Turn the 5-gallon bucket over and drill 4 to 6 half-inch drainage holes, spaced evenly over the bottom of the bucket.
Fill the bucket one-half to three-quarters with a mixture of equal parts peat moss, perlite or sand, and garden loam or potting soil.
Remove your tomato seedling from its nursery container, using caution not to damage the roots.
Position the seedling in the center of the bucket with just the top 2 to 4 leaves above the surface. Fill in around the stem and roots with soil and firm it down with your hands to secure the seedling.
Water thoroughly until water runs freely through the bottom of the bucket.
Apply water-soluble fertilizer designed for tomato plants to the moist soil. Repeat applications of fertilizer every 10 to 14 days.
Place the bucket in an area that receives full sun for at least 6 to 8 hours a day.
Add a trellis or tomato cage at this time, if you are growing indeterminate tomatoes.
Water whenever the soil feels dry 1 inch below the surface. Adjust to daily watering during hot dry spells. Soil in containers also dries more quickly than garden soil.
