20 Fast Growing Vegetables In Pots (Growth Time Mentioned)

Container gardening is a fantastic way to grow your own fresh vegetables, especially if you're short on space. Whether you live in an apartment, have a small backyard, or simply prefer low-maintenance gardening, growing vegetables in pots is convenient, accessible, and highly productive—especially if you focus on fast-growing varieties. In this guide, you'll discover 20 of the fastest-growing vegetables you can grow in pots, with estimated growth times to help you plan your harvest. These plants are ideal for beginner gardeners, small-space setups, and anyone looking to enjoy homegrown food as quickly as possible. Benefits of Growing Vegetables in Pots Before we dig into the list, let’s look at why container gardening is ideal for quick-growing crops: Mobility: Move your pots to capture the most sun or protect plants from weather. Space-saving: Perfect for patios, balconies, windowsills, or urban gardens. Soil control: You can choose high-quality soil free from pests or disease. Faster harvests: Many potted vegetables grow quickly in controlled conditions. Reduced weeding: Less soil surface means fewer unwanted plants. 1. Lettuce Lettuce is a fast-growing leafy vegetable that you can grow from seed or even regrow it by cutting the end and planting in soil. You can harvest lettuce up to three times per year depending on how long your growing season lasts. Lettuce will mature within 45 – 50 days after being planted, so when choosing what kind of lettuce to plant, keep this time frame in mind! 2. Spinach Spinach is one of the many green leafy vegetables that can make a tasty addition to any meal. Spinach needs about four days before it starts germinating and another thirty-eight or so after which you may harvest them for use in your meals! To grow spinach indoors, mix potting soil with sand to create an ideal growing environment. 3. Mustard Green It is super easy to grow mustard greens in small pots and containers. There are so many varieties that you can choose from, too! Mustard green plants take about 30 days to mature fully before they’re ready for harvest. 4. Onion The things you can do with onions are endless – from salads to stews, soup and even a sandwich. But have you ever thought about growing your own? It’s so easy! You’ll need some deep containers of soil for the onion roots (we suggest planting three or four at once), water them when they dry out, put in sunlight during daylight hours every day until it gets close to harvest time. Then just let nature take its course: harvesting green ones will only require 20-30 days while the larger bulbs may take up to 100-150 days. 5. Mushrooms What better way to spice up your favorite dishes than with mushrooms? You can grow them in a day or two, but if you want bigger ones (the size of that plate), it might take 6 days. That’s crazy- good luck! We recommend growing mushroom in containers slightly larger and adding an extra flavor too all your favorites. 6. Tomatoes Tomatoes are an easy crop to grow in containers. They can be harvested 40-50 days after planting the tomato plant and require a good potting mix for optimum growth. Plant them on your windowsill or porch so you can eat fresh tomatoes year round! 7. Cherry Tomatoes Cherry tomatoes are delicious, bite-sized tomatoes that can be grown in pots like normal ones. They take about 60-65 days to grow and the easiest way to start is with seedlings rather than seeds because it takes less time and energy on your part! 8. Beets A pot that is 12 inches deep should be selected for growing beet. A thin layer of soil will suffice to start the seeds, but as they grow you’ll need to add more soil and water them regularly in order not to let their roots turn stunted because they have no serious kind of disease. 9. Carrots If you want a longer carrot, plant them in deep pots and containers. Carrots are grown directly from seeds but the growth time is long (70-80 days). If you don’t want to wait that long or prefer eating their leaves instead of waiting for your carrots to grow, consider planting some too! Their leaves taste wonderful, so if they’re not something growing on your property already it’s worth considering adding them as well. 10. Cucumber Cucumbers only take about 55-65 days to grow and can also be harvested when they are immature or before the seeds get hard. Cucumber flowers come first, followed by cucumbers themselves that will suppress new flower growth if fully ripe. This means more productivity for you! 11. Pepper Growing peppers in pots is a great way to get your hands on the freshest flavors and textures. You can grow any kind of pepper, from hot varieties that take up 150 days to sweet types which mature much more quickly at 60-90. Of course you could always purchase seedlings if you’re looking for quicker harvests but personally, I love trying out new seeds every harvest season! 12. Radish You can grow radishes in your garden, pots and containers! The spring variety takes 20-30 days to mature. Winter varieties take a little longer at 50-60 days. If you’re growing them from seeds, they are easy and fun for anyone of any age to do! 13. Spring Onion You can get your hands on a spring onion as soon as six weeks! These onions are perfect for small pots and containers. If you want an endless supply of these guys, plant them every 2-3 weeks to keep the cycle going without interruption. No ugly bulb at the end with this kind of onion–they grow from seeds directly in soil so don’t worry about overcrowding or transplant shock either! 