Self-watering containers are giving me outstanding results! (SIP, SWC)

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FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1407791233	Reply with quote #1

I was just organizing my fig pics and found a couple of photos that are about two months apart. I can't imagine growing figs in regular pots after getting these results! I will say some of the trees have yellowish-green leaves, maybe from too much water but they're still growing at a fast rate. Give it a try! First pic - May 7th Second pic -July 16th __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

WillsC

Registered:1348087628
Posts: 1,698

Posted 1407791467	Reply with quote #2

Plants look very lush Frank, well done. Btw had the first unk Carini the other day...pretty dang good:)

figgary

Registered:1387147322
Posts: 833

Posted 1407791481	Reply with quote #3

Can't argue with those results, Frank. Will you up-pot them or will they go in ground from the 5 gallon size? __________________ Gary in CA 9A Seeking: Bebera Branca*, Colonel Littman's Cross

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1407791670	Reply with quote #4

Great results. __________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1407793204	Reply with quote #5

Not here much due to work and life. Big acreage to manage, but what is the difference between SIP and a drip system? The drip system does it's job in ground and in pots. Just wondering....... Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

Otmani007

Registered:1404531079
Posts: 573

Posted 1407795708	Reply with quote #6

Outstanding results. Thanks for sharing. __________________ Dallas, TX - Zone 8a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanche, Brogiotto Bianco, Sicilian White, Panache Otmani

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1407796022	Reply with quote #7

They look great.

BronxFigs

Registered:1333154764
Posts: 1,864

Posted 1407797475	Reply with quote #8

Figgy Frank- Pardon my naive questions. I know absolutely nothing about this method of growing figs, but the results are quite notable. Just wondering....Is there a way to control water at the roots when figs begin to ripen and concentrate flavors and sugars? How do you prevent a crop of washed out figs...or worse, prevent figs from splitting/souring? I suppose I could do some homework for the answers, but being chronically lazy, I rather I ask an expert. : ) Good luck with the rest of this growing season, and I hope you will have a great harvest to offset all your efforts. Love the neat, clean, and well-kept fig grove! Frank __________________ Bronx, NYC Zone-7

ako1974

Registered:1393356294
Posts: 299

Posted 1407797827	Reply with quote #9

I think I need to use the SIP method. I think I would have better results. Maybe it's a project to start over the winter.....the trees look awesome. __________________ Arne Zone 6a - NJ

waynea

Registered:1362316304
Posts: 1,886

Posted 1407800024	Reply with quote #10

Very interesting, what counts is the time saved and the health of the plants, and I say you accomplished both, congrats.

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1407800372	Reply with quote #11

Quote: Originally Posted by WillsC Plants look very lush Frank, well done. Btw had the first unk Carini the other day...pretty dang good:) Thanks Wills. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. :) __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1407800524	Reply with quote #12

Quote: Originally Posted by figgary Can't argue with those results, Frank. Will you up-pot them or will they go in ground from the 5 gallon size? Gary, I will keep these in 5 gallon buckets for at least a few years, root pruning and shaping to keep it balanced. These all have to fit in my garage every winter. Thanks to drivewayfarmer for the inspiration. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1407800686	Reply with quote #13

Quote: Originally Posted by DesertDance Not here much due to work and life. Big acreage to manage, but what is the difference between SIP and a drip system? The drip system does it's job in ground and in pots. Just wondering....... Suzi Suzi, I keep the tops covered so the potting mix and fertilizer don't get flushed out with the rain. My gutter grow system and rain barrel make this super easy to manage. Plus, I don't want to risk die-back every winter in ground. Having said that, I do have 9 other trees in ground that I've come to accept the yearly die back. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1407800840	Reply with quote #14

Quote: Originally Posted by BronxFigs Figgy Frank- Pardon my naive questions. I know absolutely nothing about this method of growing figs, but the results are quite notable. Just wondering....Is there a way to control water at the roots when figs begin to ripen and concentrate flavors and sugars? How do you prevent a crop of washed out figs...or worse, prevent figs from splitting/souring? I suppose I could do some homework for the answers, but being chronically lazy, I rather I ask an expert. : ) Good luck with the rest of this growing season, and I hope you will have a great harvest to offset all your efforts. Love the neat, clean, and well-kept fig grove! Frank Hey Frank, Thank you for the kind words. I'm wondering the same thing about ripening time. This is my first year growing with SWCs so I don't know what to expect with ripe figs yet. I'll be sure to report back if disaster occurs. ;) __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

swizzle

Registered:1355675395
Posts: 137

Posted 1407803373	Reply with quote #15

They look great Frank. Thank you for the update. I'm going to have to make one for next year. That will make a good winter project.

