Planting an Earth Box Self Watering Container for Cheap in the Alberta Urban Garden

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Self watering containers are a great way start gardening and to garden anywhere! Check out how to plant them and a few trick for replacing the initial kits supplies. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of gardening with my parents and brothers. This channel is about low cost organic urban gardening in zone 3. I am by no means an expert gardener however I love to share my experiments and journey garden year round. Please feel free to join the conversation and if you think you might like this channel subscribe. Have a great day! Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stephenlegaree14 Webpage: www.albertaurbangarden.ca Google +: google.com/+StephenLegaree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaUrbanGarden Twitter: https://twitter.com/northern1485 Pintrest: http://www.pinterest.com/ABurbanGarden/

Comments

I've never used a box like this, but a thing to consider is soil stratification. If there are layers of different types of soils, water will not move on to the next layer of soil until the first layer is saturated. I don't know if/how this would effect the wicking process, but is worth consideration.

Also, just as a matter preference from personal experience, I would agitate the roots a little when transplanting. I'm actually pretty rough with my pepper roots and it seems to only slow them temporarily before going into an explosion of growth. That being said, I'm in coastal South Carolina so our climates and growing seasons are not at all the same.

Great video!

I love the Earth boxes. Last year I had a problem with earwigs getting into the bottom reservoir and colonizing it. It was unpleasant. I ended up dumping the water out and trying again but they came back. Any suggestions?

Hey Stephen.. Have you ever thought about using a mulch instead of the plastic covers? Would be interesting to see the 2 compare..
Cheers :)

those are pretty cool. do you know if you can get something like that in the states?

Great video bro! I like self watering :)

Hi!! I have had two earthboxes that I have thrown into my rotation for a few years now (started out with just the earthbox)... even though I have used these for years its nice to see how others plant their earthbox. nice video.... btw I once saw someone tuck the plastic bag edges into the earthbox... it was nice b/c then if it rained that water would go down into the reservoir.

This is a cost effective and practical video. Well done and thanks

Hey Stephen, hate bothering you so much lol. But do you know of any natural ways to get rid of insects like ants in the garden? I'm not one to use insecticides,herbicides,pesticides,etc.

Do you use black plastic to warm the soil?

I make my own self watering grow buckets. They are a lifesaver, I used to over water constantly till I started making my own self watering bins.

Ugh... my youtube account is being a pain lately and refusing to load so many videos... I haven't been able to watch half of the videos that I'm subscribed to, including this one. Anyone know how to fix this? I've tried everything that the HELP menu recommends.

Great idea, Stephen! There should be no reason anyone can't grow with this method, regardless of space!

Stephen, thanks for sharing your self watering system. I started using a Global Bucket system like that last year in my greenhouse and was shocked at the growth and yields - even in Calgary's difficult growing climate. Between my experiments with the Back to Eden garden style and my ever-increasing bucket collection, I think this year's garden will be great. Is your garden open for visitors? If so, I'd love to check out what you've done this season.

Very good, I really want to experiment with these systems but I have reservations that these systems will end up being a mosquito nurseries, in my area if the water isn't salty or moving it stagnates, I suppose something as simple as a screen over the water hole would address my fears, :) Great video , :)

I love self watering containers. Such a great idea, and a great way to grow food. This is what you need if you are traveling a lot, or a good addition to +CaliKim29 Garden & Home DIY with her vacation video.

Self watering containers sure do save time and energy. Looks like your's are working well.

those tomatoes have a great head start to your season

I like mine they work great but did make them from stuff that I would have to paid to throw out. Like wicking pots ;-)

I have 23 earthboxes and growums, I love them! They are amazingly great for anyone who wants to garden. When I make my mix for them, I add the fertilizer and dolomite in the soil before I put it in the boxes. I also don't use the plastic bags, even though I have a ton of them I never use them.

Would a upside down 2L pop bottle with a tiny hole drilled in the cap work so you only have to water once a day? I can't tell from the vid if the water fill pipe would handle the weight.