Beginnings of a five gallon bucket winter garden

[cajundetector]

Thank you

Not sure where you’re plants are located, but leggy and etiolated (light green/white) is a sign of lack of sun. If they’re green, it’s not light they’re lacking. Plants are a lot like folks….without exercise they become weak. The strength of a stalk can be greatly increased with exercise (wind). Setting up a fan a distance away from the plants (think breeze, not hurricane) will cause the stalks/trunks to toughen up/thicken and not get as leggy. As someone else said…..drill holes in the bottom of the buckets, overwatering is death. Best of luck, share pics as they grow up.

Edit: breeze doesn’t have to be constant. Couple hours a day will suffice. Also, you want to start air soon after germination….once they’re 12” tall with no support, the wind can beat them to death.

thank you wolf!!! I moved them into more direct light today. I’m in south Louisiana where the temp still reached 82 degrees. I’ll definately keep you posted

 

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[mjb Mike]

I grow stuff year round in my garden here in Maryland.research the plaints that do good in your temps.Timming of planting fall and winter plants is key.A few weeks early and plant like broccoli and and lettuce will bolt.To late and the real cold weather will get to them before they mature. I dont spary any of my plants for bugs I know in my area if i plant potatoes bugs destroy them.they come for the potatoes but end up eating other plant so i just dont plant potatoes. Deer are a real problem here Years ago I put up a cheap electric fence and the problem is solved. Year after year they learn not to mess with it after getting shocked a few times.First few years i would leave the fence on all the time but they have learned and only turn it on now maybe a week out of each month.

 

[pepperj]

Thank you

thank you wolf!!! I moved them into more direct light today. I’m in south Louisiana where the temp still reached 82 degrees. I’ll definately keep you posted

Lettuces like cooler temperatures actually.
If your daytime temperatures are high (+50s)
Put the buckets outside for natural light, and breeze.

It's called hardening them.
They'll do a lot better.
The Lettuces in the garden have endured temperatures as low as 24F this fall.
We just cover them with sheets.
The daytime times are still in the mid 50sF.

 

[cajundetector]

Lettuces like cooler temperatures actually.
If your daytime temperatures are high (+50s)
Put the buckets outside for natural light, and breeze.

It's called hardening them.
They'll do a lot better.
The Lettuces in the garden have endured temperatures as low as 24F this fall.
We just cover them with sheets.
The daytime times are still in the mid 50sF.

I planted the lettuce way too early pepps 🌶️!! Daytime we are still reaching 82🤣. They sprouted one set of true leaves with a weak stem and fell over. I got pissed and pulled them today lol! Cabbage is fairing much better ( or at least we’ll see).

 

[cajundetector]

I planted the lettuce way too early pepps 🌶️!! Daytime we are still reaching 82🤣. They sprouted one set of true leaves with a weak stem and fell over. I got pissed and pulled them today lol! Cabbage is fairing much better ( or at least we’ll see).

Also, I have true respect for you guys up north. We freak out when temps drop below 30. It becomes like a state of emergency 🤣

I planted the lettuce way too early pepps 🌶️!! Daytime we are still reaching 82🤣. They sprouted one set of true leaves with a weak stem and fell over. I got pissed and pulled them today lol! Cabbage is fairing much better ( or at least we’ll see).

 

[ncsuwolf]

Also, I have true respect for you guys up north. We freak out when temps drop below 30. It becomes like a state of emergency 🤣

If you haven’t done so already look up your planting zone. Sounds like you’re in central/southern la, which is subtropical. If I was in your shoes, I’d be planting outside instead of buckets……especially for brassicas (kale, collards, broccoli, etc). Your biggest problem will be cabbage
Loopers year round. I had to spray mine yesterday after the little white butterflies made their visit.

USDA has a map….but gurneys is more user friendly in my opinion

 

[pepperj]

If you haven’t done so already look up your planting zone. Sounds like you’re in central/southern la, which is subtropical. If I was in your shoes, I’d be planting outside instead of buckets……especially for brassicas (kale, collards, broccoli, etc). Your biggest problem will be cabbage
Loopers year round. I had to spray mine yesterday after the little white butterflies made their visit.

I'm in 5a+, on elevated land.
But have a body of water that helps with the climate.

