20 Fruits You Can Grow in Buckets

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Fruit trees are one of the highlights of any homestead, and it’s easy to see why: a mature fruit tree can produce tens of pounds of delicious fruit each spring that can be dried, canned, juiced, and otherwise preserved.

But what if you are homesteading in a rental or you aren’t ready to plant fruit trees in the ground? What if you want to experiment with different varieties to see how they perform? And of course, what about tropical trees and citrus in temperate areas that endure hard freezes in the winter?

The answer to all of these considerations is simple: plant fruit trees in five-gallon buckets. Most fruit trees only really need a 5-gallon growing space to produce fruit. Five-gallon buckets are inexpensive and sometimes even free.

What’s more, bare-root trees are the most economical option available, and if you wait until the end of the planting season (late spring), you can often find top-shelf trees at bargain-basement prices.

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While you can seek out dwarf varieties, bucket-growing will force a full-size variety to stay small. If you think you may want to transplant into the ground one day, stick to standard varieties.

The most critical part of growing fruit trees in buckets is starting with good soil and maintaining soil moisture. You can make your own potting mix using lava rock or decomposed granite, perlite or vermiculite, and well-broken down compost. Avoid coconut coir as it dries out too quickly.

You can use peat moss to lower soil PH, but it is not a sustainable product. Drill adequate drainage holes in your buckets and top dress your soil with a thick layer of mulch to hold moisture in. 

Here are the best fruit trees to grow in buckets, listed in order of difficulty from easiest to most challenging. The zone is included in case you hope to plant in the earth one day. 

Apples – Zones 3 to 8

Choose a variety suited to your climate (low of high chill hours), and consider planting a few trees for cross-pollination. Place in full sun and water regularly, but avoid overwatering.

Fertilize every few weeks during growing season, reduce in fall, and stop in winter. Wrap the bucket in bubble wrap to protect the roots from freezing. 

Apricots – Zones 4 to 8

Place in full sun and water regularly–do not let the roots dry out. Prune once in spring and once in summer to thin out branches and prevent crisscrossing. Fertilize in early spring with a liquid fertilizer. 

Banana – Zones 9-11

Technically, bananas aren’t trees, they’re giant herbs, but they thrive in buckets! Dwarf banana varieties, such as Dwarf Cavendish, grow well in pots and produce fruit within a year.

Bananas need rich, well-draining soil, full sun, and consistent moisture. Water frequently and fertilize monthly with a balanced fertilizer. Protect from frost, and bring indoors when temperatures drop below 50°F.

Cherry/Bush Cherry – Zones 5 to 7

Choose a self-pollinating variety or plant multiple varieties for cross-pollination. Place containers in full sun and keep well-watered and fertilized (with a high potash liquid fertilizer) during growing season. 

Citrus – Zones 8-10

All citrus plants grow well in containers. Maintain a soil PH from 5.5 to 7– a little on the acidic side. Keep in full sun, away from strong wind and maintain consistent soil moisture for strong fruit production.

Pinch growing tips when they reach five inches to encourage bushy growth, and fertilize monthly during growing season with a water-soluble fertilizer that contains micronutrients. Citrus trees must be protected from freezing. 

Fig – Zones 8-10

Place in full sun, with a soil PH between 6 and 6.5. Water when the top two inches of soil is dry to the touch, especially when the fruit is forming.

Fertilize each month of the growing season to encourage fruit to form and set. Overwinter in a garage or cool space above freezing. 

Guava – Zones 9 to 12

This tropical fruit tree is perfect for container growing. Place in full sun with compost-rich soil that has a PH between 5 and 7. Water two to three times per month in the growing season and sparingly in the winter and fertilize in early spring and mid-summer. 

Jujube – Zones 6-10

Also known as Chinese date, Jujube trees tolerate drought, poor soil, and heat, making them an excellent low-maintenance choice for bucket growing.

They need full sun, well-draining soil, and moderate watering. While some varieties are self-fertile, having multiple trees increases fruit production.

Jujube trees can handle winter temperatures down to 0°F, so they don’t always need to be brought inside in colder zones.

Loquat – Zones 8 to 9

These evergreen trees with dark, leathery leaves are one of the easiest to grow in containers. You can find them in online nurseries or get an offshoot from anyone who has one in their yard. Place in full sun and protect from temperatures below 15 degrees. 

