Tomatoes and their need for water

I started may 28th planting 4 tomatoes around a garbage can with holes drilled in the bottom rim and a second row up about 10 inches... buried the can to where the top holes just barely were above the ground... put in two shovels full of compost... then I fill the can up with water ever 2 days and try not to water the leaves... these four plants are now 5 ft 4 inches in less that a month and a half and loaded with green tomatoes and about a hundred sets of tomato blossoms...

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Jean C Newport, VA

How did you do the second row of plants?

on May 12, 2013 · Like 0
Neva F Montross, VA

What a wonderful idea! Did you plant different varieties of tomatoes or just one? I will definitely do this next year. Last year I planted two tomato plants next to a pile of several years of leaves. They did very well until the deer found them. Now I have fenced in garden.

on May 12, 2013 · Like 0
Grandma's House Smyrna, TN

Great idea. Thanks

on May 12, 2013 · Like 0
James Bryan C Crab Orchard, KY

Jean C The second row was some early peas and were done for the most part when the plants got older..
Neva: I planted just one variety that year.. This year I have a 3 1/2 acre Market garden and I have 3 varieties planted.. I am using the bucket method on my larger fruited varieties in part because we understand then larger fruits require more water to produce the tomato.. I am working on a ...»
couple of ideas for commercial (and I hate using that word.. but it is what it is..) production... I am trying to get a hoop house built this year AKA High tunnel and plan on using some guttering as the water delivery method..Our interest in this hydroponic/traditional cross method of growing tomatoes, is still more of an experikment than reality right now.. but I will be posting on our facebook page www.facebook.com/provisionfarms as we get his idea going.. I am trying to demonstrate anyone can use this type of set up from urban gardeners, community gardens to the backyard grower or small scale farm.. Thank you both for your questions...

on May 12, 2013 · Like 0
Vicky Raleigh, NC

How far away from the bucket do I need to plant the tomatoes? Mine are already planted, so am wondering if they are too far apart.

on May 12, 2013 · Like 1
Beverly L Norfolk, VA

Love this idea...grew up in your area...Tyrone...many relatives in Port Matilda at one time...I only plant Sweet 100's in pots...going to try putting a jug in the pots to use your method...We're right on the beach and it gets awfully hot so plants normally dry up quickly..TKS for sharing

on May 12, 2013 · Like 1
Ted Hallett

25 lbs a week with my garden.

on May 12, 2013 · Like 1
Sherry Appleton, WI

Have you ever tried planting pepper plants this way?

on May 12, 2013 · Like 1
James Bryan C Crab Orchard, KY

I am working on a similar system for peppers.. they respond in many ways like tomatoes, their nutritional needs are a bit different (especaily Hot Peppers) but this type of system would work well for peppers, cucumbers and other high water vegetables.. anything that can be grown in hydroponics or responds well in hydroponics would do good in this type of system

on May 12, 2013 · Like 0
James Bryan C Crab Orchard, KY

I have to update my town information in my profile... We still have many friends in Centre County PA and miss the fertile soils there... we are now in south central Ky, good soils here but more clay content to the soil and it does take some getting used too....

on May 12, 2013 · Like 0
Debbie Cooper

Mine are in so will put a can in between them and see what happens. Tks!

on May 12, 2013 · Like 1
James Bryan C Crab Orchard, KY

Vicky: even if the tomatoes are in the ground, you can still put a bucket next to them, you may need a bucket for each plant if they are too far apart.. I planted mine about 6 inches away from the bucket... but you can go as far as 10 to 12 inches away and be fine.. tomatoes send out a fiberous network of roots inorder to feed and support the plants.. adapt as best you can for this year and next year plant your tomatoes closer to the bucket.. you may even try a secondary planting if you have the room for an extended harvest...

on May 13, 2013 · Like 0
Neva F Montross, VA

James, appreciate your keeping us up-to-date on your latest methods re tomatoes and peppers. I live to produce the juice-running-down-your-chin type of tomato my mom grew when I was a child.
It hasn't happened yet. Do you have any words of advice about grafted tomatoes and/or peppers?

