Bucket gardening....

[LUNCHBOX]

I plan to use 5 gallon buckets to plant my garden in this year due to the limited space. I don't expect it to be much different than ground planting (other than blowing over in strong winds) but my question is.....

Has anyone else tried this and ran into problems? If so, what kind of issues should I watch out for? The plan is for the standard drying veggies like peppers, tomatoes, garlic, etc...

[Luvmycats]

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. :D 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.

[Taz Baby]

I have been doing my garden in containers and buckets and it did great. Tomatoes and cucumbers do good in them along with anything that grows vines that you can train to go on a trellis i hung rope criss-crossed on 2x4's. Potatoes are easy-peasey in buckets, harvesting is simple, just pull plant up and dump bucket. I have my pics on here of my container gardens I did.

[Taz Baby]

try this

Potted Corn Patch

Another Burpee exclusive is One Deck Corn, a hybrid sweet corn for containers! It grows 4 to 5-feet tall, and each plant produces two to three bicolored 7 to 8-inch-long ears. Start with a large container, 24-inches or more in diameter, and press in nine or more seeds, spaced six inches apart. Ears are ready to harvest about 60 days later.

http://www.almanac.com/sites/new.almanac.com/files/images/OnDeckSweetCorn%20Burpee.jpg

[Jimmy24]

Go for it! Container planting works very well. In fact I would dare say you can/will actually have more/better production. This is because you have better control over moisture, fertilizer, weeds, shade....just everything.

I did them years ago and always worked well for me.

A few things for thought are:

In the bottom of your buckets use limestone or some sort of rock/gravel/shells. It promotes good drainage and adds weight to the bottom to help hold 'er in place better.

You can control the ph better with a small soil test kit.

Some plants do better once summer gets going to have shade for them. That makes it easy in your buckets. Tomatoes come to mind.

I always planted a touch offset to one side or the other to enable handle use. Or left it standing straight up if a "bushy" plant.

Watch your watering closely so not to keep plants with wet feet or too dry. It's easy in a bucket to do either.

I bet yor gonna have a great garden this year! Good luck and keep us up on it.

Jimmy

- - - Updated - - -


try this

Potted Corn Patch

Another Burpee exclusive is One Deck Corn, a hybrid sweet corn for containers! It grows 4 to 5-feet tall, and each plant produces two to three bicolored 7 to 8-inch-long ears. Start with a large container, 24-inches or more in diameter, and press in nine or more seeds, spaced six inches apart. Ears are ready to harvest about 60 days later.

http://www.almanac.com/sites/new.almanac.com/files/images/OnDeckSweetCorn%20Burpee.jpg

Yummy!!!

Jimmy

[ElevenBravo]

Im diggin' this thread!

Friendly reminder, the restaurant chain "Firehouse Subs" (not only has great food, but..) sells used 5 gal pickle buckets for cheap!

Im going to give this a whirl this year.

I previously did some small buckets hung off the clothes line poles, with a hole in the bottom... and INVERTED the plant in the bottom and grew cherry tomatoes... Sad thing is, when I got a few good 'maters, Id go pick them and they would never make it in the house.... Id eat them all before I got indoors!

Id like to have a garden this summer, but I dont want to till up any dirt, this may be the ticket.

BTW, what do you suggest I fill the bucket with?? Ill drill a few 3/8" holes in the bottom to drain so I dont get root rot.

EB

[Sniper-T]

more info here: http://www.shtfready.com/threads/1571-global-buckets?highlight=global+buckets

and another mention or two, here: http://www.shtfready.com/threads/244-Does-anyone-use-vertical-gardening-techniques?highlight=global+buckets

[LUNCHBOX]

"In the bottom of your buckets use limestone or some sort of rock/gravel/shells. It promotes good drainage"....I always did this when I would put in a post in the ground to prevent rotting.

"Id like to have a garden this summer, but I dont want to till up any dirt"....This is my thought also since I'm renting this house.

[Luvmycats]

Im diggin' this thread!

Friendly reminder, the restaurant chain "Firehouse Subs" (not only has great food, but..) sells used 5 gal pickle buckets for cheap!

Im going to give this a whirl this year.

I previously did some small buckets hung off the clothes line poles, with a hole in the bottom... and INVERTED the plant in the bottom and grew cherry tomatoes... Sad thing is, when I got a few good 'maters, Id go pick them and they would never make it in the house.... Id eat them all before I got indoors!

Id like to have a garden this summer, but I dont want to till up any dirt, this may be the ticket.

BTW, what do you suggest I fill the bucket with?? Ill drill a few 3/8" holes in the bottom to drain so I dont get root rot.

EB

EB, I have found if I put my holes in the sides it drains better. I don't know where you live, but here they tend to sink into the sand and can't drain through the holes in the bottom. Not only that, but it leaves a bit of moister in the soil in case you miss watering for a few days. :rolleyes: Wendy's will give you free 3 gallon pickle buckets which I used for my roma tomatoes. I also used kitty litter buckets. (we have 3 cats) I also leave the lids on them and use them for chicken feed. It stays dry, and I have had any problems with anything getting into it.

We started out we bought composted dirt from a landscape place here in Tampa. We now make our own to add/mix when our crops are finished and we start new plants.

[ElevenBravo]

My ideas exactly, directly on the BOTTOM is not good, encircling the bottom of the bucket about an inch off should be superior for drainage.

As Lunch does, I too... rent, so I enjoy a real house, but not the same privileges as an owner, so tilling the ground would require permission. Ive gone that route before, and without a GOOD rear tine tiller, its back breaking work.

Should I just put some fill dirt & fertilizer mix in the buckets?

Oh, and I need to know the seasons for each veg I want to plant, Im really a garden idiot... Any good links??

TIA,
EB

[Dain Bramaged]

Look up "self watering rain gutter grow system" on YouTube.

Lots of great ideas there!

(Lousy signal on my phone at the moment, so sorry for not posting a link)

[Kodiak]

Maters and bell peppers, we had them coming out of our ears.

[Sniper-T]

here's your link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1kIaJvpdTg

[Sniper-T]

here's another good link...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=SvakOn9upuE&feature=endscreen

[Sniper-T]

Necro-post for some newbs. and as a reminder for the rest of us!

bump!

[Vodin]

http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y534/Vodin136/Garden%202015/IMG_4023_zpsaziveyqj.jpg
http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y534/Vodin136/Garden%202015/IMG_3899_zpsitm4lngc.jpg
http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y534/Vodin136/Garden%202015/IMG_3786_zpsp2jmfj9y.jpg
http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y534/Vodin136/Garden%202015/IMG_4262_zpsagsevdvn.jpg
http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y534/Vodin136/Garden%202015/IMG_3969_zpsc2xylgi5.jpg

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry I would post the results but it wont let me..

- - - Updated - - -

Almost forgot all of the 5 gallon buckets where free. I obtained them from Sam's got about a 100 of them or so. Just picked up 5-6 every trip we made. Made great friends with the lady in the bakery.

[Sniper-T]

tried this...

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/2016/0727161643a_zpsn6kbqshh.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/2016/0727161643a_zpsn6kbqshh.jpg.html)