How to Build a Simple and Basic Double Tomato Container With Water Resevoir

Wow! A lot of words to say two five gallon paint buckets put together so you have a back-up water resevoir in the bottom. Tomatoes will grow really well in containers but you can't let them dry out even for a day. I recommend a 5 gallon bucket or larger. It is really hard to ensure you don't let container tomatoes dry out. You want to give yourself three advanatages. The first is using a 5 gallon container or larger. The second is using a moisture control soil mix and the the third is using this dual container design.

Step 1: The Basic Materials: 2 Five Gallon Buckets, Stones and Moisture Control Soil

The 5 gallon buckets will cost you about $4 each from any home improvement center. Different centers have different colors. You will need a bag of pebbles, the size in the picture. They can cost anywhere from $4.99 to $6.99. It will however supply enough pebbles for 3 or more containers. The soil can be store bought or hand made. The key is a lot of peat moss or other organic matter that will hold water. Any of the commerical bags of moisture control garden mix while work well. The cost for a large bag is about $9.99 and that should be enough for 3 or more containers.

Step 2: One Container Is the Resevoir and It Gets Pebbles and a Small Hole or Two

The first conatiner will be the resevoir container. First put a hole no larger then 1/2 inch wide about 3 inches from the bottom of one 5 gallon container. The hole is there to let excess water above the 3 inch resevior flow out. Too much water, that is if you tomato sits in it , will also harm the plant.

Once you put the 1/2 inch hole, 3 inches from the bottom, add pebbles up to the level of the hole. You resevoir bucket/container is now complete.

Step 3: Make the Second Container by Drilling 15 to 35 Holes in It's Bottom

You can use a drill or nails or anything really. Put in 15, 25, 35 or so small holes in the bottom. If your hole is bigger you need less. If it is smaller you need more. Don't worry about pertection. You want enough holes to ensure that if a few get blocked others are open to let the roots of the plant reach into the water. 

This container will hold the moisture control soil mix and the tomato.

Step 4: Fill One Container With Pebbles and the Other With Soil and a Tomato

One container is the resevoir. The pebbles, again should come up to the level of the hole you put in it on the side.  You don't need to add water to the pebbles. Let nature fill it or let if fill as you water it over the weeks. The tomato plant is small and water issues won't come into play for several weeks.

I am adding water for no real reason in the picture but to show the process of water being held in the stones.

The other container should be filled with the soil mix. Leave about 2 or 3 inches from the top so you can fill it with water without splashing out the soil.

Step 5: Place the Container With the Tomato Into the Resevoir Container

That is it. You are done. The resevoir is not a self watering system. It is described a resevoir to buy you a day's grace. Tomatoes in containers will do really well and produce nicely. That is, if you never let them fully dry out.

Move the container to where you want it and then water the tomato in. Your done!

Step 6: How the Tomatoes Look Weeks Later

The system works.  Here are some tomatoes I have grown in 5 gallon containers and in the double container resevoir system.

If you want to learn more about vegetable gardening please visit my very active blog The Rusted Vegetable Garden.