Leaf lettuce
- Pot
- 2-3 gal
- Spacing
- 6-9 in
- Space
- 4 / sq ft
- Sun
- 4-6+ hours
- Harvest
- 30-60 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 5 out of 5
Free printable garden planner
Small-Space Vegetable Garden Planner
Compare container size, plant spacing, sunlight, harvest time and vertical-growing potential for 20 vegetables - then download the free printable planner.
A4 PDF · US Letter PDF · No email required
Quick-reference planner
What can you grow in your space?
These pot sizes are beginner-friendly recommendations rather than theoretical minimums. Harvest times vary by variety, weather and whether you start from seed or a transplant.
| Crop | Recommended pot | Spacing | Plants / sq ft | Sun hours | Harvest | Vertical | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf lettuce | 2-3 gal | 6-9 in | 4 | 4-6+ | 30-60 days | No | 5 out of 5 |
| Spinach | 2-3 gal | 4-6 in | 4-9 | 3-6+ | 40-50 days | No | 4 out of 5 |
| Arugula | 1-3 gal | 3-4 in | 9-16 | 3-6+ | 35-60 days | No | 5 out of 5 |
| Kale | 5 gal | 12-18 in | 1 | 4-8+ | 50-70 days | No | 5 out of 5 |
| Swiss chard | 3-5 gal | 6-9 in | 2-4 | 3-6+ | 55-65 days | No | 5 out of 5 |
| Bok choy | 2-3 gal | 6-10 in | 4 | 4-6+ | 40-50 days | No | 4 out of 5 |
| Radish | 1-2 gal | 2-3 in | 16 | 4-8+ | 22-35 days | No | 4 out of 5 |
| Carrot | 3-5 gal | 2-3 in | 16 | 4-8+ | 60-95 days | No | 3 out of 5 |
| Beet | 3-5 gal | 3-6 in | 4-9 | 4-8+ | 55-65 days | No | 4 out of 5 |
| Green onion | 1-2 gal | 2-3 in | 16 | 6-8+ | 25-90 days* | No | 4 out of 5 |
| Bush bean | 3-5 gal | 3-6 in | 4-9 | 6-8+ | 50-60 days | No | 3 out of 5 |
| Pole bean | 5-10 gal | 4-6 in | Row | 6-8+ | 60-75 days | True climber | 5 out of 5 |
| Pea | 3-5 gal | 2-4 in | 8-9 | 6-8+ | 50-70 days | True climber | 3 out of 5 |
| Tomato | 5-20 gal* | 18-24 in | 1 / 2-4 sq ft | 6-8+ | 65-90 days* | Train upward* | 5 out of 5 |
| Pepper | 5+ gal | 14-18 in | 1 / 1-2 sq ft | 6-8+ | 65-95 days* | Support only | 4 out of 5 |
| Eggplant | 5-7+ gal | 18-24 in | 1 / 2-4 sq ft | 6-8+ | 60-90 days* | Support only | 3 out of 5 |
| Cucumber | 5-10 gal* | 6 in, trained up | 1-2 | 6-8+ | 50-70 days | True climber | 4 out of 5 |
| Zucchini | 10+ gal | 24-36+ in | 1 / 4-9 sq ft | 6-8+ | 40-60 days | Limited | 2 out of 5 |
| Kohlrabi | 3-5 gal | 4-6 in | 4-9 | 4-8+ | 45-60 days | No | 3 out of 5 |
| Broccoli | 5-7+ gal | 18+ in | 1 | 6-8+ | 60-100+ days* | No | 2 out of 5 |
Spinach
- Pot
- 2-3 gal
- Spacing
- 4-6 in
- Space
- 4-9 / sq ft
- Sun
- 3-6+ hours
- Harvest
- 40-50 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 4 out of 5
Arugula
- Pot
- 1-3 gal
- Spacing
- 3-4 in
- Space
- 9-16 / sq ft
- Sun
- 3-6+ hours
- Harvest
- 35-60 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 5 out of 5
Kale
- Pot
- 5 gal
- Spacing
- 12-18 in
- Space
- 1 / sq ft
- Sun
- 4-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 50-70 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 5 out of 5
Swiss chard
- Pot
- 3-5 gal
- Spacing
- 6-9 in
- Space
- 2-4 / sq ft
- Sun
- 3-6+ hours
- Harvest
- 55-65 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 5 out of 5
Bok choy
- Pot
- 2-3 gal
- Spacing
- 6-10 in
- Space
- 4 / sq ft
- Sun
- 4-6+ hours
- Harvest
