Pot sizes for growing vegetables in containers

[drewskimac]

Hi all,

This year I have set up a container garden on my back deck.

It currently consists of 5 seven gallon fabric containers, and 5 twenty gallon fabric containers.

I'm beginning to think that I might have overdone it on the 20 gallon containers and will just be wasting soil and space.... What do you all think? What vegetables would be good to grow in a 20 gallon, getting the best utilization of the space? The research that I have done has mostly leaned towards using 5-10 gallon containers for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants - the larger veggie plants. However, what I am seeing about 20 gallon containers is growing multiple plants in one container.

Which plants could I grow multiple of in a container?

I really want to grow potatoes, jalapenos, okra, tomatoes and possibly squash in the 20 gallon containers. In the 7 gallon containers i'm growing green onions, carrots (and seeking suggestions for the others)

Thank you all in advance. I have a drip irrigation system, running 1 dripper to each 7gal pot, and 2 drippers to each 20gal pots, if that helps.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

I would look into companion planting for the large ones. You could even do some three sisters in a 20 gallon if you stuck to compact varieties like Blue Jade corn, Dragon's Tongue beans, and ...I can't think of a container cuke/squash off the top of my head but I know they exist.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

A Bay Laurel tree is also a good option (where bay leaves come from), or some kind of citrus.

 

[21hens-incharge]

WOW! The 20 gallon ones are HUGE compared to what I use.

I grow carrots in pots of hat are 10-12 inches in diameter and 12-18 inches deep. I get to control the soil that way and sift out any sticks or rock that would hamper growth. I harvest in my wheelbarrow then amend, sift and refill.

I would think you could do 4-5 jalapenos in a 20 gallon with room in between for radish or lettuce.
Zucchini and summer squash take a lot of surface area. Their roots aren't super deep but those leaves are huge. That and they tend to be hungry plants.

I may see if I can grow a decent one in a 5 gallon pot this year just for fun. I have grown them in the half barrel planters and they definitely covered the entire top of it.

 

[drewskimac]

WOW! The 20 gallon ones are HUGE compared to what I use.

I grow carrots in pots of hat are 10-12 inches in diameter and 12-18 inches deep. I get to control the soil that way and sift out any sticks or rock that would hamper growth. I harvest in my wheelbarrow then amend, sift and refill.

I would think you could do 4-5 jalapenos in a 20 gallon with room in between for radish or lettuce.
Zucchini and summer squash take a lot of surface area. Their roots aren't super deep but those leaves are huge. That and they tend to be hungry plants.

I may see if I can grow a decent one in a 5 gallon pot this year just for fun. I have grown them in the half barrel planters and they definitely covered the entire top of it.

Thank you! I was wondering about growing multiple jalapeños, but I was unsure of whether or not they would have room to grow (width wise). I may just give it a shot.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thank you! I was wondering about growing multiple jalapeños, but I was unsure of whether or not they would have room to grow (width wise). I may just give it a shot.

I always plant 3 jalapenos in each of my half barrel planters.
They get about 3-4 feet tall (above the planter) depending on variety. I use the small 34" tomato cages to support them. I get better pollination with 3 per pot than when I was doing 1 per pot.
All my carrot pots are recycled pots from small shrubs or large flowers and I think those 10" pots would do well for peppers too.
This year I plan to have every available pot filled with something. I am hoping for a great gardening year.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Hi all,

This year I have set up a container garden on my back deck.

It currently consists of 5 seven gallon fabric containers, and 5 twenty gallon fabric containers.

I'm beginning to think that I might have overdone it on the 20 gallon containers and will just be wasting soil and space.... What do you all think? What vegetables would be good to grow in a 20 gallon, getting the best utilization of the space? The research that I have done has mostly leaned towards using 5-10 gallon containers for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants - the larger veggie plants. However, what I am seeing about 20 gallon containers is growing multiple plants in one container.

Which plants could I grow multiple of in a container?

I really want to grow potatoes, jalapenos, okra, tomatoes and possibly squash in the 20 gallon containers. In the 7 gallon containers i'm growing green onions, carrots (and seeking suggestions for the others)

Thank you all in advance. I have a drip irrigation system, running 1 dripper to each 7gal pot, and 2 drippers to each 20gal pots, if that helps.

Hello fellow Razorback.... I should have some time later today to dig into it deeper, but last summer I purchased a book on Amazon called The Vegetable Gardener's Container Bible by Edward C. Smith. It was a really good book and highly rated. It talked about self-watering containers (which is why I bought it) but also had a TON of information about great companion planting options for containers. I've got a meeting for work in a few minutes, but afterwards, I'll go pull out the book and send you screenshots of some ideas around what you are looking to grow....

 

[igorsMistress]

Garlic and carrots grow well together. Potatoes you can just grow more of in one bag. Look at companion plants that will do well with what you want to grow. Depending on the depth and width of your pots you can plant multiples of one thing in the same pot

 

[drewskimac]

I always plant 3 jalapenos in each of my half barrel planters.
They get about 3-4 feet tall (above the planter) depending on variety. I use the small 34" tomato cages to support them. I get better pollination with 3 per pot than when I was doing 1 per pot.
All my carrot pots are recycled pots from small shrubs or large flowers and I think those 10" pots would do well for peppers too.
This year I plan to have every available pot filled with something. I am hoping for a great gardening year.

Wow! Thank you. Do you use one cage for each plant, or a cage for all 3? May sound like a silly question. Maybe I’ll take a pic of the pots tonight to share with you all for reference.

 

[drewskimac]

Hello fellow Razorback.... I should have some time later today to dig into it deeper, but last summer I purchased a book on Amazon called The Vegetable Gardener's Container Bible by Edward C. Smith. It was a really good book and highly rated. It talked about self-watering containers (which is why I bought it) but also had a TON of information about great companion planting options for containers. I've got a meeting for work in a few minutes, but afterwards, I'll go pull out the book and send you screenshots of some ideas around what you are looking to grow....

Wooo pig! I would love to see some shots of that book, I will look into it myself. Thank you, look forward to hearing from you!