It’s also a nice way to repurpose plastics that would otherwise be headed for recycling or a landfill.
Any plantsuited for a containercan successfully grow in a 2 or 5-gallon plastic bucket.
Restaurants, bakeries, and groceries use food-grade buckets for transporting and storing ingredients.
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Once emptied they can be purchased for next to nothing or even procured for free.
Add drainage holes in the bottom and you have affordable ‘pots’.
Warning
Plenty of other enterprises use buckets for transporting products and ingredients.
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Low-cost buckets can be found at home improvement stores and online.
A #2 recycling symbol on the bottom ensures buckets are designated only for food-grade products.
Start by placing the drill bit in the center of the bucket bottom.
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Keep the bit straight and pulse the drill slowly until a hole forms and the plastic disc drops away.
Look for products labeled specifically for drainage.
Pea gravel and landscape rock are well-suited for this purpose.
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The goal is a mix loose enough to drain well but still hold moisture and provide nutrients.
Two cubic feet of planting mix fills three 5-gallon buckets.
Lettuces and herbs thrive in 2-gallon buckets.
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you might also use a 5-gallon bucket for annual flower combinations.
or rapid spreaders like mint.
Tip
When starting from seed, be sure to check packets for correct spacing information.
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Plant cole crops including cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower one to a 5-gallon bucket.
Lettuce and other greens with shallow roots grow easily in 2-gallon buckets.
Annual herbs along with a few perennials can be seeded or planted in 2-gallon buckets.
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you’ve got the option to also build a frame to hold several buckets in rows or tiers.
Store Buckets For a Longer Life
Plastics eventually break down after constant exposure to heat and sunlight.
At season’s end, add bucket contents to your compost pile.
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Clean them with warm, soapy water, rinse well, and store them in a shaded location.
