6 Vegetables You Can Grow in Hanging Baskets for Huge Small-Space Harvests

Think your garden is too small to grow any of your five-a-day? Think again, naysayers! Small-space gardening is booming, and hanging baskets aren’t just for flowers anymore: they're for vegetables, too.

Oh yes, with the right crops and seeds (and way of thinking), you can turn vertical space into a productive, bountiful vegetable patch, even if your balcony or patio is truly tiny. That's mainly because hanging baskets offer good drainage, easy access, and airflow, which is perfect for preventing disease in many vegetables.

Here are six vegetables – plus a few bonus trailing plants – that thrive in hanging baskets, giving you bumper crops in small spaces, no matter your USDA zone.

1. Radishes

Fast, fun, and rewarding? You'd better believe that radishes are every bit as perfectly suited to impatient gardeners as they are to life in a hanging basket (especially as small varieties tend to mature in as little as 25–30 days).

The shallow roots of the spicy radish makes it perfect for baskets that are at least 6-8 inches deep so long as you space seeds lightly and thin seedlings to avoid overcrowding.

Pick up some Cherry Belle Radish Seeds from Burpee now, then, and get started.

2. Eggplants

We know what you're thinking: eggplants seem too big for hanging baskets, right? Wrong! Well, not wrong entirely, but dwarf cultivars like ‘Patio Baby’ or ‘Little Fingers’ are compact, heavy-producing, and positively thrive in containers.

As ever, the usual rules apply: eggplants prefer life full sun and rich soil, and be sure to use a balanced container mix and fertilize lightly if you fancy picking glossy, purple fruits right from your balcony.

We rate the Patio Baby Eggplant Seeds from Amazon, if you're keen to get started.

3. Lettuce

Salad lovers, rejoice! Loose-leaf and butterhead lettuces are surprisingly well suited to hanging baskets because they have shallow roots and grow quickly, which means you can keep your greens up high and on tap.

Just take care to keep the soil consistently moist, and rotate harvests by cutting leaves rather than uprooting, as this gives you multiple pickings per season. Mix the likes of Amazon's Red Salad Bowl Lettuce Seeds and Buttercrunch Lettuce Seeds (also on Amazon) for a lush, layered look.

4. Cucumbers

Let's not get hung up on whether a cucumber is a fruit or a vegetable (botanically it might be a berry, but in reality, it gives off serious veggie vibes). Instead, let's focus on the fact that small, bushy cucumber varieties are a match made in heaven for hanging baskets.

Seek out the likes of ‘Patio Pickle’ or Burpee 'Summer Dance' Cucumber Seeds from Amazon if you're in the mood for crisp, snackable cucumbers that'll thrive in baskets as small as 12 inches deep... so long as you give them the full sun they crave. Their trailing vines will spill beautifully over your basket’s edges.

5. Herbs

Herbs are and have always been the ultimate small-space superstars. Basil, thyme, oregano, and chives grow compactly, tolerate container life, and are excellent for pollinators, too, making them a true triple threat.

Most will need full sun and require regular watering, though good drainage in your basket is key (some thrifty folk upcycle colanders into hanging planters for this very reason). Keep it near your kitchen window and harvest leaves frequently to encourage new growth; your salad bowl and cocktail garnishes will thank you.

Kick off with something simple like this pack of Sweet Italian Basil Seeds from Amazon.

6. Chili Peppers

The easiest way to add heat to your hanging baskets? Chilis, of course.

Yes, compact chili pepper varieties like ‘Numex Twilight’ or dwarf jalapeños are visually stunning – with colorful fruits that hang over the edges of baskets – and they’re seriously prolific.

The small print: peppers love full sun, well-drained soil, and temperatures 65-85°F, so plant accordingly. And research your spice levels in advance, maybe... not every chili hits the same (as this Multi-Pack of Habanero Pepper Seeds from Amazon well and truly proves).

Hanging Basket Shopping Essentials:

Of course, you can also grow strawberries and tomatoes in hanging baskets (although they're definitely not vegetables) and don't forget nasturtiums, too.

Essentially, with the right seeds, proper care, and a little love, your hanging baskets can yield bountiful harvests and beautiful displays, proving that small spaces can produce big results – and maybe even turn your neighbors green with envy, too.

Happy growing!