on May 13, 2013 · Like 2
James Bryan C Crab Orchard, KY

Grafted tomatoes are nothing new..just the progressive work of commercial growers to have root stock that resist diseases and the graft stock that produces fruit in abunance.. While this is nothing new I personally feel that for the taste you are looking for, the tomato you knew as a child go back to varieties that where grown back then.. HEIRLOOMS they have the taste, but fell out of favor with commercial growers in part due to shipping produce half-way around the world so to speak and ...»
"New, Improved" varieties that held up well under these conditions took their place.. Try Johnnies Seed Company, Territorial seed company, Tomato Growers Suppy Company, each of them are on the web and most carry heirloom tomatoes, and peppers... There is one other factor in all of this and it is the memory you made with your mom as a child eating that fresh tomato and the taste of that tomato is so real in your memory, you will always search for something to compare it to. I know for myself the memories I made with My Grandpa Cox on his small farm are so fresh in my mind that sometimes when I smell hay, or freshly mown grass a memory is triggered and I relive just for a moment when he was with us, and shared his knowledge of farming and gardening with those who would listen.. He too had some of those same issues with the New Improved tomatoes and had often commented about the tomatoes his parents grew in the family garden at the turn of the 20th century... I hope this helps..

on May 13, 2013 · Like 0
Linda Kosakowski Brant Lake, NY

I planted my 2 tomato plants using a 5 gal bucket, drilled my holes (4 rows of 5 holes) ea. about 2" up from the last, on either side facing the plants which were 6-8 inches away, filled about 1/3 full with compost, and filled the bucket with water! I checked about an hour later and the water was gone! I can't wait to see how they do! Gonna go take a picture today and another in a few weeks to see how they are doing! Thanks so much for this teriffic planting tip!

on May 22, 2013 · Like 2
James Bryan C Crab Orchard, KY

Thank you Linda.. Kepp us posted on their growing stages.. Glad to help another Gardener out..

on May 23, 2013 · Like 2
Michael Adair Arlington, TX

How big are the holes in your bucket?

on May 23, 2013 · Like 1
James Bryan C Crab Orchard, KY

Michael Adair: 1/4 inch holes.. I have videos and a step by step instruction on our facebook page www.facebook.com/provisionfarms Hope this helps

on May 24, 2013 · Like 0
Doreen Canada

I notice in the picture that the bucket seems to be quite tall. In the instructions it says to plant the bucket down to the top holes. Wouldn't the bucket in the picture be lower into the ground?

on Jun 03, 2013 · Like 0
James Bryan C Crab Orchard, KY

The bucket in the picture is about a 15 to 20 gallon trash can you need the holes to be in the top 6 to 8 inches of the soil at the lowest point and just barely above the soil line for the top row of holes... This year I switched to a five gallon bucket.. but again only burying the bottom 6 to 8 inches any deeper than that and your tomatos will not benefit from the water their roots only go down about 8 inches at most... I have videos posted on our facebook page as well as detailed ...»
instructions www.facebook.com/provisionfarms

on Jun 04, 2013 · Like 2
Dawn Chabolla Upland, CA

Great idea, wish I had space to do this, all my veggies are in raised planters and containers.
on Jun 07, 2013 · Like 3
James Bryan C Crab Orchard, KY

Dawb Chabolla: There is a person in Alaska using the method this year in raised beds and containers... They are using a old flower pot placed in the raised bed.. you could even place a 2 liter soda bottle in the ground cut off enough of the top for easy filling.. or even place the bottle on top of the ground.. either way.. but you should have good results if you water at the root with your garden hose.. the key is water as they need it and try to keep it off the leaves to prevent disease ...»
and loads of water when fruiting to prevent blossom end rot

on Jun 08, 2013 · Like 0
Marguerite S Brockton, MA

I used small soda bottle, cut the bottom off, poked hole aroung the sides and did the same thing by burying them about half way down with the compost in them for some cukes. They are growing faster than the ones I did not do it too. Now I am going to do the rest. Thanks for the idea.

on Jun 08, 2013 · Like 2
James Bryan C Crab Orchard, KY

Thanks for the update.. glad to hear this is working for other plants as well... will include this in future posts

on Jun 08, 2013 · Like 0
Kathy Koke-Drum Maumee, OH

Great idea!! Like it better than using soaker hose. Don't want to plant a lot of vegies. Do love those tomatoes. So this will work great for me.

6 days ago · Like 1