Among the healthy vegetables, rich in vitamins and micro-elements, and at the same time not requiring special care, stands out the green bean plant.
This type of agricultural crop is native to Central and South America.
People have been eating it for 7,000 years. Isn’t that amazing?
When it comes to green beans, though, which is a different kind of beans that gardeners are always fascinated about, is it ideal to grow them in buckets?
I did some research and here’s what I found out:
Yes, you can grow 5 – 7 green beans in a 5-gallon bucket. Green beans also grow well in pots and plants, and to achieve the best yield, choose a pot or container that’s 15 inches in diameter, then fill the container with a mixture of healthy compost and potting mix.
The variety of beans is also noticeable, and between them there are two main ones:
Due to the fact that the plant is not completely unpretentious and does not require constant attention, growth in open ground, and on the windowsill is in the power of even a novice gardener. It could even be grown in some other places which we would be discussing in this article.
Container-growing vegetables is not a new concept, but what about using gallons to grow vegetables? Yes, buckets. Read on to learn more about how to grow beans in gallons. You don’t need a large backyard to grow food for your family.
In fact, you don’t even need a backyard at all. More and more people are growing beans in containers, and getting a lot of food.
In addition to saving space, using a bucket in the garden can also solve many other common gardening problems, such as trampling on young plants, rabbits eating plants, poor soil, heavy rain, weeds and easy care.
Although a raised bed can solve many of these problems, planting beans in a gallon bucket is also a great idea.
Why grow beans in a 5-gallon bucket?
You don’t need a large backyard to grow food for your family. In fact, you don’t even need a backyard at all. More and more people are growing vegetables in containers and getting a lot of food.
In addition to saving space, using a bucket in the garden can also solve many other common gardening problems, such as trampling on young plants, rabbits eating plants, poor soil, heavy rain, weeds and easy care.
Although loft beds can solve many of these problems, they are more expensive and require more space. Another great benefit of growing vegetables in buckets is that they are portable.
If your beans do not have enough sunlight in a certain area, just pick it up and place it elsewhere. You will not have to dig, replant the beans and kill the risk of the beans; you will only move the container it is in.
Growing vegetables in buckets
Here are some plants that grow well in 5-gallon (19-liter) buckets, and a few of them can grow:
● Tomatoes-Cherry or bush tomatoes work best. Only 1 tomato can be grown per barrel. Promote intermediate equity to support factories
● Cucumbers – 1 plant per barrel
● Melons -1 plant per barrel
● Squash – barrel plant 1
● Eggplant – 1 per barrel
● Chili – 2 per barrel
● Beans – bush species work best. Planting 3 per gallon
● Onions – 4 plants per barrel
● Lettuce – 4 per barrel
● Beet – 4 beats per barrel
● Carrots – 10 plants per barrel
● Radishes – 10 per bucket
Many herbs also grow well in buckets. One plant will spread to the entire container.
How to grow beans in a bucket
Gardeners who decide to grow beans at home for the first time, it is recommended to purchase more than two varieties and sow 2 – 3 seeds each.
This way you will learn in practice which of the planted varieties will take better root and give a greater return.
Follow these steps to grow beans in a 5-gallon bucket:
#1. Buy or buy several 5-gallon (19-liter) barrels.
These buckets can be purchased at low cost at your local home improvement store, or they can be recycled from the trash.
Do not use substances that have been used for toxic chemicals or materials. If you are worried about using “food grade” plastic buckets, please check them at a local restaurant.
Many bulk restaurant food supplies are delivered in 5-gallon (19-liter) food-grade barrels, and many restaurants are happy to send them away.
#2. Drill holes at the bottom for drainage.
You will need a lot of holes because water will quickly accumulate in a small container. Use a drill or nail and hammer to make holes. One hole per 3 (8 cm) inches is a good number.
#3. The paint bucket makes the appearance better.
Spraying solid colors is the easiest way, but stripes and dots can help decorate your patio. If you don’t want to paint, you can hang some outdoor fabrics on the bucket and tie them up with twine to get an elegant and relaxed look.
