Dutch bucket tomatoes outdoors, Yes you can do it!!

Just a short video showing my dutch bucket setup that I am using to grow tomatoes and cucumbers.

[@ericsgranny8933]

Wow! What a great system! Best wishes

[@r.j.schubert9222]

That is fantastic Brian. I don't know how you guys have the time to do everything that you do. Keep it up, and keep the farm/plant videos coming.

[@patriciamartin2159]

If you fill more stone little by little to cover more tomato plant stems, you start getting tomatoes and less foliage. Also makes for stronger stems, bigger tomatoes.

[@NgGavin]

Man, that 2 layers of buckets I didn't see that coming, you snuck that in, very nice maximizing your flow. Sweet.

[@mandiegarrett1706]

Yep...has to give him credit for that layering...very clever.

[@Michael-1205]

Good Job! You'll have the best tomatoes in the world and lots of them!

[@metalshaperJeep]

Thanks Mike, tomatoes are coming along great. How is your front end coming along? hopefully no troubles. Thanks for being a continued supporter and positive commenter.

[@Michael-1205]

Front end is finally done and is ready for testing thanks Brian. Hopefully my wobbles have gone away so I can proceed with the back end and drivetrain strip. It was a major job, kept me busy for a week non-stop.but it was cleaned up to the very last nut and bolt. I have an 2 aquaponics tanks setup, also growing tomatoes, red peppers, basil and some other herbs. Wish you all the best in your growing.

[@jc6226]

Thanks for posting! Few questions for poster or anyone else: Neat system, the rock idea is great, i just wonder about root growth compared to perlite, so has anyone tested rocks compared to perlite and how is the yield/plant growth? Without covers how do you keep rain from diluting/overflowing reservoir and nutrient levels? Also, why is is necessary to have drip lines on the bottom buckets? Once the water reached the overflow level, arent the bottom buckets getting the same amount of water as top buckets just from upper overflow?

[@calvinblackwood2578]

Perfect place to set up an Auqaphonic system and do away with petroleum based fertilizer... Great set up Good Job...

[@southernbigvudz8802]

Those cucumbers come in handy for all kinds of things, especially when you're too busy to fulfill the wife's needs!

[@alexanderocana7193]

@metalhaper greetings from Panama, I want to congratulate you on this hydroponic system and I see that you make it functional and the system is staggered is very good, I want to start, but I would like you to help me with some questions before please and thank you. 1. how many pounds or kilos does each plant give you 2. How many days does it take you to produce a plant? 3. also the pump of how many liters of water does the tank have 4. the plant dies in a period.? or they never die and always produce you 5. the nutrients and fertilizers made in the sieve all together 6. plastic drums can be smaller 7. I see that you use only a specific stone. Or is it mixed with something else?

[@upstairsplantnursary]

Super Amazing Approach. Really your vision is at next level. Good luck for success.

[@sulistyotyo4455]

What the right ppm dose is used for the tomato flowering and fruit, sir?

[@ahmadhussainwebshare1001]

Excellent vedio

[@bobbymcgovern]

I have a six bucket system (3 tomatoes & 3 cucumbers. I'm adding at least five gallons of nutrient solution to my 12 gallon tank (a cooler) every day. I don't have any leaks. Is this normal?

[@tahirana1]

Good Job, may I've the details abt nutrients or fertilizers you are using for tomatoes and cucumbers. and do you have fish in the tank or just water with nutrients? will appreciate for a detailed reply.

[@mandiegarrett1706]

He just said he use Masterblend fertilizer. No fishy...that would be aquaponic system not dutch bucket.

[@danpodolsky65]

Great job! Can you tell me what size pump you used for the approximate 40 buckets that are on that system? That would help me a great deal. Thanks!

[@GaborSzalma]

Very nice setup! I'm a little bit afraid to use just stones as a medium. Isn't it too heavy? Are there water everywhere in the bucket and the root system? It's hard to imagine those stones wicks water

[@davidmason5433]

What size pump are you using to drive the fluids?

