Grow Multiple Plants in 5 Gal Bucket

[bubspeppers]

Anyone have success growing 3 or 4 plants (same type) in a single 5 gal bucket? I'm going to try two, hoping to maximize space.
 
- bub

 

[karoo]

Up to 3 easily , same species obviously.
 
For pots or in the ground.
 
If you want the best production per single plant , spread them wide.
 
If you want the best production per available space , you can pack them in tight.

 

[bubspeppers]

Thanks Karoo! - I am growing on a balcony so every inch counts

 

[jedisushi06]

pack the same type in don't mix strains unless you are crossing.

 

[Edmick]

I've done it before and I'm pretty sure the 3 plants combined got as big and produced the same end yield as if I would have just done one plant. Simply put, I dont think you'll stand to gain any benefit from doing it that way. If space permits, maybe a larger container would help.

 

[thegreenman]

I usually do 2 per bucket, in case one doesn't perform well.

 

[FITN]

I had never really thought about growing more then one per container. After reading this, I may be double up in my 20 gallon totes this year.

 

[bubspeppers]

FITN - cool, post a thread if you do, I'll check it out. Saw The Rusted Garden do 2 plants per 5 gal bucket video. Said it worked fine.

 

[D3monic]

I've done it before and I'm pretty sure the 3 plants combined got as big and produced the same end yield as if I would have just done one plant. Simply put, I dont think you'll stand to gain any benefit from doing it that way. If space permits, maybe a larger container would help.

This

 

[chrisw]

I would be interested in any updates from this if anyone can comment if it helps with production. I was planning to do one per bucket.

 

[FITN]

I would be interested in any updates from this if anyone can comment if it helps with production. I was planning to do one per bucket.

It will be a few months but if I remember, I'll post a few pictures on this thread once I set up my 20 gallon tubs.

 

[Tybo]

Last year I was at a local asian market and the folks had plants of all types for sale outside.  I saw some great looking Thai peppers growing in 5 gallon buckets.  Most had 4 to 5 plants in them.  I purchased a bucket and it had peppers that grew pointing up and some hanging down like cayenne's but a bit hotter.  I had so many peppers from this bucket it was unreal!  I have several bags of these in the freezer still.  Mostly make homemade Thai chili sauce but dehydrate some for powder.

 

[Geonerd]

Several small plants in one pot allows you to 'sample' lots of (unknown) pods in a limited space.  Co-habitating plants are fairly likely to produce hybrid seeds - which can make for fun results when you grow them out the next season. 

 

[luvmesump3pp3rz]

i have never tried more than 1 plant per pot. i thought it would be too cramped. i have a limited area to grow with a small patch in ground which i use for tomatoes and cucumbers and pepper plants in 5 gallon buckets. if it works i could double my grow.     

 

[The_NorthEast_ChileMan]

I have grown many peppers in various size pots but always 1 per pot, see pic below.
 
 

I will offer some advice on growing a plant centered in a 5 gal. pail... Put some kind of tall stake in the center, I use some salvaged trunk springs from my automotive days, as this will serve two purposes. The first is is to attach the handle to it so as the plant grows it grows around it otherwise the plant Edit: soddenly suddenly prevents the bail from being centered for lifting bucket. The other is, unless you cage, if the branches start to sag due to fruit weight you have a method to support them.
 

 
See the bail near the bottom of the pic and how the plant grew around it?

 

[Masher]

I did 2's and 3's my first year here along side same species in singles.


As Ed posted above....the multi planted pots produced the same size of growth as a single and the yield was also the same.

I only grow singles now.