Buckets might not be the first thing you think of for gardening, but in Utah, they’re a total game-changer. I’ve grown everything from leafy greens to compact veggies right in buckets, no backyard needed.
These crops handle the container life well and can keep producing all year long with a bit of care. Perfect for small spaces or anyone looking to garden in a new way.
Let’s get those buckets filled and keep the harvest coming no matter the season!
1. Lettuce
Growing lettuce in buckets is perfect for Utah’s variable climate. You can easily move these greens indoors during harsh winter days while enjoying multiple harvests from the same plants.
Most varieties mature in just 30 days, making them ideal for continuous growing. Utah gardeners particularly love butterhead and romaine varieties for their cold tolerance and reliable production.
2. Spinach
Cold-hardy spinach thrives in Utah’s climate when grown in portable buckets. Move containers to catch optimal sunlight as the seasons change, extending your growing season significantly.
The leaves become sweeter after light frosts, a bonus for Utah gardeners in fall and early spring. A 5-gallon bucket provides ample space for about 8-10 spinach plants with regular harvests year-round.
3. Kale
Kale’s remarkable cold tolerance makes it a champion in Utah’s bucket gardens. The leafy superfood actually improves in flavor after experiencing frost, perfect for Utah’s variable seasons.
You’ll need just a 3-gallon bucket for a continuous supply. Utah gardeners find Lacinato and Russian varieties particularly suited to container growing with minimal maintenance requirements.
4. Green Onions
Green onions regrow from their white root ends, creating an endless supply from a single bucket. Utah gardeners appreciate how these hardy alliums continue producing even when temperatures fluctuate dramatically.
Place buckets near a sunny window during winter months. The shallow root system makes them perfect for smaller containers, allowing Utah families to maintain fresh flavor year-round with minimal effort.
5. Radishes
Quick-growing radishes provide satisfying harvests in just 3-4 weeks, perfect for impatient Utah gardeners. Their compact root systems thrive in shallow buckets without demanding much space or attention.
Stagger plantings every two weeks for continuous harvests. Utah’s climate allows for growing cool-season varieties like Cherry Belle year-round when containers are moved indoors during extreme weather.
6. Microgreens
Microgreens deliver nutritional powerhouses in tiny packages, perfect for Utah’s indoor winter growing. These baby greens mature in just 7-14 days, providing quick satisfaction even during the darkest winter months.
A shallow bucket with drainage holes works perfectly. Utah families appreciate how these tender greens bring fresh flavor when outdoor gardening seems impossible, requiring just a sunny windowsill and minimal attention.
7. Herbs
Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage thrive year-round in Utah bucket gardens. Their Mediterranean origins make them naturally drought-tolerant, perfect for Utah’s dry climate and indoor winter conditions.
Group similar water-needing varieties together in one container. Utah cooks particularly value these perennial herbs that provide fresh flavors throughout winter months when grocery store options lack flavor and freshness.
8. Carrots
Shorter carrot varieties like Parisian or Atlas excel in bucket gardens across Utah. Their compact size allows for productive growing in containers at least 12 inches deep with loose, sandy soil.
Stagger plantings every few weeks for continuous harvests. Utah gardeners find that bringing carrot buckets indoors during extreme cold allows for year-round growing of these sweet, nutritious root vegetables.
9. Swiss Chard
Vibrant Swiss chard brings both beauty and nutrition to Utah bucket gardens. The colorful stems and textured leaves make this vegetable both ornamental and delicious, brightening winter days.
Harvest outer leaves continually while plants keep growing. Utah’s climate is perfect for this adaptable green that withstands temperature fluctuations while providing vitamin-rich leaves for months from a single planting.
10. Beets
Bucket-grown beets offer double harvests – nutritious greens and sweet roots from the same plants. Their compact growth habit makes them ideal for container gardening in Utah’s variable climate.
Choose varieties like Baby Ball for smaller roots. Utah gardeners appreciate how these versatile vegetables can be grown indoors during harsh winter months, providing fresh produce when outdoor gardening isn’t possible.
11. Garlic
Fall-planted garlic overwinters beautifully in buckets across Utah, developing complex flavors during cold months. The bulbs require minimal attention while delivering impressive harvests the following summer.
A 5-gallon bucket accommodates about 8-10 garlic plants. Utah’s climate provides the perfect cold period for bulb development, making this an ideal crop for beginning bucket gardeners looking for low-maintenance options.
12. Dwarf Peas
Compact pea varieties like Tom Thumb thrive in buckets throughout Utah’s growing season. Their self-supporting nature eliminates the need for trellises, making bucket cultivation simple and rewarding.
Harvest pods young for sweetest flavor and continued production. Utah gardeners can grow these nitrogen-fixing plants year-round by bringing containers indoors during extreme weather, ensuring fresh peas even in winter months.
13. Bush Beans
Compact bush bean varieties produce abundant harvests from bucket gardens across Utah. Their shallow root systems and bushy growth habit make them perfect for container cultivation without complicated supports.
Regular harvesting encourages continued production for weeks. Utah’s warm summers and the ability to bring buckets indoors during shoulder seasons allows for multiple plantings throughout the year.
14. Cherry Tomatoes
Compact cherry tomato varieties like Tiny Tim produce abundantly in Utah bucket gardens. Their smaller stature makes them manageable in containers while still delivering sweet, pop-in-your-mouth harvests.
Provide support with simple stakes or cages. Utah gardeners can extend the growing season by starting plants indoors early and bringing buckets inside during fall frosts.
15. Peppers
Compact pepper varieties thrive in the heat-retaining environment of bucket gardens. The containers warm up quickly in Utah’s spring sunshine, giving these heat-lovers an early start.
Small-fruited varieties like Thai chilies or mini sweet peppers produce abundantly. Utah gardeners can move buckets indoors before fall frosts, extending harvests for months beyond the traditional growing season.
16. Strawberries
Ever-bearing strawberry varieties provide multiple harvests from bucket gardens throughout Utah’s growing season. Their shallow root systems and compact growth make them ideal for container cultivation.
Arrange plants around bucket edges for maximum production. Utah gardeners can protect these perennial fruits during winter by moving containers to sheltered locations, ensuring years of sweet harvests.
17. Potatoes
Growing potatoes in buckets allows for easy harvesting without digging throughout Utah’s growing season. Simply tip the container to collect tubers, eliminating the back-breaking work of traditional potato growing.
Layer additional soil as plants grow taller for maximum yields. Utah gardeners appreciate how this method keeps potatoes clean and scab-free while making the most of limited growing space.