17 Vegetables Perfect for Bucket Gardening

If you don’t have a big backyard, that doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own fresh vegetables!

Container gardening is a fantastic way to grow food in small spaces like patios, balconies, or even sunny kitchen windows. Buckets and containers allow you to control soil quality, minimize weeds, and move plants to the best-growing conditions as needed.

To get the most out of your container garden, choose vegetables that thrive in limited space and provide a high yield.

In this guide, I’ll discuss 17 vegetables that grow beautifully in buckets and containers and offer tips to help you maximize your harvest!

1. Tomatoes

Best varieties: Cherry tomatoes, Roma, Patio Princess.
Container size: At least a 5-gallon bucket with drainage holes.
Tips: Provide a cage or stake for support, and fertilize regularly for a high yield.

2. Peppers (Bell & Chili)

Peppers are an excellent vegetable to grow in containers!

Best varieties: Jalapeño, Bell Peppers, Banana Peppers.
Container size: 3–5 gallons per plant.
Tips: Peppers love warmth, so place them in a sunny spot and feed them with a balanced fertilizer.

3. Lettuce & Leafy Greens

Best varieties: Romaine, Butterhead, Spinach, Kale.
Container size: 6–8 inches deep and wide.
Tips: Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage continuous growth.

4. Radishes

Red radishes shaped as bulbs, laying on top of dark soil, still attached to the leaves on top.

Best varieties: Cherry Belle, French Breakfast.
Container size: 6–8 inches deep.
Tips: Radishes grow quickly (30 days!) and don’t require much space, making them perfect for containers.

5. Carrots

Orange-colored carrot Plants attached to green stems and foliage, laying closely together — Vegetables

Best varieties: Nantes, Little Finger, Parisian.
Container size: At least 12 inches deep.
Tips: Use loose soil to allow carrots to grow straight and long.

6. Green Onions & Chives

Best varieties: Evergreen, Tokyo Long White.
Container size: Shallow pots (6 inches deep).
Tips: Regrows quickly after cutting, making it a great low-maintenance crop.

7. Potatoes

Potatoes are vegetables that can be grown in containers!

Best varieties: Yukon Gold, Red Pontiac, Fingerlings.
Container size: 5-gallon bucket or fabric grow bag.
Tips: Hill soil around stems as the plant grows to increase yield.

8. Cucumbers

Cucumber is one vegetable/fruit that thrives in containers!

Best varieties: Bush Champion, Patio Snacker.
Container size: 12-inch deep container.
Tips: Use a trellis to save space and keep cucumbers from getting tangled.

9. Beans (Bush & Pole)

Best varieties: Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder.
Container size: 8–12 inches deep.
Tips: Bush beans don’t need support, but pole beans require a trellis.

10. Zucchini & Summer Squash

Best varieties: Black Beauty, Golden Zucchini.
Container size: 5-gallon bucket.
Tips: Keep soil moist and harvest frequently to encourage more fruit.

11. Eggplant

Best varieties: Fairy Tale, Black Beauty.
Container size: 5-gallon bucket.
Tips: Loves warm weather and needs staking for support.

12. Beets

Beets are vegetables that can grow in containers!

Best varieties: Detroit Dark Red, Golden Beets.
Container size: 8–10 inches deep.
Tips: Sow seeds directly in the container and keep soil evenly moist.

13. Peas

Green peas are one of many vegetables that grow in containers! — Green peas growing on the field

Best varieties: Sugar Snap, Snow Peas.
Container size: 6-inch deep container.
Tips: Provide a trellis or stake for the vines to climb.

14. Swiss Chard

Best varieties: Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant.
Container size: 6–8 inches deep.
Tips: Harvest outer leaves often for continuous growth.

15. Garlic

Garlic is one vegetable among many that can thrive in containers!

Best varieties: Softneck, Hardneck Garlic.
Container size: 6–8 inches deep.
Tips: Plant cloves in fall for a summer harvest.

16. Kale

Best varieties: Lacinato, Red Russian.
Container size: 12 inches deep.
Tips: Tolerates cold weather and regrows after harvesting.

17. Herbs (Bonus!)

Best varieties: Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Thyme, Oregano.
Container size: 6-inch pots or hanging baskets.
Tips: Trim frequently to encourage bushy growth.

Final Tips for Success

Rotate crops to keep soil healthy and prevent disease.
Companion planting can deter pests and improve growth (e.g., plant basil with tomatoes).
Monitor pests like aphids and spider mites, which can appear in container gardens.
Water consistently, especially in hot weather, to prevent stress.

Conclusion

Container gardening makes it possible to grow fresh, delicious vegetables even if you have limited space. Whether you’re planting on a balcony, patio, or in a small backyard, these 17 vegetables thrive in buckets and containers with the right care.

So why not grab a few buckets and start your own homegrown veggie garden today? Let me know in the comments what you’re planning to grow! 🌱✨