Morning Glories: Growing MGs in Containers, 0 by beckygardener

beckygardener wrote:
I just had to start a new thread about this. I've just recently started some seeds again in cups on my window shelf. Just a few this winter as I am also starting veggies and fruit on the window shelf too. I have been doing a little research on self-watering containers. I borrowed a VERY interesting book from the library, "Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers" by Edward Smith. This is one of those books I may have to buy from Amazon.com. :-)

Anyway, I grew the majority of MGs this past year in pots/containers. I am seriously thinking of creating self-watering containers out of the white 5 gallon buckets/containers my dh has been bringing home from work. I found a website (pdf file) that shows how to make self-watering containers out of all kinds of items. Much to my great surprise ... they even showed how to make self-watering containers out of those buckets. It was the most simple plan of all those listed in that article. I am now wondering if that might be the way to go for me. Perhaps that would help cut down on rust fungus which spreads by rain and watering the vines above ground. Self-watering containers would cut down on water being splashed on the leaves and vines of any I. nils I might grow which is how that rust fungus spreads from plant to plant. The spores spread and thrive by moisture on the leaves and stems. If there is no above ground watering of the plants, perhaps the rust won't have a chance to spread as quickly. Sounds good in theory anyway ...

Dany - Were all the containers you grew MGs in this past season self-watering containers? Or did you use a sprinkler or hand-watering system?

Here is the link to the pdf instructions:

http://www.green-trust.org/freebooks/Earthbox.pdf

The article is 37 pages long and has photos to illustrate how these self-watering containers were designed and constructed.

I also found a couple more articles on self-watering containers. Including the Earthbox brand name. Which as a series of videos that are excellent in explaining how the self-watering system works. Sounds like something worth trying! Some of you may already be growing container plants this way, but I am just now discovering it. :-) Definitely a great idea to help combat the heat and water evaporation here in Florida. I gonna try growing veggies this way, too!

Other links:

http://www.josho.com/gardening.htm
http://www.instructables.com/id/how_to_make_an_earth_box/

And of course, here is the website for Earthboxes: (check out the videos)
http://www.earthbox.com/consumer/videos.html

My dh no longer questions when I ask him to drill holes or make unusual arbors or build a 3-tiered bed. LOL! He now just says ... tell me what you want me to do and I will build it per your specifications! LOL! He's excited that I might grow veggies and fruit. You know ... something edible and useful! LOL! Instead of all those flowering plants! hee, hee ...

This message was edited Dec 27, 2009 11:05 PM