How to Grow Tomatoes in Containers, Pots or Buckets. Container Gardening.
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- Опубликовано: 13 апр 2020
- In this video Brian is planting tomatoes in a five gallon bucket, or any container. A few tips you need to know to have success growing tomatoes in containers. How to grow tomatoes in pots differs slightly from growing tomatoes in the ground. Tomato Gardening 101.
**** ADDITION/CORRECTION KEEP FILLING THE POT WITH SOIL AS THE PLANT GROWS UNTIL YOU ARE ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE TOP OF THE POT. THE TOMATO WILL GROW ROOTS ALL THE WAY UP!
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I drill 4 half inch holes in the sides of the buckets near the bottom. I put the buckets in a kiddie pool in my driveway. When I want to water I just fill the pool up with about 4-5 inches of water. Once a week I throw a scoop of miracle grow in the pool and add the water. My tomato’s grow to about 8 feet tall and produce more than I could ever need. I end up giving away hundreds of tomatoes every year.
Do you still drill holes in the bottom as well?
David Garcia I don’t drill holes in the bottom of the buckets. Just four holes in each bucket about an inch and a half from the bottom. Depending on the size of the tomato plants I plant them in the bottom half of the bucket. As they grow I pinch off the lower stems and add potting soil until I have filled the bucket to the top with soil. This gives the tomatoes a great root system.
@@DM-jf3lg How do you trellis them?
@@watermelonlalala I use bamboo stakes that I cut down from my neighbor’s house.
Do you leave the buckets in the pool when not watering and just drain out remaining water?
I grow in buckets. Instead of putting my holes in the bottom of the vessel, I put 5 or 6 around the circumference of the pot about 1.5" up from the bottom of vessel. The holes will prevent the plant from drowning, but it also provides me with a 1.5" wicking well in the bottom, in case I am lazy on my watering. Works great for me for quite a few years now.
Do you add any hole to the bottom at all or just all on the sides?
Yep that's what I did when I was still growing in buckets Outdoors. Now I'm not able to Garden outside anymore so I have my garden in the house using grow bags. Everything's doing really well so far this year.
I do exactly the same, due to a spine injury sometimes I'm too sore to water everyone
I was absolutely blown away by the rich taste of my homegrown cherry tomatoes last year (and first ever tomato plant). Never in my life tasted such delicious tomatoes. The ones from the store tastes like water compared to homegrown. A lot of things went wrong. Too windy, main stem broke. Too rainy, over flooded container. I accidentally dropped my phone on the plant, pretty much half of the plant broke of and on top of that, I used a container that wasn't big enough. Despite that, it was a good harvest. I harvested roughly 1kg (2.2lbs) of cherry tomatoes :) This year I'm using a much bigger pot and I have fabricated all kinds of things to keep it stable in heavy winds. I can't wait, only 30 days to go here in Denmark!
I hated tomatoes before I grew my own .I now love them easy to grow in the UK too
I never liked tomatoes until this year when I grew a couple of pink Brandywine plants. Now I’m completely obsessed! 🍅 😋
For containers, I have had great success with fabric grow bags and recommend using them over traditional containers that you have to drill holes in to drain water out of. The bags also allow plant roots to breathe and not encircle.
What size bag do you use? 😊
Nice video. Especially the part about Gypsum. One thing I do differently with my plastic 5 gallon pots is to put the holes not at the bottom of the pot underneath, but 2” from the bottom of the pot with some wood chips in the bottom of the pot. The wood chips I get are free and they suck up the water and act as a slow release when it is dry out. By having 4 holes drilled 2” up from the bottom you now have a water reservoir and if it rains too much the holes on the sides of the buckets allow for drainage. I hope this tip helps.
EXCELLENT TIP! I was just about to drill in the bottom the usual way😍👍🏻
Think tank
AND THINK TANK
AND
Great idea 💡
Great idea
You made a version of a Hugel Pot!
Loot into hugelkultur (no 'e' on that word).
Thanks so much for your great work. 61 yrs old just now learning how to garden your videos are deeply appreciated!
Another great video! I just started using Gypsum in my raised beds last year. No blossom end rot on any of my fruit 👍🏼
i decided to plant in buckets this year, thanks for some ideas. i saved the containers when i bought junipers, but will add buckets
Growing marglobe tomatoes in fabric pots and I am also trying beefsteak tomatoes in a 20 gallon fabric pot. So far so good!
