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Google
planting in bucket
+14
Turan
westie
hruten
J_in_HamiltonON
FamilyGardening
memart1
llama momma
acara
walshevak
cheyannarach
GWN
CindiLou
rowena___.
sweetgale
18 posters
Page 2 of 2 • 1, 2
Re: planting in bucket
cheyannarach wrote:J_in_HamiltonON wrote:cheyannarach wrote: I threw a FISH in the bottom of every bucket so they will grow spectacularly!
had me rolling on the floor, good one
I knew someone would get it!!!![]()
Rose, be sure to throw some rocks in the bottom of your bucket so the crack stays open!
hubby is going to drill some holes in the bucket....funny....my kids love it when i sing *theres a hole in the bucket*.....
they have gotten a big kick that our bucket has a real hole in it now....hmmmm...still dont know how our bucket became cracked..

hugs
rose
FamilyGardening-
Posts : 2424
Join date : 2011-05-10
Location : Western WA
Re: planting in bucket
I have several buckets that became cracked with plants that were BUSTING at the seams.....
they got root bound and then wammo....crack
of course these are buckets that were given to me along with very root bound plants
they got root bound and then wammo....crack
of course these are buckets that were given to me along with very root bound plants

GWN- Posts : 2804
Join date : 2012-01-14
Age : 66
Location : british columbia zone 5a
Re: planting in bucket
Here are a couple versions of wicking buckets I use that grow well and need less attention watering wise. 
The two laying down are opposite ends of top buckets one of them sets inside the lower bucket which is standing behind. Fine screen is placed inside the heavy screen to help keep the MM in the column. Water fills the area below the top bucket and wicks up to the soil above. Drill three 1/4 inch holes spaced around the side of the lower bucket to let out excess water from rain or over filling. The holes are drilled just below the bottom of the top bucket. The 3/4” PVC fill tube is called for but I usually water the soil and let it percolate down to the lower reservoir, note the fill tube bottom is cut slanted to prevent plugging. This setup has deeper soil/MM so works well with carrots or whatever likes depth.

This picture is a little shaded for good details but is a single pail wicking bucket. The black part on the right the dirt floor is cut from a pail lid. Since pails taper a bid some guesswork is required to have the floor sit at the desired height and still fit snug against the pail. Both versions wire columns are 4 3/4 “ deep and since the column opening is 4” diameter the wire is about 13” long bent into a tube and woven together with wire.The wire columns are wired in place by drilling three or four spaced holes around the hole in the floor then just draw them tight together with wire, I used stainless steel wire. This bucket requires only one pail and its lid or other similar material for the floor/partition. Others have found alternatives for the wicking column this was available without going shopping. I have been gone for a week and water still remained in the reservoir after two weeks of hot weather it was gone but the plants were fine in the MM.

The two laying down are opposite ends of top buckets one of them sets inside the lower bucket which is standing behind. Fine screen is placed inside the heavy screen to help keep the MM in the column. Water fills the area below the top bucket and wicks up to the soil above. Drill three 1/4 inch holes spaced around the side of the lower bucket to let out excess water from rain or over filling. The holes are drilled just below the bottom of the top bucket. The 3/4” PVC fill tube is called for but I usually water the soil and let it percolate down to the lower reservoir, note the fill tube bottom is cut slanted to prevent plugging. This setup has deeper soil/MM so works well with carrots or whatever likes depth.

