Soil Wicking Question for Second Year EB's

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Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Guest, cushman350. This was originally posted on August 14, 2010.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Newbie, odyhill. This user is located in SRQ, FL, Zone 9/10. This was originally posted on August 14, 2010.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, joy112854. This user is located in Zone 8B Crestview, Florida (close to Pensacola). This was originally posted on December 14, 2009.

Maybe someone can help me answer this question I have about wicking devices here?  I made some self watering containers utilizing 5 gallon buckets and 3 1/2 gallon buckets, one fits into the other leaving a nice size reservoir, I used pond basket for the wicking devices, problem is the pond basket bottom does not touch the bottom of the outer bucket, there is about an inch or so below the bottom of the pond basket to the bottom of the outer bucket, will that be a problem for me?  Im planting tomatoes in them this Spring?
joy

Joy last year I had 2 grape tomato plants in 2- 5 gallon buckets and they did unbelievable. here was my design for the earth buckets. I went to Walmart and bought 2 food strainers that measured 10 inches in dia., cut the handles off of them and tipped them upside down in the 5 gal bucket, I drilled a 3/8" overflow hole in the bucket 4" up from the bottom took a 1" pvc pipe and cut an angle on it just enough for this fill tube not to rip the strainer set the pipe in against the edge of the bucket and rotated it till the angle on the pipe set on the strainer, then poured in the dirt, mixed with the granulated lime, fertilized with a ring around the inside edge of the bucket, then cut a hole in the bottom of a shopping bag that fit the fill tube and slid the bag down over the whole thing, cut an "X" in the middle of the stretched bag and planted the mater plant. This only holds about 1 gal of water so it needs to be checked often once the plants get any size to them. I went out there one day and the plant was so loaded a branch had broke off. I had one of these rigs empty so I stuck the broken branch down in the soil in the empty bucket and that thing lived and produced for another month. talk about tough

If I had buckets, Id have clear hose from Lowes and set it up with a mother container, tank, rainbarrel? with a siphon line to every fill tube. Keep momma full, the rest is history.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, joy112854. This user is located in Zone 8B Crestview, Florida (close to Pensacola). This was originally posted on August 15, 2010.

Some of the people on this one web site is buying plastic colanders from a dollar store and doing just that, and I understand that the Dollar Tree sells a bundle of hair caps used to keep your hair dry for mulch covers you get like 12 for a $1. 


I had both my five gallon self watering containers (I have 40 of them) and my EBs and GPs all hooked up to a drip system where I turn my faucet on and these small drip hoses all go into the water fill tubes, takes about 7 minutes to fill them all. LOL 

I'm working on a cross between a greenhouse and hoophouse now to cover all of them and then cover that greenhouse/hoophouse with bug screen, the thing will have a door and window, so that should help with bugs this next summer, I'm making it out of PVC pipe. 
joy

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, baileyj. This user is located in Zone 7A---Annapolis, Maryland. This was originally posted on November 13, 2010.

Joy, 
I know you posted on other more recent threads but I have a question about this thread.

How did your non-EBs work out?  You said you had a 3.5 gal within a 5 gallon container with the pond screen. Was the growing area enough with the 3 gallon inner bucket?  What did you grow in the 3 gallon and how much fertilizer did you use?

I was planning to make Global buckets to supplement my EBs  with 2-5 gallon containers for berries etc...but if I could use a smaller inner bucket I could have twice as many. 

Did you try the strainer in the bottom of a 5 gallon?  I may try that on one to see how it works, I am not sure if it would wick the same way, but worth a try.  I have 12 buckets I am ready to set up, with all these ideas I need to just start.  Lucky/unfortunately for me I am in Maryland and my season is ended so I can read/investigate the options and hope to be ready with new plans for Spring.

Also what is a GP?
Thanks, Judi

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, baileyj. This user is located in Zone 7A---Annapolis, Maryland. This was originally posted on November 13, 2010.

Joy,
Thank you so much for the details..
Judi

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Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Perky. This post was located in Bedford, VA; USDA Zone 7A. This was originally posted on November 14, 2010..

