Just finished off the next part of the wicking garden bed. See how I finished it off in the slide show below.
I had to buy 1 metre of ag-pipe (has lots of holes in it), 10 bags of washed sand, and 5 bags of organic soil. All the rest was reused. I had a spare 1 metre of ag-pipe, PVC pipe, gaffa tape, plastic tarpaulin lining, staple gun and staples, and the contents of two compost bins, all for free! Total cost of materials today $60.
Just one tip. Cap off the end of the ag-pipe so that the water doesn’t just flow straight through. You want it to distribute evenly throughout the bed. I just hope the gaffa tape holds it all in place when it gets wet.
I will be planting it out tomorrow after my radio interview. More photos tomorrow night friends with lots of salad veggie seedlings and mulch to stop evaporation.
Well timed as Spring attempts to gain hold here downunder (despite hail storms and whopping great earthquakes across the ditch here).
I’m still picturing yourself and Kim sitting out beside this new garden bed with a glass each of something nice and a munching of fresh, young salad leaves.
Great photo of you up between the solar panels! Sending care and huggles to all at “Gav and Kim’s place”,
Mickle and a once more snoring Zebbycat, xxx and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Hi Gavin,
I haven’t seen the “Part One” of this so forgive me if you’ve already addressed these questions…Apart from self watering pots, my only experience of wicking beds is from Costa;s show. This seems a whole lot simpler (and cheaper). Is the idea that the sand works as the ‘reservoir’ to hold the moisture, or does the water only stay in the pipe? If the latter, how do the veges get enough water from just that one pipe?
Very interested in copying this idea!!
Jennifer – daily reader and occassional commenter
Nice video, Gavin!
I’ve been using mini wicking worm beds (foam broccoli boxes) to grow my salad greens for 2 years now and they work a treat. I too first saw the idea on Scarecrow’s Garden blog.
I haven’t seen them featured on Costa’s Garden, and I’m wondering if anyone can comment on how Costa’s beds are different?
@ Mickle,
Yes, I can picture that as well. The bed is now chocka block full of celery, lettuce and the like.
@ Jennifer,
Do you have a link to the type Costa made? The plan is that the sand holds the water and the pipe in place and the reservoir stays full and draws up into the compost and soil layer. Seams to be working so far as the top lay was very moist this morning and I hadn’t watered from above.
@ Anon
Cheers. I have a couple of large white plastic boxes that I am going to try the same thing on for some other veggies this year.
Gav
Hi Gavin and all,
Here is the link to what Costa has done
http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/costa/listings/detail/i/1/article/6172/Wicking-Garden-Beds
Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer,
I see what you mean about my method being cheaper! This quote is straight from the link you sent me.
“COSTING:
All up it cost about $875 to build and plant out one of the three garden beds.”
That is enough to put anyone off of building their own veggie patch for life. I like my sub $70 one much better!
Gav
Hi Gavin, enjoyed your building of a wicker bed, good job!! going to have a go at building one and compare it to my other beds.
Glad you liked it Andrea. I had fun building it with my daughter.
Gav