Thanks for information on the gypsum and epsom salt in the potting mix. Great stuff. Looking to extend my growing time in an enclosed winter space and see how it goes.
Your videos are awesome! I’m a lifelong gardener but you have taught me so much! Makes me want to dump all my tomatoes and start over!
My wife thought I was crazy to use the polymers from my daughters diaper for my plants but it works for me all year around for all my vegetables. Here in Puerto Rico is sunny the majority of the time even in the rainy season. Glad to know someone else is doing the same. I always recommend to check your plants daily that’s the relaxing part of gardening seeing and taking care of your plants! Thanks for sharing!
Yes!
That really was a fantastic idea and whenever things are less crazy I think I'm going to have to try it!!
Build a camper
❤build a camper
We love your Tutorials. Thank you Brian.
Hi Brian; I've been quietly following you for years. I was immediately impressed by your ability to stay on topic which kept me tuned in. I also love your solid advice which I have found to be right on and works for me just like you said. I now have twelve grow boxes which I built and incorporated many of your recommendations. I made them deep, drip watered and even built in liquid fertilizing. With your process of string support on indeterminate plants, I used steel conduit to create nice loops eight feet high over each box and used overhead struts to support the string winders. My tall telephone pole beans grew over the top. It was my biggest crop in Idaho, of tomatoes, green beans, peas and cucumbers ever. My growing season (5) is only half as long as yours so I will stay close by to continue getting the most out of my crops by following a leader in the garden world. Thank you🍅.
Very informative, Thank you! I love your laid back doggy, too
Thank you for all the great info! I have learned so much from you and am putting it to use now with my first container garden.
I mostly wanted to say that I love your dog just chilling in the back :) totally makes my day ❤️
Home made compost works really well if you have access to space and stocks to make it. Awesome video by the way
Thank you, easy and simple steps to try and follow. First time ever doing this and been given some beautiful plants that I dont want to go to waste. Nice video!
How did your plants do?
Omg ty ty ty. I love your channel. I love the diverse topics. Have learned a TON from u so far and I just found you 5 days ago. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and instructions and experience. Your growing some amazing tomatoes and I’m learning so much from you.
Awesome video, the best yet!. Step by step thank you. I'm a newbie, love the space saver with the buckets. Look forward to more videos!
Great information as usual! I expect a great many more people will be wanting to grow in buckets this season,it’s nice to see folks like you encouraging those people to go ahead and give it a go! 👍
am so glad I found your channel! I am brand new to growing anything! and yup mine is all in containers and raised beds
Glad you're here!
I learn so much in your channel... I freakin' love it !
I grew in buckets this year and had a small yield. They also became root bound so daily watering was a must. Next year I'm growing raised beds.
Thankou for this I've just started growing in the garden with my grandson he's going to love this.as in in Scotland we really need a green house as our weather isn't the best for growing tomatoes peppers and cucumbers so I put 4 large canes about 2n a half metres tall and put them in soil add large clear plastic bag over the top and I have my bucket green house.subbed
I thank you for your post. I just bought a six-pack at Armstrong here in Temecula. Looking forward to some great tomatoes with your help. Thank you
Thank you for a wonderful video. I always use white buckets that were used for food preparation for planting. It reflects the sun.
Very informative for beginners like me!
Appreciated your video. Specific and simple instructions for planting. Thank you so helpful.
Great tips! I learn something everytime I watch your videos.
Great!
I use coco peat for water retention and crushed egg shell for calcium. I also recently used black board chalk for more immediate effect.
Huh! Thanks for the info!
I learned a lot in this video, thank you, and applied your methods. we will see at the end of the season. thanks again............
For added calcium I've started using Calcium Chloride. I just use the stuff sold as 'DampRid' for the garden, though food grade forms are used in cheesemaking.
Thanks for sharing. I'm a beginner and this has helped greatly.
Awesome info 👏... that cute doggie 💓
Thank you for sharing your video . Happy gardening 🍅🍅🍅🍅 ☺️☺️☺️💕
I have what we call sugar sand. It’s so hard to get things to grow cause it’s hard to water and not have it just drain straight down. And not to mention how easy it is for the gofers to travel. I love your videos. They are so helpful and tons of information. Thank you so much
You still live at the beach and I had the same problem!
