Stephen Albert
Miniature, midget, and dwarf vegetables are good selections for container growing. True dwarf varieties at full maturity have edible parts that are smaller in size than ordinary vegetable varieties and cultivars. Miniatures, midgets, and dwarfs differ from vegetables that are sold as “baby” vegetables–those are generally full-sized cultivars picked before maturity. Baby corn, for example, is most often ordinary corn harvested early just as the silk emerges from the husks.
Dwarf and miniatures require little above soil growing space and are well suited for containers. But because the plants and fruits are smaller, these crops can not be expected to perform the kitchen duties or full-sized varieties. Consider dwarfs and midgets for side dishes or stir-fries.
As for growing miniature vegetables, apart from spacing and often early harvest, normal growing practices apply. Miniature vegetables have the same soil, water, nutrient, and light requirements as ordinary varieties.
| MINIATURE VEGETABLE VARIETY | Days to harvest | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| BEANS | Three to nine inches apart | |
| Dwarf Bees | 80 | 18- to 24-inch runner |
| Thorogreen | 68 | 18-inch tall Lima |
| BEETS | Two to 3 inches apart | |
| Burpee’s Gold Beet | 55 | 1-inch diameter |
| Galdiator | 54 | Golf-ball size |
| Spinel | 52 | 1½-inch round |
| Chioggia | 55 | Italian heirloom |
| CABBAGE | 5 gallon container, 10″ apart | |
| Baby Head | 72 | 2½-inch heads |
| Modern Dwarf | 65 | 4-inch heads |
| CANTALOUPE | 5 gallon container per plant | |
| Early Sugar Midget | 60 | Medium vine |
| Midget Muskmelon | 60 | 3-foot vines |
| Minnesota Midget | 63 | 4-inch melons |
| Short ‘n Sweet | 62 | Bushy |
| CARROTS | One to 2 inches apart | |
| Bunny Bite | 65 | 1½ inch root |
| Little Finger | 65 | Cylindrical |
| Short ‘n Sweet | 68 | 4-inch roots taper |
| Thumbelina | 60 | Bite-size |
| Tiny Sweet | 65 | 3-inch roots |
| CORN | 5 gallon container, 3 plants per | |
| Baby Asian | 65 | 4-5 inches ears |
| Faribo Golden Midget | 60 | 30-inch plants |
| Golden Midget | 60 | 2- to 3-foot stalks |
| Golden Miniature | 54 | 5-inch ears |
| CUCUMBER | 5 gallon container, 15″ apart | |
| Baby Cucumber | 52 | Bushy vine, early |
| Bush Whopper | 55 | No runners |
| Little Minnie | 52 | Bushes to 2 feet |
| Midget | 50 | 2-foot vines, early |
| Patio Pik | 55 | Slicer for baskets |
| Pot Luck | 56 | 18- to 24-inch plant |
| EGGPLANT | 5 gallon container, 15″ apart | |
| Early Black Egg | 65 | 5-inch fruit, tender |
| Easter Egg | 65 | 2-3 inches long |
| Little Fingers | 68 | 6- to 8-inch long fruit |
| Morden Midget | 65 | Bush, earliest fruit |
| Nagaoka New Kissin | 65 | 4-inch fruit, early |
| Ornamental White | 60 | Early, 2-inch fruits |
| Purple Pickling | 70 | Tiny eggplants |
| Slim Jim | 65 | Pickling, very small |
| LETTUCE | Four to 10 inches apart | |
| Midget | 55 | Buttercrunch |
| Sweet Midget Cos | 60 | 5 inches tall, upright |
| Tom Thumb | 65 | Tennis-ball size, Buttercrunch |
| ONIONS | Two to three inches apart | |
| Barletta | 70 | Small, round pickling |
| Quicksilver | 70 | Small pearl |
| Silver Queen | 70 | Small pearl |
| PEAS | Two inches apart | |
| American Wonder | 61 | 12-inch plants, early |
| Greater Progress | 62 | 18-inch vine |
| POTATOES | Six to 8 inches apart | |
| Ladyfinger | 80 | 4- to 5-inches long |
| PUMPKINS | 5 gallon container per plant | |
| Jack-Be-Little | 90 | 3 inches across |
| Mini-Jack | 90 | 3- to 4-inch fruit |
| Wee-B-Little | 85 | 2- to 4-inch fruit |
| SQUASH-SUMMER | Twelve to 20 inches apart | |
| Benning’s Green Tint | 50 | Scallop squash |
| Cousa | 50 | Lebanese, 4 inches long |
| SQUASH-WINTER | Twelve to 20 inches apart | |
| Jersey Golden Acorn | 50 | Pick golf-ball sized, compact growth |
| TOMATOES | 5 gallon container per plant | |
| Droplet | 65 | Determinate, abundant |
| Early Salad | 45 | 6- to 8-inches |
| Patio | 70 | 15- to 30-inches, early |
| Pixie | 50 | 24-inch vine |
| Presto | 60 | Long season, early |
| Pretty Patio | 70 | 30 inches tall, abundant |
| Red Cushion | 65 | 18 inches high, cherry |
| Salad Top | 50 | 18 inches high |
| Small Fry | 60 | Heavy cropper, early |
| Stoke’s Alaska | 55 | 18-inch bush, early |
| Tiny Tim | 50 | 15-inch vine, early |
| Toy Boy | 60 | 2 feet tall, early |
| Tumblin’ Tom | 55 | 20- to 24-inch vine |
| WATERMELON | 5 gallon container, 12″ apart | |
| Burpee Sugar Bush | 80 | 6-8 pounds |
| Family Fun | 88 | Slightly oblong |
| Golden Midget | 65 | 8 inches round |
| Lollipop | 70 | 3-5 pounds |
| Market Midget | 69 | 3-5 pounds, sweet |
| New Hampshire Midget | 68 | 7 inches in diameter, short season |
| Petite Sweet | 65 | 8 pounds, extra sugar |
| Sugar Baby | 80 | 8 inches in diameter, sweet |
| Sugar Ball | 65 | 12-15 pounds, multi-fruit |
| Sugar Doll | 72 | 8-10 pounds, sweet |
| Sugar Lumps | 78 | 8-9 inches in diameter |
| Yellow Doll | 68 | 3-5 pounds |
| You Sweet Thing | 70 | 12-13 pounds, round, striped |