This picture is a little shaded for good details but is a single pail wicking bucket. The black part on the right the dirt floor is cut from a pail lid. Since pails taper a bid some guesswork is required to have the floor sit at the desired height and still fit snug against the pail. Both versions wire columns are 4 3/4 “ deep and since the column opening is 4” diameter the wire is about 13” long bent into a tube and woven together with wire.The wire columns are wired in place by drilling three or four spaced holes around the hole in the floor then just draw them tight together with wire, I used stainless steel wire. This bucket requires only one pail and its lid or other similar material for the floor/partition. Others have found alternatives for the wicking column this was available without going shopping. I have been gone for a week and water still remained in the reservoir after two weeks of hot weather it was gone but the plants were fine in the MM.
westie- Posts : 48
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : Iowa
Re: planting in bucket
earth box LINK TO PLANS
Hi Westie,
I have one of those too, the earth box link has the plans. I grew about 10 basil plants very well in mine last year and only filled it with water about every 10 days or so.
Hi Westie,
I have one of those too, the earth box link has the plans. I grew about 10 basil plants very well in mine last year and only filled it with water about every 10 days or so.
GWN- Posts : 2804
Join date : 2012-01-14
Age : 66
Location : british columbia zone 5a
Re: planting in bucket
walshevak wrote:The bucket brigades. Strung, caged determanents, and portable with PVC poles.
Kay: what a great setup, I love it! And what timing! I just planted several plants in 5-gallon pails
("20L" pails here in

I'm also growing a bunch of stuff in an old cooler. I wondered if the volume of soil and also the surface are would be sufficient, but if you can grow indeterminant tomatoes in 5 gallon pails then I should be fine. Yesterday I planted butternut squash in 6 gallon pots made from square water cooler jugs, I will post photos soon b/c I think they just look so cool.
In the photo's it looks like the pails are dug down into the ground - I assume the bottoms are still on the pails with some drainage holes? Also curious how long the pails last for you, my experience with them around the yard for gereal use is that they start to fall apart after a few years

J_in_HamiltonON-
Posts : 49
Join date : 2012-05-13
Age : 44
Location : Hamilton ON zone5(A?)
Re: planting in bucket
The bucket brigade is at my son's house. His yard is almost pure sand. No, they are not dug in just have holes in the bottoms. The strung maters are on a thin clothesline which is tied to the bucket handle and to a emt trellis.
This is our first year using buckets, but I had a tree sapling in one for 2 years before planting it in the yard this spring. The bucket seem as good as ever but time will tell. We found the buckets were a better bargain than the cheapest large flower pot of a similar size we located. $2.50 each vs $4.50
Kay
This is our first year using buckets, but I had a tree sapling in one for 2 years before planting it in the yard this spring. The bucket seem as good as ever but time will tell. We found the buckets were a better bargain than the cheapest large flower pot of a similar size we located. $2.50 each vs $4.50
Kay
A WEED IS A FLOWER GROWING IN THE WRONG PLACE
Elizabeth City, NC
Click for weather forecast
walshevak
Certified SFG Instructor-
Posts : 4374
Join date : 2010-10-17
Age : 80
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8
Re: planting in bucket
Today a friend with a market garden told me to take her left over tomato plants or they go into the compost pile. Sooooo I took 9. I was thinking of the bucket brigades I read about here. I am not sure if i dare just plant them in buckets and line up next to the fence to use as a trellis. They are all indeterminate I suspect. I usually grow all tomatoes in some sort of hoop house.
Well here is for hoping for LOTS of tomatoes to eat fresh and preserve.
Well here is for hoping for LOTS of tomatoes to eat fresh and preserve.
Turan-
Posts : 2603
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4
Re: planting in bucket
J in Hamilton, I am looking forward to seeing your pictures.I will post photos soon b/c I think they just look so cool.
Taking pictures starts to be fun.
GWN- Posts : 2804
Join date : 2012-01-14
Age : 66
Location : british columbia zone 5a
Re: planting in bucket
Turan wrote:Today a friend with a market garden told me to take her left over tomato plants or they go into the compost pile. Sooooo I took 9. I was thinking of the bucket brigades I read about here. I am not sure if i dare just plant them in buckets and line up next to the fence to use as a trellis. They are all indeterminate I suspect. I usually grow all tomatoes in some sort of hoop house.
Well here is for hoping for LOTS of tomatoes to eat fresh and preserve.
Haha Turan, that seems to be a similar problem among the forum. How could anyone turn down free tomato plants! It's amazing how much space one can make after the garden is "full" Good luck with the new babies!
cheyannarach-
Posts : 2037
Join date : 2012-03-21
Location : Custer, SD
Re: planting in bucket
WHY NOT?I am not sure if i dare just plant them in buckets and line up next to the fence to use as a trellis
For fear they will take over the fence, for fear you will have too many, or for fear they will not ripen in time?
You seem to have so many scrumptious recipes for your tomatoes, likely not a problem