I’ve grown tomatoes in buckets before. Works great! I’ll be adding things to the bucket this year. Thank you! I use egg shells for calcium. I bake the egg shells then grind in my Nutribullet.
Why do you bake the shells?
j jones baking them makes them easier to crush and they can be stored long-term. I also use egg shells to supplement my chickens’ feed.
@@mountaingran9623 I've been air drying them for years. Don't grind some of them. Instead, put them on top of the soil to keep slugs/snails away!
Love the hydroponic tower.
thanks for your time and information ,very helpful
Hello from Ireland I wish we would need a shade cloth! Find your posts so interesting I learn lots thank you! ☘️☘️☘️
Great video! I'm a beginner and will be employing all these tips and tricks for my container garden this year.
Got my tomato plants today , will get them planted this wknd. Thanks again, like how easy you explain everything!
How did your garden turn out that year? And do you still garden now?
Thanks for the great pollination helping idea for tomato plants!!! Going try the gypsum too
Thumbs up for you ☝! Great info. I just wish my neighbors plant weren't blocking my sun🌞
Thank you. I have the same issue lol
I had a couple of plants last year here in Central FL(9B zone) I had all leaves, no fruit. (And horn worms) Somehow I'm trying again this year. I've never had end rot. I used to grow in garden box with home made dirt/homemade compost mix.
Great video Brian, very helpful. Thanks so much. Your the master.
Love your site! I am a Tomato Diva and have discovered so many great tips on your site. Thank You!!!!
Great instructional video.
Awesome information. Thank-you.
I buy the diaper crystals online. The technical name is sodium polyacrylate. Just 2 cups of it will hold 20 gallons of water so you don't need much. Great video!
2 cups - 20 gal? Ok. So 2 cups should water one tomato plant for about a year then?
I live in the south of France and I am plaqued with moles even though I have a beautiful veg patch
With over an acre of ground but I still have to grow my tomatoes in pots I feed mine tomoritr and our
Beautiful sunshine it’s beats the moles , thank you for your video
Thanks so much! This was so helpful!!
Love your videos!
Love Tomato Tuesday! I had a couple of tomato plants in pots last year that were showing signs of blossom end rot. I crushed up tums and sprinkled on top of the soil. No more end rot for the rest of the season.
How many tums? Do you replenish throughout the summer?
How many tums??
Awesome tip
THANK YOU BRIAN FOR THE "TOMATO TUESDAY" AND SEE YOU FRIDAY
Thanks. This was really helpful! Keep up the good work! :)
I love your sense of humor that you project in some of your video's / the diaper joke was hilarious / lmao still !!
I make my own planting mix which includes perlite, no need to use a diaper. There are all kinds of potting mix recipes on the Web, making your own is a lot cheaper as you can make various mixes from some basic ingredients. Also I dissolve a tablespoon of epsom salt in a gallon of water and use that to moisten the potting mix as I make it, that way the magnesium and sulfur is distributed through out the mix. Another thing I do is put 3/4” gravel on the bottom of containers and cover that with some leftover landscape cloth, that allows good drainage without the potting mix clogging the drain holes. Thanks for showing that just using 1/3 bucket is good enough. Also putting mulch on the surface around the plant helps keep moisture in. I have an automated drip irrigation system and use drip tubing or for containers I use little mini-sprayers attached to stakes, the sprayers are adjustable down to shut-off, available at HD or online. Also have small gate valves for the tubing. By putting the drip system on a sprinkler controller you can go on a vacation and not worry about watering your veggies or trees.
Thanks for your help 🎉. You are very helpful 👍🏽.
Informative sharing dear
Very helpful thank you!
Nicely explained.
2:20 Puppy!!! 😍😍
Fantastic and lovely presentation Friend obrigado 🙏✍️💕💕💕💕💕💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
We have never had any luck growing tomatoes. We have tried in the ground and in pots with no luck. Blossom End rot on both so I gave up for a few years. I decided to give it one more try and planted a determinate in a 10 gallon pot. I have 4 tomatoes that so far do not have the rot yet but have thrown about 10 rotten ones away so far. I added garden lime and epson salts so far. Hopefully we will get at least a few tomatoes. I believe we are jinxed! I am going to try your method next year Brian! Thanks for all your videos.