Mango – Zones 9 to 11

If you can find a mango plant or grow one from seed, lucky you! Give your plant well-draining, highly nutritious soil to begin with and keep it in a warm, sunny spot. Snip off the flowers the first year to stimulate growth and prune in the late winter to maintain a small size. 

Mulberry – Zones 5-9

Mulberry trees grow fast and produce heavily, making them perfect for bucket growing. Choose a dwarf mulberry variety like ‘Dwarf Everbearing’ to keep it compact and manageable.

Mulberries thrive in full sun, require moderate watering, and do best in well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Prune regularly to maintain size, and enjoy fruit within the first year of planting!

Olives – Zones 8 to 11

Olive trees are well-suited to containers due to their slow-growing nature and tolerance for dry conditions. Choose a self-fertile dwarf variety like ‘Arbequina’ or ‘Koroneiki’ for best results. Place your olive tree in full sun and use a well-draining potting mix with added sand or perlite.

Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Protect from frost by bringing indoors or wrapping the container during cold snaps.

Papaya – Zones 9 to 11

Papayas are technically fast-growing herbaceous plants, but they fruit prolifically in buckets under the right conditions. Start with a dwarf variety, and use a large, well-draining bucket with compost-rich soil. Place in a location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily.

Papayas are sensitive to cold, so bring indoors when temperatures dip below 60°F. Water frequently, but avoid soggy soil. Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer every few weeks to promote growth and fruiting. Remove lower leaves as the plant grows to improve airflow and reduce pests.

Passion Fruit – Zones 9 to 11

Though technically a vining plant and not a tree, passion fruit grows incredibly well in containers with the help of a vertical trellis or cage. Choose a self-pollinating variety like ‘Frederick’ or ‘Purple Possum’ and use a nutrient-rich, well-draining soil.

Place in full sun and water regularly as passion fruit vines don’t tolerate dry spells well. Fertilize every month with a balanced fertilizer to support flowering and fruit production. Prune regularly to manage growth and improve air circulation. Bring indoors during frost or cover with frost cloth.

Peach/Nectarines – Zones 5 to 9

Choose a variety suited to your location. Peaches need 500 chill hours to go dormant and produce prolific fruit, but there are low-chill varieties for warmer regions. Place your plant in full sun and water whenever the soil dries out.

Fertilize every couple of weeks during the growing season with a phosphorus-rich liquid fertilizer. Cut back on water and fertilizer in early fall and protect your tree in temperatures under 20 degrees F. 

Pear – Zones 4 to 8

Choose a cultivar that is self-fertile, or plan on having multiple plants to cross-pollinate. Place pears in full sun and water as often as needed to keep soil from drying excessively. Fertilize lightly at the beginning of spring and prune annually to shape. 

Plum – Zones 8 to 10

Place in full sun and water weekly in the absence of rain. Fertilize at the beginning of spring. Prune any suckers from the base. 

Pomegranate – Zones 9-11

Shallow-rooted pomegranates are very easy to grow in pots. Full sun will result in the most prolific fruiting. Water deeply and regularly and fertilize every few weeks during the growing season with an 8-8-8 fertilizer.

Can be overwintered in a garage if the plant goes dormant, but can resist dormancy if kept indoors at over 55 degrees F. 

Star Fruit – Zones 9 to 11

This beautiful, exotic tropical fruit requires temperatures above 60 degrees F to flower and fruit. Place in full sun in acidic soil with a PH between 5.5 and 6.5. Do not overwater, and apply a slow-release fertilizer during the growing season.

A few other fruits you can grow in buckets include blackberries, blueberries, goji berries, lychee, and raspberries. While not technically trees, you can grow vining berries with a structure like a tomato cage to contain them to a narrow space to a great result. 

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23 Strange Survival Items Worth Stockpiling

Estimated reading time: 18 minutes

Stockpiling is pretty much the beginning and ending of prepping. I say that because it's generally the first thing any of us do. We often start out stockpiling even before deciding that we’re going to become preppers.

At the same time, most of us are still adding to our stockpiles long after we finish all our other prepping projects. It seems like we never truly finish the process of stockpiling. 

