Will a tomato plant grow in a 5 gallon bucket?

[Spookwriter]

Spook asking a serious question for once.

I planted Dad's garden this week. I didn't think we
would get this far. Last few months have been hard.

Anyway, we've come the point of where I planted his
tomato plants. Their garden is a bit far from their house
and over a bank. He can see it, but I'm pretty sure he
can't safely walk to it.

Now the question.

I think if I plant some tomato plants in regular 5 gallon
buckets, I can set them closer to the house where my
father CAN see them and be a part of "garden".

But will they grow in a bucket? What do you think? What
about soil? Dig my garden dirt, or go potting soil, or make
a happy mix?

Spook...trying to be a good son

 

[angel8035]

There are some specific varieties of tomatoes called "potting tomatoes" that will grow better in buckets. I am growing some regular tomatoes in some 10 gallon pots now and they are doing well. You should mix potting soil and regular dirt as just potting soil has too much nitrogen and the plants will grow big and green but won't fruit.

 

[1muttsfan]

They will grow, the patio type will do better. Make sure to put holes in the bottom of the bucket. I would use potting soil without plant food, then feed them with a supplement specifically for tomatoes.

 

[Bunnylady]

There are some specific varieties of tomatoes called "potting tomatoes" that will grow better in buckets. I am growing some regular tomatoes in some 10 gallon pots now and they are doing well. You should mix potting soil and regular dirt as just potting soil has too much nitrogen and the plants will grow big and green but won't fruit.

Huh? My husband and I grew tomatoes in the greenhouse this past winter. They were planted in 5 gallon (black) nursery pots, with potting soil. They fruited just fine, and we sold a lot of tomatoes from them. In fact, the plants are still at it, and I am surrounded by the fruit from them as i type this (we are harvesting anything that is starting to turn, and ripening it in the house, as we are apparently not the only critters around here that like to eat tomatoes!) A lot of people find straight potting soil a bit too light in a large pot - it dries out too fast, and the larger plants tend to blow over in a good breeze. Commercial nurseries have a heavier mix that they use for larger pots. You don't want to use straight garden soil, because unless you have amended it quite a bit, it usually is a bit too heavy, and won't drain well enough for the roots to breathe well.

 

[redhen]

Spook, i have used the buckets before and also the big planters.. they worked fine. They are nice to set on the patio and watch grow..
Good luck..

 

[Mattemma]

They do fine for my mom each year in buckets.

 

[CGinJCMO]

There is a product that was popular a year or two ago...haven't noticed it advertised this year...Topsy Turvy tomato planter.

Supposedly tomatoes grow in that thing and it looks like less than 5 gal.

CG

 

[BusyBlonde]

There is a product that was popular a year or two ago...haven't noticed it advertised this year...Topsy Turvy tomato planter.

Supposedly tomatoes grow in that thing and it looks like less than 5 gal.

CG

Don't waste your time or money on those - we tried two last year, and neither one did well. We made sure they were watered and fertilized, but only got a couple mini-tomatoes (one was supposed to be beefsteak, other was big momma roma-style). In comparison our regular garden tomatoes produced a ton. I'd go with the 5-gallon buckets, I've had really good luck with putting a couple plants in containers on my patio before. They just need to be watered more frequently than if they were in the ground.

 

[JorjaRhayne]

My ENTIRE garden is potted...

Tomatoes- 30+ plants,
Running 100s, Rutgers, Marion, Chocolate Cherry, Cherokee Purple, Big boy, Husky Red, Bush Champion, Mortgage Lifter, Peardrops, and Pink Brandy-wine
Squash- 20+ Plants,
Table-queen, Crookneck, Straight-neck, Zucchini, Butternut, and Hansel Eggplant
Peppers-15 Plants
Sweet banana, Bonnie Green Bell, and Chocolate Beauty
Pumpkins-15 plants
Jackolantern, and Jack-be-little
Cucumbers- 30 plants
Boston Pickling, Marketmoore, and Straight Eights
Melons-25 plants
Crimson-sweet, Jubilee, Sugarbaby, (watermelons) and Hybrid 45 cantaloupe
Greens-30 plants
Collards, Lettuce, Spinach, and broccoli
as well as Mint, Basil and Passion fruit vine

Also mixed in are an array of petunias and impatiens planted around the base of all flowering plants to attract bees to improve pollination, I have had a 40% increase in production since starting this practice. All my plants are potted in various sized planters, buckets, general wal-mart pots with the melons in the biggest ones. All are in Miracle Grow Potting soil and get Miracle Grow Liquifeed every Sun. I have fruit on all plants and have been harvesting for the past several weeks. Pumpkin fruit is nice and consistent in size but take the longest to mature. Baby melons everywhere and yes the topic of it all my Tomatoes Are Extraordinary. This garden is located in full-partial sun all resting on weed prevention fabric from the garden center. I say GO FOR IT but yes stay away from the topsy turvy planters, they only last about a season then they break. If you want to use the upside down planter idea (good for peppers too) recycle kitty litter buckets with the handles and lids, cut hole in bottom then hang on shepherd hook. Heavy duty water buckets for horses ect. with sturdy handles work good too. Have fun J

 

[JorjaRhayne]

You can also find nice planters with a self watering type tray on the bottom to help aid in frequent watering. I use these for my bigger tomatoes and melons. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Self-Watering-Planter-Set-of-3-Ivory/12511406 Yo ucan get them in store in singles in several colors relatively cheap and I am sure other garden places have some sort of version of this as well.