[@the-bu3lb]

Can u leave a link to we’re you got the black feed tubes and the correct tube measurement for the pump thanks

[@1stMarS]

It's been 9 months any update on this system?

[@HienTran-ls6uy]

Love it ,

[@southernbigvudz8802]

What do you do when a 4 inch rain comes? Or days of rain no matter how hard?

[@AYOGAgriVenture]

Nice ideas.. good job

[@metalshaperJeep]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@sakuno1952]

So i want to start it from my House top roof if this method good and please tell what is the completion of Vegetables Tomatoes or Cucumber how many weeks full growth ??

[@metalshaperJeep]

I live in the northeast part of the USA so I planted everything in June. I was picking cucumbers in mid July as they grew very fast. tomatoes were harvested from late august until just about the first of November. The harvest was over 5 times as much as we get by planting in the ground in the garden. You have to keep a close watch on water/nutrients/water ph level, and bugs/garden pests. I picked the bugs off by hand because I didn't want any chemicals on the plants. Give it a try and you will be amazed at how good the plants grow and the amount of fruit and vegetables you will harvest. Brian

[@cardinhamkilligrew9712]

On adding water....does it continually run dripping water in or does it just run every few hours

[@metalshaperJeep]

I have the pump set to come on about five or six times a day. it runs for one hour and the water is recirculated continually for the time it is running. When it shuts off the tomatoes have 3" of water left to drink and by the time that is gone the pump is running again.

[@julietendinoquirante2684]

Thats is good job with a Stone instead of soil or water???

[@AamirSaeedTajalli]

Hello. Thanks for sharing your work. Can you please inform about (1) Peak and normal ambient temp outside (2) Are you using DC water pump for supplying nutrients? What power? (3) do you use only one type of nutrient?

[@metalshaperJeep]

Tomatoes grow fine outside in temperatures of 60 to 110 degrees. I use a standard water pump that runs on AC power. I have it plugged into an extension cord off of my basement electrical outlet. I mix my nutrients and add to the barrel as needed. Always a mix of masterblend fertilizer, calcium nitrate, and magnesium sulfate.

[@deadfred821]

Never thought to drain one bucket into another; way to maximize your space there. You got my creative juices bubbling ...🤔

[@metalshaperJeep]

This system works great and saves a lot of space. This year I changed things up a little bit and am growing in 55 gallon drums. No pump, or hoses, just the drum and tomatoes and cucumbers. It is working great and would work great in a situation with no electricity or when you don't have a lot of space.

[@tommobley5451]

You stated if the plants started turning yellow "get on that right away", since I have no experience with hydroponics please elaborate. Fertilizer or pH problems? Or...?

[@metalshaperJeep]

you should always know the ph of your water. check it a couple times a week if it is changing due to rain or other conditions. If your plants are not a deep green you probably have a fertilizer condition and may be lacking nitrogen. Not knowing your fertilizer blend it is hard to say what is going on but you should feed your plants immediately.

[@tommobley5451]

Thanks. I'm just starting the research now, plan to start with four buckets shortly so I'm steeply in the learning phase.

[@jlurch1]

What is the size of your feeder line into the bucket? I have tried to different pumps and am only able to get my water go about 6 feet even when my pumps say the can go 25 feet, any thoughts on how I can get it to go to my last bucket?

[@AshoreToo]

Hi j l, Try to bend those small feeder hoses in secured manners so that the closer to the feed pump, the more restricted the feed, With adjustments, the final bucket will get a flow.

[@mohammadnadeem3176]

How many watt water pumps have you used here?

[@philerrup9948]

5/17/20 You still growing dutch bucket tomatoes? Did you have any problems with the temperature of your nutrient? I've read to keep nutrient 65 to 80 degrees but that's hard to get when the plants are outside in 100 degree heat.