Part of this is because stockpiling is rather expensive, especially if you want to stockpile enough supplies to last a full year. While there is no guarantee that a year’s worth will be enough, that’s become somewhat of a goal for many of us. Having a year’s worth of supplies has somehow become like reaching level 10 as a prepper. 

The other thing that keeps us working on our prepping stockpiles is that we keep finding more and more things we need. How many of us realized just how many masks we needed to have in our stockpile before COVID struck? How many things have we added since the pandemic started? 

I’m always looking for things that I need to add to my stockpile. Some of them might not seem all that normal to most people, or even seem like survival gear. But when a survival situation comes, you’re going to wish you’d stockpiled these things, too. 

Arrowheads

Regardless of how much ammunition you have, you should stockpile some arrowheads. While there are a number of different ways of making arrowheads, they aren’t all that easy. Knapping flint arrowhead is especially difficult. 

I’m not necessarily talking about broadhead arrowheads here—the kind that are used for big game hunting. You’re more likely to end up hunting for small game with your bow. So even if you do stockpile a few broadheads, I’d really recommend having what are known as field points.

These are not only a whole lot less expensive, but they are just about ideal for small game, as they won’t make as big a wound cavity, while still being enough to bring down those smaller animals. 

Bag Balm

Bag Balm was originally developed to soothe irritation on cows' udders, but it has morphed into a versatile, must-have ointment for many people. It's great for treating cracked hands, feet, and any skin that's been exposed to harsh conditions.

In a pinch, it can also be used to lubricate squeaky hinges, waterproof leather items, and even protect metal from rust. Its antibacterial properties add an additional layer of usefulness, preventing minor cuts and scrapes from becoming infected.

Borax

Though often relegated to the laundry room, Borax is incredibly useful around the house. You can use it to clean tubs, toilets, sinks, countertop, the fridge, and other surfaces that frequently get dirty. It can also clean mold and mildew, it can remove rust and stains, it can deodorize carpets and mattresses or even trash cans. Plus, it will kill ants and keep other pests away.

There's more, but you get the idea. During times when prices are skyrocketing or cleaning supplies are hard to come by due to supply chain problems, you can use borax to keep your home clean and smelling fresh. Just be careful you don't accidentally ingest any as it is toxic to humans and animals.

Brake Cleaner

Yes, the stuff in the red can that mechanics use. It might not seem like a prepper item, but brake cleaner is a powerful multi-use solvent that deserves a spot in your stockpile.

For starters, brake cleaner excellent for degreasing metal tools, gun parts, or engine components. If you’re relying on hand tools, small engines, or firearms in a survival situation, keeping them clean is crucial for safety and functionality. Brake cleaner evaporates quickly and leaves no residue, unlike soapy water or oil-based cleaners.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: brake cleaner is also highly flammable, which means you can use it as an emergency fire starter, especially in wet or cold conditions where other tinder might fail.

Use it carefully, and always outdoors (fumes are toxic), but don’t overlook it. It’s cheap, stores well, and could save your gear.

Calcium Hypochlorite

Many survival blogs talk about stockpiling liquid bleach so you can use it to purify water. The problem is, bleach only has a shelf-life of about 6 months to a year at best. A great alternative is calcium hypochlorite (often referred to as “pool shock”), which has an indefinite shelf life.

To make bleach, first you should put on some protective gear such as gloves and goggles. Then, mix 11 tablespoons of granular calcium hypochlorite with 1 gallon of water. Stir it until dissolved. Be careful with this.

To purify water, use 6 drops of this bleach per gallon of water and stir it up. Wait 30 minutes, and if you don't smell the blech, add a few more drops and wait another 30 minutes. With this method, a single pound of calcium hypochlorite can purify 30,000 gallons of water!

Carabiners

Carabiners are incredibly handy in a variety of survival situations. They’re perfect for securing gear to your bug out bag, hanging items off the ground, or even setting up snare traps.

They're also useful for makeshift repairs on shelters or vehicles, hanging up a hammock, constructing a shelter, or even medical uses like securing a splint or making a stretcher. The limit is your imagination.

Dryer Lint

When you clean out the lint trap in your dryer, don't throw the lint away. Why? Because dryer lint makes fantastic tinder. I keep mine in a large Ziploc bag so it stays nice and dry.

To make it even better, you can mix it with a little bit of petroleum jelly, paraffin wax, or even cooking oil. Doing that will make it burn longer and thus make it easier to get a fire going.

