Food insecurity remains a significant concern worldwide. Territorial disputes, conflicting ideologies, and the hunger for power between nations could topple a country’s food supply in a snap of a finger, raising prices at exorbitant rates. Our ancestors were once self-sustaining, sowing seeds and tending the soil to grow crops without relying on anyone. Could cultivating one’s garden put a period on food scarcity?
The solution lies in your garden shovel towards food sustainability. Tilling your own yard all starts with a humble seed. To begin our quest to end food insecurity, read this blog and learn everything about easy seeds to grow in a cup.
Gardening in pots is a great way to grow plants even if you don’t have a large yard or any yard at all. With container gardening, you can cultivate fresh herbs, veggies, and flowers on a balcony, patio, deck, or windowsill. Growing plants in pots enables gardeners short on space to still reap the rewards of gardening.
When selecting seeds to plant in containers, it’s important to choose compact dwarf plant varieties that grow well confined to a pot Tall sprawling vegetables and vines don’t thrive in containers The secret is picking seeds for plants that naturally stay short and bushy or climbing plants that can be trellised vertically.
Here are the 15 best seeds to grow in pots for small space gardening
Vegetables
1. Tomatoes
Tomato plants can flourish in pots as long as you pick a dwarf, bush variety. Compact tomato cultivars like Bush Early Girl and BushSteak stay under 2 feet tall and don’t require staking. They bear a heavy crop of full-sized tomatoes perfect for containers. Determinate tomatoes that stay bushy are better suited for pots than vining indeterminate types.
2. Peppers
Grow bell peppers and other sweet or hot pepper cultivars in pots on a sunny patio or balcony. Compact pepper plants like California Wonder bell pepper stay around 1 foot tall, so they don’t need a lot of root space. Select smaller pepper varieties like thumbelina rather than big blocky bell types.
3. Eggplant
Standard huge eggplant varieties won’t work well in containers, but container-friendly dwarf or baby eggplant cultivars are ideal. Little Fingers, Little Italian, and Fairy Tale types only grow 12-18 inches tall and produce petite, finger-sized fruits with great flavor.
4. Bush Beans
Bush beans stay compact and upright, making them a smart choice for container growing. Opt for bush bean varieties like Provider green beans that reach just 16 inches tall at maturity. You can grow beans in a pot tall enough to trellis them vertically on a support.
5. Lettuce
Looseleaf lettuce varieties do well in pots and window boxes since they form petite heads. Good compact lettuce cultivars for containers include Tom Thumb, Red Sails, and Little Gem. You can also grow cut-and-come-again lettuce mixes.
6. Carrots
Short carrot varieties in the Chantenay or round carrot groups fit well in containers. Good compact options include Thumbelina and Parmex carrots at 3-4 inches long. Use at least a 12 inch deep pot for carrot roots to form properly.
7. Radishes
Quick-growing radishes mature in just 25-30 days, making them a satisfying early season crop for container gardens. Cherry Belle, Champion, and Easter Egg radishes produce crisp roots in little space. Plant radishes in wide, shallow pots.
8. Green Onions
Green onions and chives are easy-to-grow container crops that reach just 6-12 inches tall. Flavors range from mild green onions to zesty chives. Harvest green onion tops as you need them and cut chives close to the base so they regrow.
9. Leafy Greens
Mesclun salad mix, spinach, kale, arugula, and Swiss chard produce a bountiful harvest of nutritious greens from compact plants. Succession plant for continued container crops.
10. Cucumbers
Bush cucumber varieties stay compact for container growing versus vining types. Good bets are Bush Champion, Bush Pickle, and Spacemaster cucumbers topping out under 2 feet tall. Train vining cucumbers vertically on a trellis in a large pot.
Herbs
11. Basil
This essential culinary herb thrives planted in pots. Columnar basils like Italian Samsung stay upright and neat for compact growth. Pinch off flower buds to keep plants bushy and productive. Move container-grown basil plants indoors in cold weather.
12. Parsley
Both curly and Italian flat-leaf parsley cultivars are great compact herbs for containers. Parsley is a biennial that regrows each spring. Plants reach 10-12 inches tall and provide abundant harvests all season.
