How to Grow Organic Vegetables in a Bucket

Growing organic vegetables in a bucket is possible with proper care and maintenance. Any vegetable that can be planted in the ground can also be grown in a bucket. Many varieties of root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes, do exceptionally well when grown in a bucket. The bucket planters can be located in a backyard, a front porch or even on an apartment building's roof. This versatility gives everyone a chance to produce an organic garden.

Things You'll Need

• 5-gallon bucket
• Drill
• Stones or gravel
• Organic potting soil
• Garden trowel
• Young vegetable plant
• Hose or watering can
• Organic vegetable fertilizer

Instructions

1. Drill about six holes for drainage in the bottom of your 5-gallon bucket. Add a layer of stone or gravel to help with drainage and ensure a healthy plant.

2. Fill the bucket two-thirds full with organic potting soil. Do not pack down the soil. Dig a hole with a trowel, make the hole approximately twice the size as the roots of the vegetable plant.

3. Place the plant into the hole. If the vegetable plant came in a plastic container, remove it without damaging the plant's root system. While holding the plant upright, carefully push dirt back into the hole and around the plant.

4. Water the plant. Using a hose or watering can, water the young vegetable plant until the soil is moist. Pay careful attention to not over water the plant. The soil should be able to absorb the water fairly quickly.

5. Fertilize the plant with an organic fertilizer to ensure a healthy start for the plant. Follow the manufacturer's directions for the organic fertilizer of choice.

6. Place the plant in a sunny area. Most vegetable plants require about eight hours of direct sunlight every day. The bucket can be moved to get the longest duration of sunlight possible.

7. Water your plant daily. Plants in containers dry out more quickly than those planted in soil. The vegetable plant will need to be watered daily or twice a day if the soil becomes dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Plants that vine, such as cucumbers or peas, will need something to vine around. A piece of lattice works well for this.

• Larger containers can be used to accommodate large or multiple vegetable plants.

References

• Organic Gardening: The Dirt on Growing Organically
• Gardening Know How: Containers for Vegetable Gardening