How to Grow Tomatoes in 5 Gallon Buckets

Growing tomatoes in a container

Gardeners lacking garden space need not sacrifice luscious tomatoes. Instead of planting tomatoes in the ground, grow tomatoes in 5-gallon buckets. These large buckets are often leftover from previous uses and they make ideal tomato planters. Fill the buckets with rich potting soil, and water and fertilize the tomato plant frequently. Be ready to harvest a bountiful tomato crop before the end of the summer.

Things You'll 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

1. Turn the bucket upside down and drill a drainage hole in the center of the bucket]. Turn the bucket right side up and line the bottom of the bucket with several layers of newspaper. Place approximately 2 inches of gravel on top of the newspaper.

2. Fill the bucket to the top with the potting soil. Expect this to take roughly one 40-pound bag of potting soil.

3. Choose a tomato variety that will thrive in a container. Suggestions include any tomato plant with the word "bush" in the name. These tomatoes are more compact and often do not even require caging or staking as they grow. Other suggestions are dwarf tomatoes such as "Cherry Gold" or "Tiny Tim." Cherry tomato plants or patio tomato plants are also suitable for container growing.

4. Use the trowel to make an indentation in the center of the potting soil. Remove the tomato plant from the temporary container and place it into the potting soil, planting it so that the first stems are just above the soil level. Pat the soil firmly around the tomato plant and water the newly planted tomato immediately.

5. Place the bucket in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Monitor the amount of light that falls on the tomato plant throughout the day and move the bucket if it does not receive adequate sunlight.

6. Water the tomato plant every day until water runs out the drainage hole in the bottom of the bucket.

7. Fertilize the tomato plant one time per week. Mix the fertilizer with water according to package recommendations for your container size. If the soil is dry prior to fertilizing, water the tomato plant first and then fertilize to avoid burning the tomato plant with the fertilizer.

8. Remove the suckers that grow between the existing stems and the center stalk. Simply pinch these suckers off as they appear to ensure that the tomato plant concentrates its energy on fruit formation and not making new stems and leaves.

9. Watch the tomato plant as it grows and if it needs support, stake the tomato plant with bamboo stakes. Insert three or four stakes into the soil around the plant and loosely tie the tomato plant to the stakes for support.

10. Harvest tomatoes when they are completely ripe and firm.

References

• Growing Tomatoes in Containers