2.5 Gallon Bucket - Page 2

Gardeneer · April 25, 2015

The most experienced container growers will tell you that for an Indet tomato plant 10 gallon is minimum. The 5 gallon (liquid gallon) is about 4 dry gallons and when you leave part it empty it is not even 4 gallons.
Sure 30 gallon trash can is fine. But where do you get it for free. Plus, potting mix can cost up to $1/gall. It is your money !

Gardeneer

tam91 · April 25, 2015

I grew tomatoes in 18-gallen Rubbermaid type totes - I got inexpensive ones at k-mart though. Drilled holes in the bottom, and on the sides near the bottom - worked pretty well.

Jeanus · April 25, 2015

Look up Larry Halls rain gutter grow system he has used the 2.5 gallon buckets with it and they work fine. I will be using them with my patio tomatoes.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/492370171735668284/

Here is a website to money where my mouth is that you can see how well they work. If you do not want them I will take them lol

bower · April 25, 2015

Cheapest grow bags ever, I make from the bags the potting mix comes in. That plastic is super tough! Just snip off both the top and bottom seams, and pull the bag over an upside-down bucket, then fold and staple as when wrapping a box. This gives it a flat bottom so no tipping! I put 7 or 8 staples in the bottom folds and that is the entire cost, other than your time. Have a hole punch for paper that works fine on the plastic, I use that to punch extra drainage into the bottom and sides (one pinch makes two holes). but also there's drainage in the 'seams' between the folded and stapled bottom parts. Turn it over, and roll down the top edge to make it more sturdy, as far as you want. One of the merits of these bags is that they are plenty tall, and if you want you can fill 5 gallons only or make it taller if you have the extra soil.

Like any pot, you'll need some kind of system to keep from blowing over outdoors, if you have any wind in your part of the world. Other than that, works great, and keeps some very tough plastic out of the landfills - I have bags now I've been using for three years, and have been subjected to all weather year round, and they are as good as new (staples are a little rusty, that's all).

bower · April 25, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starlight

I having the same problem and I looked at all the two gallons I have and wondered if I should try and use them again. I grew tomatoes in 2 gallon pots last year. I didn't know they needed at least a 5 gallon pot. The plants had to be watered everyday. The yield was not very good either.

I went seed happy too and no way do I have enough 5 gallons pots, so I am going to the Dollar tree. Don't know if you have them up there or not, but they sell kitchen trash buckets that equal to a 5 gallon bucket, maybe a tad bigger and they only a buck a container. Just have to cut holes in them for drainage, but would be more stable I think that bags especially since Chicago is a windy city so I have heard.

One thing I learned about repurposing buckets, it's worth the extra trouble to drill holes instead of cutting them. The ones I cut holes in, bottoms break and fall out in no time. Drilled will hold up much better.

Worth1 · April 25, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by bower

One thing I learned about repurposing buckets, it's worth the extra trouble to drill holes instead of cutting them. The ones I cut holes in, bottoms break and fall out in no time. Drilled will hold up much better.

I agree,a little 3/4 inch hole saw works great.

I should start a tread on tools every gardener needs around the house.

bower · April 25, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I agree,a little 3/4 inch hole saw works great.

I should start a tread on tools every gardener needs around the house.

I agree, please start the thread!

(I do love my power tools...if I didn't love my hand tools even more.)

Gardeneer · April 26, 2015

I second it, Worth... Good idea.
Simple tools and tricks can make it more fun in the sun.

Gardeneer

Starlight · April 26, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by bower

One thing I learned about repurposing buckets, it's worth the extra trouble to drill holes instead of cutting them. The ones I cut holes in, bottoms break and fall out in no time. Drilled will hold up much better.

Thanks for that tip.

Gardeneer is right though. The bigger the container the better, but that is a whole lot of money not just for the containers , but for the soil to fill them. It starts adding up real quick when you have lots of plants to containerize.

BigVanVader · April 27, 2015

I was thinking of using these because I want to grow more tomatoes but dont have the room for more garden beds. http://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Reinf...V30QVATDYBBSN0 It dosent specify how many gallons they are though. Anyone know of a better deal anywhere? I want to try the 5 gallon buckets with holes as well since I can get free pickle buckets and already have several.

