Use our Vegetable Container Size Chart (included within the body of this post below) to finally know what pot sizes you need for the vegetables you are planting. No more guessing! For new gardeners, especially those growing in pots and containers for the first time, knowing what size pot to grow your precious vegetables in can be hard to understand. Luckily, we have created this easy-to-use Vegetable Container Size Chart to help you make the best choice possible. Before reading through our Vegetable Container Size Chart, there are some things that you should know as a new gardener that will help you understand why the sizing chart is arranged as it is.

Smaller pots dry out faster.

If you are planting a garden for the first time, especially in a warm climate like Zone 9 or 10, remember that the smaller the container, the quicker it will dry out. This happens because the container has more surface area than in-ground plantings, allowing hot, dry air to circulate around the pot to wick away moisture. Additionally, as shown in the Vegetable Container Size Chart, the larger the plant, the more soil it needs. Small pots can only hold a small amount of soil. The roots of a happy, healthy plant planted in a pot too small for it will quickly fill up the space and become root-bound, depriving the plant of receiving the water, oxygen, and nutrients needed.

When in doubt, use a larger pot!

For the reasons mentioned above, you can see that if you are unsure what size to choose when planting a vegetable, choose the larger one if given a choice between two pots! There will be more room for the plant’s roots to grow, and the pot will not dry out as quickly, resulting in a happier, healthier plant.

Add mulch to your pots.

Plants grown in containers of any size, from small 6″ pots to large, raised beds, will dry out more quickly than in-ground plants. To help prevent excess moisture evaporation, add mulch around your plants inside the pot. The mulch will keep your container looking tidy and help your plants keep moisture in the soil.

When using our Vegetable Container Size Chart, keep in mind these are suggestions. We always encourage our growers to play around with what works for them using what materials they have on hand.