GrowingHQ

Crops for shallow containers

Rooting depth is the constraint that decides whether a trough works, and it is the one figure most container advice omits.

How this list was built

Generated from the catalogue by the same engine that powers What can I grow? — 29 of the 102 edible plants qualify. It is published because it names a question people ask, returns enough plants to be useful, does not return most of the group it is about, and rests on fields that are actually populated. Lists that fail any of those are on the coverage page instead.

29 plants
PlantTypeLightSpacingMin. pot depthIn a container
BasilOcimum basilicumHerbSome care neededFull sun20–25 cm15 cmwell suited
BeetrootBeta vulgarisVegetableStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade10 cm20–25 cmwell suited
ChamomileChamaemelum nobileHerbStraightforwardFull sun20–30 cm15 cmwell suited
ChervilAnthriscus cerefoliumHerbSome care neededPartial shade, Dappled shade20–25 cm20 cmwell suited
Chilli pepperCapsicum annuumVegetableSome care neededFull sun40–45 cm20 cmwell suited
ChivesAllium schoenoprasumHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade20–30 cm15 cmwell suited
CorianderCoriandrum sativumHerbSome care neededFull sun, Partial shade15–20 cm20 cmwell suited
Garlic chivesAllium tuberosumHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade20–30 cm20 cmwell suited
Lamb's lettuceValerianella locustaVegetableStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade10–15 cm12 cmwell suited
Land cressBarbarea vernaVegetableStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade, Full sun15–20 cm15 cmwell suited
Lemon thymeThymus citriodorusHerbSome care neededFull sun30–40 cm20 cmwell suited
LettuceLactuca sativaVegetableStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade15–30 cm15 cmwell suited
MarjoramOriganum majoranaHerbStraightforwardFull sun20–30 cm15 cmwell suited
MintMenthaHerbStraightforwardPartial shade, Full sun, Dappled shade30–45 cm20 cmwell suited
OreganoOriganum vulgareHerbStraightforwardFull sun30 cm20 cmwell suited
Pak choiBrassica rapaVegetableStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade20–25 cm20 cmwell suited
RadishRaphanus sativusVegetableStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade2.5–5 cm15 cmwell suited
RocketEruca vesicariaVegetableStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade10–15 cm15 cmwell suited
SavorySatureja hortensisHerbStraightforwardFull sun20–25 cm15 cmwell suited
ShallotAllium cepa var. aggregatumVegetableStraightforwardFull sun15–20 cm20 cmwell suited
SpinachSpinacia oleraceaVegetableSome care neededFull sun, Partial shade15 cm20 cmwell suited
Spring onionAllium cepaVegetableStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade2–5 cm15 cmwell suited
StrawberryFragaria × ananassaFruitStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade35–45 cm20 cmwell suited
Thai basilOcimum basilicum var. thyrsifloraHerbSome care neededFull sun25–30 cm20 cmwell suited
ThymeThymus vulgarisHerbStraightforwardFull sun30 cm15 cmwell suited
Vietnamese corianderPersicaria odorataHerbSome care neededPartial shade, Full sun30–40 cm20 cmwell suited
EndiveCichorium endiviaVegetableSome care neededFull sun, Partial shade25–30 cm20 cmworkable
GarlicAllium sativumVegetableStraightforwardFull sun15 cm20 cmworkable
OnionAllium cepaVegetableStraightforwardFull sun10 cm20 cmmarginal