2-Bin Self Watering Potato Bucket

I've decided to add a new element to my gardening arsenal, self-watering containers.  I think they would more accurately be called "automatic-wicking reservoir systems" but that's just me.  Anyway, here is my potato bucket and my first successful prototype.  The basic concept is to create a reservoir for water in the bottom; create a way for the water to wick into the soil; and include a mechanism for filling the reservoir. 

the final product

Materials:

• two large plastic planters (~ $15 each at Lowe's)
• fat pvc pipe (~ 4" dia.)
• skinny pvc pipe (~ 2" dia.)
• Power Tools (Optional): drill, compound mitre saw, skill saw 

In this case, I've created a 2 gallon reservoir by measuring the water level at 2 g. and cutting the fat pipe so that the top container rests at the correct height.  The pipe acts as both a support for the top container and as the holder for the soil wick.  I've drilled several 1/4" holes around the pipe in order to let water freely into the wick.  Having a 2-gallon capacity will allow me a little more freedom with watering.  I should have enough water to tide me over for a day or two during the really hot days of summer.  Obviously, the bigger the reservoir, the less often I will need to water.  *Note: most large vegetables will use a gallon of water each day at their peak.

Next, I prepared the top container.  The soil wick needs to touch the soil in the container, so I've cut out a large access hole in the center.  Also, I've drilled several 1/4" holes to allow for air circulation from the bottom.  It's not shown, but I also cut a hole for the "snorkel", or small watering pipe.

bottom view of the top container

soil wick before the top
container is put in place.

Before I can add the top container, I need to put a bit of soil in the wick. 


The last step is to add the top container and I'm ready to plant!  I'm using this container for potatoes so it's a little different than just filling it to the top and planting.  I put a base of about 3-4" of good container soil and placed my 6 beautiful seed potatoes on top.  I put just another few inches of soil on top and watered.  As the potato plants grow up, I will add more soil ("hilling" the potatoes) until the box is full. 

 Can't wait to taste these yummy tubers :)!!

First Garden Day of 2011!!!

Yay! Today we got out in the garden and kicked things off for the season :) It still amazes me that I am actually out in the garden in mid-February. Growing up, these would have been the darkest, coldest, snowiest days of arctic weather that winter had to offer. Today's high was close to 60 and it's supposed to be mid-70s tomorrow. I LOVE North Carolina :)

I cleared out the strawberry pot (the one I previously assumed was dead a would need to be replanted) and I am amazed at how vigorously the plants are already growing. They even threw out a few runners that we've decided to let be for now. Perhaps the strawberry pot will surround itself with a nice little strawberry patch.

A trip to Lowe's almost got us going with the modest soil ammendments we have planned for this season. Unfortunately, the tiller still remains out of commission. I'm going to try a combination of peat and compost for the areas where we're planting directly in the ground. I'm sticking with Miracle Gro Organic Garden Soil for the raised beds and barrels. That seemed to work pretty well last year.

Carson and I put in the first seeds of the year today as well. Off in the side bed, we planted a small row of heirloom carrots, half-row of buttercrunch lettuce, and another half-row of little ceasar lettuce. Sadly, we totally forgot to water the new seeds. What in the world? Well, looks like I have a chore for tomorrow.

The 2011 garden season starts today :)

Late Summer Garden 2010

Every single bean and every single cucumber/pickle sprouted! How exciting will it be if we get a huge crop at the end of summer?! I've got bush beans, picklebush, and bush cucs here all together. I hate to thin so we'll just have to see how these guys live together!

yummy strawberries... mmm....

What an exciting day! Tryston and Carson picked our very first two strawberries this evening.

Carson helped to wash off the dirt so that Tryston and I could sample the fruits of our last few weeks' labors. They were so juicy and sweet and we just can't wait for the next batch to ripen.

first harvest

Today is a very important day for my garden experiment... we harvested our first spinach crop tonight :~). I couldn't believe it when my first harvest filled an entire salad bowl and I probably could have picked a few more. Unfortunately, the entire harvest came from the right side plot. The left side is struggling, hopefully some relief from the hot, hot spring we've had will kick them into gear.

Here's the spinach post-harvest:


Our very first strawberry finally turned red this weekend! Check out Carson's little green snake. It's his plan to keep the birds away from our berries... so far, so good.

Also check out red strawberry #2! Not too shabby. The pot is full of ripening fruit; can't wait for our first strawberry harvest!







Update on the rest of the garden...

The broccoli is finally looking healthy and strong. I was worried for a while, especially when all of the leaves were turning green and dying on the bottom. But I think we are finally past the worst and hope to see some bunches soon!

I'm now worried about the herb box. Still haven't relocated it to my back deck and I'm worried it's just getting too dry in the hot sun.

green thumb

Carson and Tryston got pumpkins and watermelons in their Easter baskets. After planting the seeds in the windowsill for several weeks, the pumpkins are finally ready to hit the dirt!

Carson is all suited up and ready to garden...


We decided to plant them along the side of the house. We're hoping to "train" the vines to travel along the outside of the landscaping.

Now, if only those watermelons would catch up...

broccoli!

Today, we added broccoli to our little vegetable family. Four plants now grace the back section of the yard with room for some hot weather plants next to them. Carson planted the two on the right and I did the two on the left :)

Along with the broccoli, I finally got started on my herb box. My ultimate plan is to put the box off the side of my deck. I think the sunlight will be enough back there. For now, the herb box will hang out in the back yard until we can get some new mounting brackets. We have Rosemary, Basil, and Onion Chives, mmmm.