My earthtainer and global bucket

[mdvpc]

I have followed with great interest Ray's postings on his earthtainers. I bought an earthbox from the earthbox folks and have been reading their forum recently. Also looked at the global bucket website.

So it was clear to me that you have to exactly follow the directions at the very least when you first start growing in this type of container.

However, in my global bucket, I did not use the cap, but put about 2 or 3 inches of a cypress mulch I got. I just wanted to see how it would work.

My global bucket cost me in material about 5.00, whereas the earthbox was about 40.00 with shipping.

So far, they are doing great. I used the new tomato tone as my organic fert, and are putting once a week a teaspoon of FloraNova grow in a gallon of water for the snack and pouring that in the watering tube. I plan on switching to the FloraNova bloom when I start to get blossoms.

The plant in the global bucket, is a Pervaya Lubov, and there is only 1 plant in this container. The plants in the earthbox are, on the left, Al-Kuffa, and on the right Bush Goliath. All 3 are doing very well. The PL is getting ready to get a blossom.

These have been in their containers for 16 days.

[Sun City Linda]

Good job! I bought several dozen 5 gallon buckets for 1$ each last year and have yet to get around to making them SWC. I would like to grow basil and peppers in them and some smaller tomato plants.

The cover is for preventing ferts from washing away in rain as they do in conventional containers. No rain, no problem

[mdvpc]

Linda

What is rain? I googled it and it's supposedly water falling from the sky. Can't remember that ever happening around here more than a drop or two. So I guess I am ok.

[halleone]

Originally Posted by mdvpc

Linda

What is rain? I googled it and it's supposedly water falling from the sky. Can't remember that ever happening around here more than a drop or two. So I guess I am ok.

But seriously now, as I am trying more varieties of tomatoes and peppers each year, I am running out of in-ground garden space. Is there a good book/source for info on container gardening that you can direct me to? I am thinking I can pick up some of those 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot fairly readily - are those large enough to start with?

[tnpeppers]

You can get five gallon buckets FREE at the bakery counter in most grocery stores...they throw them out, so they are usually happy to just give them to you. Ask for the five-gallon pastry buckets. I made dozens of these last year, and they worked like a charm.

[JamesL]

Originally Posted by tnpeppers

You can get five gallon buckets FREE at the bakery counter in most grocery stores...they throw them out, so they are usually happy to just give them to you. Ask for the five-gallon pastry buckets. I made dozens of these last year, and they worked like a charm.

Excellent suggestion. You are also getting a better quality bucket as they are considered food grade, to the extent that matters to you.
Pickle's and BBQ sauce also come in them. Deli's, restaurants, etc. are all good sources. And you really can't beat the price......

You won't need a book - so many people have been doing this for so long there is almost too much information available on the web.

Michael mentions Global buckets earlier in the thread, they have a good website.
http://www.globalbuckets.org/

You don't need to go past Raybo's Earthtainer guide when it comes to your grow media.
http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/pd...tion-Guide.pdf

Inside Urban Green is another good site
http://www.insideurbangreen.org/

Green Roof Growers have been doing it on a Chicago Rooftop for years in 5 gallon buckets, another good website.
http://greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com...irrigated.html

Also Google - Sub irrigated planter (SIP) more common term
On Tomatoville search - Self Watering Container (SWC) as the more common term.

[halleone]

Tnpeppers and JamesL you may have complicated my life, or simplified it, I'm not sure which! That was a great idea on the buckets (going to the bakery soon) and the links were great, especially the Global Buckets one. I think even I can do that one. Thanks a bucket-full!

[JamesL]

Nice job Michael. Let us know how they do.
Good color choice on the white bucket.

[amideutch]

Michael, did a google on global bucket and it is very interesting indeed. Keep us posted on your results. ami

[mdvpc]

James and Ami:

I will update this thread periodically. The plants really look good. The PL bloom is getting ready to open, I think.

[chalstonsc]

Michael,
I've been using a SWC using buckets and wicks for several years and think you will be pleased with the results. I use a bucket within a bucket which provides more protection from the heat of the sun. I get the buckets free so the cost can't be beat.

Tom

[Worth1]

Makes me wanna go get some plants from the store.

Worth

[mdvpc]

Tom-You cant tell from the photo of the white bucket, but the setup is bucket within a bucket. I should have said that in the initial post.

Worth-I am real excited about this-these plants really look great, and the PL has 3 buds already, and the Al Khuffa has 2.

[mdvpc]

hall

I dont know of any publication on container gardening. Ray here is a great source, lots of us here garden in containers, the earthbox forum is good too.

[Sun City Linda]

There is a book out dealing with SWC - I have seen it in Lowes.