Bucket gardening 5 gallon setups are one of the smartest ways to grow fresh food in small spaces. Whether you’re working with a balcony, patio, or tiny backyard, these buckets offer just the right depth for root development, enough mobility to chase the sun, and an affordable entry point for gardeners of all levels.
With a little planning, a 5-gallon bucket garden can yield a surprisingly large harvest. From juicy tomatoes to crisp lettuce, you’d be amazed at what thrives in this compact container system. If you’re wondering what to grow in 5 gallon buckets, you’re in the right place. This guide covers 15 productive fruits and vegetables that grow exceptionally well in these simple containers.
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General Tips for Successful Bucket Gardening
Before planting anything, it’s essential to get your bucket gardening 5 gallon setup right. These simple containers can produce an impressive harvest, but only if you prepare them properly.
Choose Food-Safe Buckets
Not all plastic buckets are created equal. Look for food-grade buckets, often available for free from bakeries, restaurants, or delis. These are ideal because they’ve already been used for food storage and are safe for growing edibles.
Drill Proper Drainage Holes
Every bucket needs multiple holes at the bottom to let excess water escape. Without drainage, plant roots can rot quickly. If placing buckets on hard surfaces like concrete, elevate them slightly with bricks or wooden slats so water can drain freely.
Pick the Right Bucket Color
Color matters more than most people realize.
- Dark buckets (black or navy) absorb heat and are ideal for cooler seasons.
- Light buckets (white or pale gray) reflect sunlight and help keep soil cooler in summer.
Match your bucket color to your climate and the time of year you’re growing.
Strategic Placement
Buckets are portable — use that to your advantage. Move them to chase the sun or protect from strong winds. In hot climates, you may even rotate them to shaded areas during peak heat hours.
Use Quality Potting Mix
Skip garden soil and instead use a mix designed for containers:
- 2 parts high-quality potting mix
- 1 part perlite or coarse sand for drainage
- Compost or worm castings for fertility
This blend keeps roots healthy and encourages strong plant growth.
15 Fruits & Veggies That Thrive in 5 Gallon Buckets
1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a classic choice for bucket gardening 5 gallon setups. One healthy plant per bucket is ideal, especially for determinate (bush) varieties. Indeterminate types will need strong stakes or cages to support their growth.
Want to save even more space? Try growing tomatoes upside down by cutting a hole in the bottom of the bucket and hanging it. Either way, make sure your plant gets full sun and consistent watering.
Pro Tip: Mulch with comfrey leaves or straw to retain moisture. Boost yields with a potassium-rich liquid feed once fruit starts to form.
2. Peppers
Sweet and hot peppers both grow beautifully in 5-gallon buckets. These shallow-rooted plants adapt well to container life and can even be moved indoors during chilly nights or shoulder seasons.
Dwarf varieties thrive with minimal space, but even full-sized peppers do well with one plant per bucket. For added benefits, consider planting herbs like basil or oregano around the base — they make great companions.
Pro Tip: Mist the foliage during dry spells to maintain humidity. You can also grow two or three dwarf peppers in one bucket if spaced carefully.
3. Eggplant
Eggplants (aubergines) love warmth and deep containers, making them a natural fit for bucket gardening 5 gallon techniques. Use one bucket per plant, and support the stems as fruit begins to develop.
Compact varieties like ‘Fairy Tale’ or ‘Little Finger’ perform especially well. Like tomatoes, eggplants benefit from free-draining soil — add some coarse sand to your mix.
Pro Tip: Feed with compost tea or liquid kelp throughout the growing season to support fruit development.
4. Zucchini
Zucchini plants grow fast and produce heavily, but they do need plenty of nutrients and water. A single plant per 5-gallon bucket is ideal, especially for compact or bush varieties.
Make sure your container has excellent drainage, and water regularly — zucchini hates dry spells. Use compost-rich soil and mulch well to retain moisture.
Pro Tip: Choose varieties like ‘Black Beauty’ or ‘Bush Baby’ for compact growth. Fertilize with a balanced organic feed every 2–3 weeks during the fruiting season.
5. Cucumbers
Cucumbers thrive in buckets — particularly bush varieties like ‘Salad Bush’ or ‘Picklebush’. If you have a vertical space, even vining types can climb up a trellis or fence from a 5-gallon container.
Plant 1–2 bush cucumber plants per bucket, and ensure they receive at least 6–8 hours of sun daily. Water deeply and consistently to avoid bitter fruit.
Pro Tip: Cucumbers don’t like root disturbance, so if starting indoors, use biodegradable pots that can be planted directly in your bucket.
6. Lettuce & Leafy Greens
Lettuce is one of the easiest crops for beginners, and perfect for bucket gardening 5 gallon setups. Simply scatter seeds and thin seedlings as they grow. Try loose-leaf varieties for quick, continuous harvests.
