How to Grow Tomatoes in 5 Gallon Buckets
Tomatoes do not need any introduction regarding their use in our food. They taste equally good eaten on their own. With a sprinkle of salt maybe. What most people miss to recognize is the health benefit this vegetable carries under its flesh. It is loaded with vitamins and fibre. The use of tomatoes in our kitchens is paramount and every other dish uses them as an ingredient. This vegetable is very easy to grow at home and keep us easy with a fresh supply. If you do not have ground space to create a whole vegetable patch, you can grow the tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets. These buckets are large enough to give tomatoes the root depth and space needed. They are ideal for soil and water retention and also give the tall vine support.
Things you need:
– 5 gallon bucket
– Drill and 1/2-inch drill bit
– Newspaper
– Gravel
– Compost
– Rich potting soil
– Garden trowel
– Bush tomato plant
– Fertilizer (20-20-20)
– Bamboo stakes
– Twine
– Scissors
Instructions
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1
Choose a 5 gallon bucket. Drill a drainage hole in its bottom. This hole will help get rid of the excess water and prevent the tomato plant from getting waterlogged. Place several layers of newspaper on the bucket. Apply a thin layer of gravel over the newspapers. All this is needed for building a strong base and drainage system for the plant.
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2
Use potting soil to fill the bucket to the top. The potting soil should have peat moss mixed in. You can use a soil mix with fertilizer added or add the fertilizer later on yourself.
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3
Choose a tomato variety. The most used variety is cherry tomato. For plantation in containers, it is best to use varieties with the word 'bush' which are ideal for growing in limited areas.
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4
Dig a two inch hole in the centre of the seeding mix using a trowel. Each bucket can accommodate a single tomato plant. Place the tomato seedling in this hole and firm up the soil around it to strengthen its hold.
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5
After plantation, palace the bucket in an area which gets at least six hours of direct sunlight. Water the plant daily thoroughly to an extent that it flows out of the drainage hole. Tomato plant can be fertilized weekly to get large healthy tomatoes. As the plant grows, place stakes around it as support. Use the bamboo stakes for this purpose. Tie the plant to the stakes to gain support. Harvest when ripe.
- Bamboo stakes
- Twine
- ScissorsNext%20stop%3A%20Pinterest "Pin It")
