Advice about this gardening idea (veggies in compost bucket)?

Question

We have a large black trash can with the bottom cut out. Our idea is to layer kitchen waste, chicken manure, and shredded paper in the bucket until about a foot from the top. Then we'd put in purchased soil, either garden or potting soil, on top and plant a vegetable in it (such as tomatoes or zucchini). So the idea is that the plant would grow in the top, any roots that got deep would find nutrients but if they got burned there's still plenty of root space on top. We'd water very well and excess water would drip down and keep the compost pile moist, so hopefully we'd have nice compost after the growing season. I also thought maybe a vining plant (like indeterminate tomatoes) would drape over the sides and look really cool. My main concern is about heat--we live in zone 9 or 10, and I'm worried the heat of the compost plus the sun on the black trash can would be too much, even if we put it in a partially shaded area.
Any tips or ideas on our plan? Do you think it would work?

Ohiorganic · Accepted Answer

The rotting compost will tie up most nutrients and the chicken manure will likely burn the plants and if not burn them to death will add too much nitrogen to the mix so you will get a lot of foliage but few flowers and fruits. 

You won't have finished compost when you are done growing things as the compost will not have been turned and will not heat up much after the first week or so (which is when the tender seedlings would be in the pot and it will likely be too hot for them as compost can heat up to 147F initially.

It is best to keep unfinished compost and plants separate as they have very different requirements.

frank · Answer

You may want to skip the shredded news papers,because it has no nutrients,and it also cakes up stopping drainage.You will not have a rich compost at the end of the season,because your plant will gobble up all the nutrient.If you are going to keep adding thing to your container,make sure it is well composted,or you are going to have things rot and affect the health of your plant.Also expect your plant to some what sink lower into the container,because nutrients will be used up,and your soil mixture will get more compacted.You do not have to worry about your container or the compost heating up.Tomatoes love heat,and you will get good results.

distaffen · Answer

It relies upon the position you're contained in the country, yet you're exceedingly a lot too overdue now for peas to achieve fulfillment everywhere, and in case you advance lettuce and different leafy vegetables, they'll desire some danger-free practices from the completed solar, and to be kept nicely watered. Carrots and radishes (root vegetables) desire mushy sandy soil, otherwise they'll finally end up distorted. additionally they desire quite some water to row nicely. Brussels sprouts and cabbage are literally complicated. they elect a lengthy cool turning out to be season and sprouts desire to be frosted to style sturdy. exceedingly a lot each and every thing should be contained in the floor now, yet you lots desire to guard the mushy flora (peppers and melons) from chilly nights. i detect that plastic gallon milk bottles with the bottom decrease off and no caps do okay as miniature greenhouses. you're being very formidable for a first time vegetable gardener. i imagine it really is continually better suited to commence with some better accessible flora (tomatoes, peppers, eco-friendly beans) then upload each and each and every 3 hundred and sixty 5 days. also, in basic terms advance the belongings you incredibly elect to eat and that are better intense priced contained in the shops. it truly is why I in no way difficulty with carrots and cabbage.

sciencegravy · Answer

I like the idea.  Try it out and see.  Maybe paint the outside white to deflect hear.

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Advice about this gardening idea (veggies in compost bucket)?

4 Answers