If you don't want to bother doing that every time, you can make a bunch of dryer lint fire starters ahead of time with an egg carton and some paraffin wax. Here's how.

Fishhooks 

I don’t know why people think that having two fishhooks is enough for a survival fishing kit. I can’t hardly ever go fishing without losing a whole lot more than two hooks.

Yet when I look at most people’s survival fishing kit, two hooks is all I see. For me, I’d go with 100 or so. For that matter, I’d up the ante on bobbers and other critical fishing tackle. 

Of all the various types of food that can be harvested from nature, fish are the most plentiful. Long after the big game is gone, there will still be fish in our rivers and lakes.

Somehow, fish manage to live and thrive in some of the most unlikely bodies of water. But that just helps ensure that they will be there when we need them. Just make sure you have plenty of fishhooks.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide isn't just for cleaning wounds and preventing infection. It can be used for all sorts of things including disinfecting water, cleaning countertops and other surfaces, controlling mold and mildew, and removing stains on clothing.

Believe it or not, hydrogen peroxide can also be used in the garden. It works as a fungicide and insecticide. To use it, mix a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in a gallon of water and put it in a spray bottle, then spray the soil and the base of your plant a couple times per week.

Lime

Lime is one of the most forgotten items for preppers to stockpile. No, I’m not talking about the fruit; I’m talking about a calcium-containing mineral compound, specifically calcium-hydroxide.

Today, lime is commonly used as a building material, such as being included in concrete mix. But it is also used extensively for wastewater treatment. In our case, it is useful for putting in outhouses and other latrines to reduce odor, as well as reducing flies. 

Pantyhose

Pantyhose has a surprising number of uses that most people have never thought of. If you're going hiking all day, wearing pantyhose can prevent blisters and bites from insects like ants, ticks, and chiggers. There's no need to turn in your man card. It's just practical.

You can also use pantyhose to pre-filter water, sprout seeds, support vines, organize small items, store food like garlic and onions, dry out tinder, and many other things. You just have to think outside the box.

Pine Tar

This sticky substance might not seem like a survival essential, but pine tar has been used for centuries as a waterproofing and antiseptic agent. Traditionally made by slowly burning pine roots, it's now available commercially in cans and tubes.

Why is it so useful? For one, you can use it to waterproof tools, boots, and even the seams of shelters or tents. It also has mild antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, which is why it’s often found in natural soaps for treating skin conditions like eczema or athlete’s foot. In a pinch, pine tar can be used to protect wounds or coat minor abrasions to prevent infection.

You can even use it as a primitive adhesive. It’s sticky, durable, and stays flexible in cold weather. Just keep in mind it’s messy stuff. Store it properly and keep it off your gear until you’re ready to use it.

Plastic Bags

Plastic bags, whether Ziploc bags or grocery bags, are one of those items with a million uses. From storing seeds to lining a bucket toilet to collect human waste, we’re going to find a lot of places where plastic bags are useful in any survival situation. Stockpile a variety of sizes, so that you have plenty of options to choose from. 

Potassium Permanganate

This is one of the most underappreciated chemicals in the prepper world. Potassium permanganate has several interesting uses. For one, it can purify water. However, I should warn that this is not the preferred method for purifying water, so only do this if there's no other option.

To do this, and 0.1 grams to 1 liter of water, stir it up, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Doing this will kill bacteria, algae, viruses, and fungi. Once the water is ready, it should be a light pink color. If it's dark pink or purple, don't drink it!

There are also cleaning and medical uses for potassium permanganate. You can even use it to start a fire. Learn more in this article.

Rat Traps

One of the things that tends to happen in the wake of any disaster is a rise in the rat population. This is mostly due to increases in food supplies for the rats. But rats can carry disease, as well as getting into our own food supplies.

So even though we might find ourselves in the position of eating those rats, we are really better off getting rid of them. But getting rid of them either means having a cat that’s good at catching rats or having a good supply of rat traps. So if you don’t have the cat, better buy the traps.

Rawhide

I’ve seen a lot of people talk about making primitive weapons at one time or another. I have nothing against that, but if you’re going to make primitive weapons, you’re going to need the right materials to work with.

If you look at those primitive weapons and how they used to be made, rawhide lashings were a critical component. While we can use paracord, it won’t work as well. 

