This is quite a bit different from what I normally build but here goes anyway.

 

A few months ago we bought 12 five gallon food grade buckets to build a bucket garden.  At first we were going to build it in a 3x4 configuration but decided to build it in a 2x6 configuration instead.  I bought the treated 2x4's and engaged our 14-year old grandson to assist.  

 

We cut the 10' 2x4's to the proper length for the long stretchers and since he had limited time that's all we did for a few days.  But he wanted to help build it so I waited until he could help again.  When he was available his best friend wanted to help, as well.  So Monday afternoon, the day before Valentine's day (critical info for later) I picked them up from school and we hit the shop.  

 

Three hours later we had a finished bucket stand!  And they learned a lot about working in a shop environment as well as using tools brand new to them, so it was a good day.  When my wife got home from work I showed her the bucket stand and told her that since I'm a guy and the next day was Valentine's Day, then Happy Valentine's Day!   

 

It didn't matter to her that I should have built this months ago so that was a good thing.  Now we have to get dirt and begin planting whatever she wants to grow.

Edited February 15, 20233 yr by difalkner

don't forget drainage holes.

Love it! The 2 x 6 configuration should be much easier to access all to the containers!

 

Great to know kids still want to get involved.

Edited February 16, 20233 yr by lew

Great job!  It's always good when we can show SWMBO that our hobbies can be useful!

2 hours ago, DAB said:

don't forget drainage holes.

We drilled four holes in the bottom of each bucket - thanks!

2 hours ago, lew said:

Love it! The 2 x 6 configuration should be much easier to access all to the containers!

 

Great to know kids still want to get involved.

Thanks, Lew!  Yes, she wanted the 2x6 configuration so that's what we went with.  And she wanted everything at the same level; we've seen some where the levels are stair-stepped.

1 hour ago, Thad said:

Great job!  It's always good when we can show SWMBO that our hobbies can be useful!

Thanks, Thad!  And yes, when she said she wanted this built it jumped to the front of the list for me. 

David, that is a great design and one that I will likely copy if I get back to gardening.  I used to do some container gardening and had some limited success (and some fails).  My best crops out of the buckets were peppers and cherry tomatoes.  And, of course, flowers.

I like the design and especially the footprint. An inch or so of Lava Rock in each bucket prior to soil helps with the drainage.

 

So, what is the planned "crop(s) for this growing season?

2 hours ago, Cal said:

David, that is a great design and one that I will likely copy if I get back to gardening.  I used to do some container gardening and had some limited success (and some fails).  My best crops out of the buckets were peppers and cherry tomatoes.  And, of course, flowers.

Thanks, Cal!  Copy away - this one is 84" long and 27" wide if that helps.

41 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

I like the design and especially the footprint. An inch or so of Lava Rock in each bucket prior to soil helps with the drainage.

 

So, what is the planned "crop(s) for this growing season?

Thanks, Dave!  Good tip on the lava rock, we'll check into that.  Planned?  Strawberries, tomatoes, garlic, cucumbers to start with, maybe potatoes but we might need a different container for those.

You can do potatoes in a barrel just layer potato and soil. Don't remember the exact procedure but you end up with a barrel of potatoes

10 minutes ago, Gerald said:

You can do potatoes in a barrel just layer potato and soil. Don't remember the exact procedure but you end up with a barrel of potatoes

IIRC you can do monkeys in the same way?

25 minutes ago, Gerald said:

You can do potatoes in a barrel just layer potato and soil. Don't remember the exact procedure but you end up with a barrel of potatoes

That's kind of what I was thinking, at least based on what I've read.  We'll see what we can come up with.

NW Louisiana - I would think you would have a growing season somewhat comparable to ours in middle Georgia?  Our strawberries and onions (garlic) are spring crops and get planted in the fall.  Can you plant them now and expect a crop?  Cucumbers take up a lot of space, you might consider a roll of garden fence for the vines to climb.  I did not try potatoes in buckets.  I do have a friend though that grew them in old car tires, stacked two or three high - he just used old mulch hay and no soil.  As I recall he used to get a good crop, but has since given up his gardening.  I have a volunteer potato in my mulch pile now, likely it will get froze or simply die from heat before I get any spuds from it

We're going to find out, Cal.  She's going to follow proper procedure for when to plant but she's eager to get plants in the ground.  Except for getting the dirt and eating what this produces, my job is finished on this one. 

 

Ok, I'm sure I'll help with the planting and maintenance work, as well.  I read somewhere that the second year is better for strawberries so maybe we should have done this two years ago. 

Just finished the video that goes along with this build.  There's some good banter between all of us and I think the boys had a good time and learned a few things in building this stand.

 

Truly enjoyed this video. Fun to watch.

Thank-you David for taking time to capture, post, share your skills and knowledge with these two young men who described the experience as "the best day I've had in a long time." Greatly appreciated the "bonus" segment of the B-52 on approach too.

Awesome job all around.

4 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Truly enjoyed this video. Fun to watch.

Thank-you David for taking time to capture, post, share your skills and knowledge with these two young men who described the experience as "the best day I've had in a long time." Greatly appreciated the "bonus" segment of the B-52 on approach too.

Awesome job all around.

Thanks, Dave!  It truly was a blast being with these two young men and teaching them a few things that happen in the shop and on a simple build like this.  We're just a few miles from BAFB where the majority of our B-52 fleet resides so we see these in the air every day but I try not to take them for granted.  It's a wonderful job these folks do to ensure our safety!

Good on you, Dave! A project and lessons they will remember for a long time.

Thanks, Lew!  I knew he had a good time building this but his dad texted this morning to tell me he hasn't stopped talking about building this bucket garden stand.  That definitely makes it all worthwhile! 

David, while watching YouTubes a couple days ago this video popped up.  I thought it was pretty interesting and if/when I get back to bucket gardening I will try this or some version of it:

 

 

 

It may be too late for you this year, but something to consider.

Here's an update with plants in the buckets -