20 Dwarf Vegetables to Grow | Best Mini Vegetables to Grow

If you live in a small urban home or apartment, there is always a way for you to have a lovely kitchen garden. Dwarf vegetables are perfect for this. These super cool plants are just like their regular-sized counterparts, but they stay nice and compact, perfect for small gardens, pots, or even balconies.

Dwarf Vegetables to Grow

1. Cherry Tomatoes

Botanical Name: Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme

Cherry tomatoes are one of the most suitable vegetables for containers. These little tomato plants stay short and fit perfectly in pots or hanging baskets. They still produce yummy, bite-sized tomatoes all season long, so you can enjoy fresh cherry tomatoes right from your balcony or window sill.

2. Baby Artichokes

Botanical Name: Cynara scolymus

The difference between the full-sized artichokes and the dwarf kind is that the little artichokes actually do not have a “choke.” You can eat the whole of them if you just peel their external layer of leaves. They’re perfect for pots on your patio.

3. Baby Eggplants

Botanical Name: Solanum melongena

Go for round Mauve eggplant, Little Finger eggplant, and Casper eggplant for tasty fruits in a little space. They tend to be sweeter with thinner skin and less bitterness. Plus, they cook up much faster thanks to their smaller size!

4. Dwarf Carrots

Botanical Name: Daucus carota

These dwarf vegetables are really cute–they only grow about 4-5 inches long and are sweeter than the bigger ones. They’re also high in beta-carotene. Select between round, white, or French carrots if you’re going to grow these.

5. Dwarf Green Beans

Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris

Green beans love a good garden, but what if yours is not that big? No problem. Just like regular green beans, there are dwarf ones that produce long, slender pods that are packed with flavor. Plus, they mature quickly.

6. Dwarf Avocado

Botanical Name: Persea americana

A typical avocado tree can grow upwards of 40 feet tall! While dwarf avocado trees are bred to be smaller, they can still reach 8-10 feet in height. That’s definitely not tiny, but it is manageable for some backyards. And easy to grow. Plus, you’ll get the regular-sized Avocados, so that’s a win!

7. Patty Pan Squash

Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo

Just like bigger Patty Pan squash, these miniature versions boast the same cute, scalloped shape and come in vibrant colors like yellow and green. They’re perfect for stuffing, grilling, or slicing up for stir-fries. They have a mild flavor, like zucchini.

8. Miniature Bell Peppers

Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum

Mini bell peppers are exactly what they sound like–tiny versions of regular bell peppers! They come in all the same colors (red, yellow, orange) and are just as sweet and crunchy. They do well in pots and can be grown easily on a balcony.

9. Kalettes (Kale Sprouts)

Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea

Kale Sprouts are a fun mix of kale and Brussels sprouts! They have long, thin leaves with little green sprouts clustered around the stem, like tiny broccoli florets. They taste milder than Brussels sprouts, with a slightly nutty flavor.

10. Biquinho Yellow Pepper

Botanical Name: Capsicum chinense

Biquinho yellow peppers are adorable little peppers that pack a surprising amount of flavor! They are about the size of a marble and have a teardrop shape with a pointed tip, which is why they’re called “Biquinho” which means “little beak” in Portuguese.

11. Tom Thumb Peas

Botanical Name: 

This heirloom vegetable grows up to 8-12 inches tall and produces full-sized pea pods. It is a non-hybrid plant, so you can save the seeds to plant for the next year. These dwarf vegetables are ready to harvest in just 50-55 days from planting, making them a quick and easy crop.

12. Orange Hat Tomato

Botanical Name: Solanum Lycopersicum

This micro dwarf tomato has tender skin, a mild flavor, and a high fragrance. It grows to 6-8 inches in height. Orange Hat tomatoes are heavy producers of bright orange cherry tomatoes that burst with sweet flavor. They’re a fun and easy-to-grow variety.

13. Hedou Bok Choy

Botanical Name: Brassica rapa ‘Hedou’

Hedou bok choy is a super compact version of its full-sized cousin. Unlike regular bok choy, Hedou stays nice and small, with tight clusters of dark green leaves. This little bok choy grows up to 2-3 inches wide and becomes ready to harvest in just 15-20 days.

14. Tennessee Dancing Gourd

Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo var. ovifera

These heirloom gourds are about the size of a golf ball, with green and white stripes and a long, thin neck. They were once a popular children’s toy–kids would spin them by hand to watch them twirl. You can grow them as ornamental plants, but they are inedible.

15. Greek Dwarf Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum ‘Dwarf Greek’

This compact basil variety only grows about 6-10 inches tall, making it perfect for windowsill herb gardens or small pots. It has cute, crinkled light green leaves that pack a flavorful punch. This dwarf vegetable variety was introduced in 2020 during the lockdown.

16. Picolino Cucumber

Botanical Name: Cucumis sativus ‘Picolino’

Picolino cucumbers boast smooth, dark green skin and a crisp, juicy interior with a mild, sweet flavor. These little guys are early to produce and keep growing on compact vines throughout the season, giving you a long harvest. They’re perfect for snacking straight off the vine.

17. Jack Be Little Pumpkins

Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo

Speaking of mini vegetables, you can also grow Jack Be Little Pumpkins. These cuties live up to their name, growing only about 2 inches tall and 4 inches wide. But don’t be fooled by their size, Jack Be Little pumpkins are actually edible too!

18. Thai Lavender Frog Egg Eggplant

Botanical Name: Aubergine ‘Thai Lavender Frog’

The Thai Lavender Frog Egg Eggplant is a unique and beautiful variety of eggplant that produces clusters of tiny, lavender-pink eggplants about the size of cherry tomatoes. These eggplants are not only ornamental but also delicious!

19. Tennis Ball Lettuce

Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa cv

Tennis Ball Lettuce is a charming heirloom variety known for its adorable size. It is prized for its delicate flavor and silky smooth texture. It matures quickly, around 50 days after planting, and thrives in cool weather.

Fun Fact: This lettuce was even grown by Thomas Jefferson himself!

20. Cucamelon

Botanical Name: Melothria scabra

Cucamelons, also called mouse melons, are bite-sized. They’re a bright green with dark stripes and have a refreshing, slightly tart flavor. You can even eat the whole thing, skin and all!