakata's Sweet Melon
Softball size Asian type, gaining popularity here, smooth golden yellow rind, sweet flesh, good to trellis, 90 days
  Package of 10 seeds $2.95
2030 Jenny Lind
80 days This fine melon dates back to the 1840’s, was sold by many of the 1800’s Seed Company’s, it was named after the Famous Singer, Jenny Lind, “The Swedish Nightingale”. This wonderful 1-2 lb. turban shaped melon is very sweet and has light green, delicious flesh.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.95
W121 Minnesota Midget
Small early, 4" melons with sweet flavorful flesh. Large crops on compact 3' vines, good quality, a true midget! A favorite small melon introduced in 1948.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.95
  Package of 50 seeds $5.95
Mustard/Salad Greens
TWT045 Komatsuna Green Mustard Spinach
Komatsuna Green mustard seeds can be used as a cut-and-come-again crop at any stage of growth. Use steamed or stir-fried or in salads and soups. This is a traditional ingredient in Japanese cooking. It features excellent bolt resistance and cold tolerance so can be grown all year round. Green Komatsuna is one of the greatest vegetables. It's delicious raw or cooked - try a bunch of leaves as a salad on their own, or toss some leaves into a soup or stir-fry. It works in containers, and it's very cold hardy, so you can grow it all winter long if you provide some protection from hard frost.
  400mg Package ( about 185 seeds ) $3.95
Onions
Notes from Jim: Onions can grow in shallow containers and do not require a lot of space.
You can grow lettuce in almost any type of container that 6 inches deep, but I prefer containers about 12" deep so I can grow big bulb types..
Just about any variety will grow in containers.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
TPF271 Evergreen Bunching Onion
Bunching onion does not form a real bulb. Oriental bunching onion has a green leaf portion and a long blanched white stalk portion. The blanched portion can be from a few inches to 20 inches, depending the varieties. The long-stalk onions are blanched by earthing up during growth. The long-stalk onions are very tender and well flavored, excellent for stir-fry, sukiyaki, tempura and many Japanese dishes. Plants can be harvested for vegetable use at any growing stage. Considered a neutral day variety that grows about anywhere.
 7g pack ( about 2,000 seeds ) $4.95
Peppers
Notes from Jim: As a rule of thumb, allow about 2 gallons of soil per plant when determining container you will use for most standard size pepper plants, but only about 1-1/4 gallons per plant for the varieties listed below.
I suggest about 12-16" depth for containers. For reference, a plastic half whiskey barrel usually measures about 17.5" deep by 26" in diameter ( this would closely equal a square container measuring 16"x16"x24" ) and holds just under 25 gallons of soil. So you could grow about 15 pepper plants ( varieties listed below ) in a half whiskey barrel, but I do not like to crowd mine, and would only plant 5-7, and grow different types in the same container that reach different heights.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
PEP271 Miniature Red Bell
55 days. This impressive miniature bell really pumps out the peppers! Expect up to 75 peppers per plant. The deep red 3 lobed fruit are 2 1/2 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches long. Very sweet, and excellent on veggie platters, in salads, stuffed, or cored and eaten whole. Peppers ripen from green to red.
Package of 10 seeds $2.95
Package of 50 seeds $8.95
PEP272 Miniature Yellow Bell ( Sweet Bell Pepper )
An amazing little miniature bell pepper producing 70 or more fruits a plant. The fruits average 2 1/2 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches long. Peppers ripen from green to yellow. Produces in only 55 days.
Package of 10 seeds $2.95
Package of 50 seeds $8.95
PEP273 Miniature Chocolate Bell ( Sweet Bell Pepper )
An amazing little miniature bell pepper producing 70 or more fruits a plant. The fruits average 2 1/2 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches long. Peppers ripen from green to chocolate brown. Produces in only 55 days.
Package of 10 seeds $2.95
Package of 50 seeds $8.95
PEP349 Cherry Bomb ( Mildly Hot Pepper 2-5,000+ Scoville Units )
F1, early, productive, 2-1/2" round hot red cherry, pendent fruits, very hot, fine for patio, 84 days. Great pepper for pickling.
5 seeds $2.75
PEP007 Super Chili Hybrid ( Chile Type Hot! Pepper 20000-40000 SU )
One of the most pungent chili peppers available. Very ornamental, semi-compact, 24" plant bearing 2-1/2" elongated fruits with plenty of chili pepper. Bred for increased yields. Bring plants in where winter is severe to have a continuous supply of these peppers all winter. Ripens to green to orange to red. Ideal for patio, container, and windowsill gardens. 75 days.
20 seeds $2.95
Radish
Notes from Jim: Radishes are another vegetable that seem to be made for container, they can grow in shallow containers and do not require a lot of space.
You can grow radishes in almost any type of container that are 8 inches deep.
Stagger sowing times in containers and enjoy radishes throughout the year.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
FB132 Easter Egg Radish
A mixture of red, purple and white radishes often harvested when marble size for salads, that are crisp and mild, even when mature. Adds color and zest to salads.
 3g Package ( about 200 seeds ) $2.95
Squash/Zucchini
Notes from Jim: As a rule of thumb, allow about 2 gallons of soil per plant when determining container you will use for most standard size pepper plants, but only about 1-1/2 gallons per plant for the varieties listed below.
I suggest about 12-16" depth for containers. For reference, a plastic half whiskey barrel usually measures about 17.5" deep by 26" in diameter ( this would closely equal a square container measuring 16"x16"x24" ) and holds just under 25 gallons of soil. So you could grow about 15 squash plants ( varieties listed below ) in a half whiskey barrel, but because they love to spread so much, I would recommend only planting 5 or 6.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
FB136 Cocozelle Zucchini Bush
Compact Italian, 12" long cylinder, dark green with light green stripes, flesh green-white, tender, slice, fry, steam, fine for patio, 45 days.
  $2.95 per pack ( 10 seeds per pack )
Swiss Chard
Notes from Jim: Swiss Chard is a perennial plant, so keep this in mind when choosing a container and spot for growing.
I suggest about 12-16" depth for containers. Fill with good potting mix and space seeds about 6" apart each way, depending on the size container you use, I use a 16 inch by 24" flower box that is about 18" deep.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
Tobacco
Notes from Jim: Yes, you can grow tobacco in tubs. As a rule of thumb, allow about 5 gallons of soil per plant when determining container you will use for most standard size tobacco plants.
I suggest 18" depth minimum for containers. For reference, a plastic half whiskey barrel usually measures about 17.5" deep by 26" in diameter ( this would closely equal a square container measuring 16"x16"x24" ) and holds just under 25 gallons of soil. So you could grow about 5 tobacco plants in a half whiskey barrel, but I do not like to crowd mine, and would only plant 4 plants, which would each produce about 4 ounces of dried tobacco, enough for a carton of cigarettes.

