7 Shallow Root Vegetables That Grow Well in Containers and Hard Spaces

 Root Vegetables That Grow Well in Containers 

You don't need a lot of land to enjoy fresh vegetables. As long as you have some containers and some good soil, these shallow root vegetables will thrive. No matter how good it is, we don't have large land and healthy, fertile soil to grow our gardens. Heck, some of us don't even have land, so we stick to container gardens on the balcony or front porch. While this may seem limiting, there are shallow-root vegetables that work in containers or hard-to-find places that don't seem useful for growing anything.

A lot of leafy greens like spinach and spinach are suitable here. I'm sorry to say that if you don't have a large container, the asparagus may be out. Before we get to those shallow root vegetables, we need to talk about soil. and containers.

Why you can't ignore soil—especially if you're planting a container garden

Soil is just as important as sunlight and water in growing a garden. This is always true, but in a container, it can really make a difference. Your plants' roots can only go so far in search of water and nutrients. You've no doubt seen organic potting soil at your local gardening store; It is specially formulated to provide the nutrients your container garden needs.

As for soil depth, even shallow root vegetables are always best. However, six to eight inches of healthy soil will still be enough for a decent amount of vegetables. Now, what can you grow? Maybe more than you realize.

7 Shallow Root Vegetables That Work in Small Containers

Grab your window box, find a sunny spot, and start planting!

1. Lettuce. Some varieties of this leafy green are mature enough to enjoy in about 30 days. It is full of vitamins and you can harvest the leaves you need.

2. Lettuce. Most lettuce plants are cold hardy, and if you can't wait for that crisp flavor, leafy lettuce can be harvested early.

3. Radish. Radishes are amazing if for no other reason than three weeks after you sow the seeds, you have all the radishes you want. They're easy to grow, and there are some wonderful varieties like the black Spanish round radish, which has been popular since the 1500s.

4. Swiss Chart. Easy to grow, full of vitamins and absolutely delicious, Swiss chard is a favorite among gardeners everywhere. It will continue to produce until you harvest the old, outer leaves.

5. Garlic. What's not to love about fresh garlic? It is a slow growing plant, but once you plant it, you can forget about it until harvest time.

6. Onions. Onions come in a surprising variety, some of which are quite sweet.

7. Strawberries. Oops, did I add a fruit to this list? Yes, because the list of shallow growing fruits is very short and I don't want you to miss out! The key to growing strawberries is to give them a place where their shallow roots can spread (but clip long runners or replant in a new pot). And like many container plants, you'll need to pay close attention to how often they need to be watered.

There are lots of vegetables (and fruits) that grow well in a container garden. The beauty of the above is that you only need a small container to enjoy fresh produce anytime you want.