 

[ncsuwolf]

I'm in 5a+, on elevated land.
But have a body of water that helps with the climate.

A body of water is a great equalizer (easily 3-4 degrees)

 

[pepperj]

A body of water is a great equalizer (easily 3-4 degrees)

Till there's a few ft of ice, then it's not worth anything in regards to keeping my space warm.

 

[ncsuwolf]

Till there's a few ft of ice, then it's not worth anything in regards to keeping my space warm.

Not sure where you’re located….was referring to water that rarely/never freezes

My in-laws live on a river in eastern Nc. I hunt 20 miles inland. It’s always 4-5 degrees colder at the hunt club than when I leave in-laws driveway.

 

[cajundetector]

If you haven’t done so already look up your planting zone. Sounds like you’re in central/southern la, which is subtropical. If I was in your shoes, I’d be planting outside instead of buckets……especially for brassicas (kale, collards, broccoli, etc). Your biggest problem will be cabbage
Loopers year round. I had to spray mine yesterday after the little white butterflies made their visit.

USDA has a map….but gurneys is more user friendly in my opinion

Thank you wolf 👍!!!

 

[cajundetector]

Thank you wolf 👍!!!

Thought I would just give an update on the state of my bucket garden. Black buckets are newly sprouting lettuce and cabbage. As for the rest I’m fairly pleased also.

 

[Chilli]

Thought I would just give an update on the state of my bucket garden. Black buckets are newly sprouting lettuce and cabbage. As for the rest I’m fairly pleased also.

They look good. Im trying an American Urbana Tomato plant in a 60 litre pot and am going to trial a couple of fabric pots. Iv heard pros and cons on the fabric so it will be interesting to try them. I recently got some 5 gallon ones.

My tomato is just starting to get used to going into the big pot from a week ago as a seedling from the local plant nursery.
Im keeping my fingers crossed it will turn out ok.

Good luck 👍

 

[cajundetector]

They look good. Im trying an American Urbana Tomato plant in a 60 litre pot and am going to trial a couple of fabric pots. Iv heard pros and cons on the fabric so it will be interesting to try them. I recently got some 5 gallon ones.
View attachment 2180113

My tomato is just starting to get used to going into the big pot from a week ago as a seedling from the local plant nursery.
Im keeping my fingers crossed it will turn out ok.
View attachment 2180114
Good luck 👍

Thank you chilli! I’m about to order some fabric pots myself. There pretty much set up for perfect drainage. That 🍅 seedling transplanted well. Beautiful! Good luck to you also!!

 

[Chilli]

Thank you chilli! I’m about to order some fabric pots myself. There pretty much set up for perfect drainage. That 🍅 seedling transplanted well. Beautiful! Good luck to you also!!

Hi. Yes iv heard some very good things about them. They do say they naturally dry out a but quicker but plants grow great in them. I'm really looking forward to seeing how they go. Today at the plant place I got several cayenne chilli seedlings. I am going to put after talking to the lady where I got them I think 4 in the 5 gallon and watch then cut out the 2 weakest and keep the two strongest. Im really looking forward to trying these things.
I'll keep you posted how they go. 😀

 

[Chilli]

@cajundetector
Hi. Here's what im up to.
I got a mix here that has 40% coco mix.
They say the best for the bags, well not everywhere but for all round air on them is a grid below. Full drainage and air all around. Im new to this type of thing so im just going by what I read here in Australia and wether it is or not will be an experiment to me.
Iv had lots of issues growing chilli's here central Victoria but never did down south yrs ago so something is different here. I grew them here ok, but nothing remotely like i used to.
Im hoping everything im trying and searched will be right.
So tomorrow these are going in a bag with the Coco Pro.
😀

 

[Chilli]

@cajundetector
Hi mate. Unexpected cloud cover came over 😁
So I put them in, in the Coco fibre potting mix. Was just glad to be able to actually do something other than sit inside under the aircon, its crazy hot here.
I put the cayenne hots in an AC Infinity bag 5 gall.
Filled with a coco pro 30litre bag mix in Aussie volume.
I put 5 little seedlings in and will see how they go and if needs will thin them out.
The front picture is the AC infinity 5 gal bag. The rear is a vivosun 3 gal with a ........tell you next post I forgot 🤣

 

[Chilli]

@cajundetector im liking this alternative growing thread you started. 👍👍