Advice re growing veg in "Self watering containers"

[apple_applier]

Hi everyone.

I have limited space and time for gardening (and loads of enthusiasm) and am thinking that using self watering containers would be a good idea, like this guy:

» Container gardening using DIY self-watering pots Early Retirement Extreme: — a combination of simple living, anticonsumerism, DIY ethics, self-reliance, and applied capitalism

The pots will take little space and the watering, in theory, will take care of itself. Well, actually not the way he does it but I am thinking of connecting the reservoirs together with pipes and then connecting the system to my water butt for minimum manual intervention.

I don't know a lot about gardening, I have grown tomatoes, courgettes and peppers with varying degrees of success in the past.

I have two things I am not clear about before I embark on this project:

1. Everyone who uses these things seems to use potting mix with peat moss as an ingredient. I am not crazy about this as a) it can be expensive and b) ripping up ancient bogs so I can grow tomatoes is not very nice.

Can I not just use regular compost? I understand that the water is supposed to wick upwards from the reservoir to the plants roots, maybe the regular compost is not as efficient for this?

I suppose the plants roots will grow down to find the water, but this could take time.

2.On that last point, I would imagine that when the plants are young and the roots are not fully developed they will need the traditional type of watering...you know, with a watering can.

What do you think?

[apple_applier]

Actually that link is not so great if you don't know what I'm talking about. This one is better:

Build a Self-Watering Container - Do It Yourself - MOTHER EARTH NEWS

[veggiechicken]

Hello and welcome.
I thought I knew what self-watering containers were until I read your first link
Here's one we prepared earlier...............http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...bed_63380.html

[apple_applier]

Hello and welcome.
I thought I knew what self-watering containers were until I read your first link
Here's one we prepared earlier...............http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...bed_63380.html

Yep, it's the same thing.

I actually did read that thread before I created my thread, it did not answer my questions.

[apple_applier]

Oh, thanks for the welcome, pleasure to be here.

[veggiechicken]

Very few gardeners use compost containing peat these days. Most compost on sale does not contain peat. The quality varies though but all should be OK for your containers.

[apple_applier]

Very few gardeners use compost containing peat these days. Most compost on sale does not contain peat. The quality varies though but all should be OK for your containers.

Interesting, thanks.

I thought there may be some characteristic of the peat moss which was essential for capillary action in the container, but maybe not.

[apple_applier]

See below:

How to Create a Potting Mix for Self-Watering Containers | Home Guides | SF Gate

Self-watering planters depend upon capillary action to wick moisture from a water reservoir and into the potting mix to keep soil moist. Regular garden soil is too dense to allow proper wicking and instead compacts, causing plant death. A lightweight, well-aerated potting mix provides the right texture for wicking and with minimal preparation can also supply some of the base nutrients necessary for a container garden. Although mixtures formulated for self-watering containers are available, it's less expensive to make your own.

1 Combine 4 parts sphagnum peat moss with 4 parts compost in a large bucket. Use well-aged, sterile compost that doesn't contain weed seeds or pests.

2 Mix 1 part perlite into the peat and compost mixture. The perlite helps aerate the soil and prevents it from compacting.

3 Add 1 cup of lime for every 5 gallons of potting media. Mix the lime into the media thoroughly.

4 Water the mix inside the bucket. Allow it to soak for 30 minutes so the peat can fully absorb the moisture and rehydrate. You can then use the soil in a self-watering container.

Why is everybody suggesting using peat moss if regular compost is just as good?

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow everything in containers of one sort or another and have tried various peat free composts now I won't use them.

I use a mixture of peat in compost and home made compost and find it fits the bill very well.

I don't use self watering pots as I have both the time and the inclination to be more in control of my watering regime.

[apple_applier]

I grow everything in containers of one sort or another and have tried various peat free composts now I won't use them.

I use a mixture of peat in compost and home made compost and find it fits the bill very well.

I don't use self watering pots as I have both the time and the inclination to be more in control of my watering regime.

Thanks for the post.

What issues did you experience with the peat free sort?

[Snadger]

Interesting, thanks.

I thought there may be some characteristic of the peat moss which was essential for capillary action in the container, but maybe not.

Peat is better than any of the alternatives but alternatives are better for the planet!

[apple_applier]

Peat is better than any of the alternatives but alternatives are better for the planet!

That's what I was afraid of.

I actually can't bring myself to do it. I will have to consider going the automated irrigation route, although that presents it's own set of problems.

Thanks Snadger.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I won't use coir for the same reason as some folks won't use a peat product, you can't call it environmentally friendly when it has to travel half way round the world.

That leaves me with composted garden waste, this tends to be very variable and I had to spend ages riddling it to get rid of lumps of wood, plastic etc. In my opinion it's more of a soil improver than a garden compost.

Others will have different idea's of course and I am sure they will explain their reasons for doing what they do and how successful or not they have been.

There's a very old, very true saying 'ask two gardeners a question and you always get three different answers'.

I do save and reuse my compost year after year with the proviso there has been no disease connected with it the previous season. This means I can get away with about 4 60ltr bags per season used mainly for cutting seed as I know it's sterile.

[Jungle Jane]

You don't need to use peat in the mix,that author uses it,I never do,I have self watering wall baskets for flowers. They're saying the soil needs to be aerated (by adding perlite). This link is helpful,it explains how soil or cloth can be used as a wick for the water.
Wicking Material for Self-Watering Planters | Home Guides | SF Gate

[apple_applier]

You don't need to use peat in the mix,that author uses it,I never do,I have self watering wall baskets for flowers. They're saying the soil needs to be aerated (by adding perlite). This link is helpful,it explains how soil or cloth can be used as a wick for the water.
Wicking Material for Self-Watering Planters | Home Guides | SF Gate

That is encouraging, thanks.

It does seem to me the vast majority of authors suggest using peat. Peat also holds water very well, 20 times it's mass I think I read, and this helps the wicking process I guess. I don't want to go through all this effort just for my plants to die within weeks because I did the opposite of what almost everyone is telling me.

That being said, your post has given me a glimmer of hope and I will keep researching for the time being.