Canteloupe in 5 gallon buckets

[MuddyBuckets]

Has anyone grown cantaloupe or other melon successfully in a 5 gallon bucket? If so, was it a self watering bucket? What growing medium did you use? Fertilization? Watering frequency in the summer heat with full sun? Look forward to ideas and suggestions since I have no garden space to let the plants sprawl.

Not melons but I did butternut squash that way, under a cattle panel. It climbed up and gave more than a dozen squash by the end of the season.

5 gallon bucket, gallon milk jug buried with holes punched in the top and shoulders for the roots to reach through, neck above the soil line with a piece of pvc as a fill tube, straight compost in the bucket over some rocks, no extra ferts; fill jug when empty. Pretty simple but works great with peppers and summer squash too. I think the idea came from someone on YouTube growing strawberries that way and I just modified it.

As long as you give the vines something to climb and support the fruit with slings or ties, you should be good.

[MuddyBuckets]

Good solution for the watering. Did the 5 gallon bucket have drain holes at the bottom or around the lower portion to allow for heavy rain to drain?

Yes, around the lower sides. When I filled the milk jug I could tell it was full because the water would be coming out of the bucket holes. This past season though, it rained so often I didn't have to fill with the hose; maybe once all season for the peppers and they performed beautifully. It's my favorite way so far to keep peppers happy.

[MuddyBuckets]

How far down do you drill the holes on the plastic jug and what size holes?

Hubby did use a drill but I don't know what size bit; I'll see if he remembers. The holes are just scattered around the top of the jug, down to where it starts to curve; not so large that tons of dirt falls in or clogs the holes. If it isn't raining too hard tomorrow, I'll try to get a photo of one of the pepper buckets.

[edweather]

You could do it, but the yield might be small. Maybe try Minnesota Midget or something like that. I've done melons in 15 gallon containers.

[zipcode]

From what I know these are pretty leafy big plants. The water requirements will be huge, so drip irrigation seems like the way to go.

Okay, here's a shot of one we used last season. It's not full enough but that will be fixed at plant out. You can see the nail used to keep the PVC from falling into the jug, and the holes at the bottom of the 5 gallon. It's crude, but effective; the peppers and squash have done really well with it the past 3 seasons and I don't see why melons would have any problems. If you do it let us know how it goes!

[MuddyBuckets]

Very well done. Is that a 1 gallon milk jug or a 1/2 gallon jug?

1 gallon jug. When you're putting them together it seems that it's too big but the plants do great.

[MuddyBuckets]

Another question. Do you use a fert in the water filling the milk jug or a granular fert in the planting medium?

I don't use either but I'm sure you could do that successfully. There are so many ways to container grow and many of them are better than mine, I'm sure; but I like to keep things as simple and natural as I can so this is just straight compost with the soilless mix from the potted up pepper seedlings mixed in. The squash are all direct seeded into the buckets and if I was going to grow melons this way I'd direct seed those as well.

Edweather is right regarding a reduced yield, but if you need more space, vertical space, or just want to try too many varieties (my case), this is a good way to go.

[Greatgardens]

Thanks for the idea & pix! I like your idea, and think I'll try a milk jug in my 10-gallon gro-bags.

The gallon jug only has holes at the shoulder (none at the bottom)? So in order for the jug to provide moisture between waterings, the plants roots must grow into the holes?

If possible, could you post a pic of the jug with its holes? (Trying to get an idea of how large/how many).

Originally Posted by Greatgardens

Thanks for the idea & pix! I like your idea, and think I'll try a milk jug in my 10-gallon gro-bags.

The gallon jug only has holes at the shoulder (none at the bottom)? So in order for the jug to provide moisture between waterings, the plants roots must grow into the holes?

If possible, could you post a pic of the jug with its holes? (Trying to get an idea of how large/how many).

You're welcome! I can't take credit for the idea but I hope it helps some gardeners out there - for us they're simple and we already had most of the materials on hand. Nice pics SQUIBB and Scooty by the way!


Some roots will grow into the milk jug but others spread out in the bucket. Just plant somewhere over the "holes" area so they can reach it soonest. I've read container info over the years that make it seem that the roots in the water would drown, rot, and make the plants ill but I've not seen that happen in three seasons so .... ?? YMMV When you're pulling the plant you'll see roots going everywhere, it's pretty cool. Maybe it would be a problem if it was more long-term? I don't know.



It seems that grow bags would work similarly, and I think the extra volume would be even better for the plants and might allow extra yield.


The pictures below show the milk jug uncovered and then I pulled the PVC out to show that part. Really simple.