Self watering buckets are the way to go

[lettuceleaf]

This idea helped me grow fantastic tomatoes last summer. It's easy, and so inexpensive!

http://mckarion.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/plant-your-grow-bucket/

 

[PunkinPeep]

What does a self-watering bucket look like?

 

[lettuceleaf]

Punkinpeep, love that name! its just a five gallon bucket (I use pickle buckets from a fast food place) with a colander in the bottom.

You will get a pretty good idea if you click on words in the first sentence of the article "self watering bucket" which is highlighted.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Thanks!

I don't mean to be cyber-dense, but i didn't see any pictures at that link.

How does a five-gallon bucket and a collander become a self-watering planter?

 

[lettuceleaf]

Okay try this. l am learning too. Sorry.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=7023147

The instructions in the original article that you get by clicking the highlighted words pretty much sums up how it becomes a self watering bucket.

 

[PunkinPeep]

O.k. thanks.

I did some reading on that thread, and now i think i get it.

I kept wondering how in the world you could put more water in there. But that's what the straw's for, right?

 

[lettuceleaf]

You put water into the big white tube mine is a piece of 2 inch pvc water pipe) I that sticks out of the top of the bucket. The drinking straw (a spill tube) goes into a little hole in the sides of the bucket and colander so you know when to stop pouring water into the fill pipe.

maybe this picture will help
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=6792900

 

[jojo54]

This idea helped me grow fantastic tomatoes last summer. It's easy, and so inexpensive!

http://mckarion.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/plant-your-grow-bucket/

Are you only growing tomatoes in them? Or do you have plans for other stuff as well?

 

[lettuceleaf]

If it can be grown in an Earthbox style container it can be grown in the bucket. The bucket is just small, about 12 inches across, so usually one plant grows best per bucket.

I actually grew squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, okra, swiss chard, in 5 gallon buckets last summer. Just wasn't this particular design self water bucket. A group of us came up with this design because the ones we were using required a lot more components to build, and were harder to assemble.

 

[obsessed]

Leaf lettuce where are you at location wise? I live in the deep south and I would think that the buckets would cook the roots of a plant here. What kind of temps did you have last summer? Why would you use these over a garden bed? Is it a space issue or a productivity issue? Thanks