I only grow cherry type tomatoes in really big containers and have pretty good luck. Maybe give them a try. I also have huge saucers under them to have extra water.
Julia Brown That is one of the things we have talked about. Gets a little aggravating when my neighbor just plants a couple of tomato’s and they grow just fine.
Wow, I never knew you could plant tomato in pots that low, I definitely will have to give it a try!
I left out one part. And that is that you fill the pot up as the plant grows taller. I put it in the description.. unfortunately RUclips doesn't let you change a video once it's up.
California Garden TV I understand, thank you for clarifying that! 👍
Does the plant grow taller with only a few hours of sun? That blew my mind.
I'm using 19 gallon Ikea bags that are safe for food. The bags are 99 cents each. I'm wrapping the outsides of the bags in burlap to make them look nicer and protect them from the sun. Might even last 2 seasons while I'm building up my tote collection.
What a wonderful idea!
Alaska here been using your info for a few years
You better have a plan to anchor your plants if they grow at all in the buckets, because they will turn over with what little weight is in the bucket. I grow mine tomatoes in containers but I cut the bottoms out, I loosen the soil under the container and bury left over fish scraps under them. This attracts worms that help the tomatoes grow. Put Epson salts and crushed egg shells you have treated with vinegar. Also use a good tomatoes fertilizer. You better make sure you steak them on both sides. I use concrete wire cages that are six feet tall for them to grow on. The plants go all the way up and then all the way down and then some. I've had some that were about 14 ft long. We make salsa and give tomatoes to all the neighbor's and family . I grow them in my front yard flower beds and the neighbors brag on how good they grow. They call me mister tomatoes man. The varieties I grow are better boy hybrid and a beefsteak that I saved seeds out of that ibought at walmart, it was an heirloom and I've grown them for the past three years and them seem to get better every year. If you save seeds to start yourself make sure they are heirlooms and get your seeds the the prettiest tomatoes that you grow. Good luck.
Loved hearing about all the additives, but I am going to use commercial plant food. I live in a park model and a small in-town site. I barely have space outside for plants, much less supplies.
I just watched this video in the parking lot of my local Home Depot..which is selling their buckets for $3.25. I'm trying to grow cheap this year after 15 years of growing tomatoes in my side yard, which i'm giving the year off in hopes that nutrients return to it...my tomatoes have slowly not grown as well over the years. Thanks for the nutrients tip...I'll watch your other videos to see if you address planting in a nutrient exhausted area of your yard.
I just subscribed today and spent the afternoon/evening watching ALL of your tomato videos...and several others (fyi..continuous prayers to you from me and my family). I just planted 12 plants in some inexpensive (PP#5)storage bins and ran string up to my patio cover above them. I couldn't do everything you suggested due to nonavailability or cost issues, this year, BUT!! I feel VERY confident that I will yield a TON of toms this year!!! Thanks!!! Also..congrats on 163k subs (AND GROWING...YOU GOT 3K TODAY ALONE!!). Ok..I'm done rambling but I did want you to check out my tomato worm horror movie I made 7 years ago...i hope you enjoy it: ruclips.net/video/BBBZA8C6Cq0/видео.html
Super useful video, thanks! Termatoes!
I always put a dish that is made to go under pots to help retain a little water in case I am late for a watering. It also helps contain some of the nutrients that can be absorbed back into the Buckets. I put pea gravel in the tray to stop mosquitoes.
I’m not sure what the buckeyes are, should have read buckets.
Oooh I like your plan to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs
This is genius!! Thank you! I’m going to do this!
I use cal mag. Great product
I'm surprised you don't fill the bucket all the way to the 3/4 rim. I knew the soil promotes roots from the stem. What a nice video to learn more ways to grow tomatoes, etc. Like the additives for nutrients, etc.
Yea I was wondering the same thing. Why all the empty space in the bucket????
I too am hoping to hear back about this. Don't the roots need more room to grow than that? Why get a five gallon bucket if you're only going to use a few inches at the bottom? How do you harvest all the tomatoes that you can't see growing inside of the bucket? Don't the walls of the bucket prevent the plant from receiving sunlight? I have questions
Update: I just watched the potato growing video - he answers this question in that one.
