I want to have some tomato plants this year and don't have time at the new house to get some beds or a whole garden together. For those that do them in buckets, will you share with me some do's and don't's
"Hate is an acid that does more damage to the vessel in which it is stored, than the victim on which it is poured."
"Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity."
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: snakebit]
#2772527 03/28/1909:54 AM03/28/1909:54 AM
I'm trying the Earth Buckets this year. I have three set up. If I can find some cheap buckets, I will make some more. Everything I've read on them says it should retain water /moisture very well.
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: snakebit]
#2778015 04/05/1907:00 AM04/05/1907:00 AM
I tried some maters in buckets once and even one of those stupid hanging things that were the rage at one time. I found I couldn’t keep them watered well enough. You missed one day, they dried out. Bad. Forget about it if you’re gone 3-4 days on a trip.
“Killing tomorrow’s trophies today.”
On the distance I like to walk to my stands: “The first 100 yards is also the last 100 yards.”
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: snakebit]
#2778121 04/05/1909:10 AM04/05/1909:10 AM
I do maters in tires and it works well believe it or not. Just keep adding ties and dirt. Took it up to 4 and 5 tires. Then when ripe just remove tires and push over dirt.
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: AC870]
#2781812 04/10/1906:44 AM04/10/1906:44 AM
I tried some maters in buckets once and even one of those stupid hanging things that were the rage at one time. I found I couldn’t keep them watered well enough. You missed one day, they dried out. Bad. Forget about it if you’re gone 3-4 days on a trip.
I will be looking into getting this system going next year. May be the solution to your problem AC
"Hate is an acid that does more damage to the vessel in which it is stored, than the victim on which it is poured."
"Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity."
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: snakebit]
#2781818 04/10/1906:50 AM04/10/1906:50 AM
I have my buckets in a location where they get sunlight from daybreak until about 2:00 and shade after that to hopefully keep the hottest afternoon sun from drying out my roots too bad.
This photo shows when I planted the first 4 buckets on the bottom and a week or so later in the top
This photo shows the other 2 buckets I got going.
"Hate is an acid that does more damage to the vessel in which it is stored, than the victim on which it is poured."
"Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity."
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: snakebit]
#2781843 04/10/1907:23 AM04/10/1907:23 AM
If you want to get fancy you can get some small diamater polypro hose and drip emitters for each bucket plant. Lay the hose by the plants and use a punch to connect the emitters to the hose and stick the emitters in the buckets. It will also keep them alive if you have to go away for a day or two. Irrigation mart (google it) in Louisiana have all the supplies. If you go this route make sure you get the pressure reducing parts because normal hose pressure will rip apart a system that small.
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: snakebit]
#2781912 04/10/1908:51 AM04/10/1908:51 AM
I love 'em but haven't fooled with growing my own in approx 20 years. How do you guys keep the birds and squirrels out of them??
Originally Posted by hillmp
The left lane is for the the purpose of moving the flow of traffic forward regardless of the speed limit. If your impeding the flow of traffic get your ass in the right lane. It's really that simple...
Years ago the interstate contractor was putting some new 8' hog wire fence up and they had scrap end pieces they said I could have. I made some 8' high cages for my Better Boy maters in 5 gallon buckets. I used cow manure/dirt out of the catch pen to put the plants in. Some of them came out of the top of the wire and hung down another foot or so.
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: !shiloh!]
#2789650 04/20/1912:32 PM04/20/1912:32 PM
I love 'em but haven't fooled with growing my own in approx 20 years. How do you guys keep the birds and squirrels out of them??
I have no problem with birds or squirrels stink bugs are wayyyyy freaking worse.
I get some kind of crazy long legged stink bug on my tomatoes. They can Tony Montana sevens dust! I have to pull them off by hand.
Yep the stink bugs are a PITA! They will introduce some kinda bacteria or yeast into the tomatoes n they will get splotchy yellow kinda like blight. Haven’t found a safe pesticide to kill them yet.
Originally Posted by Johntravis89
There is 2 different high fence. 1 small and one big! Mine was free range in the big pen and was not a breeder buck. Why does it have to be twisted around??
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: snakebit]
#2795411 04/28/1901:32 PM04/28/1901:32 PM
My father sets these big black tubs filled with mineral lick out for his cows. He gets them from the local feed and seed store. When the cows have licked them clean I take them; drill some holes in the bottom and use them as planters. They are way bigger than the 5 gallon buckets a lot of people use. They will hold about 2 of the 50 pound sacks of top soil. The larger size seems to dry out more slowly. During these mild spring days I don't even have to water every day and even in the summer I never have to water more than once a day.
Last edited by Todd1700; 04/28/1901:44 PM.
The best index to a person’s character is (a) how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can’t fight back. - Abigail van Buren
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: Todd1700]
#2795947 04/29/1909:48 AM04/29/1909:48 AM
My father sets these big black tubs filled with mineral lick out for his cows. He gets them from the local feed and seed store. When the cows have licked them clean I take them; drill some holes in the bottom and use them as planters. They are way bigger than the 5 gallon buckets a lot of people use. They will hold about 2 of the 50 pound sacks of top soil. The larger size seems to dry out more slowly. During these mild spring days I don't even have to water every day and even in the summer I never have to water more than once a day.
I did the same thing. Only complaint is they hold ALOT of soil. Probably should have used some fill dirt in the bottom and potting soil on top. Got five young plants in one right now, probably transplant them to individual containers soon. Growing really well.
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: snakebit]
#2797301 05/01/1907:33 AM05/01/1907:33 AM
So I'm about a month into this gardening thing and I am starting to see some action. I hope the pests and other problems don't get me now. Can't wait to pick some.
"Hate is an acid that does more damage to the vessel in which it is stored, than the victim on which it is poured."
"Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity."
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: snakebit]
#2800260 05/04/1904:31 PM05/04/1904:31 PM
This is a five week update on my buckets. I'm seeing some little black ants and a fly looking rascal every now and then. If anyone sees anything I need to do i would greatly accept some knowledge.
"Hate is an acid that does more damage to the vessel in which it is stored, than the victim on which it is poured."
"Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity."
Re: Tomatoes in buckets
[Re: snakebit]
#2800263 05/04/1904:34 PM05/04/1904:34 PM