Growing in 5 gal Buckets

GoldenQueen · April 23, 2011

I currently have 15 tomato plants growing in 5 gallon buckets. They, so far, are doing great! The occasional rain seems to make them perk up more. Now the concern is the roots crowding and the fruit not coming in. There are a lot of flowers on the 2 larger plants (KBX & Ledoux Special) that I would love to see come in. I've been waiting so LONG for them. Should I worry? Can I transplant them into the ground in another month?

Thank you for any help and suggestions.

sprtsguy76 · April 23, 2011

I grow many new to me varieties myself in 5 gallon buckets, about 25. Here is what I would suggest about addressing the overcrowded root system; keep them pruned to 2-3 vines max. This will help with the overcrowding and help ease the constant water demand. If you let them just grow you will have to water them 2-3 times a day eventually. JMO, and good luck!

Damon

amideutch · April 23, 2011

GQueen, not to worry. Have you been giving your plants supplemental fertilizer applications and if so what. I have never pruned my container plants whether they be in 5 gal ot 10 gal containers. As long as your plants are caged or staked you should be OK. By feeding the plant periodically your roots will stay in the container no problem as they won't be looking for nutrients which you are providing.

Ami

GoldenQueen · April 23, 2011

Thank you! I just feed once a week with miracle grow tomato food. Nothing else.

GoldenQueen · April 23, 2011

Oh, and I do have them staked. Plastic coated metal stakes from the garden center and a bamboo stake that the plant is loosely tied to for support for when it starts to get heavy.

amideutch · April 24, 2011

GQueen, sounds good. You can also add some Blackstrap Molasses to your feed solution. Add about a 1 tbls per gallon to the feed solution and mix well. Ami

Rainforest Tom · May 24, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenQueen

I currently have 15 tomato plants growing in 5 gallon buckets. They, so far, are doing great! The occasional rain seems to make them perk up more. Now the concern is the roots crowding and the fruit not coming in. There are a lot of flowers on the 2 larger plants (KBX & Ledoux Special) that I would love to see come in. I've been waiting so LONG for them. Should I worry? Can I transplant them into the ground in another month?

Thank you for any help and suggestions.

Yes Most of my tomatos I grow in 5 gal buckets and dont really have a rooting problem as the tom's grow I keep adding soil I pre=mixed with manure and some crushed sea shells for Calcium. I also never plant more than 2 plants in them unless I use the big cement 20 gallon pots. I need the buckets because of the high number of cutie cutie down here, thy love to cut down the tomato plants that are directly in the ground... I took a picture of a tomato that ripened today along with the swarming killer bees on one of my my Guava trees.

GoldenQueen · June 2, 2011

Thank you Tom for sharing your pictures. I'm trying to attach my photos here, but can't seem to get them to.

April 23, 2011	#1
GoldenQueen Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Valley, CA Posts: 31	Growing in 5 gal Buckets I currently have 15 tomato plants growing in 5 gallon buckets. They, so far, are doing great! The occasional rain seems to make them perk up more. Now the concern is the roots crowding and the fruit not coming in. There are a lot of flowers on the 2 larger plants (KBX & Ledoux Special) that I would love to see come in. I've been waiting so LONG for them. Should I worry? Can I transplant them into the ground in another month? Thank you for any help and suggestions.

April 23, 2011	#3
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	GQueen, not to worry. Have you been giving your plants supplemental fertilizer applications and if so what. I have never pruned my container plants whether they be in 5 gal ot 10 gal containers. As long as your plants are caged or staked you should be OK. By feeding the plant periodically your roots will stay in the container no problem as they won't be looking for nutrients which you are providing. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

April 24, 2011	#6
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	GQueen, sounds good. You can also add some Blackstrap Molasses to your feed solution. Add about a 1 tbls per gallon to the feed solution and mix well. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

April 23, 2011	#2
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	I grow many new to me varieties myself in 5 gallon buckets, about 25. Here is what I would suggest about addressing the overcrowded root system; keep them pruned to 2-3 vines max. This will help with the overcrowding and help ease the constant water demand. If you let them just grow you will have to water them 2-3 times a day eventually. JMO, and good luck! Damon

June 2, 2011	#8
GoldenQueen Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Valley, CA Posts: 31	Thank you Tom for sharing your pictures. I'm trying to attach my photos here, but can't seem to get them to.