12 Best Vegetables to Grow in a Bucket

If you’re looking to start a small vegetable garden but lack the space, growing in buckets is a perfect solution. Whether you have a balcony, patio, or even just a small backyard, you can still enjoy fresh, home-grown produce. Plus, growing vegetables in buckets can be easy and rewarding, even for beginners. But which vegetables are best suited for bucket gardening?

Here’s a list of the 12 best vegetables to grow in a bucket, with a focus on their ease of growth, yield, and suitability for container life.

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes thrive in buckets, especially compact or determinate varieties. Here’s how to grow them:

• Choose the Right Bucket: Pick a bucket that is at least 5 gallons in size. Ensure it has proper drainage holes at the bottom.
• Fill with Quality Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix rich in organic matter.
• Plant Your Tomato Seedlings: Plant them deep, burying a good portion of the stem. This helps the plant develop a stronger root system.
• Provide Support: Install a cage or stake to support the plant as it grows.
• Water Regularly: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Tomatoes like consistent moisture, especially during the fruiting phase.

Tomatoes are often considered one of the best vegetables for container growing because they thrive in pots and buckets, making them a top choice for gardeners with limited space.

2. Beans

Beans are fast-growing and easy to manage in a bucket. Here’s how to plant them:

• Select the Right Bucket: A 5-gallon bucket works well. Ensure it has drainage holes.
• Fill with Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix.
• Plant the Seeds: Plant bean seeds 1-2 inches deep in the soil.
• Provide Support: For pole beans, place a trellis or tall stick in the center for them to climb.
• Water Frequently: Beans like regular moisture but need well-drained soil, so avoid overwatering.

Beans are great for anyone with limited space, making them one of the best vegetables to grow in a small space.

3. Carrots

Carrots are ideal for deep buckets, and growing them is simple if you follow these steps:

• Pick a Deep Bucket: Choose a container that’s at least 12 inches deep to allow the carrots to grow long.
• Use Loose Soil: Fill the bucket with loose, sandy soil that drains well.
• Plant the Seeds: Sow carrot seeds directly into the soil, spacing them about 1-2 inches apart.
• Thin the Plants: Once the seedlings appear, thin them out to give each plant enough space to grow.
• Water Consistently: Keep the soil moist but not soggy.

Carrots are a perfect example of best vegetables for container growing, as they don’t require much space horizontally but need depth for their roots.

4. Ginger

Ginger is a tropical plant that does well in buckets. To grow it:

• Select a Large Bucket: Choose a bucket that’s at least 12 inches deep and has good drainage.
• Use Loose Potting Mix: Ginger needs well-draining soil, so a light potting mix is perfect.
• Plant the Rhizomes: Start with a piece of ginger root, placing it horizontally with the buds facing up. Bury it about 2 inches deep.
• Keep Warm: Ginger thrives in warm temperatures, so place the bucket in a sunny location or use a grow light.
• Water Regularly: Ginger likes moisture, but ensure the soil drains well to avoid root rot.

Growing ginger in a bucket is a great choice for growing vegetables in pots for beginners, as it requires minimal space but provides a rewarding crop.

5. Onions

Growing onions in buckets is straightforward. Here’s how:

• Choose the Right Bucket: A 5-gallon bucket works well. Make sure it has drainage holes.
• Fill with Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix, enriched with compost.
• Plant the Sets or Seeds: If using onion sets, plant them about 1 inch deep. If starting from seeds, thin them out as they grow.
• Space the Plants: Space them about 4 inches apart to allow room for bulb growth.
• Water Regularly: Keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid waterlogging.

Onions are great for small spaces, as they don’t require a lot of room to thrive.

6. Peppers

Peppers are great for buckets, whether sweet or hot varieties. To grow them:

• Pick a Large Bucket: A 5-gallon container is ideal.
• Use a Well-Draining Potting Mix: Fill the bucket with a nutrient-rich mix.
• Plant Pepper Seedlings: Place seedlings in the soil, burying the stem slightly to encourage a strong root system.
• Support the Plants: Use a small stake or cage to support the pepper plants as they grow.
• Water Consistently: Peppers need regular watering, but be cautious not to overwater.

