I had to take one of my SWC's apart to patch a leak and decided to take pictures of my  method of constructing a sturdy long lasting 18 gallon SWC.
Some people grow figs in these things with wonderful results. I find the roots to be too aggressive that soon occupy the entire water reservoir.

Why did you go with those tubs? Do you find them sturdy enough? How are they with the sun?  Do you find it will eventually get brittle and break?

Using the Home Depot buckets I find will last me maybe 4 to 5 years, but I am not sure. Maybe I luck out and I get more. They still seem pretty good but I have plants in older 5 gallon painters buckets and they are basically done.  Brittle, hard and just falling apart.

I am entering my 3rd year using the HD buckets and they don't seem to have too much wear and tear.

So far so good.  I swear by them and I plan on transferring most of other potted ones to them.

I don't find the roots to be that much of a problem or they just don't bother me. I trim them off and re-size the root ball and add new dirt if need be.

I love them for several reasons:

-Great growth

-I can set them up to automatically water

-Lighter mix

-Add fertilizer once a year

-I get a mature tree quicker with better fruit

I put my Panevino White in it and I had big fruit in its 3rd year.  I had Fruit on my Fico Preto 18 months after first root.

These are not for everyone but I love them and really won't use any other mix or fertilizer.  My results have been excellent and I feel for me that why mess with success. Plus I can stack my trees in my garage because of the sturdiness of the buckets.

Hi Dom,

I guess it depends on where you live. If I were up North I'd do the same thing as you. Here in Florida it pays to put my trees in the ground. 
The reason I chose the 18 gallon totes is for the size. It gives me a whopping 7-8 gallon water reservoir!
They will not last as long as your pails but slapping some white paint on my totes seems to be protecting them from the UV rays. I've had some going on 5 years now with little deterioration.
I agree with all of the advantages you have listed.

Frank

Frank,

Great details.  Love all the pics.


Dominick,

Can you link me to the buckets you use?  I'd like to see what they look like.

globalbuckets.org

Oops, should have addressed to FMD, not Dom!

Thanks for the pictorial on self watering containers and your procedures and techniques. From your post you say "Some people grow figs in these things with wonderful results. I find the roots to be too aggressive that soon occupy the entire water reservoir."

My question is, what's so bad about the roots occupying the water reservoir? I'm thinking as longbas the plants are healthy, growing and getting thir water, does it really matter if there are roots in the reservoir?

Again, thanks for your info.

FMD didn't care for the roots occupying the reservoir.  It doesn't bother me. I just chop them the next season and add new soil.

FMD,

I'm confused......do you grow them in the ground or in the tubs or is it some of each?  If you do grow some in the tubs may I ask why?  Granted you are a bit cooler than I.

Mark, the more roots in the reservoir the less space for water. The whole earthbox-swc concept is defeated. Why bother? Just plant them in regular pots, then.
I have most of my trees in ground.  I plant my tomatoes and peppers in the swc's. I posted the pictorial for those that were interested in trying it out, like Dominic.

It looks like you have a good number of 5 gallon bucket SWCs also. Are those for the peppers?

Hi Calvin,

Yup, I use the 5 gallon swc's for peppers and eggplants. It is ironic ( and sad) that despite having 6 acres of land in a warm part of the country, I have to use containers for my vegetables. The soil pathogens like the heat more than the veggies, it seems.

Frank

What is in the soil that makes growing peppers or other veggies in ground a problem?