How to plant tomatoes in a 5 gal buckets?

Also put egg shells and/or shrimp shells in the mix if you can.

Hello Ellen! Make sure you place some tomato cages in the buckets. Easiest to do when the plants are small. I have found that I need to secure the buckets/cages to my deck railing so they don't fall over when larger and are holding ripening tomatoes. I tie the cages to the deck railing with twine. They can fall over in a good wind/rain storm and you will have broken off branches of nice tomatoes that are hard to lose. The plants do get quite large depending on the variety you planted. I would also water about every 2-3 weeks with an Epsom salt/water solution. I use the 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts to one gallon of water for my buckets of tomatoes. https://www.reference.com/food/mix-epsom-salt-tomatoes-6dbecc5381190f0e

I also use Miracle Grow for Tomatoes (specifically for tomatoes) every 2-3 weeks. I alternate with the Epsom salt solution. If you are getting a lot of rain make sure that you don't water the buckets until the soil feels damp dry.

here's a bunch of people who have done it... https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=DIY+tomatoes+in+5+gallon+buckets

Thanks, Lynn!

I normally use big buckets or pots —but this year trying the self watering patio planter.

Be sure to install a support cage or wooden frame before the tomato plants get too tall!

Watch for small worns or tomato hornworms they can be picked off, I have found a few of these defoliating critters already.

Additional guidelines =The key steps every gardener should take to sidestep or minimize common tomato issues. Those steps are:

1 Mulch

2 Support

3 Prune

4 Water

5 Feed

6 Monitor

7 Act

So, let’s take a closer look at each step.

https://joegardener.com/podcast/tomato-care-checklist-craig-lehoullier/

Enjoy your harvest!