Joy,

I'm usually pretty good at figuring out and following written instructions / directions, but I have to tell you your description of how to put together your self-water bucket(s) has me stumped and/or confused!

If I read it correctly the 5 gallon bucket goes INSIDE the 3 1/2 gallon bucket (and the plant goes in the 5 gallon bucket)?     And for the life of me I couldn't figure out into which bucket the hole for the watering tube went.   

Maybe you could pretty please un-confuse me?!!??

Thanks,
Linda

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Perky. This post was located in Bedford, VA; USDA Zone 7A. This was originally posted on November 14, 2010..

Joy,

I'm usually pretty good at figuring out and following written instructions / directions, but I have to tell you your description of how to put together your self-water bucket(s) has me stumped and/or confused!

If I read it correctly the 5 gallon bucket goes INSIDE the 3 1/2 gallon bucket (and the plant goes in the 5 gallon bucket)?     And for the life of me I couldn't figure out into which bucket the hole for the watering tube went.   

Maybe you could pretty please un-confuse me?!!??

Thanks,
Linda

I traced the upper part of the pond basket on the 5 gallon bucket in the center of the bucket bottom and then traced the PVC pipe hole using the PVC pipe to get the right size hole, then I used a jig saw to cut the two holes out.

Sounds like the 5 gal bucket is inside the 3.5 gal bucket. The 5 gal has the pond basket hole and the water tube hole plus drainage/aeration holes in its bottom. The 3.5 has an overflow hole in its side at the level of the bottom of the 5 gal.

That's what I get from joys instructions anyway.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, joy112854. This user is located in Zone 8B Crestview, Florida (close to Pensacola). This was originally posted on November 14, 2010.

Cushman:  You and me thinks a like. 
joy

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, writeone. This user is located in Orlando, FL; Zone 9B. This was originally posted on March 19, 2011.

When tipping the box to remove water, a movers dolly is perfect and allows one to do it solo if necessary. Its also great for transporting the box distances more than a couple feet or so.

http://littlebitmoving.com/moving-dolly/ for photo of the style dolly.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Guest, cushman350. This was originally posted on March 19, 2011.

Back when I messed with rubbermaid clones I had a very large one on this type of dolly, Habor Freight, very reasonable.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, baileyj. This user is located in
Zone 7A--- Annapolis, Maryland. This was originally posted on March 19, 2011.

I can understand the transporting use for the Dolly but for draining ....why do you need a device? 
I just tip it ....now lifting/moving is another animal 
I don't see the problem with the EBs...or are you talking Rubbermaid clones, global buckets etc...I have no experience with those. 

Judi

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Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, benhuntin. This user is located in Crawfordville, Florida Zone 8b. This was originally posted on March 5, 2012.

I empty all of my containers after the season into a 50 gallon drum with a lid. Its alot of work but I like to wash out my containers after each season.

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Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, oldsarge. This was originally posted March 6, 2012.

SOME OF MY BOXES ARE 6 YEARS OLD OR OLDER. SINCE i LIVE IN TAMPA OUR WINTERS ARENT VERY COLD,EXCEPT FOR LAST YEAR. I DIG OUT THE FERT SOX AND FLUFF THE SOIL ABOUT 4" PUT IN MY ADDITIVES CAP IT AND PLANT. THIS YEAR ONE OF MY OLDEST BOXES SPLIT UP THE SIDE. RIGHT NOW WE ARE REPAIRING IT WITH CAULK AND SHIPPING TAPE. IF IT HOLDS AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL, I WILL START IT LIKE A NEW BOX.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, seansmum. This user is located in Queensbury, NY. Zone 4-5. This was originally posted on March 6, 2012.

Sarge,
I doubt it was the cold temperatures unless you didnt drain some of the water to allow for expansion. We have frequent temperatures below zero here and I have never had a problem.
Sue

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a- near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on March 6, 2012.

He lives in  Tampa--very rare freezing, so no expansion problem due to that.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist the EarthBox Hero Member, Kathy. This user is located in The mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on March 6, 2012.

I just had to chuckle at this thread...it goes all over the place, from soil wicking to home made planters to moving full containers and throw in some winterization, guess that didnt "bug" any one?