Opinions on wicking in SWCs

wxcrawler · May 16, 2012

Last year was my first year trying SWCs with a 4" wicking basket in 14 and 18 gal totes. My different tomatoes did fairly well considering the heat we had here in Oklahoma last year. But most of the time, my tomatoes showed varying signs of stress that I think was due to overwatering from the large wicking basket.

This year, I decided to use 3/8" nylon rope for wicks instead of a basket. I planted different varieties from March 16-30 in 5 gallon, 14 gal, and 18 gal SWCs using the 3:2:1 mix and using one wick in the 5 gallon buckets and 2 wicks in the 14 and 18 gallon totes. My tomatoes are doing fairly well again so far, but are showing signs of overwatering again (leaf curl and roll, a little low-stem yellowing, etc). I also had LOTS of BER on my first tomatoes on just about every plant. That seems to have fixed itself now, thankfully. The stress isn't real bad, and I have lot's of tomatoes. But it bothers me that they are stressed.

I'm seeking opinions on what I may have done wrong or what I may do differently next year.

Thanks.

Lee
Tulsa,OK

coloken · May 16, 2012

I am getting this crazy idea that the size of the wicking chamber or wick does not control how wet the soil gets. Until it is so small that it can't keep up. And that would be no good. I am beginning to think that the soil mixture is the major item and will get too wet as long as the wick supplies water. I too have had most of mine overly wet. I will work on a dryer soil mix.
KennyP

PonyMan · May 22, 2012

Wouldn't a cotton rope wick better than nylon?

Steve

wxcrawler · May 22, 2012

Steve,

It might, but I worry about the cotton breaking down over the season. Besides, the nylon wicks very well. I am still wicking too much, I'm afraid.

Lee

PonyMan · May 22, 2012

Wow, that's good to know! I would've thought it to be the other way around! Thanks for the reply!

Steve

May 16, 2012	#1
wxcrawler Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 115	Opinions on wicking in SWCs Last year was my first year trying SWCs with a 4" wicking basket in 14 and 18 gal totes. My different tomatoes did fairly well considering the heat we had here in Oklahoma last year. But most of the time, my tomatoes showed varying signs of stress that I think was due to overwatering from the large wicking basket. This year, I decided to use 3/8" nylon rope for wicks instead of a basket. I planted different varieties from March 16-30 in 5 gallon, 14 gal, and 18 gal SWCs using the 3:2:1 mix and using one wick in the 5 gallon buckets and 2 wicks in the 14 and 18 gallon totes. My tomatoes are doing fairly well again so far, but are showing signs of overwatering again (leaf curl and roll, a little low-stem yellowing, etc). I also had LOTS of BER on my first tomatoes on just about every plant. That seems to have fixed itself now, thankfully. The stress isn't real bad, and I have lot's of tomatoes. But it bothers me that they are stressed. I'm seeking opinions on what I may have done wrong or what I may do differently next year. Thanks. Lee Tulsa,OK

May 16, 2012	#2
coloken Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NE Co Posts: 303	I am getting this crazy idea that the size of the wicking chamber or wick does not control how wet the soil gets. Until it is so small that it can't keep up. And that would be no good. I am beginning to think that the soil mixture is the major item and will get too wet as long as the wick supplies water. I too have had most of mine overly wet. I will work on a dryer soil mix. KennyP

May 22, 2012	#3
PonyMan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Central, La Posts: 14	Wouldn't a cotton rope wick better than nylon? Steve