Self Watering Container and Sub-irrigated Planter

[applestar]

...Someone told me I really should "shower cap" the plastic mulch over the rims, but
I just wanted to get them planted -- I've been pushing myself too hard lately, but there are still so much to do! (You can see these seedlings are woefully yellowed and stunted -- they should have been planted ages ago )

I had 4 left over pre-germinated Sprite mini-honeydew seeds so I poked a hole and stuck 2@ in. If they grow, I'll cull to one each and suffer the possible over crowded consequences. But each container has several dwarf sized pepper varieties 12-18" maximum height, so I'm hoping....

[applestar]

This morning, I tackled the eggplant SIP. After the first two, it WAS easier, but this one is in the sunniest possible location so it was hot work. I did use about 2/3 of the ProMix BX bag which allowed me to pull it over the edges and bungee it down. (I think I'll use the remaining piece for a 5 gal bucket SIP.)

My eggplants are suffering -- it really got ridiculously cold for a while, don't you think? Look at the poor Pea Eggplant and Hari Eggplant! They look the same color as the Ryobi drill. (Yeeesss, despite pepperhead212's caution about the monstrous growth of the Pea Eggplant, I put them in the same container.... )

Hopefully they will be happy now.

[pepperhead212]

I am surprised at how yellow your EP got, applestar! Many of mine in the ground (peppers, too) were very stunted, and a yellowish green, and I figured it had to be the cold nights we kept getting. A few in the Earthboxes were smaller than some, but still growing and doing well through that. And just in this last week, the ones in the ground FINALLY started doing better, so there's hope! Good luck!

[applestar]

They are looking much happier now, though the browned edge on the pea eggplant leaf is worrying me a little....

... And here is the last of the four DIY SIP. Do you think I should have mounded it a bit higher? (I guess I can add more potting mix when I plant)

I put a short 1/4" tubing in the drain hole so I can see it when the reservoir is full and draining, and I'm using a siphoned tubing in a bucket outside the garden fence to remotely add water to the reservoir

[pepperhead212]

Good luck with your setup, applestar! Just remember, once the plants get big, they really suck up the water. Today I had to tweak my timer settings to keep the containers with enough water, watering every 12 hrs., but a little less time. I may have to add some emitters to some, like that pea eggplant.

[MrBote]

I never use the shower caps over the rim any more. As long as the plastic is tucked down further than the fertilizer, it's essentially the same as filling the reservoir through the tube, except with rainwater when the opportunity arises.

[applestar]

Thanks! That gives me more confidence

...checked that the siphon remote fill and drain are working...

[albopepper]

Here are examples of things grown in my 30 gallon SIP totes, without using any plastic cover at all:













I prefer to harness rain water. Also, I like the plants to get aeration through the bottom aeration screen PLUS the surface soil line. This provides for maximum gas exchange. But you need a properly porous mix. Some things, like peanuts, won't even work if you try to use a plastic cover.

Of course if you're using a plastic cover and getting stellar results, then keep doing it!

[MrBote]

We kind of have to use them in Florida between the heat and the heavy rains. Saves on water and fertilizer and gives me a way to recycle the bags that the peat moss comes in, which happens to be black on one side, white on the other. It also allows me to mound the potting mix higher.

Here's an heirloom tomato in one, 18 gallon tote.



And it makes really large tomatoes.


I use natural mulch sometimes in the winter growing season when pests are rare and temps are cooler.

[applestar]

Wow that is huge!

I might be over planting... They are growing well so far:

these three grow to less than 4-5'ft and the middle one is a determinate

[albopepper]

Hey guys,

Seeing the boosted interest in SIPs here has given me the idea to make a little contest to show people's success stories using SIPs. I thought some of you might be interested.

The video about it is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcibWFtIGHs

Entries could be submitted to: contest2015@albopepper.com

I'm giving a free gardening shirt to the finalist who gets the most votes.

I'm not trying to drive traffic off of the site, but I don't know the best way to tell you guys about it. I hope a URL is ok.

[applestar]

Update on the Pea Eggplant and Hari Eggplant! So excited to see first blossoms

Also the SIP in the White Sauce Garden:

[pepperhead212]

Lookin' great, applestar! Pretty soon you's have so many EP you won't know what to do with it! I just stuck some in my dehydrator tonight. All those self watering containers I have out there are growing stuff like crazy!

[applestar]

I can't wait @pepperhead212 I'm seeing lots of flower buds on the SIP eggplants. THE ONES IN THE GROUND are growing very slowly in comparison.

I have to admit I am really amazed by the way the SIP PLANTS are growing. I hope they won't run out of steam. Do you ever see them running out of fertilizer and/or otherwise showing signs of stress?

I really think I over planted now -- look at the pepper SIP's ...but the peppers are starting to set and produce fruits!

