What Can You Grow in a Tower Garden? Plants, Vegetables & Herbs
Wondering what you can grow in a Tower Garden? The answer is a lot more than lettuce. Tower Gardens can grow leafy greens, herbs, vegetables, fruiting crops, strawberries, melons and even edible flowers.
The best choices depend on your growing conditions, available light, temperature and how much pruning, pollination and plant support you're comfortable providing. Here's a look at the different types of plants you can grow and what to consider when choosing them.
What Can You Grow in a Tower Garden?
You can grow lettuce, leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, squash, strawberries, melons, edible flowers and many other crops in a Tower Garden.
Leafy greens and herbs are generally the simplest place to start. Fruiting crops can also grow extremely well, but many need more light, pruning, pollination or support as they mature.
Leafy Greens You Can Grow in a Tower Garden
Leafy greens are among the easiest and most productive Tower Garden crops. Many grow quickly, don't require pollination and can be harvested repeatedly.
Lettuce
Romaine, butterhead, loose-leaf varieties and lettuce mixes.
Kale
Curly kale, dinosaur kale, Red Russian and other varieties.
Swiss Chard
A colorful, productive green that can be harvested repeatedly.
Arugula
A fast-growing leafy green with a peppery flavor.
Asian Greens
Bok choy, tatsoi, mizuna and other compact leafy greens.
Other Greens
Spinach, collards, mustard greens and many specialty greens.
Browse our leafy green seedlings and lettuce seedlings for Tower Garden-ready options.
Herbs You Can Grow in a Tower Garden
Herbs are another excellent choice because many stay relatively compact and can be harvested over and over throughout the growing season.
Basil
Sweet basil, Thai basil, lemon basil, purple basil and more.
Parsley & Cilantro
Popular culinary herbs that fit easily into a mixed Tower Garden.
Dill
A productive herb for cooking, pickling and pollinator gardens.
Mint
Spearmint, peppermint and other vigorous mint varieties.
Thyme & Oregano
Compact herbs that work well alongside other crops.
More Herbs
Chives, sage, lemon balm, stevia and many specialty herbs.
Explore our herb seedlings to see varieties available for your Tower Garden.
Vegetables and Fruiting Crops for a Tower Garden
Tower Gardens aren't limited to leafy greens. Many larger fruiting crops grow very well, but they usually need more light and hands-on care.
Tomatoes
Cherry, dwarf, compact and larger tomato varieties can all be grown with appropriate pruning and support.
Peppers
Bell peppers, sweet peppers, jalapeños and many hot pepper varieties.
Cucumbers
Productive vining plants that benefit from training and support.
Eggplant
Compact and full-size eggplants can thrive with plenty of light.
Squash & Zucchini
Larger plants that need room, support and pollination for fruit production.
Other Fruiting Crops
Tomatillos, ground cherries, okra and other crops can also be grown.
Placement tip: Large or trailing crops are generally best placed toward the lower portion of the Tower so they have room to grow without shading smaller plants. Tomatoes, cucumbers and other heavy or vining crops may also need a cage, stake or trellis for support.
Browse our fruiting crop seedlings, tomato seedlings, pepper seedlings and cucumber seedlings.
Can You Grow Strawberries and Melons in a Tower Garden?
Yes. Strawberries are a popular Tower Garden crop, and compact melons can also be grown successfully with the right conditions and support.
Strawberries
Albion, Frontera and other suitable strawberry varieties can be grown in Tower Gardens.
Watermelon
Smaller varieties such as Sugar Baby and compact bush types are easier to manage than very large melons.
Cantaloupe & Melons
Melons need plenty of light, pollination and support for developing fruit.
Fruiting plants generally require more light than leafy greens and herbs. They may also require hand pollination, pruning and support, particularly when grown indoors.
Edible Flowers You Can Grow
Edible flowers can add color to a Tower Garden while providing flowers for garnishes, salads and other culinary uses.
- Nasturtiums
- Pansies
- Violas
- Calendula
- Borage
- Edible varieties of marigold
Flowers can also attract pollinators when your Tower Garden is growing outdoors, which can be helpful when you're growing fruiting crops.
What Else Can You Grow in a Tower Garden?
Once you've mastered the basics, there are plenty of other crops to experiment with. Depending on your climate, space and growing conditions, Tower Garden growers may also try:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Celery
- Fennel
- Leeks
- Green onions
- Edamame
- Malabar spinach
- Specialty greens and herbs
Some of these crops take up considerably more space than lettuce or herbs, so being able to grow something doesn't necessarily mean it's the best use of every Tower Garden growing port.
How to Choose What to Grow in Your Tower Garden
Instead of choosing plants only because they can grow in a Tower Garden, think about your growing environment and how much care you want to provide.
New to Tower Gardening?
Start with lettuce, leafy greens and herbs. They're generally forgiving, productive and don't require hand pollination.
Growing Indoors?
Greens and herbs are excellent indoor choices. Compact fruiting crops can also be grown indoors when you provide enough light and are comfortable with pollination, pruning and support.
Growing Outdoors?
Match your crops to your seasonal temperatures. Some plants thrive in cool weather while others perform best when conditions are warm.
Ready to Start Growing?
Choose from Tower Garden-ready seedlings and seeds, or explore Tower Garden growing systems if you're just getting started.
Continue Learning
10 Easiest Tower Garden Crops
New to Tower Gardening? Start with crops that are simple, productive and beginner-friendly.
See the Easiest Crops →Growing Tomatoes
Learn about sunlight, nutrients, pruning, spacing and support for Tower Garden tomatoes.
Read the Tomato Guide →Growing Lettuce
Learn how to choose varieties, plant, feed and harvest lettuce from your Tower Garden.
Read the Lettuce Guide →
