Tomatoes in buckets: greenhouse and open field cultivation with video

Many experienced gardeners grow tomatoes in buckets and are happy with the result. There are many positive aspects of this method of growing tomatoes, which facilitate the care and removal of high-quality, numerous crops.

Method advantages

Growing tomatoes in buckets is easy.

Capacity with a seedling feels great in the open field and greenhouse. Gardeners consider the following points to be pluses:

• water and the earth itself in the bucket quickly heat up, as a result, the growth and development of the bush accelerates;
• when watering, water does not spread over the surface of the soil, but penetrates directly to the roots;
• fertilizers are fully supplied to the root system;
• every year you can renew the land;
• reduces the risk of spreading infection;
• landings take up little space and can be moved;
• during heavy, prolonged rains, containers can be placed under the roof;
• don't have to fight weeds;
• tomatoes begin to ripen two or even three weeks earlier.

On the grown tomato bushes, juicy, fleshy large-sized fruits are formed, with a dense skin that protects against cracking. A container with seedlings can be kept both in a greenhouse and in ordinary garden beds.

To grow tomatoes in buckets, you need to choose the right variety. A similar method is suitable for planting hybrids and tomato varieties that have a compact root system and weakly leafy branches.

Only the positive aspects of such growing in a bucket are noted in the reviews: “Many years ago I started planting tomato bushes in buckets. And it all started by chance. There were extra sprouts of seedlings left, which it was a pity to throw out. I planted one seedling in old, leaky buckets filled with earth from garden beds. I placed the seedlings in a greenhouse, away from the beds.

It was a surprise that greenhouse tomatoes in buckets began to ripen 2.5 weeks earlier than other plantings. Their stem was strong, and the fruits were large and very tasty.

The next year, I again planted several sprouts separately. The result again pleased with a tasty harvest. And I noticed that the more leaky the bucket, the more harvest I managed to harvest! Now I plant only in separate containers, care is minimal, there have never been diseases, and all family members like the taste of tomatoes!”.

Growing Technology

Tomatoes can be grown both in metal and plastic buckets, with a volume of at least 10 liters. You can take an old, deformed container. It must be remembered that the black and dark brown color of the container will heat up more in the sun, which will have a bad effect on the plant. Therefore, buckets of this color should be wrapped with light cloth.

Numerous holes are made at the bottom of the prepared container. Excess moisture will escape from the holes made. One sprout is planted in each bucket.

In the last days of October, a mixture of humus with wood ash is poured into a bucket and watered. The ideal option would be to take the land where cucumber beds used to grow.

Buckets are arranged in neat rows in a greenhouse or dug into the ground in a garden plot. It is recommended throughout the winter to ensure that there is always snow in the buckets. It soaks the ground well.

Snow melts much faster in buckets than in garden beds. In addition, the earth warms up faster, so seedlings can be planted much earlier.

Some gardeners come up with other ways to grow tomatoes in buckets in a greenhouse. Growing tomatoes with the root system up is popular. To do this, pick up a bucket, make a hole at the base, through which the seedling is pulled. The roots are sprinkled with earth and compacted.

This method allows you not to resort to weeding and loosening during cultivation. The bucket can be hung anywhere, thus saving space, which is always lacking.

Rules of care

Caring for bucket tomatoes includes the usual steps.

1. Water should be as the soil dries. If the buckets are dug into the ground, then you can also water the space outside the tank. Water should be avoided on the green part of the plants.
2. The room in the greenhouse must be ventilated and monitor the temperature and humidity. Humidity is not more than 70%, temperature is not higher than 30 degrees.
3. Weeds need to be removed in a timely manner.
4. Many varieties of tomatoes require pinching during care.
5. For the entire growing season, fertilizer must be applied at least three times.

Be sure to carry out hilling. The procedure helps to strengthen the root system, the stem becomes powerful, and the leaves are saturated green. Since the area around the bush is small, the work will take a little time.

Mulching is recommended, although seedlings in buckets do not need this step as much. But still, mulch can reduce the risk of infection, pest attack, weeds will not appear, and moisture will not evaporate.As a mulch, you can pick up peat, chopped meadow grass, sawdust, straw.

So that a dry crust does not form on the surface of the soil, it is useful to loosen the ground, especially after watering or rains if tomatoes are grown outdoors. Thanks to loosening, trace elements and oxygen penetrate the plant faster.

Growing tomatoes in buckets is not complete without the stepson procedure. Pruning is necessary to increase productivity. Removing lateral, extra branches contributes to the fact that the plant directs all its forces to the formation of fruits, and not to the growth of leaves and stems. The procedure is most often needed by tall varieties of tomatoes.

If the stem stretches high up, then you need to install a peg to which the bush is tied. Sometimes undersized bushes need a garter. Placing a large number of fruits on branches can cause the stem to break. Thanks to the garter, light and air can freely flow to all parts of the plant.

Suitable varieties

You can plant any kind of tomato in a bucket, for example, you can try the following types.

Cultivar Miracle of the Earth belongs to early ripe, indeterminate tomato groups. The stem can stretch up to 170 cm. Bright pink fruits in buckets begin to ripen after 90 days. Weight can reach 500 g. The harvested crop is stored for a long time, does not crack.

Canadian giant bush can grow up to 150 cm, so you need to tie it up. Red-orange fruits can weigh about 350 g, the shape is slightly flattened. The pulp is sweet with a pleasant sourness.

Argentine cream is characterized by a compact bush, which does not exceed 40 cm in height and high yield. The shape of the tomatoes is oblong with a spout at the base. Weight about 80 g. Tomatoes begin to turn red after 90 days.

Wizard is characterized by early fruit ripening, approximately 95 days. The stem stretches up to 50 cm, the branches are medium leafy. On the brush there are 5 fruits, which, when ripe, acquire a red tint. Weight approximately 150g

The gardener's dream belongs to the determinant varieties. The height of the bush is only 65 cm. Rounded fruits have a smooth, glossy, red surface. The average weight is 160 g.

Shakhterskaya Slava variety, planted in buckets, is distinguished by a powerful stem, large, sweet tomatoes, weighing about 250 g and early ripening. Fruiting is long. Oval-shaped tomatoes turn red when ripe. The fruits taste juicy and sweet.

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