I have two recommendations on my system.
1. If you plants get as tall and big as mine you’ll need to put a stake into the ground and to secure the plant and container.
2. Using net pots may work better than socks because fabric may decompose.
Here are some links that might help.
3 Inch Heavy Duty Net Pots: https://amzn.to/3bZlhmO
7-by-100-Foot Deer/Wildlife Netting: https://amzn.to/2JPm91t
Rain Gutter Self-Watering Garden System: http://youtube.com/larrylhall
– LDS Prepper PREMIUM Plant Micro-Nutrient Mix: https://youtu.be/GsTjsPkfuEk
https://LDSPrepperStore.com
– LDS Prepper Premium Plant Micro Nutrients
– Mittleider Gardening Course Book
– Heirloom Garden Seeds
– Berkey Water Filters
– Off-Grid Portable Solar Generator
40 Comments
Also, making sure the area where the buckets sit is level is key to keeping the watering system happy. Currently my bucket site is NOT level and I have to keep babysitting the water. Time to add a couple more cinder blocks to the board I have placed them on. 🙂
Lastly, THANKS for sharing your garden and experience with us!
Looks great! I've done a few tomatoes. First know that you that you have a indeterminate plant. That means that it will keep growing at the tip where a determinant one will be a bush. What I did was run a traditional tomato vine system. In that system you do cut off the suckers and lower branches as it grows, you lower the vine by a spool system and those vine clips you have and loop the extra at the bottom like a hose. Also ehydoponics (web) has very low prices on net pots.
All great points. My area is pretty level but not quite level so I use wood shims. I'm glad you figured out that the soil needs to be lightly packed to encourage wicking. I hope to see some videos from you on your garden.
You have a cool set up bro! Your tomatoes look great!
My wife has blackberry bushes. I like the idea of having berries in this system because it would control them from taking over soil the area. Thanks for commenting.
No videos yet… I could share a photo, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet.
Great yields. Thanks for sharing again, Jim
So far I have used sponges and they have been working well
We use a roll of concrete reinforcement wire to make nice 6ft tall cages. We make them about 18i nches wide (round) and you can get about 20 cages from 1 roll of wire. The wire is spaced about 4in X 4in so you can reach right in and grab your bounty. Thanks for all your helpful videos.
I have seen people put coffee filters in the net cups to keep soil from getting into the rain gutters, that might be worth a try. I don't know how long they will last though, you might need to put several in one cup for a season.
Oh my. I think those tomatoes are originally from Mars!
You have a great looking garden going on there… One quick question… How do you fertilize the plants with that type of grow system? If you could please show on a video, it would be very much appreciated… Thanks and keep up the good work.
This is part of a series of videos. Please watch the playlist for all the details.
great idea.
very cool
nice update..tomato plant is kickin butt!!!
Once the plants get 5-6 foot tall, have a support structure running horizontally.
sweet chelsey
LOL. I guess I could. 🙂
How do you keep the tomato roots from growing down the wick into the water reservoir?
Have you thought about using nylon as a wick instead? It doesn't break down and I've heard of others using it as a wick.
I tried it and it didn't wick at all for me. I was thinking the same thing that it wouldn't rot.
I don't it is good that they do.
I'm not sure what you mean by prune. I did not remove the suckers. Although I could have and most people would have. I just chose not to. When you remove suckers you generally get larger but less fruit.
Sweet Chelsey tomato.
I used an old flannel sheet for wicks and they did not disintegrate… Hope to fashion a similar self-watering system for next year.
Question re: fertilizing. How do you or do you add fertilizer? Liquid? I added dry tomato fertilizer to the top of the dirt and watered a little from the top to get it to reach the roots. Wonder if there's a better way…
If you are using products like MiracleGro you can make a 2" deep moat around the plant and add the fertilizer there as long as it doesn't touch the roots. If using organic you can mix it all through the soil.
I have heard flannel works really well. Thanks for sharing.
Am learning a lot- in preparation for my first summer garden- May I suggest you use a coffee filter in the net pot to filter the dirt?
Great idea. Thanks.
I like you system that you have for self watering and plan to try it. I have heard that if you take red Christmas tree bulbs and put on your tomato plants before your tomatoes start to turn that the birds will peck on the red bulbs,decide that they are inedible, and won't bother your tomatoes when they ripen. Got this off an old-timer at the local farmers market. Haven't tried it yet as I heard it last fall but I plan to.
How long did it take for your sock to decompose? I just planted my strawberry tower using a sock because I couldn't get ahold of a netting pot.
Have you considered installing a reflector behind your plants to give light to all sides?
How big were the tomato plants before you planted them in a 5 gallon bucket? I mean, do they need that big of container?
You were my inspiration.. I added a water spiquit? to the valve and female to female water hose.. 5/8 joining hose cut to taper to force in a tight hole.. THANKS SO MUCH!!
I just found your videos and am already finding them useful. Having the screen covering to keep birds out, how can bees find their way in to pollinate the blossoms?
cottage cheese container even a 4 inch tall works with 20 + 1/4 drilled holes and hole cut to fit tapered part of container just below the rim. thats what im trying first,
Thank you so much