13. Oregano & Thyme
These Mediterranean herbs grow slowly, so their roots don’t mind being confined to a pot. Compact oregano and thyme plants reach just 6-12 inches tall. Flavors intensify when they are grown in containers.
14. Chives
Grass-like chive plants reach 10-12 inches tall and provide flavorful onion chives. Chives are perennial, surviving the winter in zones 3-9. Trim plants regularly to promote regrowth.
Flowers
15. Petunias
Cascading and multiflora petunias are perfect for hanging baskets and containers. Multiflora types like Dreams spread 24-36 inches across but stay just 6 inches tall. Wave petunias cascade gracefully over pot edges.
Tips for Growing Seeds in Pots
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Pick containers at least 6-12 inches deep for adequate root room. Drainage holes are essential.
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Use a quality potting mix, not garden soil which compacts over time.
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Fertilize plants regularly to replenish nutrients that leach from containers.
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Consistent watering is key for container plants. Check soil daily.
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Move pots to follow the sun as it shifts during the growing season.
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Group pots together for added insulation on cold nights.
The benefit of gardening in containers is the ability to grow plants anywhere, even without an actual yard. On an apartment balcony, these compact seed varieties allow you to cultivate tomatoes, peppers, herbs, greens, and flowers in pots tailored to your space. With the right seeds and a bit of care, container gardening success is within your reach!
What Are the Easiest Seeds to Grow in a Cup?
Whether you are looking for herbs, vegetables, fruits, or flowering plants that are easy to grow, weve got you covered!
- Basil. Basil is a perfect herb to plant in a cup, especially on a kitchen windowsill. It only needs a small container and doesnt require repotting if the mug is large enough. Start growing indoors and gradually expose it to the sunlight when it sprouts.
- Mint. This herb is also a great choice to grow in cups. Plant it in fast-draining soil and cover it with a thin layer. Keep it moist and place it in a bright spot until it germinates.
- Rosemary. Starting rosemaries from seed is an excellent option for adding to your kitchen herbs collection. Put the seeds in plastic cups filled with substrate, and sprinkle some soil on the top. It will germinate within one week if kept in a warm and cozy spot.
- Oregano. Oregano is also one of the easy plants to grow from seed. This herb also does well in small containers and can grow without problem if it sits in a sunny window.
- Carrots. To start carrots from seeds, soak them for about an hour before planting them in the soil. Plant 2-3 seeds in container cups and cover them with light soil. Thin them later when all the seeds sprout.
- Pole beans. Pole beans are easy and fun to plant with kids. Sow it deeply, about ⅓ deep in the cup, and keep it wet. It will dramatically sprout with its showy cotyledons and leaves in about a week.
- Pea. Peas are vegetables that are perhaps the easiest seeds to grow because of their size. In order to germinate, it needs to be slightly buried, about 3-5 cm deep.
- Beets. One cold-tolerant vegetable, beets, will have no problem if the seedling cups are grown or forgotten outside. However, it will grow faster if kept in warm temperatures, next to a heater. Shallowly sow the seedlings in pots, keeping the soil moist until sprouting.
- Broccoli. Planting broccoli is best done indoors to guarantee a high sprouting rate. Plant about 1-2 seeds per cup and thin the other if both seeds grow. It is best done in fall to extend your cropping season until early winter.
- Cauliflower. Start sowing your cauliflower seeds indoors in early spring. In about 7 days, it will germinate. Wait until it grows 4-6 leaves – this will signify that the plant is ready for transplanting outdoors.
- Collard greens. Collard greens will also have no problem with cold temperatures. Sow it in your little cups after the last frost. Placing the cups indoors to boost their germination rate.
- Onion. Onions are also great plants to start in cups. Sow about 2-3 seeds in each cup and thin them later if all of them grow. It might need to be planted in your garden or in bigger pots to achieve good yields.
- Spinach. Another salad veggie that is fun and easy to grow is spinach. Sow the seeds in loamy soil every two weeks to continuously harvest throughout the season.