- 40-50 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 4 out of 5
Radish
- Pot
- 1-2 gal
- Spacing
- 2-3 in
- Space
- 16 / sq ft
- Sun
- 4-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 22-35 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 4 out of 5
Carrot
- Pot
- 3-5 gal
- Spacing
- 2-3 in
- Space
- 16 / sq ft
- Sun
- 4-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 60-95 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 3 out of 5
Beet
- Pot
- 3-5 gal
- Spacing
- 3-6 in
- Space
- 4-9 / sq ft
- Sun
- 4-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 55-65 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 4 out of 5
Green onion
- Pot
- 1-2 gal
- Spacing
- 2-3 in
- Space
- 16 / sq ft
- Sun
- 6-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 25-90 days*
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 4 out of 5
Bush bean
- Pot
- 3-5 gal
- Spacing
- 3-6 in
- Space
- 4-9 / sq ft
- Sun
- 6-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 50-60 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 3 out of 5
Pole bean
- Pot
- 5-10 gal
- Spacing
- 4-6 in
- Space
- Row / sq ft
- Sun
- 6-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 60-75 days
- Vertical
- True climber
- Small-space value
- 5 out of 5
Pea
- Pot
- 3-5 gal
- Spacing
- 2-4 in
- Space
- 8-9 / sq ft
- Sun
- 6-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 50-70 days
- Vertical
- True climber
- Small-space value
- 3 out of 5
Tomato
- Pot
- 5-20 gal*
- Spacing
- 18-24 in
- Space
- 1 / 2-4 sq ft / sq ft
- Sun
- 6-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 65-90 days*
- Vertical
- Train upward*
- Small-space value
- 5 out of 5
Pepper
- Pot
- 5+ gal
- Spacing
- 14-18 in
- Space
- 1 / 1-2 sq ft / sq ft
- Sun
- 6-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 65-95 days*
- Vertical
- Support only
- Small-space value
- 4 out of 5
Eggplant
- Pot
- 5-7+ gal
- Spacing
- 18-24 in
- Space
- 1 / 2-4 sq ft / sq ft
- Sun
- 6-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 60-90 days*
- Vertical
- Support only
- Small-space value
- 3 out of 5
Cucumber
- Pot
- 5-10 gal*
- Spacing
- 6 in, trained up
- Space
- 1-2 / sq ft
- Sun
- 6-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 50-70 days
- Vertical
- True climber
- Small-space value
- 4 out of 5
Zucchini
- Pot
- 10+ gal
- Spacing
- 24-36+ in
- Space
- 1 / 4-9 sq ft / sq ft
- Sun
- 6-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 40-60 days
- Vertical
- Limited
- Small-space value
- 2 out of 5
Kohlrabi
- Pot
- 3-5 gal
- Spacing
- 4-6 in
- Space
- 4-9 / sq ft
- Sun
- 4-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 45-60 days
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 3 out of 5
Broccoli
- Pot
- 5-7+ gal
- Spacing
- 18+ in
- Space
- 1 / sq ft
- Sun
- 6-8+ hours
- Harvest
- 60-100+ days*
- Vertical
- No
- Small-space value
- 2 out of 5
* See the detailed guidance below. Harvest estimates are not deadlines.
Container logic
Minimum → Recommended → Ideal
The smallest workable pot is not always the best planning number. Start with the recommended range when you want useful moisture reserve and a more forgiving first season.
It can work.
Compact cultivars, attentive care, faster drying and potentially smaller yields.
Start here.
