We have been using buckets for over two years now, and haven't had too many problems. We are even using them this season for large tomato plants, (Big boys) had only planted romaines in them before. But we built a frame out of landscape timbers to hang them from so they have a place to climb. (They destroyed our little green house one year because they got so tall) I even planted watermelons in them. Cucumbers also did well. Just make sure you put them where you can control the vines. We have Cucumbers planted in them now, which we will train to vine up to the awnings on one of our windows.