A couple of years ago in Texas, we used self-wicking buckets for our tomato plants and they worked great. Last year I planted them in my raised beds but in an effort to plant more veggies in the raised beds, I asked Vince about using self-wicking buckets for the tomatoes, peppers and squash. He watched several different videos and decided he liked this method the best:
Since this method takes two buckets, instead of one, we needed more buckets than Vince had originally bought. Vince felt like this method, even though it takes two buckets, was less expensive than the other way that required corrugated pipe.
I also needed a few more food grade buckets and sealing lids for the wheat I bought recently so we went to Lowe’s yesterday, got more buckets for the garden, more buckets for the wheat and the lids.
I think we now have all the supplies for the veggie buckets.
With the wheat, I’ll keep it in the freezer for a few days, take it out, let it come to room temp, then seal it in the buckets with oxygen absorbers.
Every time I walk by the raised beds, which is about 128 times per day taking Oscar out . . I check to see if I see any asparagus popping up. It will be the first thing that comes up . . actually, it will be the only thing that comes up because everything else in the garden was an annual, except the strawberries and they never really disappeared. I have been thinning them and need to get that job finished.
I’m ready for spring and ready for my garden!
Margie Crewse says
I don’t comment often but always read your posts everyday. We did this one year and it was awesome. We always go on a 2+ week vacation around that time of year and couldn’t take our garden with us. I grew tomatoes, cakes, and green beans. The neighbor had lots of fresh veggies while we were gone. Used a 55 gallon plastic barrel for the water traitor. Age is not letting us do much anymore.
http://www.alaskagrowbuckets.com/