self-watering

[Carlyis]

hello all!

has anyone ever tried using self-watering containers or earthboxes? seen alot about then on the net and they seem like a great idea for my back garden (currently growing salad stuff and carrots in containers) but do they work???

Carly x

[SueA]

Hi Carly, I used some self-watering tubs from Lidl last year to grow courgettes in & they worked O.K.They had a reservoir in the bottom & a gauge at the side to check the water level. You still have to keep checking them though & remember to top them up & I did notice a bit of a problem towards the end of the season in that it rained a lot & they got a bit waterlogged but the courgettes were almost over by then anyway.

[Alison]

Have a couple of plastic hanging baskets which I use for trailing toms in the greenhouse. They have a reservoir section in the bottom with a plastic lid and capilliary matting on top, the idea being that the bit of matting trailing into the reservoir keeps the plants watered. They also have a plastic tube from above soil level into the reservoir to aid watering. They're not very pretty, being plastic, and don't last all week in my greenhouse but I do find them pretty convenient and have been using them about 8 years now. Think they came from Wilkos in the sale so didn't cost very much.