Having a lush garden is one of the brightest joys in life. And you don’t need a farm, a big yard, or any yard to cultivate one. It’s one of the many life lessons that RV living has taught me: less is more. The best garden I ever tried my thumb at was, in fact, a bucket garden. So, if you’re wondering if an RV garden is possible, I’ve got great news for you. It is. And not only is it possible, it’s a great way to grow your own veggies. Which saves money and makes for healthier — and tastier — meals.
So, how do you grow an RV garden? Let’s make it an open secret and dig into the details.
An RV Garden in a Bucket
First, I should share this. I have tried my hand at gardening in many yards. But the only garden that yielded delicious, plentiful, healthy plants was a bucket garden. It seems counterintuitive doesn’t it? A garden needs lots of soil, space, and room to grow, right?
I’ve found that gardening is about quality, not quantity. It’s not about how much soil the plants get, it’s about what kind of soil. In a traditional garden, you are at the mercy of whatever is in your yard. But in a container, you are in control of every ounce of dirt. Using nutrient-rich soil and compost gives you bright, flavorful produce. The arugula that came out of my bucket garden was so delicious and spicy it almost crackled in my mouth.
Containers, Pots, and Buckets
Space in an RV is precious, and you want to curate every inch of it. You may want to start off with herbs and microgreens in smaller containers. Or jump in with both feet by getting a few mixing buckets for full-size fruits and greens.
Lest you feel like your RV is going to look like a science lab — this is the fun part. Well, I take that back, it’s all fun in my opinion, but making your buckets stand out is where you can really let your creativity shine. If your containers are small enough you can make macrame hangers for them, transforming your little buckets into crafted masterpieces. If you have a sturdy enough support to hang your garden from, consider this pot hanger, which can support and display a clay pot up to 50 pounds.
And remember, you don’t have to be a sedentary RVer to make this work. If you’re on the go, look for (or build) a collapsible folding plant holder to put your buckets on while you’re stationary. It’s easy to fold up and put away when you decide to hit the road again. And if buckets are too heavy, or take up too much space for your RV garden set up, check out these growing bags. They are small, lightweight, and can be hung from various places.
What to Grow in Your RV Garden
With a container garden, you want to curate your selection of plants to those you like to use, and that will produce a useful yield in the space you have. Other selection criteria include cost-effectiveness, hardiness, growing time, and possible pests.
My favorite herbs for cooking are mint, cilantro, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and parsley, all of which do great in containers. Microgreens do well in small containers, and they don’t need drainage.
Fruits that grow well in containers and small spaces include peaches, plums, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, among others. Salad greens as a rule do very well in containers, especially arugula, mustard greens, kale and swiss chard. Vegetables to consider would be spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and peppers, just to name a few.
Each plant will need a different amount of soil. Most herbs need just a few inches, but larger plants, such as tomatoes, will want at least a foot of soil. If space is a concern, a lot of fruits and vegetables come in dwarf varieties. I prefer the taste of cherry tomatoes, which fit much nicer in a bucket than the larger variety.
Make sure you have enough space not only for your plants’ containers, but also room for them to grow. Do a little planning before you roll an empty cart into Home Depot’s plant section with a belly full of coffee and a head full of ideas. That is a dangerous place to be in if you haven’t come up with a shopping list and a plan of attack.
Choosing the Right Soil Mix
The best soil for a bucket garden is a lightweight soil that holds nutrients and drains well. Garden soil is too heavy. A good blend would be a soil substitute mixed with peat moss, pearlite or vermiculite and compost. Any soil sold at a hardware store for “raised bed gardens” should do the trick. Drainage is key: the soil needs to drain extra well to prevent mold and rot.
The formula I follow, from bottom to top, is:
- ¼ gravel rocks at the bottom
- ½ raised bed potting soil
- ¼ compost
The potting soil already has compost in it, but I like to sprinkle a little something special on there, like mushroom compost or Black Cow.
Tip: Before you start, don’t forget to drill drainage holes in the bottom of your container if they’re needed.
Planting and Growing
When potting, leave just enough room around the plant for it to fully grow. Traditional spacing recommendations are meant to facilitate bulk harvesting. Since you will be manually harvesting your greens – and space is at a premium – don’t worry too much about crowding.
Otherwise, growing in a bucket is much the same as growing in the ground. Check the care instructions for each type of plant, paying attention to the amount of sun and water they need. For day-to-day maintenance, you can install an app on your phone to remind you when it’s time to water and fertilize, but most plants just need to be checked once or twice a week.
Harvest to Table
A great perk of an RV garden is keeping your fridge clear of excess store-bought produce. At first glance, an RV garden may seem cumbersome and space-consuming. But, if you think about all the space those peppers, spinach, tomatoes and eggplants take up in your fridge, you might reconsider! Here are some more tips on keeping your RV kitchen supplied and your RV meals delicious and hassle-free.
As the seasons change, so can your plants. With a little variety in your bucket RV garden, you can continue harvesting edible plants from your containers all year long.
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