[applestar]

The tomatoes in the SIP in the pallet-sided high raised bed enclosure have grown and are producing green fruits though none have ripened yet. They are obviously extra-thirsty and every morning, I find the remote bucket all the way down to the equilibrium level, with the two mosquito control goldfish desperately trying to hide in the shallow water

[applestar]

Wow, I didn't realize I haven't been updating this thread. I'll post some photos later, but all four containers have been growing fantastic plants -- tomatoes, eggplants, peppers. I've been harvesting from them all, though only some of the peppers are just starting to change color and I made a mistake with one of the eggplants and set it back.

So it's a little early yet, but I came back to this thread to ask what you do with these containers for winter if you live where the winters are severe and freezing water in tubs could potentially crack them.

People in Florida are talking about prepping and planting them for fall gardening which will extend into winter. And they apparently just remove the plants, refresh the soil mix with additional fertilizer and dolomitic lime and topping them up with approved mix, sometimes rotate crops.

...but would I have to empty them, (I guess might as well clean them, too, then) and store them?

...could I just remove the plants, empty the water reservoir, then drag them off to a corner of the yard (if I can), let them dry out as much as possible and cover with tarp to protect from rain/etc.? I don't relish the idea of emptying and refilling these huge containers.....

[Allyn]

I grew up in New Jersey, so I have a good idea what your winters are like. I'd be afraid that anything left in them -- water, soil, whatever-- could heave when it freezes and crack the tubs. Without another option, I'd do as you suggest, dry them out and cover them to keep rain and snow out. Then give us a report in the spring as to how they weathered the winter.

[pepperhead212]

Apple,

I think the fact that these containers are slightly tapered downwards prevents them from breaking from freezing. People in areas much colder than us keep Earthboxes filled, and I have left many four and five gallon buckets filled outside through the winter, with none cracking. I am planning on tilting them on their sides, to drain the reservoirs, then uncovering and removing that fertiliser sock, as well as any of the old plants, and covering them with tarps, as you are planning on doing. BTW, a hand truck beats dragging those things!

[applestar]

Eggplant SIP as of today.
A Hari eggplant I'm hoping to collect seeds from, and the Pea eggplant blooming at the top of 10ft stems:

[applestar]

Year TWO for my 2nd hand DIY SIP's. I left two of them outside over the winter, one on its side, the other upright, and two of them planted with sweet peppers last year were hauled into the garage "Siberia" area near the far garage door on uninsulated side of the garage. The garage ones are currently holding up a glass top patio table I acquired about a month ago, making it impossible to assess whether any of the peppers made it through the winter -- I'm not particularly counting on it, but it would be kind of neat if they did.

I haven't re-loaded the containers yet, but rather than letting them sit idle, I planted 3 Solstice broccoli transplants in the upright SIP in the VG garden along with some pre-sprouted spinach seeds, and had hauled the other one (eggplant SIP) upright a couple of weeks ago, in which I planted 6 Limba broccoli transplants today. I added about 1/4 cup of fertilizer per transplant in the eggplant SIP, but didn't fertilize the other one. We'll see how that works out.

When it's time for the warm weather crops, I intend to use the SIP's for eggplants and peppers only, maybe some melons, this year. With any luck, the broccoli will be done.

With all this in mind, I went to the farmers market where I bought the ProMix BX last year for a good price this past weekend when they opened for the season. They were $21.95 each. I bought two, but will likely go back for at least one more bale -- there was no room in the car since I also made a run to the furniture shop to pick up the 55 gallon trash bags of $3 Douglas pine shavings.

[pepperhead212]

I have 10 more large SIPs this year, and I have enough to grow at least one of every variety of tomato I am growing, all of my eggplants and melons, and a lot of my peppers, as well as the pea eggplant. Last year I got that promix dirt cheap (sorry, I had to ) at that market, after you told me about it, and got 6 bales of it! I still have about 4 2/3 bales, so I have plenty, even for all these new ones.

[Allyn]

What size SiP are you doing the melons in?

[applestar]

That green Rubbermaid tub one.

[pepperhead212]

I'm growing two of my melons (2 each) in an 18 gal tub, and the Minn. midget in a 5 gal bucket SIP.

[applestar]

Thanks, pepperhead!

[Allyn]

That green Rubbermaid tub one.

LOL But what SIZE is it?

I'm growing two of my melons (2 each) in an 18 gal tub, and the Minn. midget in a 5 gal bucket SIP.

Okay, so a 10-gallon SiP for one should be good?

[applestar]

Heh. I don't really know for sure, but based on the design and the instructions floating around the net, these appear to be 18 gal as well.

[Allyn]

Okay. I couldn't tell from the picture. Without a size reference, the tubs look like the 33-gallon ones I have. I was hoping I wouldn't have to use a 33-gallon tub for my melon.

