Hello, I am going on my third year of bucket gardening and I am hoping to do better this year. I have been growing determinate tomatoes and exotic hot peppers. I have done great with the peppers, but have had multiple problems with my tomatoes. My compost pile will not be ready until next season and I don't have manure to use. I live in S.E. Michigan. Here is what I have been doing in the past: 1) Lined the bottom of my buckets with river rock.(I think this a mistake) 2) Fill with moisture control potting soil(N-0.18%-Phos-0.10%, Pot-0.12%) Top dress with worm castings. 3) In the heat of the summer, I water every morning(I use water from my rain barrel). Sometimes twice a day if it's very warm and/or windy.(I work 12hrs a day, 8am to 8pm, so the 2nd watering may be to late to prevent damage) 4) I fertilize once a week with 24-8-16 until the onset of fruit, then I use 15-30-15. 5) I top dress with and inch or two of worm castings 2-3 times during the growing season. 6) I use Neem oil when I see little bugs on the stems and under the leaves(according to the directions). 7) I use a copper fungicide when I see fungus attacking my plants. I think I have been drying and/or cooking my roots, of my tomatoes, from the radiant heat of the cement, causing blossom end rot. The river rock has probably not helped. My exotic hot peppers seem unfazed, they have grown great from this method. My buckets have amble drainage holes drilled in the bottom and the buckets are on flat dollies with rollers. Question 1) What should I use to line the bottom of my buckets to retain moisture and keep the roots cool? Peat moss, coco husk, nothing just straight MC soil? 2) Should I double up my buckets to create a reservoir? 3) MC soil or regular potting soil? 4) What is the best way to avoid fungus(yellowing of the leaves with black dots)? P.S. I am using Root Organics soil and their Player Pack of liquid nutrients, instead of MG, this year. It has stuff like: bat guano, worm castings, soy protein, kelp extract, molasses, yucca extract, etc. What do you think? Thank you, Jigger
Grow boxes are excellent for growing tomatoes. They grow and grow and grow. Have you ever tried them? Anyway, I have planted tomatoes in large containers and I find it best when they have good drainage. So I use pots with drain holes on the bottom. Good luck. And I don't fertilize quite so often with so much good stuff...like soy protein, kelp extract, molasses, yucca, etc. That alone sounds like a wonderful salad for yourself! Good luck on your tomato growing.
