Ready to turn a few pots into a mini jungle? May is prime time to set up a summer container garden that cranks out color, flavor, and bragging rights. These 15 plants love cozy containers, grow fast, and reward you all season. Grab your sunhat and a watering can—your porch is about to glow up.
1. The Salsa Squad: Tomatoes, Peppers, and Basil
If you want instant summer vibes, build a container trio that tastes like a backyard party. Tomatoes bring juicy sweetness, peppers bring heat or crunch, and basil brings that dreamy aroma. Plant them in separate containers for best results, but keep them close like besties.
Container Setup
- Tomatoes: 5+ gallon pot, sturdy cage or stakes, full sun (6–8 hours).
- Peppers: 3–5 gallon pot, full sun, good drainage.
- Basil: 1–2 gallon pot, pinched often for bushiness.
Choose compact tomatoes (Patio, Celebrity, Tumbling Tom) and peppers (jalapeño, shishito, lunchbox sweets) for tight spaces. Water deeply and consistently—no yo-yo watering or you’ll get blossom end rot, which is basically a tomato meltdown.
Tips
- Use a premium potting mix with slow-release fertilizer.
- Side-dress with compost midseason for a second wind.
- Harvest basil often to keep it from bolting; pair with tomatoes for happy pollination vibes.
Perfect for cooks who want caprese one minute and salsa the next. Your taste buds will send a thank-you note.
2. Salad Bar In A Box: Lettuces, Arugula, Spinach, and Radishes
Want fresh greens on repeat? A shallow, wide container turns into a cut-and-come-again salad bar. These cool-to-warm weather champs still thrive in May, especially with a bit of afternoon shade.
Planting Plan
- Lettuces: Leaf types (Red Sails, Green Ice) regrow after snipping.
- Arugula: Peppery kick, matures in 30–40 days.
- Spinach: Bolt-resistant types like Bloomsdale or Space.
- Radishes: French Breakfast or Cherry Belle—ready in 25–30 days.
Use a 6–10 inch deep window box or bowl. Scatter-sow seeds, then thin lightly to give room. Water consistently and keep soil cool—hot stress turns leaves bitter and cranky, IMO.
Quick Wins
- Harvest often: Snip outer leaves, let centers regrow.
- Shade cloth: Drape during scorchers to prevent bolting.
- Succession sow: Re-seed every 2–3 weeks for a steady stream.
Great for small spaces, quick results, and anyone who wants smug farm-to-bowl energy without owning a farm.
3. Herb Corner That Basically Pays Rent: Mint, Chives, Parsley, and Thyme
Herbs love containers and save you cash every single dinner. Start these in May for summer-long garnishes that make weekday meals feel chef-y. Plus, they smell amazing and tolerate a little neglect—seriously, they’re chill roommates.
Who Goes Where
- Mint: Contain it solo. It’s delicious and a total space invader.
- Chives: Compact, perennial, adorable purple blooms that bees love.
- Parsley: Curly or flat-leaf; steady producer with regular picking.
- Thyme: Low and drought-tolerant; perfect edging plant for sun.
Use smaller 8–12 inch pots for most herbs, except mint—give it a roomy pot. Water when the top inch dries. Pinch often to keep plants compact and productive. Bonus: herbs make killer pollinator magnets, so the rest of your garden wins too.
Pro Moves
- Up-pot nursery starts: Bump them into quality potting mix immediately.
- Feed lightly: Too much nitrogen makes floppy, bland herbs.
- Harvest smart: Snip above leaf nodes to encourage branching.
Herbs suit any balcony or stoop and upgrade every dish. Your future mojitos and omelets say thanks.
4. Vertical Stars For Tiny Spaces: Cucumbers, Pole Beans, and Snap Peas
No yard? No problem. Train climbers up trellises and get a sky-high harvest with a small footprint. You’ll look like a genius and your neighbors will ask for seeds, guaranteed.
What To Grow Up
- Cucumbers: Choose bush or vining minis (Spacemaster, Mini Munch). Trellis keeps fruit straight and clean.
- Pole Beans: Kentucky Blue or Blue Lake Pole—crazy-productive and tender.
- Snap Peas: Sugar Ann or Sugar Snap; love cooler weather but still perform from a May start in many zones.
Use 10–15 gallon containers with a sturdy trellis or obelisk. Plant at the base and weave tendrils as they grow. Water deeply—climbers hate drought tantrums.
Key Points
- Mulch the surface: Keeps roots cool and moisture steady.
- Inoculate peas/beans: Rhizobium inoculant can boost yields (optional but nifty).
- Pick often: Frequent harvesting triggers more flowers and pods.
Best for balconies with good sun where every inch counts. You’ll harvest at eye level—so satisfying.
5. Flower Power With Perks: Marigolds, Nasturtiums, Zinnias, and Dwarf Sunflowers
Want color that pulls pollinators and protects veggies? These annuals crush it in containers, bloom fast, and some even double as snacks. Think of them as your garden’s bouncers and hype squad.
The Lineup
- Marigolds: Tagetes varieties deter some pests and add warm, punchy color.
- Nasturtiums: Trailing or compact; edible leaves and flowers with a peppery bite.
- Zinnias: Cut-and-come-again rockstars; choose Profusion or Zahara for containers.
- Dwarf Sunflowers: Varieties like Sunny Smile or Sundance Kid fit small pots and still bring drama.
Use 8–12 inch pots for most, bigger for sunflowers. Full sun makes blooms go wild. Deadhead spent flowers, and you’ll get encore performances all summer.
Why They’re Clutch
- Pollinator magnets: More bees equals more tomatoes and cukes.
- Edible flair: Nasturtiums on salads = instant chef energy.
- Low maintenance: They forgive a missed watering or two—FYI, still water them.
Ideal for brightening stoops, flanking entryways, and boosting veggie yields without extra effort. Beauty with benefits—what’s not to love?
Feeling inspired? Grab a few pots, good soil, and these 15 plants, and you’ll have a lush, tasty oasis by June. Start small, water smart, and harvest often—your future self (and your dinner guests) will be very impressed, trust me.