The ethos of small-space gardening is about much more than cramming all of the plants that you have into a smaller space. To garden successfully in a small space demands a little extra gardening know-how and some specialized techniques—it’s not always as forgiving as when you have a big area to work with and can spread out. Every element must be in proportion to the space that you have, and your goal is to use every inch of it effectively and wisely. Sometimes it means you have to choose what to leave out, but this also means that you need to be very careful about what you keep. Our view is that successful small-space gardeners are a different breed, and what they create can be magical!

What are the best plants for container gardening?

Looking for the best plants to grow in a small space garden? Master gardeners and authors, Janet Melrose and Sheryl Normandeau, share their favourite vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, annuals, perennials, houseplants, and foliage below.

Vegetables

All sorts of veggies grow well in containers! The trick is to choose smaller-sized varieties and to not skimp on the size of your container.

Arugula
Asian greens (bok choi, mizuna, and many more)
Beans (pole and runner rather than bush types)
Beets 
Carrots
Cucumbers (slicing and pickling)
Endive and escarole
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce (Bibb, head, leaf, and romaine types)
Onions (scallion and multiplier)
Peas (snow and snap rather than shelling)
Peppers (both hot and sweet)
Potatoes (indeterminate varieties are best)
Radishes
Spinach
Squash (smallersized fruit are best)
Swiss chard
Tomatoes (cherry, grape, and other small varieties)

Herbs

Truthfully, it’s like herbs were created for container growing. Experiment with these varieties and more! Aggressive spreaders such as mint are contained and manageable in pots instead of being allowed to roam freely all over the garden. You can also overwinter many of these herb plants indoors, so you don’t have to replant every year.

Anise hyssop 
Basil
Borage
Calendula
Chamomile
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Fennel
Lavender
Lemon balm
Lemon verbena
Marjoram
Mint
Oregano
Rosemary
Sage
Tarragon
Thyme
Tulsi (holy basil)

Edible Flowers 

You have a huge range to choose from! Make sure your flowers are free from chemical residue and pollutants. Remember that some plants may cause allergic reactions and other health problems for some people, so do your research before you eat or feed others any of these blooms. Wash the flowers well before serving.

Anise hyssop 
Basil
Borage
Calendula
Chervil
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Fennel
Lavender
Mint
Nasturtium
Pansy
Scarlet runner bean
Squash
Violet

Finally, I have been asked several times over the years if sweet pea flowers are edible, and they absolutely are not. In fact, they are extremely toxic.

Heat and Drought-Tolerant Annuals 

Just because these selections fare a bit better than others in exposed, hot, and dry conditions doesn’t mean you can totally neglect them. They’ll thrive and put on a reliable show for you if you give them a little TLC every once in a while.

Ageratum 
Bougainvillea
Geranium (including ivy-leaved and scented geraniums)
Lantana
Mandevilla
Portulaca
Sage
Sunflower
Sweet potato vine
Verbena
Zinnia

Don’t forget sedums (stonecrops) and succulents! There are numerous species and cultivars to choose from, and they can add a huge amount of interest and texture to containers

Foliage Plants 

These are some perennials that can be planted into beds at the end of the season to overwinter:

Bergenia 
Boxwood
Coral bells
Euonymus
Golden creeping Jenny
Hosta
Periwinkle
Yucca

Annuals (Including Grasses) 

Short-lived but stunning, these ornamental grasses and annual plants add texture and—in many cases—height to your containers.

Coleus 
Corkscrew rush  
Fountain grass or purple fountain grass
Golden millet ‘Flashlights’ grass
Papyrus
Sweet potato vine 

Houseplants That Can do Double Duty Outside in the Summer

These popular houseplants will happily vacation outdoors in warm weather and add a lively spark of colour and texture to your containers. You’ll get a sense of the tropics without taking a bite out of your plant budget!

Asparagus fern 
Banana
Boston fern
Croton
Elephant ear
Inch plant
Ivy
Japanese painted fern
Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus)
Peacock plant
Rex begonia

Excerpted from The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Small Spaces by Janet Melrose and Sheryl Normandeau. Copyright 2021 by Janet Melrose and Sheryl Normandeau.