Hoosierguy86

Registered:1375830122
Posts: 246

Posted 1407803539	Reply with quote #16

I was wondering the same thing about ripening. Other question is how do you store these in winter? __________________ Scott N. Indiana 5b/6a

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1407803775	Reply with quote #17

I have a bunch of figs on the way. Most won't ripen until September but I'll be sure to update everyone with the results. Scott, I have additional buckets on hand to put these in, come winter time. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1407833651	Reply with quote #18

Hi FiggyFrank, Nice results ! What is surprising to me is that lots of people here say that roots should breathe or they rot ... I'm wondering how they do in those SIPS ? expecially because of the covering of the SIP. Do you remove the lids sometimes to vent a bit ? - Like I open my greenhouse, to renew the air inside - What potting mix did you use ? How many liters of water do they get ? If you want to test a good grower, test a "Dalmatie" and then we could compare results . I use mainly compost from the nurseries inside my 80liters trashcans. @desertdance: all water and fertilizer stays in a SIP where it could overflow and go away with a tree in ground. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1407842195	Reply with quote #19

Frank, Thanks for sharing your results. The trees look healthy and happy. I'm looking forward to updates. Jdsfrance, The SIP are actually designed to get air / oxygen to the roots where its needed, at the aeration platform / planter bottom above the reservoir. .

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1407842945	Reply with quote #20

Quote: Originally Posted by jdsfrance Hi FiggyFrank, Nice results ! What is surprising to me is that lots of people here say that roots should breathe or they rot ... I'm wondering how they do in those SIPS ? expecially because of the covering of the SIP. Do you remove the lids sometimes to vent a bit ? - Like I open my greenhouse, to renew the air inside - What potting mix did you use ? How many liters of water do they get ? If you want to test a good grower, test a "Dalmatie" and then we could compare results . I use mainly compost from the nurseries inside my 80liters trashcans. @desertdance: all water and fertilizer stays in a SIP where it could overflow and go away with a tree in ground. jdsfrance, I never remove the top. I used Pro-Mix BX with Osmocote slow release fertilizer pellets mixed in. On average, each tree drinks about 0.75 gallons of water per day. Since using the gutters, it's harder to know how much water they're drinking since they're all sitting in the same pool, sharing the same water. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

psilva8

Registered:1399311099
Posts: 67

Posted 1407850013	Reply with quote #21

I think once my collection starts to grow I may try a similar method. Right now, my love affair with figs it's in the honeymoon stage, so I enjoy watering them in the evening, but I'm sure that will one day change. Thanks for the pics. __________________ Ontario, Canada Zone 6a

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1407856631	Reply with quote #22

Great job Frank! To me, growing figs in SWPs are the way to go for a container garden....hands down! All of my trees in SWPs are the healthiest of all. I have mine on a daily drip irrigation system where they get a half a gallon of water a day, depending on the temperature of the day. But let me warn you about something.....using those 5 gallon buckets--get ready to up size your pots in one year. Why? Because they grow that fast. A five gallon bucket is cheap but your tree will become root bound in one year. And don't use UPM. It wicks TOO well and your soil will suck up all of the water and you will be forced to supply more water in the resevour dialy with the wrong pot. Go ahead now and start looking for the largest pot you can for your trees and prep them now or over the winter. The cheapest and easist pot to make is one out of 55 gallon plastic barrels. Its a chore to prep the barrels but you don't have to root prune the tree for 3 years. keep up the good work! __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1407857477	Reply with quote #23

Dennis, I have some trees that are in their 2nd year in 5 gallon SIPs and are doing great. But you are probably right that they are root-bound. It's a lot of effort to make all the 5 gallon SIPs and I want to get at least two years out of them. Plus making larger SIPs from barrels will be quite an undertaking for ~15 trees. My neighbors will think I'm even more crazy than they already do! Regarding the question about figs splitting when the tree is grown in a SIP, I haven't experienced this yet. Maybe Dennis can chime in. My speculation is that the roots adapt to the consistent SIP environment and only take up the water that they need. In contrast, a big rain for figs in a conventional container, or in the ground, will subject all the roots to a lot of moisture. Since the roots are accustomed to sucking up whatever water the plant can get it takes up too much leading the fruit to split. __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1407857953	Reply with quote #24

Thanks Dennis. Due to limited winter space, I will keep these in 5 gallon buckets for now. I understand I'll have to root prune and top prune every year or two to accommodate the container size but I don't have much choice if I want to keep all these trees. I believe Kerry (drivewayfarmer) keeps most of his in 5 gallon buckets and does the something similar. Best believe our next house will have everything needed to store lots of fig trees during the winter. When? Who knows. :) __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

erics11

Registered:1399955853
Posts: 102

Posted 1407866092	Reply with quote #25

Would this work in hotter climates? Ive seen mixed reviews that say the roots like cooler temps, and some say they like warmer temps. I would guess that it can get pretty toasty under the black plastic. __________________ Hayward, CA 9B Own: Brown Turkey, White Kadota, Mission Black, Celeste, RdB, VdB, Hunt, Dominick, Strawberry Verte, LSU Scott's black, Brown Greek, Spanish Black Wishlist: Chicago Hardy, Desert King, Col de Dame Gris, any other favorites

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