Basically you keep adding soil as the plant grows until the soil gets to about 2-3 inches from the top of the bucket.
Thanks for the very informative video. Very well done. I use Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN-27) for Calcium supplement but go easy on it to prevent excess green growth. Two applications during the growing season the second just after fruit set. After that I use 0-50-30 water soluble as a foliar. Seems to work pretty well although as you pointed out proper watering is just as or more important to prevent blossom end rot. I also cut way back on watering a week or 10 days prior to first harvest (for indeterminate varieties). Your tomato expertise is very valuable to me and I’ve learned a lot from your videos. Last year’s harvest (all in containers) was excellent on both determinate and indeterminate varieties. I’m in SE LA county, zone 10a.
For my garden I save all clean eggshells. When I have a lot, I crush them with the thing to mash up potatos, until they are really tiny pieces. Really small. I do it while watching gardening videos... eggshells contain 26 minerals and trace minerals, including much calcium. I love the fact that this is not one more expense.😍😎😄
Do you add them in the beginning of your garden or put them in periodically throughout the season?
@@amowatt25 if you're using regular potting soil it helps to put some on the soil before adding the plants. After planting and before adding mulch add some more pulverized egg shells additional soil and then your mulch. Don't forget to water well before walking away. I also put my supports in place when planting. Waiting until your plants are falling over you run the risk of damaged roots
Your right about store bought except in Cali. We get heirloom which are yummy and the seeds are fertile, so don’t throw those seeds away. Peace and garden
I usually use eggshells and fish heads, never tried rock phosphate.
I am brand new to gardening. I’m going to try tomatoes. I was wondering if All the items that you said to incorporate into the soil before sticking your plant in the soil. My question is do I only do this once? Do I need to put more nutrients in while the plant is growing?
Also, I I change my mind from doing the bucket, can I follow this recipe for tomatoes growing just in ground soil?
Year 4! Let's go 🎉🎊🎉
Brian, I planted tall/leggy tomato seedlings 10 days ago. Planted them near the bottom of 5 gal buckets(with drainage holes), stripped the lower leaves, and filled with soil to within 4-5" of the top, just below the upper leaves.The root ball is about 3-4" from the bottom of the bucket. New roots are developing along the entire buried stem. When I test the moisture content of the soil, the top 2-4 inches may be dry, but my soil meter says that 7-8 inches down, the depth of the root ball, is very moist. You stress not to overwater. The plant is hydrated, as the root ball level is moist, but what about the roots developing along the stem, from the root ball to the top of the soil where it is dry? It seems that they would need to remain moist to develop properly. If I keep all levels of the soil moist, I may "overwater" the lower root ball level. Should I be concerned about the top layers being dry, as long as the root ball layer is moist?
Don't worry too much. As you water you'll train the roots to go deeper to find the moisture
@@NextLevelGardening ok thanks
@@NextLevelGardening Hey Brian, a question about sweet potatoes. How many vines do you plant per container to obtain the max harvest? 5 gal, 10 gal, etc. I have a 20 gal container and am figuring about 8-9 slips. What do you think?
Like half of my tomato seedlings died. I think it’s because the soil was too thick with the combination of over watering. I’m trying them again and following your video. This time I’m also using a potting mix this is more fine. I had used some from my local nursery before.
I saw one gardening tip from an 'old timer' that always uses powdered milk in the soil for potted tomato plants.
For calcium?
I use wood ash small amount mixed with dried coffee grounds to cancel each other out
Thank you
Thanks 😊
Probably a silly question but here goes. As soil is added up to the 2 inch mark, should that soil also have gypsum, Epsom salts, etc. added like the original 1/3? Or do you just add good organic potting soil and let it be? Thanks! Hope this makes sense. And I assume mulching once you are done adding soil is advised.
Pls do more container garden vedios.
I’m excited to give my first try at tomatoes this year. I have a balcony garden and use buckets. This is great information. Should I add more fertilizing nutrients with the addition of soil layers?
