Bucket List Gardening: 20 Amazing Plants You Can Grow in 5-Gallon Buckets

Who Knew Buckets Could Grow Dinner?

You ever look at one of those big ol’ 5-gallon buckets and think, “Well, that’s just for paint or mop water”? I sure did—until I stumbled across a few scrappy gardeners turning those humble buckets into mini veggie farms. And let me tell you, once I started, I never looked back.

Container gardening with 5-gallon buckets is perfect if you’ve got a teeny backyard, a little balcony, or heck, even just a sunny stoop. These buckets are cheap (or free if you sweet-talk your local deli), easy to move around, and surprisingly roomy for plant roots. So if you’ve got a few old buckets and a dream of fresh tomatoes or herbs on hand, friend, you’re in for a treat.

Bucket Benefits: Why They Work So Well

Let’s be honest—gardening can get pricey. But 5-gallon buckets? Not so much. Here’s why they’re a gardener’s best friend:

• Cheap and easy to find. Hardware store, bakery, or restaurant—just ask nicely.

• Portable. Sun shifts? Storm rolling in? Pick ’em up and scoot ’em over.

• Customizable. Drill a few drainage holes, add a trellis, even paint them pretty.

• Deep enough for roots. Even carrots and potatoes can dig in.

• Tough as nails. These buckets last for years if you treat ’em kindly.

First Things First: Prepping Your Buckets

Don’t just dump dirt in and go. Buckets need a little love before they’re plant-ready:

1. Drainage is key. Drill 4–6 holes in the bottom. Trust me, soggy roots are sad roots.

2. Layer it up. Add an inch of gravel or stones to the bottom for extra drainage.

3. Fill it right. Use high-quality potting mix (not garden soil—it compacts too much).

4. Feed those plants. Mix in some slow-release fertilizer or compost.

5. Plan for climbers. Got tomatoes or cukes? Add a stake, cage, or trellis right from the start.

Now, let’s get planting.

20 Plants That Absolutely Love Bucket Life

1. Tomatoes – The Bucket Showstopper

Tomatoes and buckets go together like summer and sweet tea. Choose a compact (determinate) variety if space is tight, or go big with indeterminate ones—just give ’em a trellis and lots of sun.

2. Zucchini – Big Harvest, Little Footprint

Zucchinis are overachievers. Go for bush varieties and harvest often—they’ll keep producing as long as you keep picking.

3. Peppers – Sweet or Spicy, Your Call

From bell to jalapeño, peppers love buckets. They like heat and sun, and they reward you with glossy, flavorful fruit. Fertilizer helps a bunch here.

4. Cucumbers – Climbers with Crunch

Pick compact or bush varieties and add a trellis. Water regularly or you’ll end up with bitter cucumbers (been there, regretted that).

5. Lettuce – Fast and Fresh

Lettuce grows quick and doesn’t need deep roots. Great for early spring or fall. You can even grow a “cut and come again” mix for repeat harvests.

6. Radishes – The Sprinters of the Garden

Ready in just 3–4 weeks, radishes are perfect for impatient gardeners. Loosen that soil and plant them thick.

7. Carrots – Yes, Really!

Shorter varieties like ‘Little Finger’ or ‘Parisian’ are bucket-friendly. Use deep, fluffy soil and keep it moist so the roots don’t fork.

8. Spinach – Power Greens at Your Doorstep

Cool-loving spinach does great in spring or fall. It likes moisture and shade from harsh afternoon sun. Harvest leaves young and tender.

9. Herbs – Small Space, Big Flavor

Mint, basil, parsley, cilantro—you name it. Grow several herbs in one bucket or give each its own. Keep snipping for more growth!

10. Strawberries – Sweet Bucket Treats

Use everbearing types and give them full sun. Keep the soil moist, and your reward? Sweet berries you don’t have to bend over for.

11. Beans – Pole Variety? No Problem!

Add a bamboo pole or string trellis and watch your beans race to the sky. Pick often so they don’t turn tough.

12. Eggplant – Glossy Beauties

Choose smaller varieties like ‘Fairy Tale’ or ‘Little Fingers.’ They need warmth and patience, but wow, are they worth it.

13. Kale – Tough Love

Kale shrugs off chill and keeps growing even into frost. Pick outer leaves, and you’ll have greens for months.

14. Onions – Easy and Underrated

Green onions are foolproof. For bulb onions, make sure the soil’s loose and well-drained. When the tops flop over, it’s harvest time.

15. Beets – Root and Leaf in One

Short growing time, gorgeous greens, and earthy roots. Keep the soil fluffy and water regularly.

16. Basil – Bucket of Summer

Few smells beat fresh basil. Pinch off flower heads and it’ll bush out beautifully. Pro tip: make pesto and freeze it in ice cube trays.

17. Swiss Chard – Garden Candy

Bright stems, hardy leaves. Chard is pretty and productive. Just keep watering and harvesting.

18. Potatoes – Yes, in a Bucket!

Start with a few seed potatoes in a few inches of soil. Add more soil as the plant grows (“hilling”). When the plant dies back, dump and dig.

19. Peas – Sweet and Simple

Cool weather, light support, and regular picking. Peas don’t like heat, so grow them early or late in the season.

20. Squash – The Big Guns

Choose bush varieties and give them space. One healthy plant can produce more squash than you know what to do with (zucchini bread, anyone?).

A Few Bucket Truths Before You Go

• Label your buckets. Trust me, kale and chard look suspiciously alike as babies.

• Rotate your crops. Even in containers, soil gets tired. Mix it up each season.

• Watch the water. Buckets dry out fast. A layer of mulch helps, and so do morning waterings.

• Use what you have. No need to buy fancy planters. Buckets, old colanders, milk crates with liners—they all work!

Growing Food in Buckets? It’s Just Plain Fun

There’s something magical about plucking a warm tomato from a bucket you planted with your own hands—or snipping herbs for dinner right outside your back door. Whether you’re short on space or just testing the gardening waters, 5-gallon buckets are your best pals.

And honestly? There’s no “wrong” way to start. Just pick a plant, fill a bucket, and see what happens. Worst case, you learn something. Best case? Dinner tastes like sunshine and satisfaction.

Got an old bucket lying around? Give it a rinse and let it change your life. Or at least your next salad. 🌱