A very cool improvement on the self irrigating pot (SIP) idea from Larry Hall of Minnesota. Rather than the two bucket system we’ve blogged about in the past (see a roundup of our SIP resources here), Hall uses one long rain gutter to supply water. He’s even got a clever double rain gutter system for growing strawberries that I’m tempted to try on our back patio.
I spotted this video on Inside Urban Green always a good source for SIP related news.
I foresee major mosquito problems with something like this, more than with the two-bucket system which is easier to add mesh-exclusion to, but I’d still LOVE to see that strawberry/lettuce/etc set-up planted out and in full production! I think this is similar to something I’ve seen done with aquaculture systems before- essentially, pumping fish waste-water through that lower rain gutter would provide plenty of liquid fertiliser to the growing plants.
Good point. Mosquito dunks would be in order here.
Looks great! Are there any good resources for setting up the float/hose system so that it’s watered automatically?
Yes you use a float valve like this, http://www.amazon.com/Kerick-Valve-MA052-Float-Adjustable/dp/B0077RAP1I. This video shows how he constructed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRQzhFBCot4&feature=relmfu
I did a variation of this method this season. I have to say it is the best SIP method I have tried, which includes most of them.
Instead of a net cup as a wick I tried 2 different fabric wicks. One was strands from a 100% Rayon mop head. The other, strips of Pellon Thermolam Plus (fabric store) as seen here: http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2010/04/self-watering-capillary-mat-replacement—gardencom.html
Both worked quite well. I think the strips of fabric were easier and would last for more seasons.
I also mulched the top of the containers which helped with our hot summers days.
I did not have any issues with mosquitoes. I thought they would be a problem as well. I set my float valve so it dripped a bit. So the water was not completely still.
The only problem I had was with a bucket, with full grown tomato, tipping over from high winds. My solution was to to tie the buckets down with strapping, like plumbers and HVAC folks use, screwed into the sides of the 2×4.
To address mosquitos, would be neat to have a mosquito fish system in place.. though on that note, doesn’t the water get pretty gunky from the soil coming out of the little basket? Or is there a period where fine stuff gets out, then after that it’s pretty clear?
It does get a bit gunky. And it’s pretty shallow for fish.
I would want to know if the rain gutters are food-grade plastic.
Probably not, so good point.
The gutters are made from PVC – vinyl.
PVC is Carcinogenic. Need to use only polypropylene containers and pipes or gutters.