One youtube channel by Larry & Eyvonne Hall has videos on interesting watering systems for 5 gallon buckets.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVnDfVS8raCaGEM0BOypsLg

I’d honestly try again to dissuade her. Tending individual containers is far more challenging and far more work than raised or in ground beds. With 2 year old twins I’d be cutting out all the unnecessary work I could.

5 gallon bucket system? Which system is she planning on using? Most systems (5 gal or otherwise) often come with some sort of instructions on how to best run that system.

Also, what is she planning on growing in the system? Some plants do really well in containers, and some not so much. Like I grow my peppers in containers up to 5 gallons, and can grow herbs, some smaller root crops, flowers... even smaller patio sized cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, eggplants, and squashes can do 5 gallon buckets. But I wouldn't try to grow full sized indet tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets.

I also grow in ground beds, layered/lasagne beds, raised beds, and compost cage beds. I have plenty of acres for growing, but I like having my kitchen container garden.

A 5G container is too small for many crops. And I also would not rely on drip irrigation for small containers in full sun all day long.

It is also very difficult to maintain organic protocols with container gardening and still realize a very successful harvest. Organic fertilizers are just not efficiently utilized in a container gardening setting and the plants will lack adequate nutrition, which will impact their growth and productivity.

I grow my entire vegetable garden in pots, most being about 5 gal. I agree that growing in pots is more labor intensive and requires a really good irrigation system or daily hand-watering in the summer. I don't go on any summer trips. The plants do need a weak fertilizing about once a week.

I haven't had any problem growing tomatoes in very large pots; summer heat is more of a problem since tomatoes won't set fruit over 90 degrees.... which is most of the summer months here.

In addition to my citrus and fig trees, I also grow - in pots - summer squashes, okra, herbs, chili-type peppers, beans, Asian-type eggplants (Ichiban, Shikou, Ping Tang). In the winter I grow the cooler crops like lettuces, cabbages, peas, beets, carrots, etc.)

The trick is always a big enough pot for the plant. Wider and less deep seems to work best for the biggest pots.

If you can use the ground in beds, you should. Maybe compromise, make some beds in the best areas, use buckets in the harder spaces.

Seems to be a bit of theme developing here . Do you think it will persuade DIL?

Floral, I think you are correct. 😄 There was a time when I too would have argued against pots. At this house, with its heavily landscaped, city-sized lot, with adobe soil, it would be hard to grow inground, so I am a fairly-new convert to Pot Farming. 😁 Perhaps the DIL has a similar situation in densly-populated Livermore.

I have to say that pots add heighth, so not so much bending over or crawling around on the ground. Also, I have very few weeds to contend with. I haven't used a spade or digging fork in years. The fruits and veggies also tend to be cleaner when pulled or picked. It is far easier to gather the lemons from the potted Meyer than the inground lime and lemon trees. Unfortunately the inground Aprium has gottten out-of-control and has gotten too tall. Oh well....

I agree with all of you, and I'll try to talk her into in ground or raised beds, but we'll see!

Also, she's talking about 20+ buckets and I'm afraid she's getting in over her head!

I started small and gradually went up to 7 4x8 beds, but have just 3 4x8s at my new home. Just right. (I miss my asparagus, though!)

I was going to add that the ground in that area may too stony, clayey, hard to dig for in-ground beds, but a raised bed would work. I see I'm not alone.

Is she aware of Earthboxes and similar products? I have 4 and use them for greens and herbs.

https://earthbox.com/gardening-systems

IMPE, 5 gal. utility buckets are not ideal for growing stuff. I prefer recycled nursery pots.

I was there yesterday helping with the twins and mentioned this thread. I was actually able to pull it up on my tablet!

She chuckled at the "when she makes up her mind...", but agreed with the crappy soil in the area, and 20 buckets may be over kill!

I think I've talked her into just trying a half dozen buckets this year as a starter. I also brought up the grow bags as a thought, though gophers will get into them. I'll scan the neighborhood in the next few months and see if they have gophers in the area, then gift them with solar sound emitters if they do!

Thanks, all!