Peppers are considered some of the offering both beauty and a bountiful harvest, especially in small spaces like balconies or patios.

7. Beets

Beets are well-suited for bucket gardening, and growing them is easy. Follow these steps:

• Choose a Deep Bucket: Beets need a bucket that’s at least 12 inches deep for their roots.
• Use Loose Soil: Fill the bucket with a loose, well-draining soil mix.
• Plant the Seeds: Sow beet seeds about 1 inch deep, and space them about 3 inches apart.
• Thin the Plants: Once the seedlings appear, thin them to give the beets room to grow.
• Water Regularly: Beets prefer consistent moisture, but make sure the soil drains well.

Beets are another great option for in a small space, as they don’t require a large footprint but still produce a satisfying crop.

8. Lettuce

Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow in a bucket. Here’s how:

• Choose a Shallow Bucket: A 3-5 gallon bucket is sufficient for lettuce.
• Use Rich, Well-Draining Soil: Lettuce prefers soil rich in organic matter.
• Plant Lettuce Seeds: Scatter the seeds on the surface and cover lightly with soil.
• Keep the Soil Moist: Lettuce prefers cool weather and moist soil, so water regularly.
• Harvest Early and Often: Harvest the outer leaves to encourage more growth.

Lettuce is perfect for container gardening, making it one of the fast-growing nature and space efficiency.

9. Spinach

Spinach is another cool-weather crop that grows well in buckets. Here’s how:

• Pick a Bucket: A 5-gallon bucket is perfect for spinach.
• Use Well-Draining Soil: Fill the bucket with a loose, well-draining potting mix.
• Plant the Seeds: Sow spinach seeds about 1 inch deep, spacing them 2-3 inches apart.
• Water Regularly: Spinach needs consistent moisture, especially in hot weather.
• Harvest Regularly: Pick the outer leaves regularly to encourage new growth.

Spinach is great for beginners and those with limited space.

10. Radishes

Radishes are fast-growing and ideal for containers. Here’s how to grow them:

• Choose a Small Bucket: A 3-5 gallon bucket is perfect for radishes.
• Fill with Loose, Well-Draining Soil: Radishes prefer light, airy soil that drains well.
• Plant the Seeds: Sow radish seeds ½ inch deep and 1-2 inches apart.
• Water Frequently: Keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering.
• Harvest Quickly: Radishes mature quickly, so you can harvest them in just 3-4 weeks.

Radishes are ideal for those looking for a quick and easy harvest in small spaces.

11. Peas

Peas can grow well in buckets with proper support. Here’s how to plant them:

• Choose a Large Bucket: A 5-gallon bucket works best for peas.
• Use Loose, Well-Draining Soil: Fill the bucket with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil.
• Plant the Seeds: Sow pea seeds about 1 inch deep and space them 1-2 inches apart.
• Provide Support: Install a trellis or support for the peas to climb as they grow.
• Water Regularly: Peas need regular watering but don’t like their roots to sit in soggy soil.

Peas are an excellent choice for small space gardeners, as they grow vertically, saving valuable space.

12. Potatoes

Potatoes are easy to grow in large containers like buckets. Here’s how to do it:

• Pick a Large Bucket: Use a 5-gallon or larger bucket for potatoes.
• Use Loose, Well-Draining Soil: Fill the bucket with a rich, loose potting mix.
• Plant Seed Potatoes: Place 1-2 seed potatoes in the bucket, covering them with 4-6 inches of soil.
• Add Soil as Plants Grow: As the potato plants grow, continue adding soil around the stems to encourage more tuber growth.
• Water Regularly: Keep the soil moist, but ensure proper drainage to avoid waterlogging.

Growing vegetables in buckets is a practical and enjoyable way to garden, especially for those with limited space. The 12 vegetables listed above are all well-suited to container gardening, offering a variety of flavors, colors, and textures to suit any home garden.