{"id":1988,"date":"2026-10-31T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.168.60.121\/?p=1988"},"modified":"2026-11-10T13:41:44","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T12:41:44","slug":"best-pots-for-vegetables","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/en\/best-pots-for-vegetables\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Pots for Vegetables: Buyer&#8217;s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The pot is the first decision of the balcony garden, and it is the one made worst: you buy the pretty one, then the plant grows two leaves and dies of thirst. It is not the plant&#8217;s fault: with pots for vegetables, it is the container&#8217;s fault.<\/p>\n<p>Below you will find the <strong>volume rule<\/strong> (how many litres each vegetable needs), the choice of material, drainage \u2014 and the <strong>5 pots I really recommend<\/strong>, with the links to buy them.<\/p>\n<h2>The volume rule: how much soil do you need?<\/h2>\n<p>The golden rule: <strong>the volume of the pot must exceed the final volume of the root system<\/strong>. Not the diameter that &#8220;looks nice&#8221; \u2014 the litres.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Family<\/th>\n<th>Minimum volume<\/th>\n<th>Minimum depth<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Tomato, pepper, aubergine<\/td>\n<td>20\u201330 L<\/td>\n<td>30\u201340 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Courgette, cucumber<\/td>\n<td>30\u201340 L<\/td>\n<td>35\u201345 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Salads, radishes, herbs<\/td>\n<td>5\u201310 L<\/td>\n<td>15\u201320 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Carrots, beetroot<\/td>\n<td>10\u201320 L<\/td>\n<td>30 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Garlic, onions<\/td>\n<td>10\u201320 L<\/td>\n<td>25\u201330 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/03-infografica.webp\" alt=\"The volume rule: how much soil you need\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<p>Two honest notes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Below the minimum volume you can still grow<\/strong>, but the harvest is reduced and the care doubles (watering every day in summer). It is not failure, it is a compromise.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Beyond 40 litres the pots weigh 40+ kg full<\/strong>: on a rented balcony, check the structure of the railing and how you will move them to clean it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Material: terracotta, plastic, composite \u2014 for pots for vegetables<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Terracotta<\/strong>: it breathes, it dries the edges of the substrate, it is the traditional choice for herbs and tomato. Against: heavy, it breaks, it costs more, on a windy balcony in summer it dries out in an afternoon.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plastic\/PE (composite)<\/strong>: it holds moisture longer, it is light, it costs little, it does not break. Against: in full summer sun the substrate heats up more (light-coloured pots help).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fibre\/carbon<\/strong>: light and pretty, but more expensive and it ages in the sun.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For pots for vegetables in the centre\u2013north, my preference: <strong>dark composite or PE<\/strong> for the big volumes (tomato, courgettes), <strong>terracotta<\/strong> for salads and herbs where the &#8220;breath&#8221; helps. The beauty of plastic is that a 30 L pot goes down to the cellar and back up in a minute.<\/p>\n<h2>Shape and depth: the two criteria for pots for vegetables<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tall cylinder<\/strong>: the best for taproots (carrot, beetroot, garlic)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Classic round<\/strong>: fine for almost everything, it is the standard<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rectangular tray<\/strong>: perfect for salads, radishes, herbs, small onions (short-cycle, shallow plants). With a 50\u00d720 cm tray you grow 8\u201312 salads<\/li>\n<li><strong>Avoid<\/strong>: deep, narrow pots like the &#8220;ficus pots&#8221; (roots making a ball) and very wide, low pots for deep vegetables<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Drainage: the most common beginner mistake with pots for vegetables<\/h2>\n<p><strong>No drainage = no vegetable potting.<\/strong> Period.<\/p>\n<p>The elements that really matter:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Holes in the bottom<\/strong> (and in the low sides, if the pot allows): at least 5\u20136 holes of 8\u201310 mm<\/li>\n<li><strong>A thin layer of expanded clay<\/strong> over the holes (<em>optional<\/em>): it only stops the compost from clogging the holes without blocking the water. A 2-litre bag lasts months: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.it\/dp\/B0BYJN2Y3M?tag=ortoinbalcone09-21\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Albagarden expanded clay<\/a> is the one I use<\/li>\n<li><strong>Never a saucer full of water<\/strong>: stagnant water under the pot keeps the roots in damp even when it is not raining. Empty it after every watering<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The right compost (and the reasons) is in the <a href=\"\/en\/substrate-and-drainage\/\">Substrate and drainage<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n<h2>The 5 pots for vegetables I recommend<\/h2>\n<p>I chose them to cover the 5 real use cases of the balcony garden. They are all pots with drainage holes and a saucer, all used in urban gardens and not just as ornamental pots.<\/p>\n<h3>1. The hard workhorse: 30 L tub<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.it\/dp\/B085L52NBM?tag=ortoinbalcone09-21\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">30-litre tub, \u00d840 cm<\/a> in polyethylene, terracotta colour, with handles.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>For whom<\/strong>: tomato, pepper, aubergine, courgette<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why<\/strong>: 30 L real (not &#8220;25 and a half&#8221;), real handles to move it full, a material that does not break. It is the pot you put out every year and never think about again<\/li>\n<li><strong>Price<\/strong>: budget range compared to an equivalent composite<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>2. If you are away the weekend: self-watering pot<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.it\/dp\/B00AX8GYI6?tag=ortoinbalcone09-21\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bama self-watering pot 30\u00d730\u00d722 cm<\/a> with water tank and indicator.