Growing Carrots, Radishes, Leafy Greens, and Herbs in Small Containers

The Small Containers Gardening series

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Remember to visit the Main Guide

This article is specifically about growing carrots, radishes and leafy greens in Small containers. For more information about soil composition, crop cycles, indoor and outdoor setups, and common problems and issues, go Planting in Small Containers Main Guide.

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Growing All Sorts of Edible Plants in Small Containers

Carrots

Carrots love loose soil, making them perfect for containers (no rocks to fork them!). Use a deep container (a tall bucket or drum cut in half works). Choose shorter varieties (like Nantes or Chantenay types) if your container isn’t very deep. Sow carrot seeds thinly on the soil surface and cover with a light layer of fine soil. Keep the soil moist until germination (carrot seeds can take 1-2 weeks to sprout). You can even lay an old board or burlap over the top of the container after sowing to keep moisture in, removing it once the first sprouts peek through. Carrots can be grown almost year-round in mild climates – start a new batch every few weeks for continuous harvest. They also do well under grow lights indoors, as long as the lights are kept close to the soil for the seedlings and the temperature is cool to moderate (60-70°F). Harvest when the tops of the carrots show a good width – you can pull one to test. Homegrown carrots in containers often turn out extra sweet!

Radishes

The ultimate quick crop. Radishes mature in as little as 30 days, so they are very satisfying for new gardeners. They don’t need much space or depth (even a reused plastic salad mix container or a shallow tray can work). Sow radish seeds about 1/2 inch deep, spaced an inch apart. Thin them to about 2 inches apart for proper bulb formation (eat the thinnings as microgreens). Provide regular moisture and full sun. Because they grow so fast, you can plant radishes almost any time – spring and fall are best (they don’t love extreme heat, which can make them spicy or cause them to bolt). Try a variety of colors and shapes for fun. You could even have a little jar or tin on the kitchen windowsill dedicated to a few radish plants – they’re that easy.

Leafy Greens (Lettuce, Spinach, Kale)

These aren’t root crops, but they are wonderful for container growing and certainly fitting for small recycled containers like cut-off plastic bottles or old bowls. Lettuces and spinach have shallow roots, so even a 4-6 inch deep container is fine. You can plant a “salad bowl” by sprinkling lettuce seeds in a wide pot. Within weeks you’ll have baby greens to snip. For continual harvest, use the “cut and come again” method: trim outer leaves and let the center grow more. Kale or chard can grow bigger, so give them a deeper pot (8-12 inches). Greens can grow indoors under lights well too, since they don’t demand intense sun like fruiting plants do.

Herbs

Many kitchen herbs thrive in small containers. Consider green onions’ friend chives (a perennial herb that tastes similar to green onion tops – they will return each year even if the top dies back in winter). Other good herbs for recycled pots: basil, parsley, cilantro, mint (keep mint in its own pot as it spreads), thyme, oregano, and more. An old jar or tin can be a charming herb pot; just ensure drainage by putting some gravel at the bottom and watering lightly. Herbs generally can be grown year-round indoors with enough light, so you’ll always have fresh seasonings.

Ginger and Turmeric

Do you enjoy ginger in your recipes? You can grow ginger root easily in a container indoors or out! Ginger is a rhizome that grows horizontally, so a wide, shallow container (like a plastic tub or a rectangular window box) is ideal. Take a piece of fresh ginger (the “hands” you buy at the store). Soak it in water overnight, then plant it just under the soil surface, with any small knobbly buds (eyes) facing up. Ginger likes warm temperatures (above 65°F) and partial sunlight (too much direct sun can scorch it). It also enjoys humidity. In a container with rich, moist soil, the ginger piece will sprout and send up reed-like green shoots. Over months it will spread and form new ginger tubers. You can harvest ginger by carefully digging up bits of the root after about 8-10 months. Turmeric is grown similarly (plant a turmeric rhizome and let it spread). These are fun to grow and fit the recycling theme if you use something like a repurposed dish pan as a planter. They might be a bit more advanced only because they take many months, but they’re largely “set and forget” plants. Just keep them watered and warm. If you have to overwinter indoors, they can even go dormant in their pot and resprout in spring.

Other Root Veggies

Think about beets, turnips, or parsnips – they all can work in containers. Beets need about 8 inches of depth; they can be spaced 3 inches apart. Bonus: you can eat beet greens while the root is developing. Turnips are similar to radishes, just a little longer to mature. Parsnips need a deep container (they have long roots), so only attempt those if you have a barrel or tall bin and some patience (parsnips take a long season and are usually a fall crop). But the flavor of homegrown parsnips, sweetened by cool weather, might be worth it!

In summary, almost anything you can grow in the ground, you can attempt in a container – some with more success than others. Start with these suggestions that are proven container-friendly. As you gain experience, feel free to try peas, bush beans, peppers, or even dwarf tomato varieties in your upcycled garden. Just keep an eye on each plant’s needs for space and support (climbing plants need stakes or a trellis even in a pot).

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Back to the Main Guide

You can keep reading about growing different types of plants in the Small Containers Planting Main Guide.