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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I got in touch with a couple of local restaurants (friends) that will hold 5 gallon buckets for me, starting now.  I'm going to try some self watering containers since I see a lot of advantages with it.  With the buckets being free, I can spend a few bucks on the stuff needed to build the SWC.  The proper pots are just too costly when you need more than 50.
Based on your experience, will the 5 gallon buckets work for a couple years?
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Frank
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striveforfreedom

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Frank, I've just started with the SWC project but I have used 5 and 6 gallon buckets for 5+ years as larger pots with no degradation in the material. For my SWC I am using 3 inch PVC as the wicking chamber and a stand under the second bucket so the second bucket sits higher and I get a larger water reservoir. A 5 gallon bucket in a 6 gallon bucket works nice. Gal at the local BK saves the 5's for me.
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Vince Russo
Norwalk, CT Zone 7A

Wish list - Any cuttings of the Col de Dames would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Vince,

That's great to hear.  Do you think the 5gal stacked in another 5gal will work fine as well?  Thanks!
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Frank
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nullzero

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Frank,

(2) 5 gals stacked inside works out very well. I was able to get 12 medium/small persimmons in a 5 gal stacked SWC. Should work well for figs that are not to big.
jtp

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
I used them last year, not even as SWC. I just drilled drainage holes along the bottom rim and made them into big nursery-style pots. Sure, I had to water more often, but it worked well for me. I grew nice tomatoes in some as well.
gorgi

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Once I was given a few of restaurant (food grade) 4-5 gal buckets that I used for figs.
They were rectangular in shape (not the traditional round). Later I found that they tended
to (UV) disintegrate much, much faster than those 5 gal buckets, that came with say sheet rock compound.
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George, NJ_z7a.
striveforfreedom

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Frank the 5 in a 5 works well by all others accounts I've read I believe we can call that true. I'm a lazy fig hence the reason I wanted a larger space in the lower bucket for the water. I am going to experiment with how well the wicking works because I am asking it to travel higher into the second bucket than the standard setup.
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Vince Russo
Norwalk, CT Zone 7A

Wish list - Any cuttings of the Col de Dames would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Thanks for the input guys.
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Frank
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leon_edmond

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Can you post the link to the SWC using the 5 gal buckets? Thanks much.
greenfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Can you share how you build the SWC system?
I found a lot of free buckets in a flower section of my local grocery store.
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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
I got the inspiration from Vince (striveforfreedom) when he posted this link in the SWC thread:  Http://www.globalbuckets.org


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Frank
zone 7a - VA
Wildforager

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
You know, I'd like to see a link too. There was a good link on F4F to a great youtube video out of Cali but then I went back later to check it a 2nd time it said that the user had removed the video. That one was really nice! Had an awesome tutorial.

Quote:
Originally Posted by leon_edmond
Can you post the link to the SWC using the 5 gal buckets? Thanks much.
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Little John Sheboygan, WI Zone 5B Wish List - Florea, Ronde De Bordeaux
Maro2Bear

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
There are a lot of instructions out there on the internet for SWC, often called Earth Box. Here's one link that has a lot of different plans that one can adopt per ur application/use.

http://www.seattleoil.com/Flyers/Earthbox.pdf

I think option No. 3 shows the two 5 gallon bucket plan of attack.

This is also a good link. http://www.globalbuckets.org/
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Mark B., Glenn Dale, MD Zone 7a
FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 

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Frank
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greenfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Frank,
Thanks for the link, nice!
The water in the lower bucket provides enough for the bottom 3/4 of the soil.
How do you seal off the soil surface so it doesn't become dry too much?  I assume, you don't water from the top?
How often do you add the water?
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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
greenfig,

It's all new to me too.  But there seems to be enough evidence that it works.  If you browse youtube or google, there's several ways to make one.  I'll be making mine in the upcoming weeks.

This thread should be read too:
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/potting-mix-for-self-watering-container-%28SWC%29-6254526
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Frank
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greenfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Super! I was going to make some too. Don't know when but I'll post the pics when I have something.
I also want them to look nice so the orange HD buckets wont do for me.
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bugs

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
So paint them. There is mine from last year.

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jpeg Up-pot.jpg (87.26 KB, 91 views)
Alan1631

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
If you have a Firehouse subs in your area, I would try there.  They get pickles in them.  In my area, they sell them for $2.
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Alan
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noss

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Bugs,

What kind of paint did you use on the buckets?  They look good.

noss
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noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.
FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
That looks very nice, bugs.
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Frank
zone 7a - VA
kubota1

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Hey Frank,
I seen all of Bugs figs. His figs in the self watering containers are growing way faster/bigger.
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Art- Western Pa. 6a
striveforfreedom

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Sharp looking bugs. Keeps them cool too.
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Vince Russo
Norwalk, CT Zone 7A

Wish list - Any cuttings of the Col de Dames would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Very nice tree and container , bugs !
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Kerry Zone 5 NH
Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra  .
Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
Has anyone tried these containers as an alternative to the global bucket design?  They come in various sizes/colors are aren't as expensive as you might think.  However, I haven't seen them in person and don't know exactly how they are designed internally.

http://www.amazon.com/Misco-1654-Watering-Planter-16-Inch/dp/B0053NKIVA/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1363808304&sr=1-1&keywords=self+watering+planters+and+pots
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Steve MD zone 7a
bugs

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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
Moss,

It is just latex paint from Home Depot or Lowe's in, you have to take the shine off the buckets.
Find some color that some one did not want.
Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
FYI, I found some information on the forum about those prefabricated self-watering containers:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/My-partial-container-garden-6188278?highlight=walmart

See post #20 for photos of what these containers look like on the inside.  By the way, Dennis you da man!
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Steve MD zone 7a
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