Thinking of getting into growing your own veg with a potting shed? Excellent choice! Whether you’re a total newbie to gardening or all ten fingers are green, your potting shed can be the perfect place to get going with the growing. There’s nothing quite like growing your own crop and we have some suggestions for which veggies to start with that will do great in your potting shed.
From juicy tomatoes to spicy chillies, here’s what you can (and absolutely should) grow in a potting shed.
Why Use a Potting Shed?

Before we dig in (literally), let’s talk about why a potting shed is the best way to help you in your self-sufficient greens journey.
Think of it as the halfway house between indoors and outdoors. It gives you shelter from the Great British weather as well as somewhere to store tools and, most importantly, a warm, protected environment that plants love. The large sun-catching glass window helps to keep the interior at a stable temperature and keeps your plants growing healthy and strong. It’s especially great if you’re short on space but still want to grow or want to get a head start before the proper growing season kicks in with more temperamental plants like chillies.
Our range of potting sheds can make sure you have the perfect shed to fit your garden – we have modular windows which means you can put the sun-catching glass on the correct wall to get the light your plants will crave. Not to mention with single or double door options, pent or apex roof alignment and a collection of sizes, whatever the shape of your garden or goals for your growing, we’ll have the perfect potting shed for you!
Now, onto the tasty part: What veg to grow!
Tomatoes: The Gateway Veg
If you’re new to growing veg, tomatoes are a really good starting point. They love the warmth of a potting shed to help them thrive and will happily grow in pots, grow bags or even hanging baskets. As long as you water them frequently and they get enough sun, you can get a brilliant crop to get you started!
Go for beginner-friendly varieties like:
- Gardeners Delight – A reliable, sweet, and super productive variety.
- Tumbling Tom – A trailing tomato that’s ideal for hanging baskets or small containers.
Make sure to give them lots of sunshine and water regularly (but don’t drown them)
Salad Leaves: Fast, Fuss-Free and Fresh
If you’re looking to save money and encourage healthy eating, salad leaves are where it’s at. You can grow lettuce, rocket and spinach in trays or pots, and they’ll be ready to pick in just a few weeks.
They’re also a great way to cut down on supermarket plastic and help encourage some healthier eating.
Try:
- Perpetual Spinach – As you’d expect, it gives you year-round greens and it’s unlikely to bolt.
- Mustard greens – A peppery tasting leafy green that’s great to grow in pots!
Herbs: Big Flavour, Tiny Effort
Herbs are the unsung heroes of the beginner’s veg garden – low maintenance, high reward! Not to mention, they’re perfect for small pots on a potting bench or sunny windowsill. A great way to help level up your cooking too.
Try growing:
- Basil – loves the warmth of a shed
- Chives – practically impossible to mess up
- Parsley – a kitchen staple that keeps on giving
You can grow these from seed or pick up some small plants to get a head start.
Chillies and Peppers: For a Bit of Spice
Fancy something a bit hotter? Chillies and sweet peppers are surprisingly easy to grow in a potting shed; the higher levels of sun and heat can defy the cooler climates of Britain and are all but essential to get them started. Keeping the heat
They’re great for beginners, and honestly, there’s nothing more satisfying than picking your own pepper to spice up dinner.
Try:
- Apache chillies – compact and fiery, an easy-to-grow chilli pepper.
- Mini Bel peppers – colourful, sweet and snack-sized, good before you move on to full bell peppers.
Carrots (Yes, in Pots!)
We had to give you a surprising one to finish off. Believe it or not, carrots grow brilliantly in containers, especially if you go for shorter varieties that don’t need deep soil. Use a tall pot or a trough filled with loose, sandy compost. Keep them moist (but not soaked), and you’ll be pulling up crunchy, homegrown carrots in no time.
As we have a bit of a size limit on what varieties to grow, we would advise you try these to start:
- Paris Market – Almost spherical and great tasting when just 4-5 cm.
- Chantenay – A classic and tasty carrot, you may want to opt for a small variety like Red Cored.
A Few Handy Tips for Shed Growing:
- Light matters: Make sure your sheds window is orientated to catch the most sun.
- Keep it cosy: Plants like it warm, so make sure your shed is properly insulated as well.
- Ventilation is key: Making sure airflow keeps the temperature right is also an important step, use a thermometer to keep an eye on it.
- Label everything: Clearly labelling pots will help you make sure you aren’t surprised when your chard turns out to be cabbage.
You don’t need a massive garden or loads of experience to grow your own veg. With just a potting shed, a few seeds, and a bit of enthusiasm, you’ll be harvesting homegrown goodies in no time. Whether it’s spicy chillies or crisp salad leaves, growing your own food is a brilliant way to reconnect with nature and even save a few pennies too.
So, pop the kettle on, grab a seed tray, and let your potting shed work its magic. You’ve got this!