A method of growing tomatoes in separate containers (e.g. buckets) has been known since the middle of the last century. For the first time this technology is described in a book by F. Allerton, published in 1957. The use of such mobile containers for planting is suitable in those regions where unfavorable conditions for the growth and fruiting of this crop are possible, which allows plants to be transported to sheltered rooms during night frosts or heavy rains.
In addition to the ability to grow tomatoes in areas where there are return frosts or weather conditions cause the defeat of this culture by late blight, some more advantages of this method were discovered. Productivity increases by 20% or more, fruit ripening occurs 2-3 weeks earlier than usual, typical for each variety.
Summer residents who use this technology are satisfied with the results and leave a lot of positive feedback. Tomatoes planted in a bucket can be placed in the open space and in greenhouses. Both methods are effective.
Pros and cons of growing tomatoes in containers
The advantages of such cultivation include:
- Landings are more compact (especially true in small household territories), it is easy to transfer to another place (in rainy weather under a canopy, in hot weather on a shaded area).
- Easy to water - all the moisture goes to the plant, and does not leak further into the ground. Irrigation requires less water, but it must be done more often than in ordinary soil, because the soil dries faster in buckets.
- All fertilizers applied are completely absorbed by the plants, and do not spread along the bed.
- Weeds are not so annoying as in open ground, it is easier to loosen the soil around the bushes.
- The soil in buckets warms up faster, which accelerates the development of rhizomes and, accordingly, the ground part of tomatoes. In hot regions, it is not recommended to use dark buckets, because the ground in them quickly overheats and becomes unfavorable for plants. In areas with a cold climate, on the contrary, darkened containers contribute to the rapid heating of the soil, which allows the root system to develop well.
- In closed containers, the risk of spreading infections is reduced, plants are protected from bears and other pests.
- Yields increase, fruits grow larger and 2-3 weeks earlier than under normal conditions.
- When autumn frosts occur, tomatoes can be transferred to a greenhouse or other room to extend the fruiting period.
There are not many drawbacks, but there are also:
- At the initial, preparatory stage, large labor costs are required for the preparation of containers, filling it with soil.
- Land in buckets needs to be changed every year.
- More frequent watering is required.
Preparing for planting tomatoes for growing in containers
In order to properly grow tomatoes in a separate container, you need to select the appropriate varieties, the desired capacity, prepare the soil.
What varieties of tomatoes can be grown in buckets
You can choose undersized (on the street, when there will be a need to carry plants to other places) and tall varieties (mainly for greenhouses, where tomatoes will be in a constant place).
It is best suited for this method varieties in which a compact root system and not much growing ground part. Tomatoes with narrow rare leaves are grown that are well ventilated.
When planting ultra-early varieties, you can get a crop even faster.
Varieties are planted from tall ones - Honey Spas, Mining Glory, Yantarevsky, Volovye Heart, Kobzar, Miracle of the Earth, Malachite Box.
Low and medium-sized - Linda, Rocket, Roma, Nevsky, La La Fa, Honey-sugar, White filling.
Cherry - Bonsai, Pygmy, Garden Pearl, Minibel.
When growing early varieties suitable for preservation, and obtaining a plentiful harvest at a time when they are not yet harvesting, you can salted green tomatoes or ripe fruits in a barrel way. Cold preservation of tomatoes with the addition of herbs and spices will make it possible to enrich the diet with additional beneficial substances.
What buckets can be used
Buckets or other containers must be at least 10 liters. Metal, plastic, even wooden tubs are suitable.
But metal products will last the longest. The dishes should be without bottom, or have many holes from the bottom, as well as a dozen on the side walls for better air exchange of the soil. Since dark buckets heat up faster, it is recommended that they be repainted in light colors.
Suitable soil for planting tomato in containers
For tomatoes, fertile loamy soil is best suited. The mixture is prepared from the ground (preferably from a cucumber bed), peat, sand, humus, with the addition of ash.
The soil is disinfected by pouring it with a solution of potassium permanganate. In addition, you need to make ready-made mineral compounds for tomatoes.
Preparing containers for planting tomatoes
A container for planting is being prepared since the fall.
- Before use, the container must be disinfected by treating it with a solution of potassium permanganate or Bordeaux liquid. This procedure must be done annually before replacing a new one in the ground tank.
- A layer of expanded clay or other drainage with a height of 5 cm is poured onto the bottom of the bucket. Then, prepared soil is added.
- They must be stored in a greenhouse or outdoors in a pit 30 cm deep.
Water is watered abundantly once after filling in buckets, and then watering is not required until spring.
But if the container is stored in a greenhouse, then you need to regularly pour snow on top so that it is better saturated with moisture in the spring.
Sowing seeds and preparing seedlings
Tomato seedlings can be bought or grown independently. All preparatory procedures, growing seeds for seedlings, are carried out as for the usual conditions for planting tomatoes in open ground or for greenhouses. The term for sowing seeds is chosen 2 months earlier from the proposed planting of seedlings in buckets.
Calibrate the seeds, selecting the largest and without damage, check for germination in salted water. Then it is disinfected, soaked for germination, quenched at low temperatures.
Sown in containers with nutrient soil to a depth of not more than 2 cm, placed in a warm place. When the first shoots appear, the containers are transferred to a well-lit place.
- A pick is done after the appearance of the first two true leaves, deepening into the ground to the level of cotyledons.
- Provide regular watering from the spray gun, feed every 10 days after germination.
- Planted when the plant has formed about 10 leaves.
Technology of planting tomatoes in buckets
Seedlings for this method are chosen already grown when she is already about 2 months old. It can be planted 2 weeks earlier than usual, if it will be in the greenhouse for the first time or, if possible, the seedlings can be transported to the room if return frosts appear.
Each bucket is placed one at a time.
- Make a recess 15 cm deep.
- The prepared well is poured with a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 10 l of water).
- Plant a bush. It is recommended to deepen to the bottom pair of leaves in order to better root.
- They fall asleep with earth, compacted, watered.
Tomato care in a permanent place: greenhouse or open ground
When growing tomatoes in buckets, the most time-consuming part is the preparation of containers and planting. Further care for these plants consists in the same actions as under normal conditions for growing tomatoes, only much easier than on the beds:
Weeding is minimized, because in such a small space weeds do not grow quickly, as in open ground.
- Loosening the soil, hilling bushes easier. To make it more convenient, the lower leaves are cut.
- It is recommended to do mulching to better preserve moisture in the soil and protect against infections.
- They carry out pinching in time, except for varieties where such a procedure is not required.
Watering due to the rapid drying of the soil in containers needs more frequent, but in a smaller amount than in the beds.
- Garter is done for tall varieties 10 days after planting, for low-growing varieties - after 15.
- When growing in greenhouses, regular ventilation is necessary.
- Disease prevention is carried out as on ordinary beds - after planting in a permanent place, before flowering and after.
- Fertilizers are applied 3 times during the growing season.
Growing tomatoes in buckets can not only save space, but also get from the bush a more plentiful and early harvest of tasty large (for its varieties) fruits.
Such unusual planting can even serve as a decorative decoration of a garden plot.
Mr. Summer resident recommends: unusual options for growing tomatoes in buckets
There are other ways to grow tomatoes in buckets. So, some gardeners plant tomatoes in hanging planters to save space, in which seedlings grow down from the hole at the bottom of the container. At the same time, good productivity, taste and other characteristics of the variety are preserved.
Successfully you can grow tomatoes in containers on hydroponics, you can use this method only in greenhouse conditions. For these two options, special technologies have been created that allow achieving high results.
