The great 2024 wicking bucket/pot experiments

[Smokerbill]

I would use the yogurt cup. When I did self watering strawberries in 2 liter bottles the wicking ropes were good for most of the season then failed.

The tomato cutting finally began to grow so I set up the wicking storage container/bucket and planted it.

Instead of using a float to gauge the water depth I drilled a pair of undersize holes and threaded vinyl tubing through them to make a visual depth indicator. I made a mark on the tubing to show when the water is a little below the bottom of the bucket.

If it rains and the water level goes above the mark I'll just punch a weep hole into the container with a knife at the same level as the mark on the tubing.

I filled the container so it's below the mark this first time because I top watered the tomato, and I'm not sure how much if any will drain into the bucket.

I used the sour cream container for a wick, lined with landscape fabric, packed tightly with potting soil. It sits in a hole in the bottom of the bucket. I lined the bucket with some spare floating row cover as I filled it with soil.

No pipe in the fill hole. I'll just keep it covered with something to keep the mosquitos out. I'll fill in around the tomato with more dirt later.

I mixed some chicken run compost into the soil and broke an old egg into the bottom of the planting hole and mixed it in the soil. Just like I did with the tomatoes in the raised bed.

The parent of this cutting is still a dwarf size plant, about 18" tall and loaded with Roma shaped tomatoes.

 

[Smokerbill]

Got a lot of rain yesterday causing the storage container to overfill. I "drilled" a weep hole through the side of the storage container so it drains to the correct level.

The tomato cutting has grown quite a bit in the last 2.5 weeks.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Got a lot of rain yesterday causing the storage container to overfill. I "drilled" a weep hole through the side of the storage container so it drains to the correct level.

The tomato cutting has grown quite a bit in the last 2.5 weeks.

View attachment 3928063View attachment 3928064

Looks like it's growing well!

My buckets took a big hit. I have been working a LOT so not home much lately. It's been really hot. I failed to fill 4 buckets and it looks as though those are done for. While we have had "rain" it's been sparse enough to not actually water anything. Those 4 buckets were in a rain shadow anyway.
I did top water at 3:30 am the ones I could hit in a hurry while changing chicken water. The heat has largely done my garden in. I was off today so pulled and trashed many plants.

 

[Smokerbill]

Looks like it's growing well!

My buckets took a big hit. I have been working a LOT so not home much lately. It's been really hot. I failed to fill 4 buckets and it looks as though those are done for. While we have had "rain" it's been sparse enough to not actually water anything. Those 4 buckets were in a rain shadow anyway.
I did top water at 3:30 am the ones I could hit in a hurry while changing chicken water. The heat has largely done my garden in. I was off today so pulled and trashed many plants.

Sorry about your garden.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Sorry about your garden.

It's ok. It's all a learning experience.
I am already thinking about improvement opportunities for next year.
Many people around my area are having similar struggles.
At least I got some production from everything I planted.

 

[21hens-incharge]

We have been processing a few things here.

While the "Early Treat" tomatoes are disappointing in size the flavor is good and there are many on the plants. Trying to can them is almost like canning cherry tomatoes. Still pushing through though. From just 4 lacklustre plants we have put up 32 pints and froze 10 quarts. Not bad really.

This afternoon/evening I made strawberry jam from my home grown berries. I prefer eating them fresh but there's only so many one can eat before things spoil.

The onions and potatoes have been cured for storage. I am impressed with the Kennebec (sp?) potatoes. From 7 plants we harvested about 25 pounds. The sizes have ranged from small like a shooter marble to softball. Most were tennis ball sized. The flavor is fantastic. I will definitely grow them again.

Bell peppers are not as plentiful as I had hoped. I blame my neglect due to a crazy work schedule as well as our extreme heat/lack of ANY rain.
I haven't had to buy any so there's that.
Many people in my area are having trouble with peppers this year too.

Grasshoppers...nasty grasshoppers are far to abundant. I may have to spray the yard next year. They have done a lot of damage.