[applestar]

I have no sense of size. I'll measure them tomorrow. -- but you should know I'm really new at this.

[pepperhead212]

Those look like the 18 gal ones that most of mine are made with.

[Allyn]

Oh don't go to that trouble. I picked up a couple of 10-gallon tubs. Some of the manufacturers use the same shape and proportioned container and just make it bigger for each up-size. That's why I asked. From the top down, those tubs look like they have the same shape and proportions as my 33-gallon tubs. I didn't want to blow a whole 33-galloner for a melon if I didn't have to. I want to get more 10- and 20-gallon tubs because they seem to be the most frequently needed sizes.

I am loving this whole SiP thing. I just this morning picked pole beans, tomatoes and lettuce from SiPs. I have some baby dwarf trees -- banana and lemon. What size do you think they'd ultimately need?

[MichaelC]

OK, I was all ready to make my two-bucket SIP's today for my carrots, and I hit two snags. My drill wasn't charged and, even worse, I forgot to consider that all of my five-gallon buckets already have holes drilled in them, so I can't use any of them for the reservoir. Oops!!

I have a question that I feel is probably stupid, but doesn't seem to be answered anywhere I've looked, probably because it's that obvious. How do the five or so gallons of soil in my pot become initially moist? Do I need to moisten it, or will it occur on its own via wicking from the reservoir? If the latter, then approximately how long does that take?

I'm initially using these for carrots, which means it'll be a while before the roots are down near the bottom of the container. And I suppose I'll still be responsible for keeping the surface moist for germination?

[Allyn]

When I put the potting mix into the 'toe,' I wet it real good, both top watering it and filling the reservoir. I pre-wet the mix good because I use peat moss and it can take some coaxing to get it wet the first time, but once it's wet, you're all set. Fill the bucket and plant your carrots. I haven't seeded the carrots right in the SiP, so I can't say for sure. I sprout my seeds indoors and then transplant them when they have sets of true leaves.

[MichaelC]

So, initially I would wet the entire five-gallon container of soil, just like a typical planting, or just the part in the basket at the bottom? I'm thinking most likely the former, but I'm not sure what the "toe" is.

Thanks for your help with this entirely new-to-me technique.

[Allyn]

Yes, wet everything. I was just saying that before I fill the bucket all the way up with potting mix, I make sure that toe is nice and wet. And then I imagine you'd plant your seeds like you normally would if they were going in the ground.

Sorry, I thought I clarified what I'm calling the 'toe' in the post on the carrots thread. In the video you linked, the guy used a net cup in the bottom of the inner bucket that sticks down into the water reservior. When the bucket is filled with potting mix, the mix in that net cup acts like a wick to wick the moisture out of the reservior up into the potting mix in the inner bucket. I'm calling that net cup the 'toe.' I think of like sticking a toe into the water, yeah? Before you jump into the pool, you stick a toe in to test the water. Well, that's the 'toe' sticking into the water. Maybe I could be more technical by calling it the wicking cup or something like that, but I like 'toe' better.

[applestar]

Haha. I like 'toe' too.

I only started last year, but I followed instructions I was given to (1) thoroughly moisten the mix well first, (2) pack, and I mean PACK, THE TOE TIGHTLY, then (3) as you fill, press with your palm on the columns (my Rubbermaid tub tub had 4 toes) of soil mix directly above the toes so you can feel the moisture wicking up from the reservoir (you fill with water first). After that, I can't remember exactly without looking it up again, but I remember you want to water from the top to settle the mix in and make sure the container is filled to the desired level for putting the fertilizer strip? Or maybe there was a level at which you want to add dolomitic lime first.... Hmmm.

[Allyn]

Have you seen a ratio of how much toe is needed to the volume of the container? You said you have 4 toes in, I assume, 18-gallon containers. I have two each in my 27-gallon SiPs, but they're a lot larger than the ones I use in the 5-gallon ones. Is having more of them better than having fewer but bigger? Does it matter, do you think?

[MichaelC]

All is clear, thank you for your patience with my repeated questions. It wasn't be certain whether you meant to ONLY wet the toe, or the whole container. I've got it now!

[applestar]

Ha. Allyn, I'm sorry, I should verify before posting so I can say with assurance that I know what I'm talking about. I went back to the beginning of this thread and looked, and duh! These only had one toe . I was envisioning FOUR but those were support columns made of the same material.


...I made a few modifications including attaching extra supports because the shelf tended to sag.

@MichaelC, your posts and ensuing discussions are inspiring me to make some 5 gallon SIPs myself!

[Allyn]

Doooo eeeeeeet!





Granted, they'll look a lot less Homer-tastic after I give them a coat of spray paint. If a plant fits in a 5'er, I'm glad to put it in one because it's easier to move around if I need to.