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>For whom<\/strong>: whoever leaves on Saturday night and comes back on Monday, or whoever forgets to water<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why<\/strong>: the tank stores 2\u20134 days of autonomy; the wick brings water where it is needed without waterlogging<\/li>\n<li><strong>Honest note<\/strong>: it is not magic \u2014 in the full sun of July it still needs a check, and the 22 cm of depth makes it more suitable for salads, herbs and cherry tomato than for a tomato with 30 cm of roots<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3. The tray for salads and herbs<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.it\/dp\/B01M0WUQCD?tag=ortoinbalcone09-21\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Veca Roxanne tray 50\u00d720\u00d718 cm<\/a>, about 10\u201312 litres, terracotta colour, UV and frost-resistant resin.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>For whom<\/strong>: salads, radishes, parsley, basil<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why<\/strong>: a pocket shape for 8\u201312 short-cycle plants, light, made in Italy, and it survives outdoor winters without cracking<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pairing<\/strong>: two trays in a row = a &#8220;salad planter&#8221; that covers the weekly consumption<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>4. Faux terracotta: the plastic pot that never cracks<\/h3>\n<p>If you want the terracotta look, take a <strong>20 L terracotta-coloured plastic pot with saucer<\/strong>: the right volume for a tomato or three peppers, without the 25 kg of a 40 cm piece. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.it\/dp\/B09TJ94QWF?tag=ortoinbalcone09-21\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This 20-litre \u00d840 in terracotta-coloured plastic with saucer<\/a> is plastic, not real clay: lighter and immune to frost cracks. Either way, check that it has holes in the bottom and at least 25\u201330 cm of internal depth.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>For whom<\/strong>: whoever wants the traditional look without the weight or the frost-crack risk (but without the breath of real clay, which plastic does not have)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Attention<\/strong>: on an exposed balcony, summer evaporation is fast: check the substrate every day, black plastic pots heat up.<\/li>\n<p>n<\/ul>\n<p>n<\/p>\n<h3>5. The pot without a pot: the 20 L fabric pot (pack of 5)<\/h3>\n<p>Non-woven fabric is a pot in every sense: it drains and air-prunes the roots through the walls, it weighs almost nothing, it costs little, and it folds away at the end of the season. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.it\/dp\/B08YJW3WVB?tag=ortoinbalcone09-21\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Praknu pack of five 20 L bags with handles and plant labels<\/a> is what I use for garlic, potatoes and experiments. One honest drawback: water evaporates through the walls faster than from rigid pots, so in midsummer you need one or two extra waterings a day.<\/p>\n<p>e free holes and watering without waterlogging.<\/p>\n<h2>How to buy pots for vegetables (and not throw money away)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Always check the holes<\/strong> (especially in &#8220;decorative&#8221; pots and cheap resin ones: sometimes they do not have them)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Measure the internal depth<\/strong>, not the external height: the saucer and the rim subtract 3\u20135 cm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Big pots cost little<\/strong>: a 30 L PE costs less than two &#8220;pretty&#8221; 10 L potlets. Buy big and put the pretty potlets on top, for the herbs<\/li>\n<li><strong>In winter empty pots go to the cellar<\/strong>: do not leave them out in full frost, they crack (especially terracotta)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Can I use the supermarket plastic trays as pots?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes, if you drill the holes (8\u201310 mm drill, 5\u20136 holes). They work very well, but thin plastic degrades in the sun in 2\u20133 seasons.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How many vegetables fit in a 30-litre pot?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt depends: 1 tomato (with a stake), 2\u20133 peppers, 2 aubergines, or 6\u20138 salads in succession.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are pots with side holes better?<\/strong><br \/>\nLow side holes help drain excess water in tall pots. They are a plus, not a necessity: well-sized holes in the bottom are enough.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"oib-guide-xlinks\">Related plant cards<\/h2>\n<p>Pot size, litres and sun hours for each plant are in the individual cards: <a href=\"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/en\/piante\/oib-plant-001-tomato\/\">Tomato<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/en\/piante\/oib-plant-016-lettuce\/\">Lettuce<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/en\/piante\/oib-plant-042-short-root-carrot\/\">Carrot<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/en\/piante\/oib-plant-106-garden-strawberry\/\">Strawberry<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/en\/piante\/oib-plant-076-rosemary\/\">Rosemary<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Product technical specifications: Amazon sheets of the individual articles (volumes, materials, dimensions)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ortodacoltivare.it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Orto da Coltivare \u2014 Growing in pots<\/a>: recommended volumes and depths by family<\/li>\n<li>CREA \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crea.gov.it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">urban agriculture and container gardens<\/a>: guidelines on substrates and drainage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The pot is the first decision of the balcony garden, and it is the one made worst: you buy the pretty one, then the plant grows two leaves and dies of thirst. It is not the plant&#8217;s fault: with pots for vegetables, it is the container&#8217;s fault. Below you will find the volume rule (how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1746,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_GB","_original_post":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/?p=1851","oib_translation_group_id":"","oib_affiliate_link_limit":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guide","en-GB"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1988"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1988\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3656,"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1988\/revisions\/3656"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ortoinbalcone.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}