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If you've read my previous posts about self-watering containers, then you know that I've been trying help my vegetable plants beat the heat and do better than they did last year.
I wish I had pictures to show how well the broccoli did. My camera decided to stop working and I haven't saved up enough money for a new one yet, so that wasn't possible. The cauliflower bolted due to the summer heat, despite having access to as much water as they wanted. The squash that took the place of the broccs that were harvested did better in the ground after they threatened to die in the self-watering container. Ultimately, I don't consider it a failed experiment seeing as the broccoli did very well. What I would do differently is place the containers in a location that offered some shade during the day. Southern California heat just stresses out some plants. I will post pictures of my next container planting, which will most likely be bok choy and lettuce (in the cooler areas of the garden), when I have access to a working camera.
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If you will recall, I began to grow vegetables in self-watering containers this spring. I meant to update with photos but I totally forgot. So below are "after" and "now" photos of my container garden. A few weeks of growing time for the broccoli and cauliflower. A couple of weeks later.... The white powder is diatomaceous earth. Unfortunately, although the plants were thriving, they were invaded by aphids, inch-worms and the vagabond grasshoppers that seemed to live in the neighborhood. The diatomaceous earth did a good job but we had to follow up with Neem spray because grasshoppers are next to impossible to deter. And, today.... We had to move the boxes to a new location, which seemed to work to deter to cutworms and inchworms. We've already harvested one huge broccoli head and one cauliflower head. The broccoli was beautifully delicious. The cauliflower, on the other hand, was too bitter. As you can see, after the main head was harvested, side shoots produced smaller broccoli heads. All in all, it was a successful experiment. I will, however, modify my boxes for the next crop. I plan to nest two containers within one another because cutting the lids on the first containers was very painstaking, painful on the hands and it destroyed two box cutter blades.
I've also since tried the 5 gallon bucket self watering container. The strawberries planted within it are very happy.
"Once upon a time, there was this technologically advanced culture. Most people were reliant on mass production of produce and meatbyproduct foodstuffs. However, there were a growing collection of people who wanted to grow their own food. Granted, meatbyproduct growing was difficult in their urban setting. So, instead, they sought to grow produce.
Many manufacturers saw the opportunity to sell products to aid this group of people in their goal. However, some chose to modify and adapt the products to their own specifications. Thus grew the movement of making one's own TierraBox. [By the way, as far as I know this is my term (TierraBox), created by me and it may not be used without permission in writing from me. If you believe that you have a copyright for this term, please feel free to email me with the information and I will change the term to respect your copyright.] And so, urban gardeners everywhere began to grow their own crops, taking the strain off of the commercial growers and, in time, donating their bounty to those less fortunate. [Or so the dream goes....]" The above story is based in truth. There are products out there that are self-watering, planting containers. One is called the EarthBox™.
EarthBoxes are great, yet slightly above my budget. So, I searched the Net and found plans to make one's own "TierraBox." Before I list them here, let me show you a picture of mine.
Here are links to some sites that reference making your own self-watering planting container:
As my plants grow and develop, I'll post updates. In the meantime, enjoy and happy growing!
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