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Tips for planting tomatoes in five gallon buckets?
Posted on 4/21/20 at 2:46 pm
Posted on 4/21/20 at 2:46 pm
I assume I can only plant one per bucket? I have Miracle Grow potting mix. Do I need to add additional fertilizer when planting. A friend told me to put an inch of much at the bottom to help drainage. I have a few bags of black mulch. Will that be fine? Also how many and how large of holes should I drill in the bottom? Tia.
9
Posted on 4/21/20 at 2:57 pm to mouton
I haven’t done it in buckets, but in a pot about that diameter but about half the height. There are 5 holes in the bottom. One in the center and then 4 more a few inches out from the center in an X pattern. They’re about half inch or so in diameter. We used some pea gravel about an inch or so deep in the bottom and just dumped garden soil or potting soil in until it was a couple inches from the top. Never thought about mulch but it seems it would work the same. Just something that helps with drainage so it doesn’t pool water.
Keep it to one per pot unless they’re smaller plants like cherry tomatoes or tomatillos. I had better boys and some others that are larger plants. Get some stakes or tomato cages for when they get large. Easy to do in a bucket.
Keep it to one per pot unless they’re smaller plants like cherry tomatoes or tomatillos. I had better boys and some others that are larger plants. Get some stakes or tomato cages for when they get large. Easy to do in a bucket.
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:08 pm to TU Rob
I drilled these holes in one bucket. I wonder if they are large enough?
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:20 pm to mouton
Storage containers work really well. There are several videos online to make them "self watering"
Not mine but you get the idea
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Not mine but you get the idea
[/url]Posted on 4/21/20 at 4:12 pm to fatboydave
Those holes don’t look big enough to me. Make them about 1/2 in diameter.
Also, I’d go to a much bigger pot. 20gal is better. You’ll have trouble keeping them wet enough when they set fruit. Alternate wet vs dry fluctuations add to blossom end rot on your fruit.
Just so you know, I’ve been a licensed horticulturist since 1974.
Also, I’d go to a much bigger pot. 20gal is better. You’ll have trouble keeping them wet enough when they set fruit. Alternate wet vs dry fluctuations add to blossom end rot on your fruit.
Just so you know, I’ve been a licensed horticulturist since 1974.
Posted on 4/21/20 at 5:22 pm to Lou the Jew from LSU
I can’t find a 1/2 “ bit . Will 3/4 “ be ok? I’m going to the few I currently have on the 5 gallon buckets and take your advice on the larger pots when i plant more stuff this weekend. I have a couple bags of pea pebbles so I was gonna put an inch or two at the bottom then my potting mix.
Posted on 4/21/20 at 7:04 pm to mouton
Yeah 3/4 will be fine. Just hit 5 or 6 of them with the larger bit.
Posted on 4/21/20 at 7:10 pm to mouton
Yes, me, I took a axe and made a split. I am using 30 gallon drums cut in half, two plants per half.
Best to add about 2" of gravel at the bottom. That helps from over watering.
Best to add about 2" of gravel at the bottom. That helps from over watering.
Posted on 4/21/20 at 8:25 pm to mouton
Where are you putting them; on the ground or hard surface? I would set them above the ground on some pieces of board, rock, brick, etc. They may not drain good directly on the ground/hard surface.
I use those bigger tubs with rope handles they sell for carry dirt, etc around on the yard and drill the holes on the bottom of the side walls.
I use those bigger tubs with rope handles they sell for carry dirt, etc around on the yard and drill the holes on the bottom of the side walls.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 12:01 am to mouton
Grow bags eliminate need for drainage.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 6:09 am to mouton
Look into making a Global Bucket
Posted on 4/22/20 at 8:16 am to mouton
You’ll need some gravel or rocks at the very bottom of the bucket. Also, you need to get the buckets off the ground. If your doing multiple buckets, use 2X4s like rails of a train track.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 10:18 am to CoachChappy
quote:
Also, you need to get the buckets off the ground. If your doing multiple buckets, use 2X4s like rails of a train track.
Should you do this with anything planted in a container?
Posted on 4/22/20 at 11:19 am to mouton
Got one of these at Home Depot the other day for like $30. Lots of good reviews.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 11:23 am to jyoung1
quote:
Grow bags eliminate need for drainage.
What are these?
Posted on 4/22/20 at 11:25 am to oreeg
quote:
Got one of these at Home Depot the other day for like $30. Lots of good reviews.
What is that?
Posted on 4/22/20 at 11:41 am to mouton
When you drill drainage holes in the bottom of the bucket you should probably raise it off the ground to facilitate drainage. If you drilled your drainage holes into the sides of the container, at the bottom of course, you eliminate the need to raise them off the ground.
And as stated by LouThe Jew be prepared to have to water daily when the tomato plants get large when using 5 gal buckets, unless you set up a micro-irrigation system. If you have fun with this after this first time trial and want to expand, I’ve found that 15 to 30 gal poly plant nursery containers work great for tomatoes/eggplant - bigger vegetable plants, and you might only have to water once or twice a week at max size - personally I hate dragging around water hoses particularly daily, others find it therapeutic.
I have a wholesale plant nursery that I can buy new 15 gal poly plant nursery containers for $4 and 30 gal containers for $8. But you might be able to get them for free from landscaping crews landscaping someone’s home with larger shrubs and trees - stop and ask next time you see a crew. The 5 gallon buckets are fine for smaller plants like peppers, etc. in that you seldom have to water them daily when at max size.
And as stated by LouThe Jew be prepared to have to water daily when the tomato plants get large when using 5 gal buckets, unless you set up a micro-irrigation system. If you have fun with this after this first time trial and want to expand, I’ve found that 15 to 30 gal poly plant nursery containers work great for tomatoes/eggplant - bigger vegetable plants, and you might only have to water once or twice a week at max size - personally I hate dragging around water hoses particularly daily, others find it therapeutic.
I have a wholesale plant nursery that I can buy new 15 gal poly plant nursery containers for $4 and 30 gal containers for $8. But you might be able to get them for free from landscaping crews landscaping someone’s home with larger shrubs and trees - stop and ask next time you see a crew. The 5 gallon buckets are fine for smaller plants like peppers, etc. in that you seldom have to water them daily when at max size.
This post was edited on 4/22/20 at 1:52 pm
Posted on 4/22/20 at 11:51 am to mouton
They are just fabric pots, gives better air circulation, pot only holds the amount of water that the soil itself can hold on its own.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 12:00 pm to mouton
quote:
Should you do this with anything planted in a container?
I do. Drainage and watering is key in potted plants.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 2:05 pm to mouton
My dad had huge success with the grow bags. The aeration makes a big difference and keeps the root temperatures in check during the summer months. In solid containers the plants start giving up when they become root bound and can’t breathe and get too warm. I’d recommend the bags.
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