No more guessing which pot size to use! Use our Vegetable Container Size Chart to pick the perfect round pot for your veggies. Whether you're growing tomatoes, lettuce, or peppers, this chart takes the mystery out of container gardening—you’ll know exactly what size you need to get growing.
Think of this calculator as your very own pot matchmaker!
- Have a veggie in mind? We'll help you find its perfect pot.
- Already have a container? We'll show you which veggies are a match.
Vegetable Pot Size Calculator
Vegetable Pot Size Calculator
How to Use the Tool
Let’s say you're planting cucumbers. Under Vegetable Name, select Cucumbers (Bush) and click the red Find. The results will show:
- You’ll need at least a 5-gallon container for healthy growth.
- The diameter (width) of the pot should be at least 12 inches across.
- The depth of the pot—important for root development—should also be at least 12 inches.
- Recommended container-friendly varieties include ‘Spacemaster’ or ‘Bush Pickle’.
- Plant no more than 1 to 2 plants per pot to avoid overcrowding, under-potting, and poor harvests.
- If using a larger pot or placing pots close together, space plants 18 to 24 inches apart.
Or, maybe you already own pots from last season! Type in the size (e.g., 12 inches Diameter, 12 inches Depth). Then click the red Find button. The results will show:
- The gallon size of your container
- All of the suitable vegetables for that container
- How many plants will fit in your pot
Now you can confidently pick a container that gives your cucumbers room to grow!
Vegetable Container Size Chart
Here is our complete chart for all common vegetables, listing recommended pot size, plant spacing, and varieties that grow best in containers. Whether you're growing leafy greens or root crops, use this as your go-to guide for growing happy, healthy plants in pots.
| Vegetable | Pot Size (Gallons) | Plants per Container | Plant Spacing | Varieties for Containers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beets | 2 gallons | 2 to 3 | 2 to 3 inches | Detroit Dark Red, Bull’s Blood, Early Wonder, Red Ace, Chioggia |
| Bok Choi (Pak Choi) | 2 gallons | 1 to 2 | 4 to 6 inches | Tatsoi, Mei Qing Choi, Baby Choi |
| Broccoli | 5 gallons | 1 | 12 to 18 inches | De Cicco, Calabrese, Green Magic, Waltham 29 |
| Beans (Bush) | 2 gallons | 1 to 3 | 4 to 6 inches | Blue Lake Bush, Tendergreen, Contender |
| Pole Beans | 5 gallons | 1 to 2 | 6 inches | Kentucky Blue, Fortex, Rattlesnake |
| Carrots | 5 gallons | 10 to 15 | 2 to 3 inches | Thumbelina, Parisian, Little Finger |
| Chard (Swiss or Rainbow) | 3 gallons | 2 to 3 | 4 to 6 inches | Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant, Rhubarb |
| Collards | 3 to 5 gallons | 1 to 2 | 12 inches | Georgia Southern, Champion |
| Cucumbers (Bush) | 5 gallons | 1 to 2 | 12 inches | Spacemaster, Bush Pickle |
| Eggplant | 5 gallons | 1 | 18 inches | Fairy Tale, Patio Baby |
| Horseradish | 5+ gallons | 1 root | 12 to 18 inches | Root cuttings only |
| Kale | 3 to 5 gallons | 1 to 2 | 12 inches | Dwarf Blue Curled, Lacinato, Red Russian |
| Leeks | 3 to 5 gallons | 6 to 8 | 4 to 5 inches | King Richard, Lancelot, Tadorna |
| Lettuce | 1 to 2 gallon | 2 to 6 | 4 to 6 inches | Black Seeded Simpson, Salad Bowl |
| Mustard Greens | 2 to 3 gallons | 4 to 6 | 4 to 6 inches | Southern Giant, Green Wave, Red Giant |
| Okra | 5+ gallons | 1 | 12 to 18 inches | Baby Bubba, Clemson Spineless |
| Onions (Bulbing) | 3 to 5 gallons | 4 to 6 bulbs | 3 to 4 inches | Walla Walla, Candy |
| Onions – Green (Scallions) | 2 gallons | 10 to 12 | 1.5 to 2 inches | White Lisbon, Evergreen Bunching |
| Peppers | 3 to 5 gallons | 1 | 12 to 15 inches | Lunchbox, Jalapeño, Sweet Banana |
| Potatoes | 10 to 30 gallons | 3 to 5 seed potatoes | 8 to 12 inches | Yukon Gold, Red Norland, Fingerling |
| Radishes | 2 gallons | 5 to 6 | 2 inches | Cherry Belle, French Breakfast |
| Spinach | 2 gallons | 6 to 8 | 3 to 4 inches | Bloomsdale, Space, Tyee |
| Swiss Chard | 3 gallons | 2 to 3 | 6 to 8 inches | Bright Lights, Lucullus |
| Tomatillos | 5 to 10 gallons | 1 (need 2 nearby) | 18 to 24 inches | Toma Verde, Pineapple, Purple |
| Tomatoes (Determinate) | 5 to 10 gallons | 1 | — | Bush Early Girl, Patio Princess, Roma |
| Tomatoes (Indeterminate) | 15 to 25 gallons | 1 | — | Sun Gold, Sweet 100, Cherokee Purple |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | 5 to 10 gallons | 1 | 18 to 24 inches | Bush Baby, Eight Ball, Gold Rush |
With the right container size, your cucumbers—and any other vegetable you choose—will have the room they need to thrive.
Beyond Pot Size
Choosing the right pot is only the first step. The Old Farmer's Almanac Container Gardener's Handbook offers practical advice on selecting containers, growing successfully in pots, and getting the most from every container garden. Explore the handbook.
Vegetable Container Gardening Guides
Looking for crop-specific container-growing advice? Explore our step-by-step guides below:
- Growing Garlic in Containers: No Garden Required
- Growing Blueberries in Pots: Why Containers Work So Well
- Can You Grow Cucumbers in Containers? Yes—Here's How
- Growing Carrots in Containers: No Perfect Soil Required
- Growing Strawberries in Containers: A Natural Fit for Pots
- Growing Tomatoes in Containers and Pots (For Beginners)
- Growing Sweet Potatoes in Containers: No Garden Required
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