It is a common misconception that to have a successful garden, you need to dedicate large amounts of space to each plant. This is simply not the case. In fact, by using a 5-gallon bucket, you can grow several tomato plants in a very small area.
But, you know, Not every situation is perfect to get a fruitful output from a single bucket of 5-gallon storage. So, here I will discuss “How Many Tomato Plants Per 5 Gallon Bucket?” you get.
How many tomato plants can fit in a 5-gallon bucket?
The best way to grow tomatoes in a 5-gallon bucket is to plant 1 tomato per bucket. This will allow the roots of the plants to spread out and the plants to grow properly. If you plant more than one plant per bucket, the plants will compete for resources and will not grow as well.
Generally, whatever the bucket size is from half a gallon to 5 gallons, it’s good to go with 1 plant per bucket. The following table illustrates the tomato plant numbers for different size buckets.
Pot/Bucket Size | Tomato Size | Plant Size | Species |
1 Gallon | Small Size (25 to 35mm in diameter) | 18-20 inch | 506 BUSH TOMATOES, Micro tom ( 6 to 8″ tall), Tiny Tim (20″) etc. |
2 Gallon | Small to small medium (one-inch) | 24-40 inch | Golden Nugget (24-30″”) |
3 Gallon | Medium (1-1.5 inch) | 40-60 inch | Super Sweet ( 48″-60″), Roma Tomato ( 40 inches) |
4-5 Gallon | Medium to larger (2-4 inch) | :60 to Higher inch | San Marzano (5-6′), Moneymaker tomato 1.5-1.8m (5-6′) |
What are the factors that affect a tomato plant when it is grown in a 5-gallon bucket?
Several factors that affect the tomato plant when it is grown in a 5-gallon bucket are light, water, fertilizer, nutrients, spacing, aeration, temperature, etc., Let’s find out the details of each factor.
Light:
Tomato plants need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day to produce fruit. If you live in an area with limited sunlight, you can supplement the sunlight with grow lights.
However, if you grow more than one tomato plant on the 5-gallon bucket it will compete for light as its leaves will spread over the other tomato plant, so it’s best to grow one tomato plant per bucket.
Nutrient:
When you grow more than one plant on the 5-gallon bucket, the nutrient you give isn’t sufficient for the growth of the plants, as they compete for it.
So giving them a suitable fertilizer like applying a balanced 10-10-10 or 10-5-5 will be a good option initially. So overall benefits, it’s better to grow one tomato plant per 5-gallon bucket.
Suffocation:
If you plant more than one plant in a 5-gallon bucket, the roots of the plants will start to suffocate as they compete for space. This will lead to unhealthy plants that produce less fruit.
Furthermore, the leaves, branches, and maintenance will also become a problem if you try to grow more than one plant in the 5-gallon bucket. As per the gardener’s observation, 18-24 inches spacing will be good enough for medium to large tomato plants.
But in the 5-gallon bucket, you won’t get that space to provide the plants, so it’s advisable to grow one tomato plant per 5-gallon bucket.
Pests and Diseases:
Growing more than one plant in a 5-gallon bucket, the plants will be more susceptible to pests and diseases. This is because the plants will be competing for resources, and will not be as strong as they would be if they were growing on their own.
Aeration:
Tomato plants need plenty of aeration for the roots to grow properly. Otherwise, the malformed roots and fruits will be the result. The air movement on the plants will also increase the incidence of fungal diseases.
How To Grow Tomato On 5 Gallon Bucket?
Growing tomatoes in 5-gallon buckets is a great way to get a lot of tomatoes in a small space. Here are some tips on how to grow tomatoes in the bucket:
Choose the right tomato plant for your bucket.
As I talked about before, you need to choose the right variety of tomatoes that you want to grow on the bucket. Almost all tomato varieties are suitable to grow on a 5-gallon bucket.
Some of the big varieties of tomatoes like- San Marzano (5-6′), Moneymaker tomato (5-6′), Beefsteak varieties, Black beauty, etc. They can grow their roots properly and get enough space which also helps to produce a good yield.
To avoid water damage, make sure your bucket has a drainage hole or drill ¼ to ½ inch holes along the bottom.
Fill the bottom of the bucket with gravel or rocks to improve drainage.
For better drainage, fill the bottom 1/3 of the bucket with gravel or rocks. This will help to prevent waterlogging and will also improve airflow to the roots.
According to vast research, tomato plant grafted with eggplants is more resistant to tolerate water logging condition than tomato seedlings.
But in most conditions, the gardener often tries to grow from tomato seedlings. Without proper drainage, the plant will become vulnerable to rot and won’t be able to get the nutrients it needs from the soil.
Fill the bucket with high-quality potting mix.
Now, it’s time to fill the bucket with a high-quality potting mix. You can use any good quality potting mix or you can make your own. To make your potting mix, mix these parts:
Vital Potting mix elements for tomato plants:
Potting Element | Effects on Plant |
Peat moss | Retains moisture and provides a good growing environment. |
Perlite | Improves drainage and aeration. |
Vermiculite | Holds moisture and nutrients, keeping the soil loose. |
Composted manure | Adds nutrients to the soil. |
Lime | Adjusts the pH of the soil. |
Gypsum | Helps with drainage. |
Epsom salts | Adds essential magnesium for plant growth. |
Optional:
- Bone meal – to add phosphorus, and calcium
- Blood meal – to add nitrogen
- Kelp meal or seaweed extract – to add potassium and other micronutrients that are essential for plant growth.
