5 Best Container Vegetables for Beginning Gardeners

Zucchini (also called summer squash) is a great vegetable for small-space gardeners.

It's nearly guaranteed to grow, it produces tons of veggies all summer long, and comes in lots of fun shapes and colors. 

Varieties: Choose bush-type squash, which have a more compact footprint than the standard type. Here are the 6 best zucchini varieties to grow in containers.

Planting: Plant one plant per 15 gallon pot, or 2 plants in pots 20 inches or more across. Learn more about how to grow zucchini in containers.

Recipes: We love making Zucchini Fritters or adding zucchini to stir-fry, spaghetti sauce, or fried rice.

I thought that all green beans had to grow up poles or on a trellis, because that's how Grandpa grew his green beans. I'm so glad that I was wrong!

Varieties: You can grow bush beans, wax beans, and snap beans in pots. Here are the best varieties of beans to grow in containers.

Planting: Plant beans 6-8 inches apart and harvest daily, while the pods are slender and crisp.

Recipes: Green beans are delicious when added to a stir-fry or Honey-Garlic Chicken. It's also easy to freeze green beans if you have an abundant harvest.

Most cucumbers are vining plants, and will grow best when they have a trellis or something similar to climb on. These juicy slicing cucumbers are perfect for growing in containers because they are a bush variety.

No trellis is needed, and they're perfect for growing in containers. The 6 to 8 inch long fruits have smooth, tender skin and sweet, crisp flesh.

Planting: Plant one plant per 12 inch pot, or 2 plants in a larger container that's at least 18 inches across. For larger planters, grow plants at final spacing of 8 to 10 inches apart.

Recipes: Slice and add to salads, or make Tzatziki sauce.

Isn't this chard beautiful? There are so many different varieties, and this one is my favorite. Like zucchini, you only need to plant one or two chard seeds and you'll soon have loads of plants.

Delicious, reliable and highly ornamental, these vigorous plants have crunchy golden stems contrasting with deep green leaves. They're perfect for containers or striking mixed borders.

Planting: Plant Pot of Gold Chard 8 inches apart and harvest the outside stalks first, leaving the inner ones to continue growing.

Recipes: Use chard leaves to make lettuce wraps or add to salad. Don't think your kids will eat chard? Here are some ways to get them to try it.

I had no idea that lettuce would grow well in containers until I discovered Jade Gem. Aren't these adorable? Jade Gem has fat little rosettes of juicy-sweet, wavy leaves that look like a plump mini romaine.

Jade Gem grows quickly, and is ready to harvest in just over 30 days. Plant every couple of weeks for continued harvests.

Planting: Plant Jade Gem seeds 4-6 inches apart--several can fit in a container, as shown here.

Recipes: We love to make fresh salads with garden-fresh veggies, homemade croutons, and Orange-Balsamic Vinaigrette.