#4. Put some gravel on the bottom of the bucket.
This will help drainage-small stones of about 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) should work properly.
#5. Fill the rest of the bucket with a uniform mixture of sphagnum moss, planting soil and compost.
Mix the dirt well and leave a little room for planting. Some plants may need to add more or less compost to the soil. Do not use garden soil or topsoil, as they will accumulate in the bucket and hinder plant growth.
#6. Place plants. Use mature plants or seeds.
Both methods are suitable for container gardening.
#7. Water daily during dry periods, and only water during other times when the soil is dry.
Fertilize plants with liquid fertilizer once or twice a month for best results.
Essentials of beans planting
1. Build an aquifer at the bottom:
To replace the part that is conventionally added to the soil, and at the same time save soil costs.
You can add organic matter with water storage capacity to the bottom of the bucket, such as spreading 3 – 5 cm of mulch (covered with wood chips) on the bottom of the bucket. The mulch can provide moisture and will slowly corrode into nutrients.
You can also fill some waste sponges at the bottom, or put some stones or leaves and branches in a larger container for filling.
The stones can increase the dredging capacity of the water. Then sprinkle organic fertilizer such as cow and sheep manure or chicken manure on Mulch or other fillings.
2. Planting soil that needs strong moisture retention:
Potting max can be purchased and filled directly into the bucket. Or mix the soil, and pay attention to the water storage capacity. It is recommended to put 50% moss soil (peat moss), 25% organic fertilizer and 25% original soil (top sold) to form the basic soil for beans planting.
3. Beans fertilizer:
After the planting base soil is mixed, it is recommended to add nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, such as 4-4-4 nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Usually, a 5 gallon bucket needs 1/2 cup (a handful is enough).
In addition, calcium needs to be supplemented in the growth of beans to prevent bottom rot.
You can sprinkle some, about 2 small handfuls of limestone (Limestone) in the soil to neutralize acidity and supplement calcium to facilitate the absorption of beans.
4. Add bath salt (epsom salt):
After filling 1/3 of the soil, press a small nest in the middle position and put in 2 tablespoons of bath salt (epsom salt). The composition of the bath salt is magnesium sulfate.
Magnesium sulfate is grown in the vegetable garden. It has a wide range of applications. It can effectively help root growth, including flowering and fruiting processes. When the plants bloom and bear fruit, add bath salt once a month when watering them to strengthen the plants.
Plant the bean seedlings on the bath salt and fill it with soil. It is recommended that the soil at the beginning is not too full. The soil is constantly cultivated during the growth.
Beans are happy to light. At least 6 hours of light a day is required. It is very convenient to plant in a bucket and can be moved at any time. A well-lit place.
5. Maintain the humidity of the soil:
Cover the surface with mulch (sawdust) or leaves, or corn stalks, which can maintain humidity and prevent weeds from growing. Then water it, to pour the water thoroughly.
The amount of watering varies according to the season, such as watering once or twice a week in early summer, and watering every day in midsummer, morning and evening.
How to determine whether you need watering, you can insert your finger into the soil half a finger deep, feel the humidity, if it is dry, water it.
Diseases and pests: control and prevention
Beans exposed to fungal infections: Anthracnose – it manifests as brown spots on leaves and stems, the fruits are deeply damaged, full of pinkish mucus.
i). Root rot: The symptoms are manifested in the form of leaf and fruit shedding, the roots and the base collar are covered with a white-pink rash.
ii). White rot: The mycelium is white, affecting the fruit stalks and fruits of the culture. To fight fungal infections use preparations containing copper. Among the pests of beans, the most dangerous are:
- Beans beetles
- Melon aphid
- White surfboard
To fight plants are treated with chemicals – insecticides. During this period, it’s advisable to temporarily stop the procedure of attracting pollinating insects.
Conclusion
Beans are plants that could be made into delicious meals when harvested, there are so many ways to grow this plant.
In this article, we have discussed how to grow them in 5-gallon buckets.