Quad grow systems

[toby6668]

Just seen the new YouTube video for these things and don't know whether to believe the hype. Certainly don't want to pay those prices but am considering making a DIY version out of odds and ends. Anyone tried these for tomatoes?

[toby6668]

Decided to have a go at DIY version anyway. Just a couple of old plastic boxes cut and drilled. Might work. Who knows? Now to find something to work as a wick....

[chris]

PTD made a self watering container - have a look for his thread on it!

[poly]

Looks good toby6668, how much water will it hold?

I've got an octogrow I use for tomatoes, it's super!

I'm trying a home-made version this year as well, using the polystyrene large fish boxes. I'm not sure if they will be robust enough but worth a try

[toby6668]

Doesn't look as posh. But we'll see if it works!

[toby6668]

Not sure how much water exactly, but guessing about 15 litres or more.

[poly]

Sounds like it will keep your plant going a fair while. Are you going to add another pot the other side?

[redser]

Funny, I rigged something similar up at the weekend. Thought I was very smart I took photos but didn't have time to write it up.
The reservoir is a growbag tray that holds 12 litres. I sat 3 upturned plant dishes on it. And then sat 3 x 10 litre pots on those. The dishes prevent the pots actually sitting in the water, they are about half an inch above it. I cut 3 x 1 inch thick 18 long strips of capillary matting for each pot. I threaded these through the holes in the bottom of the Pots. i then cut a disk of matting to fit the bottom of the pot, this would stop the roots growing out into the water and also help distribute water evenly. Then I planted up my toms (maskotka). As I back-filled with compost I wrapped the strips around the rootball and up through the compost so everything would be wetted. Then I filled the tray and watched. It took about a day for the compost to get fully wetted to the surface. From there on it it will stay constantly moist but not overwatered. Working a treat so far

[Snadger]

I have no watering worries as I grow in the greenhouse bed soil!

Once the plants are established they seek out the ground water and can go without watering for an extended period if required!

[Newton]

I have two quadgrows........they are working brilliantly. ....hooked up to a water butt.

snadger.....I am using them because of too much water in my greenhouse last year.....the ground was saturated which prevented proper growth in the bed soil!!!!!!!!

Redser. The tank should hold a lot of water to make it worthwhile. The quad holds 30 litres and the butt 100...... Haven't needed to water yet!!!! Brill

[redser]

I do the same Snadger, but I read that bushes can get messy when they are in the ground so I thought this might work well by keeping them off the ground. I cant get to the plot often enough to water them myself. So far so good.

Nice one Newton. I have an automatic watering system set up in the polytunnel with IBC tank, timer and soaker hose. I'm going to run a short line into the growbag tray too so it will get filled automatically when the beds are watered I'm going to position the tray leaning slightly back into one of the beds so if it overflows it will just tip the excess into the bed.