[@metalshaperJeep]

I have never had any trouble with the temperature of the water bucket. We have plenty of 90 degree days and tomatoes are in full sun. My bucket is under the deck in the shade and the water is always cool.

[@johnwahlers3363]

I've never done a dutch bucket system but if I ever did this is how I'm gonna do it. Hopefully you had great results from yours. Thanks for sharing.

[@metalshaperJeep]

Results were great. I grew the plants down instead of up and they reached the ground and kept going. The amount of tomatoes was at least double compared to growing them in the ground. Didn't spray any pesticides on them so picking the hornworms off was a daily chore. Once you try this system you will be hooked.

[@Happyfingcampers]

Curious how your tomatoes did being so shallow did it stunt their growth because the root ball couldn't grow?

[@metalshaperJeep]

I did an update on the tomatoes in another video, check it out. The tomatoes are over 8 feet tall now and doing great. We are now harvesting tomatoes every day. The root systems are doing well with the nutrient mix I have been giving them. Averaging about 25 pounds of tomatoes a day right now and new ones are growing like crazy.

[@coelacanthfish]

@@metalshaperJeep Pls share what mix you are using for the water reservoir that feeds the tomato plants. How much water? How much of each ingredient?

[@yaqubm2730]

NICE

[@Duncansickler1]

I cut bottom off of white kitchen trash bags... slip them down on each bucket. Use the drawstrings to form around the base of the plant . The bag performs double duty. Blocks the suns heat and sheds rain. Yet... you can still get at the system/plants when you need.

[@metalshaperJeep]

great idea

[@golfshoe9321]

Yea, that's a cool trick...will def use some trash bags to prevent rain getting into the system since this dilutes the fert.

[@tonkatoytruck]

You have a lot more evaporation occurring than plant water usage. I suggest running a timer for 30 minutes, three times a day. Your water\fertilizer usage will drop dramatically. Keeping the sump in the shade and covered will also help.

[@zanedominic8776]

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[@renegerald3289]

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[@zanedominic8776]

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[@renegerald3289]

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[@pogimanila6107]

What feltilizer u used

[@totyrasta]

hello, i have a question. How long do i have to turn the water pump on? or what kind of cycle i have to do.thanks

[@metalshaperJeep]

I have pump on a time and run it for 30 minutes at a time. I usually have the pump come on about 6 to 8 times a day depending on how hot it is.

[@jaswindersingh4784]

can we grow tomatoes in vertical aquaponic system. Can we use WS npk?, if not Why can't?, if i want to fish in storage tank then the nutrients which i add to aquaponic can kill fish or not?

[@metalshaperJeep]

I don't know what WS npk is? Please explain.

[@jaswindersingh4784]

water soluble Nitrogen, potassium and calcium

[@abdurrah9917]

What kind of fertilizer do u put in? And amount of fertilizer? Do u put the fertilizer daily or not

[@metalshaperJeep]

I use masterblend with some additives to give the proper fertilizer. It is added at different intervals depending on how much the plants are drinking. Sometimes daily, but at the beginning of growth about every week. Every system is different.

[@abdurrah9917]

Do u supply the water whole day and night or how many hours per day?

[@metalshaperJeep]

The water/fertilizer is in a 55 gallon bucket with a pump. It is pumped into the buckets where 3 inches of water will always remain. Any more than that will flow out of bucket and be returned to 55 gallon drum. The root system is constantly feeding off of the water in the bottom of the bucket and that is kept wet 24 hours a day. As the plants drink more water must be delivered. My pump will supply water 6 times a day, and run for 45 minutes per cycle. Pump is on a timer and begins just before sunrise and last cycle is just after sunset. More water during the hottest part of the day as the plants are really drinking and giving off water.

[@jerrywaters4814]

Be interesting to see how that works.