We offer about 30 different varieties of Tobacco Seed, click here for the list.


Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.

Tomato
Notes from Jim: As a rule of thumb, allow about 5 gallons of soil per plant when determining container you will use for most standard size tomato plants, but only about 3 gallons per plant for the varieties listed below.
I suggest about 18" depth for containers. For reference, a plastic half whiskey barrel usually measures about 17.5" deep by 26" in diameter ( this would closely equal a square container measuring 16"x16"x24" ) and holds just under 25 gallons of soil. So you could grow about 8 pepper plants ( varieties listed below ) in a half whiskey barrel, but would probably be better served giving them room to spread and only planting 5-6.
Use a slow release fertilize like Osmocote 14-14-14 that is found at almost any gardening center, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc.
RTP600 Bush Early Girl Hybrid
Extremely early patio type plant with 4" meaty, sweet tasting fruits. 54 days. Determinate.
Package of 10 seeds $2.95
Package of 50 seeds $7.95
RTP455 Bush Goliath
Excellent producer of large 3-4 inch fruits on compact 3-4 ft. plants. Developed for patios, with a high sugar content. Determinate, 68 days.
Package of 10 seeds $2.75
D9897 Tiny Sugar Lumps Tomato
A sprawling tomato plant best suited for hanging baskets and containers. Will bear hundreds of sweet, delicious pea-size tomatoes at a time. Fruits almost year round inside.
  10 seeds $2.95
  50 seed package $5.95
RTP309 Tiny Tim
Bush type, 18" tall producing loads of excellent salad type tomatoes. Excellent for containers.
Package of 20 seeds $2.95
RTP203 Patio Hybrid
Compact and upright, determinate plants require only 2” stakes and produce their fruits from the bottom of the plant. Bushy, 25” tall dwarf plants are compact and grow well in containers. Vigorous and productive with 4 oz. deep oblate, medium-sized fruit. Very easy to grow and Tolerant to Fusarium Wilt. 70 days.
Package of 10 seeds $2.95
Package of 50 seeds $8.95
Watermelon
TCB090 Sugar Baby
80 days. The standard of the icebox melons, Sugar Baby has been a staple at picnics for years. Vines grow to 6 feet and set 4-6 melons roughly 10 inches across. Has that unmistakable crisp, mouthwatering, sweet rich flavor. Terrific for home gardens.
  $2.95 per 2g pack ( about 40 seeds )
1A461 Sugar Baby Bush
An ideal plant for gardeners with limited space, the vines of sugar baby bush only reach around 3 feet in length. Sweet, scarlet (icebox) watermelons grow on space-saving vines. This is an early producer; the juicy and sweet little 6-12 pound fruit should be ready harvest in 75 days.
  10 seeds $3.95