How To Grow Vegetables In 5 Gallon Buckets

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How To Grow Vegetables In 5 Gallon Buckets – Anywhere!

Show Outline / Show Notes

Introduction

Grow Vegetables, Flowers, Herbs Anywhere

Easy To Manage / Maintain

Can Be Made Attractive, Especially with Bucket Covers

Not Just Low Cost / But High Yields – Great Alternative To Expensive Containers

History Of The 5 Gallon Bucket Planters

Story : Trip To Charlotte, NC – Gentleman Growing Farmers Market In Buckets

Created The DIY Bucket Planters – Thousands of Downloads Of The Plans

The 5 gallon bucket is actually a perfect vessel for growing vegetables and annuals. At 14 inches high, and 12″ in diameter, it allows plenty of room for deep, wide roots.

And compared to the cost of expensive containers, it’s hard to beat the $3 to $4 price tag of a 5 gallon bucket. Not to mention, they can often even be found for free.

How To Create The Bucket Planter

-BPA / Food Grade Buckets

Tractor Supply – BPA Free

Create Drainage Holes

For our grow buckets, we create drainage holes in the bottom base, and on the sides of the bottom.

To make our holes, we use a 1/2″ – 3/4″ drill bit. We start by drilling 4 to 6 evenly spaced holes in the base of the bucket. Then 4 more holes around 2″ up from the side. This helps to keep water from building up and water logging the plants.

Drainage Material

Fill up the bottom with drainage material for water to pass easily through – 1/8th to 1/4 depending on what you use.

This not only keeps holes from plugging up, but can lighten the bucket depending on what you use.

stones / pebbles
bark mulch

Filling Up The Container

Next, it’s time to fill your buckets with potting soil. And is it ever important to make sure that soil is fertile, well-draining and loose!

Add in a bit of compost, perlite and worm castings to our soil to lighten it up and provide it with plenty of additional nutrients.

The compost and worm castings really add serious power to the soil.

At 14 inches high, and 12″ in diameter, you will need about .75 cubic feet of potting soil to fill each bucket.

That total of course can vary a bit by how much drainage material you place in the bottom of each bucket. A good rule of thumb is that for each 2 cubic foot bag of potting soil, you can fill (3) 5 gallon buckets.

Planting

Not only plant vegetables, but herbs, flowers and more.

Watering

You will need to water more often in buckets than a traditional garden. Especially if you live in a hot / arid climate.

Be cautious of over-watering more than under-watering

Check down 2″ in the soil with your finger for moisture – dry to the touch, water.

Water rings for auto watering can be used

Fertilizing

The key to any container growing is proper fertilizing

No matter how rich and fertile the soil is at the start of the growing season, a plant will consume much of the soil’s resources as it matures.

How To Grow Vegetables In Buckets — Our DIY 5 Gallon Bucket Planter Boxes – Made From Simple 2 x 4’s.

The real key to success when fertilizing container plants is to provide a slow, steady diet of nutrients. Giving plants too much power too quickly can promote too much foliage, and not enough blooms or fruit.

For best results, fertilize your buckets every 2 to 3 weeks with compost tea or a light solution of organic liquid fertilizer. If growing vegetables, cease fertilizing once the fruits have begun to form in full. This will keep the plants from growing foliage, and not producing blooms and fruit.

End Of Season Maintenance

Beauty of buckets – head to the compost pile to recharge the soil

Clean the buckets, mild bleach solution and store for use again next year

DIY Bucket Planters

Holds 2 or 4 buckets

Not only attractive, but easier to use because buckets are up off the ground.

In addition, they are easy to build, inexpensive and long lasting

Wrap Up

Buckets let you grow anywhere – economical and low maintenance

BPA Free / Food Grade Buckets

Provide Drainage

Fill With Quality Potting Soil

Water and Fertilize Right