35 Best Vegetables to Grow in Buckets for Urban Gardeners

Embracing the joy of urban gardening has never been easier or more rewarding than growing your own fresh vegetables in buckets. Whether you have a small balcony, patio, or even a sunny windowsill, bucket gardening offers a convenient and space-saving solution for cultivating a diverse array of nutritious veggies right at your doorstep.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top 35 best vegetables to grow in buckets, empowering you to enjoy a bountiful harvest of homegrown goodness all year round.

Why Grow Vegetables in Buckets?

Before diving into our top picks, let’s highlight the benefits of bucket gardening:

1. Space-Saving: Buckets are perfect for small urban spaces, making the most of limited room.
2. Mobility: Easily move your buckets to catch the best sunlight or protect them from harsh weather.
3. Controlled Environment: Customize the soil and nutrient mix for optimal plant growth.
4. Pest Control: Elevated buckets can discourage common garden pests.
5. Accessibility: No more bending over or kneeling, as buckets are at a comfortable height.

Now, let’s explore the top vegetables that thrive in buckets, organized by category for your convenience.

Leafy Greens

1. Lettuce

Varieties like romaine, butterhead, and loose-leaf lettuce are ideal for bucket gardening. They have shallow roots and can be harvested continuously by snipping off outer leaves.

2. Spinach

Nutrient-dense spinach is a cool-weather crop that grows well in buckets, providing a steady supply of vitamin-rich leaves.

3. Kale

Hearty kale is a bucket gardener’s dream, offering a bountiful harvest of nutrient-packed leaves throughout the growing season.

4. Swiss Chard

With its vibrant stems and leaves, Swiss chard adds a pop of color to your bucket garden while providing a versatile and flavorful addition to your meals.

Root Vegetables

5. Radishes

Quick-growing radishes are perfect for buckets, offering a crisp and peppery crunch in as little as three weeks.

6. Carrots

While carrots prefer deeper containers, shorter varieties like Chantenay or Nantes can thrive in buckets with at least 12 inches of depth.

7. Beets

Vibrant beets are a bucket gardener’s delight, producing flavorful roots and nutrient-rich greens in a compact space.

8. Turnips

These cool-weather crops are well-suited for bucket gardening, providing a dual harvest of crisp roots and tasty greens.

Tomatoes

9. Cherry Tomatoes

Prolific and easy to grow, cherry tomatoes are a must-have for any bucket garden, offering a continuous supply of sweet, bite-sized fruits.

10. Patio Tomatoes

Bred specifically for container gardening, patio tomato varieties like ‘Patio Princess’ or ‘Tumbling Tom’ are compact and highly productive.

Peppers

11. Bell Peppers

Colorful bell peppers are a versatile addition to any bucket garden, thriving in warm weather and producing an abundant harvest.

12. Chili Peppers

From mild to fiery hot, chili peppers like jalapeños, habaneros, and cayenne are well-suited for buckets, adding a spicy kick to your urban garden.

Beans

13. Bush Beans

Compact bush bean varieties, such as ‘Contender’ or ‘Provider,’ are perfect for bucket gardening, producing a bountiful crop of tender, flavorful beans.

14. Pole Beans

With the addition of a trellis or support, pole bean varieties like ‘Kentucky Wonder’ can climb and produce an abundant yield in a small footprint.

Cucumbers

15. Pickling Cucumbers

Compact varieties like ‘Patio Snacker’ or ‘Salad Bush’ are ideal for bucket gardening, providing a steady supply of crisp, flavorful cucumbers perfect for pickling or fresh eating.

16. Lemon Cucumbers

With their unique lemon-like aroma and flavor, lemon cucumbers add a refreshing twist to your bucket garden, and their compact vines are well-suited for container growing.

Squash

17. Zucchini

Prolific and easy to grow, zucchini plants thrive in buckets, producing an abundance of tender, nutrient-rich squash throughout the summer.

18. Patio Pumpkins

Compact pumpkin varieties like ‘Baby Boo’ or ‘Wee-B-Little’ are perfect for bucket gardening, offering a fun and festive addition to your urban harvest.

Eggplants

19. Globe Eggplants

With their striking purple hue and versatility in the kitchen, globe eggplants like ‘Black Beauty’ or ‘Calliope’ are well-suited for bucket gardening.

20. Thai Eggplants

Compact and prolific, Thai eggplant varieties like ‘Ping Tung Long’ or ‘Purple Comet’ are excellent choices for bucket gardens, offering a continuous supply of flavorful, slender fruits.

Herbs

21. Basil

From classic sweet basil to exotic varieties like Thai basil, these aromatic herbs are a must-have for any bucket garden, adding flavor and fragrance to your culinary creations.

22. Cilantro/Coriander

Quick-growing and versatile, cilantro (the leaves) and coriander (the seeds) are perfect for bucket gardening, providing a fresh, citrusy flavor to your dishes.

23. Parsley

Curly or flat-leaf parsley thrives in buckets, offering a steady supply of this versatile herb for garnishing, seasoning, and adding a burst of freshness to your meals.