This potting mix will be lightweight and will have good drainage. It will also hold onto moisture, which is important in a small space like a 5-gallon bucket.
Mixing up the potting mix:
The 5-gallon bucket can hold 0.7 cubic feet of soil or 19.82L capacity or 43.65 pounds of potting mix.
You can divide the mix into organic, inorganic, fertilizer and drainage, and aeration types-
- You will need one bushel of Composted manure, vermiculite, and peat moss. Add 5-10-5 or 10-5-5 fertilizer mix to this. (90%)
- Dolomitic Lime 1 ¼ cups, Soil, {Blood meal, bone meal, kelp meal or seaweed extract, rock phosphate (optional)} (10%)
- Drainage: To improve drainage in potting mix, we can add perlite, vermiculite, or sphagnum moss with inorganic matter.
- Aeration: For better aeration of roots, we need to add coarse sand or perlite with organic matter.
Planting the tomato plant:
Now, it’s time to plant your tomato plant in the bucket. Be sure to handle the root ball carefully so as not to damage the roots. Gently loosen the roots and position the plant in the center of the bucket. Pull thrown the basal leaves of the seedlings.
Fill in around the plant with potting mix, being sure to firm it gently as you go. Water well and add more potting mix if necessary to bring the level up to the base of the plant’s stem.
Place the bucket in an area that receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.
According to flowering physiology and photoperiodic rhythm, the tomato plant is a day-neutral plant. This means that plants flower after a period of vegetative growth, regardless of how much light they receive.
The long-day plants flower only when the light period is longer than a critical period, and short-day plants flower when the light period is shorter than the critical period. Day-neutral plants are those that do not show this type of response to changes in the photoperiod.
Tomato plants are mostly found as day-neutral plants. However, some cultivars (such as ‘Early Girl) are short-day plants, and will only flower when the day length is less than 12 hours.
Water regularly and fertilize monthly.
Water your tomato plant regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. You may need to water as often as every day in hot weather. Be sure to check the soil before watering to make sure it is dry.
Fertilize your plant monthly with a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10. Tomato plants are heavy feeders and will benefit from regular fertilization.
You can also use compost or manure tea, coffee grounds, or chicken manure as fertilizer.
Train the tomato plant to grow up a trellis or stake for support.
You can say tomato plants are perennial shrubs or herbs. It depends on where it is being grown. In general, tomato plants are annuals, living for just one growing season.
Tomato plants can be determinate or indeterminate. Determinate varieties that grow to a certain height (usually around 3-4 feet) and then stop growing. Indeterminate varieties will continue to grow and produce fruit all season long.
So, while they are growing, you will need to provide some type of support for the plant. Tomato plants are heavy and the fruit can be quite large, so they need something to hold them up. You can train the plant to grow up a trellis or stake, or you can let it sprawl on the ground.
Harvest your tomatoes!
Tomatoes are usually ready to harvest about 70-80 days after planting. The exact time will depend on the variety of tomatoes you are growing. To check if your tomato is ripe, gently squeeze it. If it gives slightly, it is ready to harvest.
How many cherry tomato plants per 5-gallon bucket?
As a safe side. you can grow one cherry tomato plant per 5-gallon bucket. If you have more room and want to increase the yield, you can grow 2 plants per bucket but not suggested. Just be sure to provide enough support for the plants.
What are the best tomatoes for growing in buckets?
The best tomatoes for growing in buckets are determinate varieties. These varieties are more compact and will not sprawl as much as indeterminate varieties. Some good determinate varieties include ‘Rutgers’, ‘Denver’, and ‘Bush’.
Why 5-gallon bucket is the best size for container gardening?
The 5-gallon bucket is the perfect size for container gardening because it is large enough to support a full-sized plant, but not so large that it is difficult to move around.
Conclusion:
In the end, I will say, as per the gardening community- You must grow only one plant in a 5-gallon bucket for the best results. You can initially plant 2 or more seedlings, but once it starts to grow vegetation, transfer the other seedlings to different pots. In this way, you can achieve the best results.
There are many varieties of tomatoes that are short and need less space, so for those varieties, using 1, 2, or 3-gallon pots will give you the perfect results.
Now it depends on you, what kind of tomatoes you want to grow in your bucket.
Reference:
https://scialert.net/fulltext/doi=ja.2019.11.20
I am a graduate of Bangladesh Agricultural University, where I delved into various agricultural disciplines, equipping me with a profound understanding of agriculture. Beyond academics, I have hands-on experience in gardening and crop cultivation. My passion is to embrace sustainable farming and horticulture. With a BSc in Agriculture, I am dedicated to promoting environmentally conscious and efficient agrarian practices.
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Agriculture (Hons.)
Master of Science. (Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security ) (MS)
Bangladesh Agricultural University