There are two key characteristics of rawhide that make it such a good lashing material for things that have to be tied together permanently. The first is that it stretches when wet. Then, as it dries, it shrinks. That tightens up the joint, making it stronger.

The other characteristic is that once it dries, it’s hard, making it hold things together even better. Rawhide basically can’t loosen up over time, like twine or paracord can. 

Repair Parts

Pretty much anything mankind can make, can break. That’s just as true of our survival gear as it is of anything else we use. In a true survival situation, all that gear’s going to get some heavy use; so it only makes sense to be ready to repair it.

For example, if you have one of the old Coleman lanterns that burn gasoline, you’d better have a rebuild kit for the pump as that’s a critical part that can fail with heavy use. 

Another area that we all need repair parts for is our homes. Natural disasters provide plenty of chances for our homes to become damaged, such as by a tree branch falling on the house’s roof.

If you don’t have supplies for emergency repairs, that damaged roof will leak, making it impossible to use that part of the house and causing further damage to your home. 

Salt

Another commonly forgotten item in most people’s survival stockpiles is salt. I’m not talking about a pound of salt for seasoning your food. I’m talking about large quantities of salt for preserving food.

Salt is the common ingredient in many types of food preservation, because it is a natural preservative. We need it for canning, dehydrating and smoking, as well as variants of those such as making jerky and salt fish.

If you don’t have 100 pounds or more of salt in your stockpile, you probably don’t have enough. 

Silica Gel Packets

Silica gel packets are put in shoe boxes and electronics packaging to absorb moisture. People usually toss them, but if you're storing food or supplies that need to be kept dry, why not keep them and reuse them?

These things can also prevent mold and rust on everything from ammunition to important documents. Toss a few in with your electronics, metal tools, and food storage (just make sure they don't break up and get into your food).

Spokeshave

The spokeshave is probably one of the most useful tools there is for making primitive tools such as clubs, spears and bows. It is a two-handed tool, with a small blade much like a hand plane has.

Originally used for making wood spokes for wheels, the spokeshave is the perfect tool for turning a sapling into a bow because it allows you to very selectively cut material off that sapling. While it might be possible to make a bow using other methods, such as whittling, no other method works as well. 

Wicking 

It’s common for people to talk about adding candles to their survival stockpiles, but not candle or lamp wicking. Granted, it’s unlikely that any of us are going to find a stash of paraffin that we can use to make candles, and few of us have bees.

So why stock candle wicking? Because it can be used to make an oil lamp, providing light when the batteries go dead and all the candles are gone. 

There are many flammable substances that can be used in an oil lamp and many different things that can be used to make an improvised lamp. The key component is the wick. Oil lamp wicking is the best, as it is generally wider than candle wicking; but the wider versions of candle wicking will work too.

Basically, the wider the wick, the larger the flame, resulting in more light being produced. But at the same time, the faster the lamp will burn the oil. So there’s a tradeoff there.

Washboard

Electricity goes out, and suddenly that automatic washing machine is just a bulky storage cabinet. Hand-washing clothes might seem trivial at first, but after a few weeks of sweat, grime, and mud, keeping your clothing clean becomes a matter of health, not just comfort.

That’s where the old-fashioned washboard comes in. Lightweight, low-tech, and durable, it lets you scrub clothes effectively using just water, soap, and elbow grease. It’s also easier on fabric than rocks or concrete slabs.

Look for galvanized metal or glass washboards, as they resist rust and last longer. Throw in a bucket, some homemade lye soap, and you’ve got a laundry setup that doesn’t rely on the grid.

Wire Mesh (1/4-inch Hardware Cloth)

If you’ve ever had to build something quick and sturdy, you’ll know how valuable a roll of wire mesh can be. It’s one of those overlooked items that can serve dozens of functions in a long-term survival scenario.

Use it to make rodent-proof storage bins, reinforce doors or windows, construct small animal traps, build a compost bin, or even create a makeshift sieve for separating gravel from soil when building a water filter. Unlike chicken wire, 1/4-inch hardware cloth is tight enough to keep out most pests but still flexible enough to work with using just basic hand tools.

It’s not glamorous, but when it comes to protecting food, shelter, and water systems, it’s invaluable. Keep a roll or two around. You’ll be surprised how often you reach for it.

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