When garden space is limited around the home or you simply do not have a place to plant a garden, such as at an apartment complex, growing tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets is an ideal plan. The tomato plant grows well in containers with at least ten inches of root space. The larger buckets with five gallons of capacity allow ample space for roots to grow properly.
If using a 5 gallon bucket that previously contained chemicals, such as laundry soap, it is essential to clean out any residue left in the bucket by rinsing it thoroughly and following up with sterilization. You will sterilized the container with a bleach solution and completely rinsed afterwards.
Put holes into the bottom of the bucket which will drain excess water from the soil. Use a quality potting mix with peat moss mixed in along with fertilizer appropriate for growing the tomatoes. Begin planting by digging a two-inch hole in the center of the potting mix. The original hole should be two inches deeper than the seedling. Plant the seedling by surrounding it with the potting soil mix.
Ensure the plant gets plenty of direct sunlight and water. As they begin to grow, place a stake down beside the tomato plant, which will support it as it continues to grow. Fertilize it weekly to ensure healthy growth of juicy red tomatoes.
Whether you have space for a garden or not, tomatoes can be grown by using a large bucket. Once cleaned properly, any 5-gallon bucket will serve you well as a container growing tomato plants away from an actual garden.