THE CROP FINDER
What could grow
in your little corner?
Compare your outdoor growing spot with 12 starter crop profiles. See why each candidate appears, then check its variety, usable root space and local planting conditions.
Your growing possibilities
Choose your conditions and select “Find my crops.”
How to use the shortlist
The finder compares three inputs with a small set of starter profiles: direct sun, nominal US-gallon capacity, and warm or cool conditions. It does not identify your location or fetch a weather forecast. Read the linked guide for every candidate before buying it.
Direct hours now accept your measured number. This avoids treating a broad “4–6 hours” band as if every spot in it had the same light. If your observation is incomplete, use the sunlight calculator and record before making the final selection.
Why a crop appears
The finder keeps a profile only when your measured sun reaches its light threshold, your selected capacity reaches its volume threshold, and its season matches. “Show both seasons” removes only the season filter. It does not make a warm-season crop suitable for cold weather. Results follow the table order; they are not ranked by expected yield or ease.
These are the tool’s screening choices, not universal biological minimums. A plant can sometimes grow outside them, and a passing result can still be unsuitable. The tool does not check temperatures, indoor grow lights, pot shape, drainage, cultivar, planting density or the remaining growing season. More sun and a larger gallon number do not compensate for excessive heat or a shallow root zone.
The 12 profiles used by this finder
| Crop and guide | Sun | Pot | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact tomato | 6 hr | 5 gal | Warm |
| Sweet pepper | 6 hr | 5 gal | Warm |
| Leaf lettuce | 3 hr | 2 gal | Cool |
| Round radishes | 4 hr | 2 gal | Cool |
| Short carrots | 6 hr | 5 gal | Cool |
| Bush beans | 6 hr | 5 gal | Warm |
| Compact peas | 6 hr | 5 gal | Cool |
| Basil | 6 hr | 2 gal | Warm |
| Mint | 4 hr | 2 gal | Either* |
| Cilantro | 4 hr | 2 gal | Cool |
| Parsley | 6 hr | 5 gal | Either* |
| Chives | 6 hr | 2 gal | Either* |
*Either: mint, parsley and chives are not removed by the warm/cool filter. This does not mean year-round outdoor growth, winter survival in a pot, or tolerance of severe heat. Read the linked guide and check your local conditions.
Check a result with three examples
- 4 hours, 2 gallons, cool: leaf lettuce, round radishes, mint and cilantro pass the screens. Short carrots fail the light and capacity checks. A radish match still needs enough root depth and planting surface.
- 6 hours, 2 gallons, warm: basil, mint and chives pass. Parsley now stays out of this small-capacity group; its profile starts at 5 gallons. Compact tomatoes also require the larger capacity selection.
- 6 hours, 5 gallons, both seasons: all 12 profiles appear. That means you removed the seasonal distinction, not that all 12 belong in the same pot or should be planted today.
If your pot holds 3 gallons, the 2-gallon option is the available lower screen; choosing 5 would overstate your space. The result remains a research shortlist. Use the pot-volume calculator and compare actual depth and width with the crop guide before buying.
Why the filters are only a first check
Maryland Extension distinguishes the light needs of warm-season fruiting crops and cool-season greens. Its container guidance considers both volume and depth, and places larger herbs such as parsley in a roomier category. This finder uses a 5-gallon screen for parsley; its mature variety and root space still need checking.
Minnesota Extension recommends a sunny location with roughly 6–8 hours of light for basil, parsley and chives; the latter two can tolerate light shade. Our starter filters now open those entries at 6 direct-sun hours. This choice follows the preferred sunny setup rather than promising that less light will fail.
The remaining values are simplified profile choices, not a claim that an extension institution published or tested this exact matching system. The crop guides explain the relevant growing conditions and link their references. Our editorial policy describes how research and illustrative examples are used.
Three checks after a match
- Measure usable depth and width. A gallon figure does not show whether a carrot root, climbing support, or final plant spacing fits. Use the container-size guide.
- Read the variety label. Compact and full-size varieties can need different room. A match does not mean several plants will fit in one pot.
- Check local timing. “Warm” and “cool” describe conditions, not a nationwide calendar. Compare local frost guidance with the season-planning method.
If nothing matches
Do not assume your space is useless or buy a crop just because another tool recommends it. Recheck measured light and the pot label, then explore the growing guides. The finder covers a limited list and uses starter assumptions; it is not a complete catalog or a guarantee of growth.
When you choose a candidate, estimate its potting mix and add a first observation to your garden plan. Inputs stay on this page and are not saved.
Updated October 19, 2026: Published all 12 screening profiles and checked examples; aligned basil, parsley and chives with their guides’ sunny starting conditions, increased the parsley capacity screen, and added match explanations. The original page URL and publication date are retained.