[@jarekhalikowski]

Hi! i love Your system! For the last 3 years we are living in South Spain and trying to grow our veggies in simillar system. I have a question, how You are avoid locking the nozzles? We are growing our veggies outdor, and cleanig nozzles is a nightmare. We need to do it sometimes 2/3 times a day. Cleaning pipes, changing nozzles gives a result only for a sort time. Best regards from Tarifa!

[@metalshaperJeep]

I never had a problem with clogged nozzles. Make sure your reservoir is large enough and all your nutrients are well dissolved. Mix them in a small bucket until they are completely dissolved then add them to your main reservoir. I can usually go a full season without having to clean a single nozzle.

[@samanthanicholson3044]

Cover your water nutrient bucket itll save water from evaporation n keep bugs out

[@metalshaperJeep]

covering the water bucket led to lots of mold inside . With no cover the sunlight kept the water much cleaner.

[@samanthanicholson3044]

metalshaper wow thats crazy. Thanks. Nice set up and tomatoes look happy n heathy

[@samanthanicholson3044]

metalshaper are you planning on cloning any of the tomatoes suckers? I jad 95% turn out on ours just have to have a early start on them so they can get fruiting before the cold comes. The suckers turned out better then the ones I got em from and mostly free. Where did you get the seals from the return pvc could hold clones, maybe operate it for double use?

[@rogerbanta9382]

Evaporation plays havoc on your nutrient numbers

[@rogerbanta9382]

white buckets allow light in.

[@larsdikmans3189]

Hi nice setup man! I was wondering, how do you deal with rainwater? Seems that it is now collecting in the buckets. I have same dutch bucket setup myself and also collect a lot of rainwater into my system.

[@metalshaperJeep]

I don't worry much about the rainwater. As long as you keep the proper amount of additives in the water there won't be any trouble.

[@GarettFinney]

Why don't you use a larger container for the reservoir?

[@cruikshank]

Hi, with no lids on your bucks does your nutrients get diluted when it rains? Do Dutch buckets allow for air roots?

[@metalshaperJeep]

I keep up with the nutrients in the water at all times so there is no trouble with dilution from the rain. The plants get everything they need in the buckets, air, water, nutrients, etc.....

[@MikeJones-qo7vt]

So the reservoir just overflows when it rains?

[@tristanr42]

How often do you change the nutrient solution?

[@metalshaperJeep]

It depends on how often it rains. After a heavy rain I add nutrients. When it doesn't rain I add water and nutrients every week. Lots of things effect water an nutrients, heat and humidity are big factors. Keep an eye on evaporation and nutrients if you are loosing a lot of water due to heat. It takes a while to figure out what to do and when to do it but once you have it figured out the results are amazing.

[@Imwright720]

My hydroponics are outside. No problems. I did build a greenhouse around them but my neighbor complained and I had to take it down. Turned out the hurricane would have anyway.

[@omarsaquatics2580]

Awesome. How high up does the substrate have to come up in the buckets?

[@metalshaperJeep]

I fill the buckets with stones 1/3

[@omarsaquatics2580]

@@metalshaperJeep thanks much.

[@tahbiplab]

Any nutrient s there with water ?

[@metalshaperJeep]

yes the water is loaded with the proper nutrients for the plants . The water is the delivery system for the nutrients. You use different food for different plants.

[@manishvlogpb]

hello bro i am from india n i want to grow tomato into bucket... i have doubt.. plz let me know how much time and how many times i have to run water pump and air pump in 24 hours? thanks

[@metalshaperJeep]

I run the pump for 30 minutes at a time and have it come on about 8 times a day to circulate fresh water and fertilizer to the roots of the plants.

[@manishvlogpb]

@@metalshaperJeep thanks bro and what about air pump

[@germaineludik]

do you run your pump continuously?

[@metalshaperJeep]

my pump is on a time and runs for an hour at a time. comes on about 6 times a day and runs for an hour. I run it during daylight hours and it is off from about 8 at night until 5 the next morning.

[@sakuno1952]

Nice and easy way the other Aquaponics method but it doesn't control temperature or shelter needed??

