Richard has added eight containers of various sizes and shapes to his self-watering container garden, one of which is the EarthBox. He used the two EarthBoxes last year but with very little success because he couldn’t keep up with the watering because of the drought and his traveling. Now, by attaching the EarthBoxes to the self-watering system he only has to check one water reservoir and all eight of his containers will get watered. He and his wife like to travel so they could connect the float bucket to a garden hose and be gone for an extended period of time and not worry about watering, fertilizing or weeding their garden.
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26 Comments
Please view my series on this system. I think that will answer all your questions.
I use the same two bucket system, but use different soil. I purchase alfalfa bales and cut it up with my lawn mower. I buy patio plus from Kelloggs it has worm casting, bat poo, chicken manure and kelp. I put all this in my concrete mixer. I get three buckets from 1 bag of patio plus and alfalfa cuttings. I use the same formula in the ground. I use gypsum for the calcium sulfate.
Sounds like a great mix. A lot of work but a great mix. I'm guessing you are getting good results too. Good job.
What I don't get is that this guy's yard has plenty of acrage but he plants his veggies in containers?
One great thing about this system is it can be elevated so if you are in your 70's like Richard is you don't have to bend over so much to tend your garden and you don't have to do back breaking work to clear a garden bed or build a raised garden. This solution made it possible for him to garden again.
One problem with buckets (without plastic cover) is when it rains, the buckets will overflow. Perhaps raised beds are better. I also kind of agree with one poster about removing the plastic cover to let root breath.
This system includes an over flow hole 3" from the bottom of the first bucket. Since all of the buckets are connected the water level in all the buckets remains the same. If in a heavy rain storm the water raises to the 3" mark it automatically exits through the hole.
If somebody wants to grow organic, there might be content issues with one's yard soil. Some people have heavy gopher/mole issues, which a raised bed like this guy has will circumvent.
I am 65 and use a handy cap electric scooter and this method makes it posible for me to have a garden. Also I live in Phoenix Az area and gardening in our soil is very hard and takes a lot of soil prep and is costly to get started. This is more afordable. My son is putting this system together. This will be the first year I can garden here. My ward is made up of a lot of elderly people and this is just the ticket for them. Thanks!
You can also grow more plants in a smaller space (closer together), so you don't have to walk as far or even worry about fertilizing if he uses the water bucket to add the fertilizer.
Sie sind herzlich willkommen. Ich war in Frankfurt a / m geboren. Die Familie meiner Mutter stammt aus Deutschland. Ich diente zwei Jahre in Nord-Deutschland als Missionar für meine Kirche. Ich wünsche Ihnen viel Erfolg mit Ihrem Garten.
These all great and good ideas. Problem is that after about 2 years of use the buckets will degrade from weather and sun enough to break and crack. The all that effort is wasted. Maybe use something that won't degrade this way from uv rays?
I live in NJ and like to try growing a Big Boy 10 in tomatoes plant in a 5 gallon pail. Since it is 4/18 I will call the local plant nursery if they have the plants in, Night temp staying at 40 and day time around 60 to mid 70s,and getting warmer.So 5 gal pail drill holes in bottom and put res water tray on the bottom.Then stones in pain 2 in and then Miracle grow soil for tomatoes. then the plant and a cage. What type water fertilizer should use over time? any suggestions, I like lg juicy ones.
i live in France and i'll try your technic, I give as fertilizer of the stinging nettle to my vegetables and you put what as fertilizer?
very nice job dude. don't try to double up, go for the 3 layer, and double that the following year……bonsai display table, teired. cheers.
Excellent job!
sorry david, but did you tell him to put the holes in the sides?
what is preventing the water from the reservoir to overflow the water from the overflow holes on the plant pots?
is he using 1/4" tubing?
If you put the plastic on top you will get Mold growing on top,,,it is NOT a good idea.
I have a question…..I live in yonkers new York and I'm excited about tring this method. I have acutally harvested some peach and nectoreen pits and are germinating them now. Sorry, the question is what would be a good start for this garden would you have any suggestions?
flag a like if you think this is stupid. THE IDEA IS TO GROW IN A HYDROPONIC SYSTEM IS DUE TO SPACE LIMITATION. YOU GOT A BIG YARD AND LAND TO GROW WHY NOT USE IT.
Is covering the top with plastic necessary? what's the reasoning behind that? I'm pretty new to gardening
Pl. show how this work and how we can make our own self watering system
Do you have to turn the container so the plants on back side see the sun? If so how long between rotating?
where the video on how to make it