Skip to main content

5 incredible hanging vegetable basket plants for your home garden

What to plant in a hanging vegetable basket and where to place it

Growing your own produce can be a rewarding hobby. It is fun, yields fresh vegetables, and saves you money on pricey produce in the grocery store. One particularly fun way to grow vegetables is in a hanging basket. There are many beautiful hanging vegetable garden ideas you can take inspiration from, and this is the perfect way to keep your delicious veggies off of the ground and away from pests. Not all vegetables flourish in hanging baskets, so check out some of the best types to grow in your floating garden.

Lettuce growing in hanging baskets
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Top 5 vegetables to grow in hanging baskets

Picking the right vegetables for your hanging basket garden is the first step toward planting success. Hanging vegetable plants can truly flourish if they are built for the floating lifestyle. Some of the best vegetables you can grow in hanging baskets at home include the following.

Cherry tomatoes

If you have ever grown a cherry tomato plant before, then you know how wild the plant can get. Cherry tomatoes grow on long vines. These tomatoes are low-maintenance, making them great for hanging baskets. The long vines grow down and over the edges of the hanging basket for a natural look.

Lettuce

Growing your own lettuce can be great, especially if you love salads. There are a lot of benefits to growing your lettuce in hanging baskets, one being that you can keep it safe from slugs and other pests. Unlike cherry tomatoes, lettuce grows in a very compact form. There is no overhang, and the lettuce can grow nicely in the small space provided.

Peas

When a pea plant is fully grown, the thick and luscious green leaves can easily overtake the edges of a hanging basket. It almost looks like a ball of green leaves hanging from your front porch. Peas grow on long vines in bundles, making them perfect plants for hanging baskets. They are low-maintenance and easy to harvest. They also benefit from being off the ground and away from pests.

Pepper

Another great option for growing vegetables in hanging baskets is the pepper. Many types of peppers can thrive in hanging baskets. Hot chili peppers, bell peppers, cherry peppers, banana peppers, and jalapeno peppers are just a few you can grow in your hanging baskets. It is the perfect way to bring some heat and spice to your outdoor garden.

Cucumbers

When grown in hanging baskets, cucumbers tend to be straighter from hanging, more uniform, and less susceptible to pests. Harvesting your cucumbers is also a lot easier.

strawberries growing in a hanging basket
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Where should you hang a vegetable basket

Once you figure out what delicious vegetables you want to grow, you have to figure out where to hang these veggie baskets. There are a lot of options for locations for your hanging vegetable baskets. Each one has different benefits, and it really just comes down to preference.

Front porch or back deck

The front porch or back deck is a great option for hanging up your baskets. Depending on which way your home is facing, it is important to consider sunlight. If your home is facing the sunrise (in the east), you may want to consider putting your vegetables that require less sun on the back porch. It all depends on the type of vegetable, the direction of the sun, and the sun tolerance of each plant.

Inside a sunroom

Sunrooms can provide your vegetables with all the light they need and the protection from pests. They can be a great way to keep your plants safe from the elements as they get good sunshine.

Kitchen by a window

A smaller-sized hanging basket can fit in the kitchen, but it needs to be right by the window. It is also important to consider that the dirt from hanging baskets may cause a bit of a mess in your kitchen sink area.

On a tree

If you don’t have handy hooks ready for hanging up your baskets, you can simply use a nearby tree. Hanging your basket on a tree can be beneficial because it provides good shade and enough sunlight.

Hands holding soil
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What soil is best for hanging vegetable baskets?

Soil is an important factor for a successful hanging basket. If you think about it, hanging baskets feature a lot of plants and root systems, but not very much soil. This is why the type of soil you use is so important. It can mean the difference between a bountiful harvest of veggies and a brown, dying plant.

Because of this, you need to choose a potting soil that has the following characteristics:

  • Holds moisture well.
  • Light, aerated, and breathable.
  • Heavy enough to hold the roots.

Many potting soils can check these boxes, so it is also important to look for some key ingredients that come with store-bought soil:

  • Peat moss
  • Pine bark
  • Perlite
  • Vermiculite

Using some of these tips and tricks will have you on your way to a successful hanging vegetable basket. Hanging planters are great for bringing gardening to the sky and celebrating the beauty that nature has to offer. Utilize some of these hardy vegetables that not only survive but also thrive in a hanging basket environment. You will love how bountiful your harvest will be each and every season.

Editors' Recommendations

HappySprout Contributor
The colors of fall flowers can be striking: 11 flowers that’ll have your garden bursting with autumn colors
Keep your fall garden gorgeous and colorful with these flowers
Beautiful light purple asters

When you imagine a beautiful flower garden, you might picture it in spring or summer. The colors of fall can be just as striking, though! As your summer garden fades, why not replace it with a stunning fall flower garden? No matter the climate you live in or the colors you prefer, there are plants that will look great in your autumn garden. These 11 flowers can satisfy any gardener, whether you’re looking to fill a full flower bed or just one or two containers to spruce up your porch. Here are our favorite flowers to bring the colors of fall to your home or garden!

Celosia
Celosia, also sometimes called cock’s comb or wool flowers, are sure to stand out in any garden. These unique flowers come in shades of pink, orange, red, yellow, and purple. They can be shaped like fox tails (triangular and bushy) or like coral, wide and wavy. They grow easily in containers or gardens. Celosia are low-maintenance flowers. They enjoy full sun, although they will tolerate some shade, and do best in well-draining soil. Celosia won’t tolerate standing water or wet feet, so let the soil dry between waterings.

Read more
The best vegetables to plant in October
Tips for selecting autumn plants and caring for them
Best October vegetables

Autumn is typically a season associated with harvesting. Rich cornucopias full of bounteous food and comforting dishes. Whether you're celebrating the large harvest of a family farm or the smaller harvest of a personal garden, there are many delicious vegetables, fruits, and herbs to harvest, use, and preserve for winter. However, there are also plenty of crops that can be planted in October! Your garden doesn't have to stay empty, you can begin growing new plants during fall.

Fall weather brings unique challenges and advisories. Here are some key factors to consider as you plant your crops, select seeds, and care for each plant properly. Keep reading to find out what the best vegetable to plant in October are.

Read more
Wondering what to plant in October? Here are the best flowers and vegetables for autumn
Tips for picking out the best plants to start in autumn
View of a vegetable garden

Your gardening season doesn’t have to be over when the leaves and temperatures start to fall. October is a great time for planting. The mild days and cool evenings are perfect for establishing cool-season flowers and veggies. Plus, trees and shrubs need less care and attention if you plant them in fall instead of spring. Although there are some heat-loving plants that prefer to start out with a long summer, the plants on this list find their sweet spot in autumn. Keep reading to find out what to plant in October.

Cool-season flowers
Purchase cool-season flowers from your local garden center in time for October planting. Or, start them from seeds in August or September. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost to amend garden beds prior to planting. For container garden setups, use a high-quality outdoor potting mix.
Pansies and violas
Pansies and violas are mound-shaped plants with emerald green foliage and colorful 1- to 2-inch flowers. They love the cold. Plant them in the fall for a colorful display as long as daytime temperatures stay above freezing. In the deep cold, they pause and resume as soon as the weather turns mild. Expect pansies and violas to remain in good condition until warm weather arrives in late spring or early summer.

Read more