Gardeneer · April 27, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

I was thinking of using these because I want to grow more tomatoes but dont have the room for more garden beds. http://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Reinf...V30QVATDYBBSN0 It dosent specify how many gallons they are though. Anyone know of a better deal anywhere? I want to try the 5 gallon buckets with holes as well since I can get free pickle buckets and already have several.

Those are perfect : 10 for $16.
I use Fred Meyers re useable @ $0.90 each. They can hold 5 dry gallons of soil.

The ones I used last year are in good shape and re useable.
These bags have many advantages:

-- Aerate the roots
-- Economical : ( @ $1.50 initial cost can last for several years :
-- Easy winter storage: They won' break ...

Cheapest 5 gallon bucket costs over $3 and to me they look ugly with that store name/picture printed on them.

Worth1 · April 27, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

I was thinking of using these because I want to grow more tomatoes but dont have the room for more garden beds. http://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Reinf...V30QVATDYBBSN0 It dosent specify how many gallons they are though. Anyone know of a better deal anywhere? I want to try the 5 gallon buckets with holes as well since I can get free pickle buckets and already have several.

It gives the size in inches.
It converts to about 8.4 gallons.
Worth

BigVanVader · April 27, 2015

Thanks Worth, math and I dont get along with each other.

Gardeneer · April 27, 2015

Yeah.(15x10x13") It is 8.4 liquid gallons which is about 7.3 dry gallons.
Much much better than a 5 gallon bucket, IMO.

Gardenee

Worth1 · April 27, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

Yeah.(15x10x13") It is 8.4 liquid gallons which is about 7.3 dry gallons.
Much much better than a 5 gallon bucket, IMO.

Gardenee

I have no use for a dry gallon, if it doesn't contain alcohol I don't want it..

Worth

April 25, 2015	#17
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	I grew tomatoes in 18-gallen Rubbermaid type totes - I got inexpensive ones at k-mart though. Drilled holes in the bottom, and on the sides near the bottom - worked pretty well. __________________ Tracy

April 25, 2015	#16
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	The most experienced container growers will tell you that for an Indet tomato plant 10 gallon is minimum. The 5 gallon (liquid gallon) is about 4 dry gallons and when you leave part it empty it is not even 4 gallons. Sure 30 gallon trash can is fine. But where do you get it for free. Plus, potting mix can cost up to $1/gall. It is your money ! Gardeneer

April 25, 2015	#18
Jeanus Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tennessee Posts: 80	Look up Larry Halls rain gutter grow system he has used the 2.5 gallon buckets with it and they work fine. I will be using them with my patio tomatoes. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/492370171735668284/ Here is a website to money where my mouth is that you can see how well they work. If you do not want them I will take them lol

April 25, 2015	#19
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	Cheapest grow bags ever, I make from the bags the potting mix comes in. That plastic is super tough! Just snip off both the top and bottom seams, and pull the bag over an upside-down bucket, then fold and staple as when wrapping a box. This gives it a flat bottom so no tipping! I put 7 or 8 staples in the bottom folds and that is the entire cost, other than your time. Have a hole punch for paper that works fine on the plastic, I use that to punch extra drainage into the bottom and sides (one pinch makes two holes). but also there's drainage in the 'seams' between the folded and stapled bottom parts. Turn it over, and roll down the top edge to make it more sturdy, as far as you want. One of the merits of these bags is that they are plenty tall, and if you want you can fill 5 gallons only or make it taller if you have the extra soil. Like any pot, you'll need some kind of system to keep from blowing over outdoors, if you have any wind in your part of the world. Other than that, works great, and keeps some very tough plastic out of the landfills - I have bags now I've been using for three years, and have been subjected to all weather year round, and they are as good as new (staples are a little rusty, that's all).

April 26, 2015	#23
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	I second it, Worth... Good idea. Simple tools and tricks can make it more fun in the sun. Gardeneer

April 27, 2015	#25
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	I was thinking of using these because I want to grow more tomatoes but dont have the room for more garden beds. http://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Reinf...V30QVATDYBBSN0 It dosent specify how many gallons they are though. Anyone know of a better deal anywhere? I want to try the 5 gallon buckets with holes as well since I can get free pickle buckets and already have several.