The beginner sweet spot: efficient footprint, manageable weight and a useful moisture reserve.
More forgiving.
Best when space and weight allow, particularly for large fruiting crops and exposed locations.
Tomatoes
Dwarf or patio: 5 gal recommended. Determinate: 10 gal. Indeterminate: 15 gal, ideally 15-20+ gal with strong support.
Cucumbers
Vining cucumbers can use 5-10 gal with a strong, secure trellis. The cultivar and training method change the practical footprint.
Carrots
Depth matters more than gallons alone. Use a container about 2 inches deeper than the mature root, or choose a short or round cultivar.
Choose by situation
Best vegetables for the space you have
Very small spaces
Leaf lettuce · Swiss chard · Radish · Green onion · Pepper
3-4 hours of sun
Leaf lettuce · Spinach · Arugula · Swiss chard
Vertical gardening
Pole beans · Cucumber · Peas · Indeterminate tomatoes
Fastest harvests
Radish · Baby lettuce · Baby arugula · Green onions from sets
Beginner crops
Leaf lettuce · Radish · Swiss chard · Green onion · Bush beans
Spacing
Productive, not overcrowded
Use enough plants to make the space useful without inviting competition, poor airflow or disease.
Radish · Carrot · Green onion
Spinach · Beet · Bush bean · Kohlrabi
Leaf lettuce · Bok choy · Young chard
Compact kale · Selected trained crops
Big crops don't fit neatly into one-foot squares
Tight single-stem training needs pruning, support and airflow.
Compact cultivars may use less.
Sprawling plants may occupy 4-9 sq ft.
Productive, but not compact.
Light + time
Match crops to your sunlight
Worth trying
Lettuce · Spinach · Arugula · Swiss chard
Good range
Add bok choy · Kale · Radish · Beet
Most crops
Beans · Peas · Peppers · Tomatoes · Cucumber · Eggplant
Warm crops
Excellent for warm-season fruiting crops when watering keeps pace.
No vegetable loves deep shade. Less light often means a later harvest.
Harvest speed
How quickly can you harvest?
Fast
- Radish - 22-35 days
- Baby lettuce - 25-30 days
- Baby arugula - 3-4 weeks
- Green onion sets - 25-35 days
Medium
- Spinach - 40-50 days
- Bok choy - 40-50 days
- Bush bean - 50-60 days
- Kohlrabi - 45-60 days
Longer
- Carrot - 60-95 days
- Tomato - 65-90 days*
- Pepper - 65-95 days*
- Broccoli - 60-100+ days*
Usually counted from seed: radish, carrot, beet, beans, peas and greens.
Often counted from transplant: tomato, pepper and eggplant.
Grow up, not out
A support is not always a climber
True climbers turn a narrow strip of soil into several feet of productive growing space. Other crops only use stakes or cages to stay upright.
Pole bean
Trellis · netting · strings
Cucumber
Rigid trellis · A-frame
Pea
Fine netting · wire mesh
Tomato
Stakes · strings · tall cage
Support is not the same as climbing
Pepper · Eggplant · Determinate tomato · Bush bean
Print · save · share
Get the printable planner
Six practical pages: quick-reference chart, container guide, spacing, sunlight and harvest speed, vertical growing, and a planning worksheet.
Free. No signup required.
A4 version
For Europe and most international printers.
Download A4 PDFUS Letter version
For US and Canadian printers.
Download US Letter PDFMethodology
How we researched the planner
This planner combines recommendations from university Cooperative Extension services and established horticultural references. Container recommendations vary between credible sources, so we distinguish minimum workable sizes from beginner-friendly recommendations rather than presenting one number as universal.
The finalized guidance synthesizes sources including Colorado State University Extension, University of Maryland Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife, UF/IFAS, University of Georgia Extension, University of Minnesota Extension and Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Cultivar, climate, weather and care can change results. For planting dates and regional advice, consult a reputable local Extension or horticultural source.
Begin with a plan
Plan first. Then plant.
Measure your space, watch where the sun falls, choose containers you can realistically manage, and use the planner to narrow your crop list.