I have 30+ self-watering containers along my driveway. My plants include Sugar Snap Peas, several types of cherry Tomatoes, 2 kinds of Squash, Red Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts, 2 kinds of Sweet Potatoes, Amaranth, 4 kinds of Cucumbers, Ground Cherry Tomatoes, Hard Red Spring Wheat and Kamut.
The containers are 6 gallon. I cut out the inside of the lid, and put it in the bottom of the container on used seedling trays. This provides about 1 gallon water reservoir. I cut a 1″ hole in the lid for a 20″ piece of PVC, for filling the reservoir. I wrap the lid, the support and feed tube in an old T-shirt, which drapes the bottom of the dirt portion of the bucket. This wicks the water from the reservoir, and keeps the soil damp.
$1 for the bucket, $.50 for the PVC tube.
I also set them on small 4-wheeled carts, so it’s easy to move them around.
Here’s how you make the Self Watering Buckets: http://youtu.be/KQD_Q9-O9jw
6 Comments
Hello I'm your new subscriber ! Your garden looks great! I'm going to try and make the self watering container soon. Thanks for sharing your video.
do you put any fertilizer in the water reservoir?
Thanks for the informative video. I am starting the self-watering system with the cages this season. Since I have problems with squirrels and possums, do you have any idea on what I should do to keep them out if the buckets?
Wow, this is really inspiring. Thank you for sharing!
I'm going out right now and getting 5 buckets and start planting.
Thanks for the video.
This is very innovative, I have never seen this before. .Can you tell me how do it work as a self watering system and how do you know when to refill?