14. Kale Kale is a plant that can survive any kind of harsh conditions. It’s called “bulletproof” because it will keep going no matter what you throw at it, and if this tough green isn’t enough to make the garden newbie consider gardening on their own then nothing else will be able to convince them! Growing kale from seed? Wait 55-60 days for them to grow or just 20-30 with plants already sprouted; either way, they’re ready in no time. 15. Potatoes Potato bags are a rather large kind of pot, which is why they give such great yields. They need to be watered daily so the soil doesn’t dry out and reduce your yield, but wait until you see some little eyes on them first before planting! The growth time for potatoes ranges from 70-129 days – store bought ones can take up to 130 days in total. 16. Garlic For a delicious garlic dish, start with the biggest cloves of garlic you can find. Break apart each clove into individual pieces and spread them around your pot so that they have enough room to grow in between other plants. Be sure not to cover too much soil or else there will be no space for roots! Planting garlic is easy as long as it’s done properly – make sure each root has plenty of access water while keeping any leaves cut off from touching soil otherwise this could cause diseases like rot. Garlic bulbs take about 8 weeks before producing their first harvest- just keep feeding these hungry little guys until then! 17. Squash When a squash plant starts to produce yellow fruits, it is important that you harvest them quickly. If they are not harvested in time the plants will stop producing new flowers and fruit. Yellow squash grows easily in pots or containers of any size with only 50-70 days needed for harvesting! 18. Zucchini Zucchini is a versatile and delicious vegetable that can be eaten fresh or cooked. Zucchinis are grown in most gardens, as they only take 35-50 days to grow fully mature! When harvesting zucchini you should make sure the fruit is 4 inches long before picking it because this means its ready for harvest. If planted from seeds earlier on in springtime, these plants will produce young zucchinis; however if left unattended until summertime (or around July), then it’ll have matured enough to be harvested more frequently than just every day like those taken care of at an early stage. 19. Turnips Turnips are like root vegetables. You can grow them in pots or directly from seeds, and they’re ready to harvest after about 60 days of growth time! Turnip crops do well with carrot plants as long as you plant the carrots first; when watering these two together is essential because turnips need a lot more water than carrots will typically want. 20. Broccoli Broccoli is one of the most important vegetables to eat. It helps you feel light and full, so it’s perfect for a healthy diet! You can find broccoli in many different colors: green, purple, or even white. The growth time for this vegetable is about 90 days—but if you start from seedlings then that grows much faster than those grown from seeds because they’re already ready to go at an earlier age! Broccoli loves warmth as well which means your home garden will be just right with all its sunlight available year round; no need to worry about keeping them away from frosty weather like other plants might require during winter months due to their early maturing season. Tips for Successful Container Gardening Choose the Right Containers: Select containers with proper drainage to prevent waterlogging. Ensure they are large enough to accommodate the growth of the chosen vegetables. Use Quality Potting Mix: Use a well-draining potting mix specifically designed for container gardening. This ensures proper aeration and moisture retention. Provide Adequate Sunlight: Most vegetables require at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. Place your containers in a sunny location to optimize growth. Water Consistently: Maintain consistent moisture levels by watering your containers regularly. Container plants may need more frequent watering than those in the ground. Fertilize Appropriately: Use a balanced fertilizer or organic amendments to provide essential nutrients for your vegetables. Follow recommended guidelines for application. Consider Successive Planting: To ensure a continuous harvest, consider planting new batches of seeds or seedlings every few weeks. Protect from Pests: Monitor your container garden for pests and take preventive measures. Neem oil or insecticidal soap can be effective and are safe for edible crops. Harvest Promptly: Harvest your vegetables promptly when they reach the desired size. Regular harvesting encourages continuous production. Container gardening offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a quick and bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables, even in limited spaces. By selecting fast-growing varieties and providing the right care, you can savor the flavors of your homegrown produce in a relatively short time. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener, cultivating these swift-yielding vegetables in pots will bring both joy and delicious rewards to your gardening endeavors.