Container/Small Spaces Vegetable Varieties

As gardening continues to grow in popularity, more small-space gardeners are finding alternatives to full-size vegetables. Thankfully, there are many dwarf hybrid varieties that make it easy to grow veggies of virtually any kind in small spaces.

Here are a few for you to consider:

Beans: (Lima)

Baby Thorogreen (phaseolus vulgaris) – These compact vines reach a height of 18-20 inches. They are early maturing and highly suggested for Northern growers. They take approximately 68 days to reach harvest maturity.

Beets:

Burpee’s Gold Beet (beta vulgaris)  – Their fruit are 2 inches in diameter, and they have a flavorful, gold interior. They reach harvest in roughly 55 days.

Cabbage:

Tiara (brassica oleracea var. capitata) – These mini-head crucifer are 6 inches in diameter. Their leaves are extremely tender and delicious. The early-maturing variety; are ready to harvest in 58 days.

Cantaloupe:

Minnesota Midget (Cucumis melo) – This early-maturing variety of melon is perfect for northern gardens. Its orange flesh is very sweet and pairs well with almost any meal type. Their vines reach 3 to 4 feet in height and the melons 4 inches in diameter. the number of days to harvest is generally 60 to 65.

Carrots:

Thumbelina (daucus carota) – These gourmet carrots are a round, golf ball-sized (1 1/2 inch in diameter) variety that is perfect for easy snacking, soups or stews, as they require no peeling. They reach harvest in 60 days.

Corn:

Golden Midget (zea mays) – This early-maturing miniature corn has 2- to 3-foot stalks, making them ideal for small gardens and containers and can be harvested in 60 days.

Cucumber:

Potluck  (cucumis sativus)  – A true space saver, this variety has vines that grow from 15-18 inches, and can be harvested in 55 days.

Eggplant: 

Patio Baby Hybrid (solanum melongena) – This early-producing hybrid, bares egg-shaped dark purple fruit that are generally 2-3″, with plants 16-20″ high, making for containers and small-space gardens. It reach harvest in just 45 days.

Lettuce:

Tom Thumb (lactuca sativa) – An heirloom and very easy to grow, this miniature butterhead variety produces tennis ball size heads. Days to maturity is 60 days.

Onions:

Barletta (allium cepa) – An round, white pickling onion that also works well in salads, stews and spring pea dishes (and grilled on skewers). They reach harvest in 70 days.

Peas:

Little Marvel (pisum sativum) – This compact heirloom variety features 20 to 23-inch stalks that produce pods approximately 3 inches long. These delicious peas have a delicate and sweet flavor and reach harvest in 62 days.

Tom Thumb (pisum sativum) – This dwarf heirloom variety is a true marvel of horticulture, producing on vines that are only 8 to 9 inches! Perfect for container gardens, they reach harvest in 50 to 55 days.

Peppers (Bell):

Miniature Red Bell (capsicum annuum) – This compact variety features stalks 24 to 36 inches in height with fruit approximately 2 inches in height and width. The flavor of these mini red beauties is undeniably sweet and unforgettable. Days to reach harvest is 90 days.

Potatoes:

Red Gold (solanum tuberosum) – An early-producing red potato that produces vines about 24-36 inches in height, its flesh is yellow and has a unique delicious flavor. Its ready to harvest in 70 days.

Pumpkins:

Jack-Be-Little (cucurbita pepo) – This cute, tiny pumpkin variety produces vines which are 12-18 inches in height. However, the vines can spread 10-15 feet, so vertical trellising is recommended for small gardens.  The tiny fruit is generally orange/yellow about 3 inches across and require patience for harvest, which takes 95 days.

Squash – Summer:

Benning’s Green Tint (cucurbita pepo) – This variety’s vines produce beautiful scallop-shaped light green fruit that reaches maturity in 50 days.

Squash – Winter:

Burpee’s Butterbush (cucurbita pepo) – These bush-type plants are a very productive variety that can produce vines that are 10-12 inches in height, spreading only 3 feet.  Days to harvest: 75 days.

Tomatoes:

Tiny Tim (solanum lycopersicum) – This versatile, productive cultivar only grows 12-15 inches tall! The vines produce numerous tiny, sweet (but tarty) fruit and its versatility allows for vigorous planting in small gardens, window boxes, hanging baskets and other small containers. Harvest time? 60 days.

Watermelon:

Sugar Baby (citrullus lanatus) – This prolific short-season variety produces compact vines 18-24 inches in height. However, the vines can spread from 6-8 feet so vertical trellising is suggested for small gardens. The vines produce delicious, red colored sweet fruit measuring 7 to 8 inches in diameter and weighing 8-10 pounds that reach harvest in 80 days.