Leafy greens like spinach, chard, arugula, and mustard greens also do well. These don’t require the full depth of the bucket, so you can even plant smaller herbs or radishes around them.
Pro Tip: Add drainage holes along the sides of your bucket and tuck leafy greens into those too — a great way to maximize growing space in small areas.
7. Kale, Broccoli & Other Brassicas
Brassicas like kale, broccoli, and cauliflower thrive in 5-gallon buckets when grown one plant per container. These cool-season veggies appreciate the flexibility of being moved into shade during hot days or into sun during cooler months.
Kohlrabi and smaller cabbage varieties can also be bucket-grown. Just ensure your mix is rich in compost, and keep the soil consistently moist.
Pro Tip: Net your buckets to protect against cabbage worms and birds. Companion-planting lettuce around brassicas is a clever way to maximize early-season space before the larger plant fills out.
8. Onions
Bulb onions need room to swell, so you’ll only fit 3–5 per bucket. However, for bucket gardening 5 gallon success, focus on scallions, bunching onions, or chives — all great space-savers and companions for other crops.
These smaller alliums deter pests and thrive at the edges of a bucket shared with greens or carrots. Plus, they’re great for cut-and-come-again harvesting.
Pro Tip: Grow perennial onion varieties for multiple seasons of harvest. Top-dress with compost and keep soil moist but never soggy.
9. Carrots & Root Vegetables
A deep 5-gallon bucket is ideal for growing carrots, beets, and even parsnips. Loose, well-draining soil is critical — consider mixing in coarse sand for better root development.
Carrots don’t demand rich soil but do need consistent moisture. Sow seeds thinly and harvest in succession to enjoy a steady supply.
Pro Tip: Sow radishes between carrot rows. They germinate quickly and help break up the soil, making room for deeper roots.
10. Potatoes
Yes, you can grow potatoes in a 5-gallon bucket — one plant per container works best. Start by filling the bucket about one-third full with compost-rich soil, place your seed potato on top, then cover with a few inches of soil.
As the plant grows, continue adding soil to cover the stem (“hilling”) — this encourages more tuber formation along the buried stem.
Pro Tip: Add comfrey leaves as mulch and use comfrey tea to feed your plants. Water consistently, especially once flowering begins, to avoid small or cracked tubers.
11. Peas
Peas are a cool-season favorite for bucket gardening 5 gallon setups. Insert a branch or twiggy support in the center of the bucket, then sow seeds in a circle around it. Dwarf and bush varieties are best for containers.
Keep soil moist but not waterlogged, and mulch to maintain even moisture levels.
Pro Tip: After harvest, don’t pull up the plant. Cut it at the base and let the roots decompose — peas fix nitrogen, so the next crop will benefit from the enriched soil.
12. Beans
Both bush and pole beans can be successfully grown in buckets. Bush beans are tidy and only need one plant per bucket. For climbing types, plant 2–3 per container and support them with poles, a trellis, or even a DIY teepee frame.
Beans need full sun and plenty of water during flowering and pod formation.
Pro Tip: Line up several buckets between two posts and string a wire across the top. Then drop twine down into each bucket for a vertical bean wall — perfect for maximizing space.
13. Strawberries
Strawberries are incredibly bucket-friendly. You can plant several in each 5-gallon container, and even add planting holes around the sides for a vertical effect. This setup maximizes harvests while taking up minimal space.
Strawberries need consistent moisture, good drainage, and full sun for sweet fruit. Rotate your buckets every couple of years to keep the plants productive.
Pro Tip: Mix in companion herbs like thyme or borage to help deter pests and attract pollinators.
14. Blueberries
Blueberries grow beautifully in containers — especially since they prefer acidic soil that can be tricky to maintain in the ground. Use an ericaceous potting mix with a pH of around 5.5, and water with rainwater when possible.
Stick to one plant per bucket, and choose dwarf varieties for best results in small spaces.
Pro Tip: Place two or more buckets near each other to encourage cross-pollination and better fruit yields.
15. Raspberries & Other Fruit Canes
Surprisingly, raspberries adapt well to bucket gardening 5 gallon techniques. One cane per bucket is ideal. Use a strong central stake and tie the cane as it grows. Dwarf or thornless varieties like ‘Raspberry Shortcake’ are best for container growing.
Keep the soil rich and moist, and prune correctly based on whether you’re growing summer- or fall-fruiting types.
Pro Tip: Mulch with compost or shredded bark to retain moisture and feed the soil naturally throughout the season.
Conclusion
Bucket gardening 5 gallon setups prove that you don’t need acres of land to grow fresh, delicious food. With just a few containers, the right soil mix, and a little attention to plant needs, you can grow everything from leafy greens to juicy tomatoes and sweet strawberries — even on a balcony or small patio.
By using space wisely and choosing the right crops, a 5-gallon bucket garden can provide an abundant harvest, season after season. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand your container garden, these 15 fruits and veggies are a great place to begin.
Happy growing — one bucket at a time!