- Lettuce. Lettuce can be grown entirely in cups as long as it receives the maximum light and the proper nutrients. Sow about 1-2 seeds per cup filled with fast-draining and organic-rich soil.
- Celery. Celery has tiny seeds, making it a perfect choice to start in cups rather than directly in a vegetable garden. Soak the seeds overnight before sowing in individual cups to accelerate germination.
- Cucumber. If youre thinking of a vining plant, cucumber is the best choice to be grown in cups. Plant 1 seed in each cup. Water the soil regularly to speed up germination. Transplant outdoors or in a bigger pot if the vine reaches 10 cm.
- Pumpkin. Pumpkin is also an excellent plant to start in cups. Because of its large seeds, this is a wonderful project for kids to begin with. Plant them individually in each cup and cover them with plastic to boost sprouting.
- Pepper. Put 2-3 peppers seeds in each cup. Lightly cover it with soil and keep it moist during sprouting. Transplant it to bigger pots or garden beds when it develops 4-6 leaves.
- Tomatoes. Start sowing tomatoes in cups in early spring. Sow 1 seed per cup as tomatoes usually have high germination rates. Keep it in a warm place indoors and plant it as soon as 4-6 leaves emerge.
- Eggplant. Eggplants are the perfect choice to start in cups because of their tiny seeds. Plant 2-3 seeds per cup filled with fast-draining and wet soil. Plant it outdoors once it puts up 3-5 leaves.
- Watermelon. This vine is perfect for starting indoors, especially after eating fresh watermelon. Sow 2-3 seeds in each small planter in spring or summer. Please maintain the soil wet until it emerges.
- Strawberry. If youre thinking about growing fruits in a container, strawberries are a perfect choice. Start growing its delicate seeds in cups or pre-germinated in a damp paper towel. Once it sprouted, transplant it to bigger pots containing organic-rich soil.
- Sunflower. Sunflowers are our most recommended flowering plant to start indoors. Sow one seed per cup in spring or late summer and moisten the soil until it germinates. It is best grown with sunny balconies if grown in pots.
- Marigold. Marigolds have tiny seeds that are very easy to grow. Bury the seeds about 3 cm and moderately water the soil until it emerges. Transplant it in a giant container when it reaches about 5-10 cm in length.
- Poppies. This flowering plant is very rewarding to grow once it pops out vibrant flowers. Although it can be raised directly in the garden, it does well in plastic cups. Ensure that the soil moisture is constantly wet during its germination.
Even though its easy to grow all these pretty greenies, they still can encounter problems, so make sure you identify them in advance and react quickly. Better safe than sorry!
What Is the Easiest Seed to Grow Indoors?
Perhaps the easiest seed to germinate indoors includes the non-light requiring plants like herbs such as basil, oregano, and mint.
You’re Being LIED to about Growing in Containers…
FAQ
What seeds are best for pots?
Good seeds for pots include herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro, vegetables like cherry tomatoes and peppers, colorful flowers like marigolds, and small fruits like strawberries. Make sure to consider pot size and sunlight when choosing seeds for your container garden.
What flower seeds grow well in pots?
- Strawflower, Tom Thumb Mixed Colors. …
- Cleome, Sparkler 2.0 Hybrid Mixed Colors. …
- Petunia, Pinkie Pop Hybrid. …
- Viola, Tiger Eye Mix Hybrid. …
- Petunia, Evening Scentsation Hybrid. …
- Zinnia, Forecast. …
- Petunia, Spellbound Wine Red Hybrid. …
- Pansy, Atlas Mix.
What is the easiest thing to grow from seeds?
Carrots, peas, beans and zucchini are the easiest seeds to grow for beginners right in your own backyard. You can start them in July, too.
What is the easiest produce to grow in pots?
- Bush Beans. …
- Carrots. …
- Eggplants. …
- Lettuce. …
- Tomatoes. …
- Garlic. …
- Radishes. Radishes are a cinch to grow and you can easily plant several crops in a single season – even in a small pot. …
- Peppers. Peppers, either sweet or hot, are not only easy to grow, they’re downright pretty.