Grow Bucket

I always want to have a tomato before it's time to plant them outside. This is a new experiment to get a tomato started sooner. I had recently read about gardeners who grow plants in 5 gallon buckets. So I made an attempt of it myself. (A Google search for "grow box" will show where I got the idea).

Here are photos of the grow bucket project with a few details. Feel free to ask any questions.

5 gallon bucket, made in the USA

I made two cuts in the lid.
first one was 3/4 inch from the end.
second one in the center.

I started with a clay pot. see next picture.

I abandoned the clay pot and decide to use a plastic pot.

plastic pot for wicking process. (see coming photos)

I drilled more holes for the wicking process.

This is the cut out of the lid to the 5 gallon bucket. The
plastic pot is now in the center. The next photo will show
that this is placed in the bottom of the bucket.

This is now in the bottom of the bucket. Eventually I filled
the pot and bucket with soil. leaving the bottom 6 inches empty
for water to sit in and wick up to through the soil to the plant. 

I cut a a piece of tubing and secured it to the side of the bucket
to fill with water.

the pot in the bottom sits on the bottom of the bucket. I also
cut holes in the lid cutout for more wicking.

full of soil.

plastic bag for weed control and heat.

I placed the lid ring on the bucket to hold the plastic
bag in place

I then trimmed the plastic bag and cut an X in the plastic bag
to place the tomato plant into the bucket.

finished and ready for water

I did realize that I needed to drill a small overflow hole at the soil
line between the soil and water. I needed to do this so I
don't over fill the bucket.

Here is the overflow hole.

I have the bucket on this roller to move the bucket in and
out of the garage during the frosty nights and warm sunny days.