If you think you need a big backyard or a fancy raised bed garden to grow your own vegetables, I’m here to tell you — you don’t. Honestly, some of the easiest, most rewarding gardens I’ve ever had started with nothing more than a few five-gallon buckets and some good potting soil.

Growing veggies in buckets is a total game-changer if you have a small yard, a balcony, or just want a low-maintenance way to get fresh food at home. And trust me — once you see that first tomato or pepper ripening on your patio, you’ll be hooked too.

Here are 12 of the best vegetables you can grow in buckets, plus a few tips to get you started the right way.

1. Tomatoes

If you’re only going to grow one thing in a bucket, make it tomatoes. They absolutely thrive in containers.

I love using 5-gallon buckets for cherry tomatoes because they’re easy to manage and insanely productive. Just make sure you pick a variety suited for containers and add a sturdy cage or stake for support.

Pro tip: Tomatoes are heavy feeders, so don’t skimp on the fertilizer!

2. Peppers

Both sweet bell peppers and spicy hot peppers do amazingly well in buckets.

I’ve grown jalapeños and banana peppers on my sunny patio for years. They love the warmth, and as long as they get at least 6–8 hours of sunlight a day, you’ll get a fantastic harvest.

Bonus: Peppers add such a fun pop of color to your outdoor space!

3. Cucumbers

Yes, cucumbers can totally grow in buckets — especially the smaller, bush varieties.

I usually let mine spill over the side of the bucket or train them up a small trellis. Give them plenty of water (cucumbers are thirsty plants!) and watch them take off.

Tip: Pick cucumbers when they’re young and tender for the best flavor.

4. Green Beans

Green beans are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in containers.

You can either grow bush beans (which stay compact) or pole beans (which will climb if you give them a little support). Either way, they don’t need a ton of maintenance and will reward you with a big harvest.

5. Lettuce

Fast-growing and shallow-rooted, lettuce is practically made for container gardening.

I like to plant a mix of romaine, butterhead, and loose-leaf varieties together in one bucket. It looks pretty and gives you a ready-to-pick salad right outside your door.

Bonus: You can harvest lettuce multiple times by snipping outer leaves and letting the plant keep growing.

6. Spinach

Spinach is another leafy green that’s perfect for buckets.

I usually grow it in the cooler seasons (spring and fall), and it grows so fast that you’ll be harvesting in just a few weeks. Fresh-picked spinach tastes so much better than anything you’ll ever buy at the store.

7. Radishes

If you’re impatient like me, radishes are the vegetable for you. Some varieties are ready in as little as 25 days!

Plant seeds directly into the bucket, keep the soil moist, and you’ll be pulling up bright, crunchy radishes before you know it.

8. Carrots

Believe it or not, carrots do great in deep buckets.

Choose shorter, rounder varieties (like “Thumbelina” or “Parisian”) if your bucket isn’t super deep. The key with carrots is loose, well-draining soil — that way they can grow nice and straight.

9. Beets

Beets are another root veggie that loves container life.

I stagger my planting every couple of weeks so I always have beets ready to harvest. Plus, you can eat the beet greens too — double harvest!

10. Zucchini

If you have one big, sturdy bucket and lots of sun, zucchini will reward you with more squash than you know what to do with.

Go for a compact “patio” variety if you’re tight on space. Otherwise, give the plant some room to sprawl over the edge.

Tip: Hand-pollinate the flowers if you don’t see bees around to help.

11. Eggplant

Eggplants absolutely thrive in hot, sunny containers.

I love the smaller varieties like “Fairy Tale” and “Little Finger” — they produce tons of beautiful fruit on compact plants that fit perfectly in a five-gallon bucket.

12. Swiss Chard

Swiss chard is ridiculously easy to grow in a bucket, and it’s gorgeous too — those bright rainbow-colored stems are so pretty.

It’s super hardy and will keep producing for months as long as you harvest it regularly. Plus, it tolerates heat and a little shade better than most greens.

Quick Tips for Growing in Buckets:

• Drainage is everything: Drill several holes in the bottom of your bucket to prevent soggy roots.
• Use good potting mix: Don’t use garden soil. Choose a lightweight potting mix designed for containers.
• Feed your plants: Most bucket-grown veggies need regular fertilizing since nutrients wash out faster.
• Water consistently: Buckets dry out faster than garden beds, especially in hot weather.

Final Thoughts

Growing vegetables in buckets isn’t just for people with tiny yards or apartments — it’s honestly one of the easiest, most satisfying ways to garden, period.

You don’t need a lot of space, fancy tools, or even much experience to start. Just grab a few buckets, fill them with good soil, and pick a few of these amazing vegetables to plant. Before you know it, you’ll be harvesting fresh food steps from your door.

And trust me — once you taste a sun-warmed tomato you grew yourself, you’ll never look back.

Happy bucket gardening!