Homemade selfwatering containers.

garnetmoth · December 3, 2007

I didnt get pictures, and had to leave the buckets in Nashville, but my fiance says my buckets did well this year.

I had lots of 3 and 5 gal buckets from the kitchen at work, drilled holes in the bottom of the 3-gal, and the top of the 5-gal lids- put in a few wicks made of mis-matched braided stockings (braiding really helps them wick). Put a half-circle of welded wire cage around the contraption for support- that could have been taller!

Soil seemed adequate, and the 5 gal reservoir lasted for days (weeks in cool weather). We had a really bad drought this year but the bucket tomatoes lived and produced again in the fall for pickling!

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December 3, 2007	#11
garnetmoth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: cincinnati, oh Posts: 492	I didnt get pictures, and had to leave the buckets in Nashville, but my fiance says my buckets did well this year. I had lots of 3 and 5 gal buckets from the kitchen at work, drilled holes in the bottom of the 3-gal, and the top of the 5-gal lids- put in a few wicks made of mis-matched braided stockings (braiding really helps them wick). Put a half-circle of welded wire cage around the contraption for support- that could have been taller! Soil seemed adequate, and the 5 gal reservoir lasted for days (weeks in cool weather). We had a really bad drought this year but the bucket tomatoes lived and produced again in the fall for pickling!