Monday 7 July 2008

Terracotta pot watering system

About a week ago we installed the terracotta pot watering system, as suggested by Kate at Hills and Plains seedsavers, but a less sophisticated system than hers. We've started with four pots and plugged the holes in the bases with corks. We dug holes for them and filled in the space around them with a mix of soil and compost. We've used old floor tiles as lids and unlike Kate have not connected them to a hose for filling up. We may do this next year, but this time we're just going to fill them up with a watering can or a hose by hand.

Once the row of pots were in, I sowed haricot verts (French beans) around the pots. I watered the soil where the seeds were, around the pots, until they germinated. Now that they have germinated we're watering straight into the pots and it seems to be working well. The soil around the pots seems to be damp all the time. And, an added bonus, the snails have left the seedlings alone. I think this is because the surface of the soil isn't damp. In the past we've lost whole rows of haricots to the snails and had to use snail pellets to protect them.

And an update on the prickly pear cuttings:

The four cuttings have grown quite an extensive root system in only three weeks. This surprised me as the information I could find suggested that they would take some months to root.

Two of the plants have now been transplanted to the garden. I'm hoping to grow the other two in pots outside the house.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting that the snails haven't bothered the plants. As you say the soil surface is dry which is an added advantage.
I've tried seeping hoses and they attract loads of snails and slugs - somewhat self defeating as there are no plants left to take up the available moisture!

Greg W said...

What a marvelous idea! I missed this on Kate's blog. I must thank her for the idea too.
I am going to try your way until I can see it working for me.
I like your site and will add it to my blogroll.
Thanks for sharing.

chaiselongue said...

Hi Greg - yes, you should thank Kate. It was all her idea and it seems to be working. Luckily she shared it - We should all share ideas!!!

Kate said...

This looks fabulous! I am so excited you are doing it as it certainly worked for me last year and I am going to expand to everywhere this year and expect great success with minimal cost and using old pots, so little plastic!I hate using plastic in the organic vegetable garden!