Vegetables With Shallow Roots are worth a try in tiny spaces as they will provide ample harvest in small pots!
If you have small space like a windowsill, or a tiny spot in your balcony where you want to grow some veggies, well, for that, you need to get those that can be accommodate in small pots, right? Don’t worry! We have the tastiest ones for you!
Vegetables With Shallow Roots To Grow In Small Pots
1. Spinach
Botanical Name: Spinacia oleracea
Container Size: 6 inches depth and 6-8 inches diameter
Spinach is tasty, is nutritious, and growing it needs just a small pot to give you a never ending supply of tasty greens! What more you could ask for? Just two things—make sure it gets plenty of sunlight, and do not let that growing medium go completely dry, ever!
2. Radishes
Botanical Name: Raphanus sativus
Container Size: 6 inches depth and 6-8 inches diameter
Radishes are fast-growing root vegetables with shallow roots, making them ideal for small pots. In pots, they mature in as little as 3-4 weeks, so yeah, you can enjoy them no time on your platter! Remember, using a well-draining potting mix would make these tastier!
3. Carrots
Botanical Name: Daucus carota
Container Size: 8 inches depth and 8-10 inches diameter
Don’t let the large size of the carrot fool you into thinking you will need bigger pots for these. Small varieties like Little Finger, Thumbelina, and Short ‘n Sweet are great picks for growing in pots. You can enjoy them in about 50 to 70 days after planting!
4. Green Onions
Botanical Name: Scallions
Container Size: 6 inches depth and 6-8 inches diameter
Onion greens are like a chef’s kiss in salads or stews, so why miss growing them? Have a sunny kitchen windowsill? That’ll do! We also have an amazing article on how to grow these easily, which you can check out here.
5. Arugula
Botanical Name: Eruca sativa
Container Size: 6 inches depth and 6-12 inches diameter
Spicy, tender, and a great spinach replacement—this one grows really easy in small pots, as long as it gets the morning sunlight for 4-5 hours. Want more of its leaves? Start harvesting when they’re about 4-5 inches long, and the plant will keep on growing more!
6. Mizuna
Botanical Name: Brassica rapa var. nipposinica
Container Size: 6 inches depth and 6-8 inches diameter
You must have tried mustard greens, right? Well, its Japanese cousin has a flavory twist that you would absolutely love in your dishes and salads! Space is not an issue, as you can grow these in shallow pots of 8-10 inches!
7. Pak Choi
Botanical Name: Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
Container Size: 8 inches depth and 6-8 inches diameter
Pok choy is the choice of the champions, and for a reason! It packs in so many nutrients! To have more of its tasty leaves, concentrate on getting a wider pot that’s also shallow, so that the plant has all the space to grow wide=more foliage to harvest!
8. Pattypan Squash
Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo
Container Size: 8 inches depth and 8-10 inches diameter
Don’t get surprised to see an actual squash on this list! Yes, it is a great choice for shallow pots, as long as you can fit in a trellis or any support structure like a bamboo, or plastic pipe for it to climb on. And yes, it loves sunlight, so pick the sunniest spot!
Tips and Tricks to Maintain Shallow Rooted Vegetables for Best Growth
While growing vegetables with shallow roots, maintaining adequate soil moisture is important as the growing medium in shallow pots dries out quickly. So yes, keep the growing medium a little on the moist side, all the time.
Regular monitoring for pests and diseases, along with adequate sunlight (5-6 hours. Direct.) are also important factors to be considered when growing shallow rooted vegetables in pots.
