Another forum got me interested in this idea of placing water reservoirs that will leak water to the root zone. I happen to have all these nice, never used, refrigerator drawers that were screaming for a good use. So, check this out. My refrigerator drawer garden! .....might be a bit crowded, I'm learnin'......
Here's another view. I like the little white root in the corner....
And here's the 'design'...There are three of these cranapple containers in the drawer. Millions of holes in each one.
The 1/2 gallon containers are placed on a bed of wet coconut coir and the potting mix has some coir mixed in for wicking purposes. The soil is staying just damp. Perfect.
Just like e-buckets only more surface area.
This message was edited Oct 2, 2010 9:16 AM
mary - i may be a bit unfocused but i do not understand theprincipal behind what you are show us. can you be more specific about what yuo have there.?? what areteh cranapplie for and how do you get millions of holes there??
thanks
herbie43, thanks for asking for clarification. I've been working through this project so intensely I guess I thought The World knew all about it. Here's how it works:
We like to leave town for the high country and a big problem I have is keeping the garden watered. The 'drawer' holds the three plastic cranapple bottles with holes (DH drilled some but I found that was too slow so I used an ice pick heated on the gas stove burner. I could do 10 holes before it cooled.)
You place a layer of wet coconut coir, which is good wicking medium, under the bottles, mix up some potting mix with a bit of the wet coir in it to add wicking capability to the pottine soil, stuff the drawer full of the potting soil, tight so there's no air pockets. Then fill the bottle reservoirs via the pvc pipe. The water leaks from the reservoir, keeps the soil damp from the roots up. I made my drawer one week ago and it is still perfectly damp with out adding any more water.
Here's a YouTube video that explains it better. Except she has cut off the entire bottom of her reserviors. My friend and I don't understand how this works. We think it would create a flood and the potting soil would just float but obviously it works for the person who made the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3INoLKg555w&feature=related
Hope this helps explanin the system. It should make a really nice lettuce bed. :~) I have a couple of people I want to give these to as Christmas gifts so I'm trying to perfect it and so there will be one with a nice lettuce crop growing by mid-December.
This message was edited Oct 3, 2010 8:32 AM
So you took the plunge - lol...
I'll have to check out the video too but I think the idea is great! I think it would be an excellent way to start seeds too for transplanting as the soil stays damp. As you know, planting here most times of the year the challenge is to keep the soil damp until the seeds germinate. Interested to see how this works for you;o)
Gonna make me one of those...just found the right container yesterday when cleaning up the garage. This will allow me to go up to Parks without schleping seedlings up and down I17.
Good. Thanks for the feedback. I like the whole idea and will continue to improve my methods. I have this vision of a salad drawer.....a cilantro drawer.
Kelly, you're rigft about seed germination, but you'll need a way to extact them without hurting the fragile root system. Am thinking each seedling would need its own 'partition'. You've got me thinkin'....
Maybe egg crates?
When I read Herbies post, I realized that is the difference between growing in NY and AZ.
I have grown pots in standing water here for the past two summers and was able to be away for 10 days with no problems.
I understand where you are going with this and hope you continue to keep us posted on the successes and/or failures.
NY vs AZ - yup, there's a difference alrighty. I grew up in Vermont, you could sprinkle sugar on the ground and cookies would pop up!!
Thanks for your interest podster, it's been a rather lonely project. :~|
The radishes look odd. Very leggy. I've never grown radishes so am not sure how they *should* look but had expected more to occur at the root level that above. Leggy usually means not enough light but I have a flourescent right on top of the drawer. I want to put this entire project outside but it's been too hot. I think temps broke this week.
Nothing happening in the cilantro drawer. Soil is still nicely damp in both containers. I hope to post a picture of a nice, bushy swiss chard container!!
Radishes sound like they need more light. Cilantro and Parsley can take a loooooonnnnnnnggggggg time to germinate so be patient;o)
Patient? Me? I want it now!
Thinking about how to get more light to the drawer that has sprouted.
If it stays cool I'd put 'er outside. Course not today with the hail and all;o)
Yeah, I agree. Been waiting for the temps to break. I think we got it now.
