JUST THINKING

                     

 

My vegetable garden consists of a few raised beds.  From those I am presently getting more tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers than we can eat.  Each year I go with a different idea to irrigate it.  This year I have heavy hose with a built in dripper every 18 inches.  It is apparently OK, but not ideal.

On the deck, I have two self watering containers I got from GARDENERS SUPPLY. (got them here)   Years back I gave EARTH BOXES a chance and they do well. These are just bigger and better.  From these, I am getting so many tomatoes, the ones in the garden are not being picked much as it is too easy to walk out on the porch and pick them when you need them.

The principal behind these boxes is a water sump in the bottom that keeps the soil above wet.  You keep water in the reservoir, and big plants grow.  Here where it is often over 100 on the deck, other containers must be watered at least once a day.

 

Actually, many plants like to dry out a little between watering.  That is not the case with vegetables which prefer constant moisture.  The bottom end rot on tomatoes and peppers was once though to be a calcium deficiency, which it is.  The answer to the problem for most people is probably not to add more calcium, but to keep the moisture constant.  It is a good idea to mix in calcium nitrate to your soil in the Winter to get it up to speed, but constant moisture is the key for most vegetables.

 

So, if these tiny porch containers do so well, why don’t I build some large ones for the garden?  I have a couple of 220 gallon fish ponds I stacked off to the side a few years back.  I believe with a little thought, I could turn them into large, self watering gardening plots.

 

I’ll keep you posted.

                

YC

                              

                                                         

Comments

[Jerry]

Mostly this blog is Ok, but why do you consider yourself such an expert?

[YC]

Not an expert, just a guy trying to learn and communicate.
I did take a couple classes at CLEMSON, and due to my advanced age, have been at this longer than most.

[grumpy green old man]

sounds like a plan to me. I will have to send you my measly attempt at growing tomatoes on our yard! We don't get the same weather as you do and I could really do with a green house to get decent results.

[Sundance]

Expert? No where in ole RKbill's blog does he purport to be an expert. But now, some left-winger assumes ole Bill is an expert; just because someone has a cogent thought and is able to express it doesn't make the jump to genius. Now Ole RKbill will get the 'big head' and think that there are readers that think he is an 'expert'.

[YardCrap]

Thanks for the comment Jerry/sundance. My first impulse was to delete it, but if that is how you feel, i will leave it. Anyway, I guess it says more about you than my silly blog.