I don't know what I did wrong. I put everything in as you said except for the gypsum. Could not find it anywhere. Took leaves off at the bottom as it grew. Added topsoil and compost. Pulled off all the little suckers. Now they are pretty tall. I staked a couple of them. They all have little tomatoes on them. One plant is very straggley. It is like two stems in a Y. It never has grown new branches. It is just the Y shaped plant. It has gotten taller but very awkward looking. Undoubtedly I pruned one that I shouldn't have. The leaves are totally curled. The couple of tomatoes that I did have on this particular plant never got any bigger than a golf ball. One fell off and the other turned black and brown around the stem. On another plant, I have some green tomatoes but the tomatoes do not seem to be growing at all. So far, no bad places on them but they just don't seem to be growing at all. The leaves are curling badly . The whole branches and leaves are curling badly and the branches are curling downward. I do have one plant that is the smaller type tomatoes (not cherry, but a little bigger) And they look okay, but they aren't turning red. They are pretty and plentiful, just not turning red. The other plant is curling leaves and curling downward branches. Has lots of blooms, a few tomatoes but doesn't seem to be growing much. I drilled hole in the bottom and the sides. I set them on bricks so they would be off of the ground for easier drainage. I used Miracle Grow garden soil which looked like a bunch of wood chips mixed in with the soil. Did not look like dirt to me. What do you think happened?
I loved your tomato Tuesday!! But what if I have already replanted into a bigger pot and it is the potted Goliath Tomatoes I am growing and I have just only used organic miracle grow and I am getting the blossom rot what can I do to get these nutrients into it?
I use egg shells that I've pulverized in a blender. Mix 1 tablespoon powder with 1 tablespoon whit vinegar and let it set for about five minutes. Pour into a gallon of water and water your tomato plant. Do this for each plant. Also put some of the powder in each hole when you plant. I haven't had any blossom end rot since I started using this method. Also I grew a new variety last year the Badaciuos Hybred by Burpee. It's not the best tasting tomato but good enough. I had the prettiest and absolutely productive crop. They also work very well for making salsa. Large and smooth with very few of the tomatoes cracking even after heavy rains.
I have used earth worm castings and bone meal so far, was thinking of getting foxfarm calcium and magnesium fertilizer for my tomatoes and hollyhocks
embarking on my first tomato journey tmmrw. Nervous because the process seems tedious and precise. But, I’ll start from seed, follow your guide, and go from there 😁 will I need stakes for vine support?
One thing about epsom salt - it combines with phosphorous and locks up both.
Best to foliar feed with epsom salt every other week, and foliar feed with fertilizer on alternating weeks.
For watering, I use GLASS bottles, fill with water, invert, and shove in the ground near the plant.
As the soil dries, it draws water out of the bottle and air into the bottle. Thus maintaining a constant moisture level.
You can use with a hole drilled in the cap if you need less water. I use mine without the cap.
You get far less evaporation with the bottle method than with a drip irrigation, plus you can instantly see the water level.
Green glass is best if you can find it. Plants (and algae is a plant) do not utilize green light very well.
Plastic bottles collapse and do not create the needed vacuum to displace the water used.
Best container is a glass wine bottle - holds more water. Magnum size or bigger is best.
Best use of plastic bottles is to make clones of your tomato plants.
Location of tomato plants - best is the 1st 1/2 day or so of sun, and shade in the mid to late afternoon (helps prevent sun scald and reduces the transpiration rate of the tomato plant).
Min amount of light for a reasonable harvest is the 1st 8 hours of daylight.
6 is the bare min to get a little out of the plants.
I also have air pruning buckets as well. Takes about an hour to make each one.
About kiddie pool gardening (grow bag use and similar) - you run the risk of mosquitoes with that system.
A workaround is to let the pool dry out to kill the larvae, then refill. Or toss in some goldfish or mosquito eating fish.
Mosquito's go from egg to bug in about 10 days or so.
The absolute best gardening method is the raft system.
An ancient form of gardening in wet climates.
Raft made of bamboo or similar, add dirt, plants, and anchor away from the bank.
Most insects and animals will not cross open water.
Plus you have the constant water supply that includes the fish's waste byproducts and dissolved minerals.
The raft method sounds great! What materials do you use for your raft?.
Are you not doing Tomato Tuesday any more? I'm new to the channel and I really appreciate your insight and level of understanding of plants and people.
I regularly use egg shells for calcium in the soil.