Growing Vegetables in Pots: Compact Varieties Perfect for Patios & Small Spaces

Chillies and patio collections of dwarf or compact vegetables have become increasingly popular as more gardeners look to grow edible plants in small, manageable spaces. Far easier on the watering and control of pests and diseases. As urban gardening continues to rise, plant breeders are responding with compact, productive varieties designed for pots and small spaces. Perfect for containers, balconies, and patios, many varieties can be started indoors early to extend the growing season, then moved outside to a warm, sunny spot during summer. The main drawback is the need for regular watering, some varieties will tolerate inconsistent watering, but others may need watering daily in full sun.

Which Chillies, Sweet Peppers & Aubergines to Grow for Pots

Chilli, Sweet Pepper and Aubergine plants are a natural fit thanks to their compact growth habit, high yields, and ornamental appeal. They all need similar conditions for sowing, germinating and potting on in warmth and sufficient light as they are slow maturing plants. Sow early (January to March) in a heated propagator or on warm windowsill.

Container-grown compact chillies and sweet peppers will reward you with versatile, colourful crops that offer a wide range of flavours, heat levels, and culinary uses.

Best Chilli Varieties for Containers

Chilli Pepper ‘Button Mixed’ very mild yellow or red fruit, ‘Friars Cap’ has fruity, quirky hat-shaped red chillies, Habanero Aroma gives hot fruity flavour, intense citrus fragrance, and eye-catching colour changes from violet to orange to red, ‘Hot Lolly’ ripens creamy green to orange and finally bright red, ‘Firefly’ bears slender, hot orange - red fruit

Compact Sweet Peppers

Try the ‘Snack Pepper’ range for small fruits in yellow, orange or red, ‘Virtue’ has large, rich red fruit.

Aubergines for Pots

‘Wand Amethyst’ has long amethyst purple fruit or ‘Wand Ivory’ with unique ivory-coloured fruits, or choose egg sized ‘Jewel Jet’ shiny black fruits versus the smooth green fruits of ‘Jewel Jade’

Patio Aubergines and peppers require good compost, full sun, consistent watering and regular feeding with high potassium (tomato) liquid feed once flowering begins.

For UK dwarf varieties, start heat-lovers like tomatoes and cucumbers  indoors in March/ April and beans in May for planting out May to June. Sow peas and broad beans January through April; carrots February to July; radishes February to September; and winter brassicas in March or April, using cloches or cold frames early on for continuous harvests. Timing depends on frost, soil warmth (above 5°C), and your specific variety's needs, often starting indoors before the last frost.

Dwarf Tomatoes & Cucumbers for Small Spaces

Select Determinate Bush Tomatoes such as ‘Cherry Falls’ producing early ripening red fruits, ‘Peardrop’ with yellow fruits, ‘Baby Boomer’ more red cherry tomatoes, ‘Veranda  Red’ is a dwarf with sweet flavour, ‘Tumbling Tom Red or Yellow’ trailing too in hanging baskets. If sowing for outdoor growing, wait until late March/early April to avoid leggy seedlings and to ensure soil is warmed up when planting out after all risk of frost has passed.

For bush cucumbers, sow seeds indoors in pots from March to April for an early start, or sow directly outdoors in a sunny, sheltered spot from late May to June after the last frost, using cloche protection if needed for warmth and quicker germination.

‘Quick Snack’ is a compact, high-yielding patio cucumber variety bred specifically for small spaces. This dwarf plant produces an impressive crop of crisp, seedless, non-bitter mini cucumbers. ‘Patio Snacker’ produces vigorous short branching vines bearing longer 15 -20 cm fruit (needs support). 'Mini Munch' proved very popular.

Peas, Beans & Other Productive Container Crops

Other suitable varieties have been around for a while but could also be grown in large containers or window boxes or other small space outside due to their compact dwarf growth

Fast growing Peas need a support structure, start feeding with high potassium liquid feed when first flowers appear for plump pods of tasty peas. Sow round-seeded types indoors January/ February for early spring crops such as snap pea ‘Delikett’  or ‘Meteor’ or organic ‘Rondo’.

Broad Bean ‘The Sutton’ or Luz de Otono’ start indoors or under cover and then plant out. Although growing to 10” it is good idea to support with canes and string especially if your area is windy

Carrots in containers or troughs keeps them off the ground out of range of carrot fly. Allow for deep loose sandy soil and controlled watering for tasty roots.  Sow early varieties outdoors under cloches or fleece in early spring. Suggested varieties include ‘Amsterdam Forcing 2’ a classic, short, cylindrical, and very early type, ‘Paris Market Atlas’ small, round, sweet, and excellent for shallower containers, ‘Short n' Sweet’ short broad, classic carrot shape, great for pots, ‘Early Nantes’ fast-maturing, blunt-ended, cylindrical, and flavourful or ‘Napoli’ a fast-growing early variety, organic seed.

Sow Radishes for quick harvests in March/April. Fast-growing and easy to grow, producing crisp, vibrant roots with a refreshing peppery flavour. Perfect for salads, garnishes, and snacking, ready to harvest in just a few weeks.

Dwarf French beans have long been promoted for growing in containers.  Easy from seed and prolific but need frost free conditions as they are susceptible to cold. Sow in pots in a greenhouse in April for planting out in May alongside companion plant marigolds to keep eel worm at bay (and attract pollinators).

Runner Bean ‘Hestia’ needs some support. Runner beans need consistent watering especially in hot weather. Grow calendula or nasturtiums alongside to attract pollinators.

Potty about Leafy Greens?

If greens are to your taste then  Beet Leaf or Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ will provide a decorative pot of colourful edible stems and leaves. Kale too can give texture and leaf colour whilst you pick lower stems to cook.

Lettuce ‘Little Gem’ will withstand partial shade, do water them copiously though. Salad Leaves cut and come again harvested as baby leaves throughout summer and into autumn. Decorative with different leaf shapes and colours ranging from baby lettuce to mustard, rocket to watercress or mix it up! 

Squash in those Containers!

Courgettes

Choice Courgettes include ‘Cue Ball’ which is an early round squash valued for its smooth, pale green fruits and upright bush habit. ‘Yellow Star’ a semi bush bears attractive yellow fruits or ‘Black Beauty’ is popular for its dark green fruits. ‘Butternut Hunter F1’ is new for 2026, an early-maturing butternut squash hybrid, semi bush.

Mix and Match

By choosing plants with similar needs and using companion planting techniques you can grow many vegetables together in containers. Mix fast-growing radishes with slower growing carrots.  Or plant nitrogen-fixing beans with leafy greens like lettuce or spinach. Pair sun-loving tomatoes with basil for a Mediterranean vibe.

To Finish

Mint! Definitely one to grow in a container to keep it ‘contained’ as its rhizomes (underground roots) are very vigorous and it will invade surrounding beds and borders.

My Rosemary bushes are in large containers as my heavy clay soil is not ideal for growing one of my favourite herbs. As it is a shrub with deep roots it needs a fairly large pot and good well draining growing medium positioned in full sun to thrive.

Another herb I grow in smaller pots are Chives; the flowers are often buzzing with bees. A perennial, I can bring them indoors during winter and then set them out in the spring.  

Big Harvests in Small Spaces

With the right varieties, growing vegetables in pots can be just as productive as traditional gardening. From chillies and tomatoes to carrots, salads, and herbs, compact vegetables allow you to enjoy fresh, homegrown food even in the smallest spaces.

Whether you’re gardening on a balcony, patio, or doorstep, container gardening offers flexibility, control, and impressive yields. All with minimal space required.