GWN- Posts : 2804
Join date : 2012-01-14
Age : 66
Location : british columbia zone 5a
Re: planting in bucket
I worry about the cold nights, not setting any fruit and storms. I had no luck with tomatoes before building the hoop house. Well, these ones are planted, 9 plants squished into 4 buckets and 1 rubber made tote. They are in the lee of the melons hoop house. It will be an experiment in intensive planting, there are 4 plants in that tote (2sqf) and 2 in the biggest bucket. I am hoping that the stress will cause early blooming and ripening fruit. Right now they are covered.
Turan-
Posts : 2603
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4
Re: planting in bucket
I can't remember who but someone here said they have had success with two tomatoes per 5 gallon bucket!
cheyannarach-
Posts : 2037
Join date : 2012-03-21
Location : Custer, SD
Re: planting in bucket
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Use the fence to support some plastic hoop house style if you can.
Kay
Kay
A WEED IS A FLOWER GROWING IN THE WRONG PLACE
Elizabeth City, NC
Click for weather forecast
walshevak
Certified SFG Instructor-
Posts : 4374
Join date : 2010-10-17
Age : 80
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8
Re: planting in bucket
walshevak wrote:Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Use the fence to support some plastic hoop house style if you can.
Kay
Thanks, that is my plan indeed.
Turan-
Posts : 2603
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4
Re: planting in bucket
If I fill a five gallon bucket with Mel's mix and some vermicompost. Then plant one indeterminate tomato will I have to add additional fertilizer.
Re: planting in bucket
Hold Everything and Stop the Forum!!
Boz, what happened to that chicken in your avatar?
Boz, what happened to that chicken in your avatar?

llama momma
Certified SFG Instructor-
Posts : 4921
Join date : 2010-08-20
Location : Central Ohio zone 6a
Re: planting in bucket
I have done this successfully. You will probably be good, but leave a little room at the top of the mix for water and topdressing.Boz wrote:If I fill a five gallon bucket with Mel's mix and some vermicompost. Then plant one indeterminate tomato will I have to add additional fertilizer.

43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: planting in bucket
It looks as though its feathers got blown off by a hurricane.Boz wrote:If I fill a five gallon bucket with Mel's mix and some vermicompost. Then plant one indeterminate tomato will I have to add additional fertilizer.

Re: planting in bucket
Boz wrote:If I fill a five gallon bucket with Mel's mix and some vermicompost. Then plant one indeterminate tomato will I have to add additional fertilizer.
BOZ ,..... man , that's one funkey chicken in your avatar .
All together now ... " Lets all doooo , ..... The funkey chicken "

plantoid-
Posts : 4082
Join date : 2011-11-09
Age : 72
Location : At the west end of M4 in the UK
Re: planting in bucket
we have planted tomatoes and peppers in buckets/empty cat littler containers.... and they did great....we did give them some compost tea thru out the summer....make sure you have some holes at the bottom for drainage.....if its really hot they tend to need to be watered a little bit more often then other plants.....
happy gardening
rose
happy gardening
rose
FamilyGardening-
Posts : 2424
Join date : 2011-05-10
Location : Western WA
Re: planting in bucket
Thanks ever body for the info on fertilizer and water.
I found my chicken avatar on the internet and felt nobody else would like him so I copied him. He does kind of grown on you.
I found my chicken avatar on the internet and felt nobody else would like him so I copied him. He does kind of grown on you.
Re: planting in bucket
Looks like it's molting.llama momma wrote:Hold Everything and Stop the Forum!!
Boz, what happened to that chicken in your avatar?
![]()
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Page 2 of 2 • 1, 2

» how big a bucket
» What's your favorite kitchen/garden gadget?
» Plant Spacing checks, please
» Pumpkin and Garden
» How deep does a bucket need to be.
» What's your favorite kitchen/garden gadget?
» Plant Spacing checks, please
» Pumpkin and Garden
» How deep does a bucket need to be.
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