[@metalshaperJeep]

I don't have a greenhouse built yet so I wanted to try it outdoors. It worked GREAT!! Growing season isn't as long as greenhouse with temp control but the crop was huge and better than expected.

[@dlvmark]

how do you control bugs?

[@metalshaperJeep]

we had a few cucumber beetles that we just hand picked and they were not a problem. Biggest problem this year was a lot of tomato horn worms. I don't spray any pesticides so just hand picked them off as well.

[@beesbuzz-2023]

What pH and ec for yr tomatoes?

[@metalshaperJeep]

my tomatoes did best when the ph was 5.9-6.1. My water was a little higher than that so I was always lowering the ph for the best results.

[@beesbuzz-2023]

metalshaper I Will try this p.H. and ec at 2.5. M. TKS and congrats

[@im1in260m]

Sounds like a Geiger counter!

[@_1539]

Hello...how did this go? Any feedback?

[@metalshaperJeep]

This process worked better than expected. No weeds to deal with, and super healthy plants. Harvest was more than double compared to the same amount planted in the ground. I grew them up at first but the growth was so fast I let them hang down after a while. Most of the plants were about 14 to 16 feet long from the rock base I planted them in and there were tomatoes the whole length.

[@timjones1583]

What about water temp? Does it get to hot?

[@metalshaperJeep]

I keep my water bucket under the deck in the shade so it stays cooler than in direct sun. I have never had trouble with water that was too hot and the plants don't mind the different water temps from early morning until late night. Never had plants suffer as there is always water in the bottom of the bucket and the roots enjoy the water and nutrients.

[@David-mv3zl]

I've seen videos where people use chillers but if you put just a tad bit of chlorine bleach in the water [Or if you are rich buy resClear] keeps weird stuff from growing in your water. Keeping in dark helps too.

[@madhavdivya]

@@David-mv3zl Chlorine is not advisable. The water must be free of chlorine to being with. As you have rightly pointed out, colouring the buckets, pipe lines and reservoir / storage drum in black definitely helps.

[@aminm2152]

Good

[@atlastobin7837]

Grow some grapes, raspberries and blueberries...

[@barbarakramer2744]

Do you run your water pump 24/7?

[@metalshaperJeep]

I have the pump on a time and run it during daylight hours. comes on about 6 time a day for 30 minutes at a time. Starts just before sunrise and ends just after sunset. If it is extremely hot I run it a few more times a day

[@barbarakramer2744]

Thank you. I’m starting mine on 5 minutes every 55 minutes during the day 22 hours. Expensive timer, but can monitor very closely.

[@mikesmith8789]

Does pump run continuously?

[@metalshaperJeep]

No the pump is on a timer and runs 5 times a day for 40 minutes. I don't run the pump in the late evening hours.

[@mikesmith8789]

Thanks. How often do you change the nutrients?

[@diegopatricio6367]

Only stones?

[@metalshaperJeep]

yes, stones only in the buckets

[@gokuldahal9865]

Yes I can do!never my house from

[@kerryclay5354]

Did you say you grew the tomatoes in pea-gravel

[@metalshaperJeep]

yes, the tomatoes you see are grown in rocks.

[@rakeshrai326]

Sir I am indians so I request you are understand me hindi please I request

[@rogerbanta9382]

over crowding issues I foresee

[@tonkatoytruck]

Indeterminate tomatoes grow up, not out. His spacing is fine.

[@rogerbanta9382]

I grew like this, there was crowding issues

[@rogerbanta9382]

MHPgardner has the correct spacing on his set up

[@larrybrockway3278]

Please remove that yellow bucket!! Lol Lol

[@user-vk9vi5hc6z]

hi

[@metalshaperJeep]

Hello, thanks for watching.

[@casperwallace9685]

I get the job...but it looks ugly

[@rickeydesormeaux8378]

the clacking sound sucks

[@brianwade8649]

Rickey Desormeaux autofocus making noise