24. Mint

With its refreshing aroma and flavor, mint is an excellent choice for bucket gardening, but be sure to contain its vigorous growth by using a separate container or planting in a deep bucket.

Misc Vegetables

25. Green Onions/Scallions

Easy to grow and quickly replenishing, green onions and scallions are perfect for bucket gardening, providing a continuous supply of fresh, flavorful greens for your culinary needs.

26. Microgreens

Nutrient-dense microgreens like radish, kale, or broccoli are ideal for bucket gardening, offering a steady supply of flavorful greens in a compact space.

27. Peas

With the support of a trellis or cage, compact pea varieties like ‘Snowbird’ or ‘Dwarf Grey Sugar’ can thrive in buckets, providing a sweet and crisp harvest.

28. Okra

Okra plants adapt well to bucket gardening, producing an abundance of tender, flavorful pods throughout the warm summer months.

29. Broccoli

While requiring deeper containers, compact broccoli varieties like ‘Green Magic’ or ‘Packman’ can be grown in buckets, offering a nutritious and versatile addition to your urban garden.

30. Cauliflower

Similar to broccoli, cauliflower plants benefit from deeper buckets, but varieties like ‘Candid Charm’ or ‘Cheddar’ can produce delicious, bite-sized heads in a compact space.

31. Brussels Sprouts

For a unique and nutrient-rich addition to your bucket garden, consider growing compact Brussels sprout varieties like ‘Churchill’ or ‘Jade Cross.’

32. Artichokes

While requiring ample space and depth, globe artichokes like ‘Imperial Star’ or ‘Green Globe’ can be grown in large, deep buckets, providing a striking and flavorful harvest.

33. Sweet Potatoes

With the right growing conditions and a large container, sweet potatoes like ‘Beauregard’ or ‘Jewel’ can be successfully grown in buckets, offering a tasty and nutritious root crop.

34. Potatoes

While space-intensive, compact potato varieties like ‘Yukon Gold’ or ‘Red Norland’ can be grown in large, deep buckets using the “potato tower” method.

35. Ground Cherries

Also known as cape gooseberries, ground cherries like ‘Aunt Molly’s’ or ‘Goldie’ are unique and flavorful additions to your bucket garden, producing small, sweet fruits encased in papery husks.

With this comprehensive list of the best vegetables to grow in buckets, you’re equipped to transform even the smallest urban space into a thriving edible oasis. Embrace the joys of urban gardening and savor the fresh, homegrown flavors right at your fingertips. Happy gardening!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Size Bucket is Ideal for Vegetable Gardening?

When it comes to vegetable gardening in buckets, a gallon bucket is the ideal size for most plants. However, larger plants like tomatoes and zucchini may require a 15-gallon or larger container. Consider the size of the plant and the available garden space before choosing the bucket size.

How Do You Ensure Proper Drainage in Bucket Gardening?

Proper drainage is essential for successful bucket gardening. To ensure proper drainage, drill several drainage holes in the bottom of the bucket. This will prevent waterlogging and allow excess water to drain out, promoting healthy roots and proper drainage.

Can You Grow Multiple Vegetables in One Bucket?

Yes, you can grow multiple vegetables in one bucket, especially if they are compatible and have similar growing requirements. This is known as companion planting and can be a space-saving technique in container gardening. However, larger varieties may require their own containers to allow for proper growth and development.

What is the Best Soil Mix for Growing Vegetables in Buckets?

The best soil mix for growing vegetables in buckets is a combination of compost, good-quality potting soil, and organic matter. This mixture provides a nutrient-rich environment for the plants to thrive and ensures the best results in terms of growth and productivity.

How Often Should You Water Vegetables in Buckets?

Vegetables in buckets require regular watering to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. As a general guideline, water the vegetables whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. The watering frequency may vary depending on the weather, container size, and specific water requirements of the plants.

Are There Any Vegetables That Should Not Be Grown in Buckets?

While most vegetables can be grown in buckets, some larger varieties or root vegetables may require larger pots or more garden space to properly grow and develop. It’s important to choose the right size container and consider the specific needs of each vegetable before planting.

How Can I Protect My Bucket-Grown Vegetables From Pests?

To protect your bucket-grown vegetables from pests, practice good pest control techniques. This includes keeping your plants healthy and strong, using organic pest control methods, and implementing gardening tips like companion planting, regular inspection, and removal of pests, and using physical barriers like nets or row covers when necessary.

Can Bucket-Grown Vegetables Survive in Limited Sunlight?

While most vegetables require full sun to thrive, some leafy greens and shade-tolerant vegetables can survive in limited sunlight. However, it’s important to provide as much sunlight as possible for optimal growth. If sunlight is limited, choose shade-tolerant varieties and consider supplementing with artificial light if necessary.

What Are the Benefits of Growing Vegetables in Buckets?

There are several benefits to growing vegetables in buckets. It allows you to garden in small spaces, like patios and balconies, and provides the opportunity to grow your own food. It also offers more control over soil quality and drainage, making it ideal for container gardening.