We grow peppers and eggplant in these half barrels and it works really well except in the summer when it gets hot and dry. It takes a long time if you’re running a sprinkler to get these things to get enough water and because I drilled drainage holes in the bottom, I should have what time about 4 inches from the bottom on the side of barrel, I’ve mentioned that before.
I was looking different watering systems, he waters his plants using piece of PVC pipe and this is my version for watering these half barrels.
First remove the cap from a 2 liter soda bottle then take a flat screwdriver and stick under the collar that remains on the bottleneck and twist it till it snaps off. Then take the soda bottle stick it upside down in a vice and take a 2 inch hole saw and cut a hole in the bottom, start with the side going forward until the drill bit goes through the bottle and then put it in reverse to finish the whole.
Take some 1 inch PVC and cut it into 12 inch long pieces, stick one end of it in the vice, then take a heat gun and shoot it down through the center of the pipe. I’m going to let the video run here in full time because it doesn’t take that long to soften the pipe, just so you get an idea of how long it takes to soften the pipe with the heat gun on high. When a pipe is soft enough use two hands push down firmly on the bottle and screw the bottle into the pipe until the whole neck of the bottle is seated in the pipe and then let it cool.
You can’t push on the bottle to put these into the dirt it will either crush the bottle or separate it from the pipe so take another piece of pipe make a hole part of the distance you want the thing in the dirt, if you want it 9 inches on the ground push a piece of pipe 6 inches into the ground first then insert the bottle and take the other piece of pipe slide it inside the bottle and use that to push it 3 more inches into the dirt and then fill it with water.
The first time I used them about a third to about a quarter of the water drained out between a half an hour and an hour it took over night for the rest of the water to drain out of the bottles.
I don’t know how they’d work just stuck into the ground in a regular garden but it might be worth a shot to try one and if you let me know how it works out for you.
I grow scotch bonnet peppers in containers in Oregon where we are very
temperate usually, but this past summer we were so hot it was hard to keep
a correct balance for these tropical peppers. I found a fitting that went
onto the pvc that that the soda bottle fit into nicely. I don’t have a heat
gun. I also drilled holes into my pvc pipe that went into the soil and in
the early mornings I would put frozen pop bottles on top of my pipe which
melted as the day went on. Made watering so much easier! Very similar to
your DYI – Thank you!
+Gina Carr that’s a great idea.
Please share details of the fitting that connects the pvc pipe to the
bottle.
Thanks.
oh an initiative or (frozen water bottles)
Thanks !
Gina Car
I’ve been watering my plants like that for years
I think this totally solves my problem: I love gardening and growing my own
produce but I have moved into a house that had large black walnut trees in
the back yard. Well, you know what that means..can’t grow tomatoes and many
things that I want. Even in the raised beds, eventually the juglone
eventually gets to the roots of the plants. So, I am so going to grow my
tomatoes, raspberries…an everything that I want in these. I like the idea
of the incredible self watering gutter gardens, but it is too much work to
get built. Thanks for the great vid.
+JW Pookie hope it works for you. don’t put drain holes in the very bottom.
put them on the side near the bottom.
Old timers use today’s plastic milk jugs with a few small holes in the
bottom, fill the jug with water, put the lid back on it, turn it upside
down so the water doesn’t come out of the holes until you are ready to put
them on the plants. When you get to the plants
( the ones I saw were on top of tomato plants ) then turn the jug right
side up and sit it on the ground close to the bottom of the plant. The
water will slowly penetrate the earth and keep the plant well watered.
Those tomato plants I saw, had the biggest, reddest tomatoes I’ve ever
seen!!
+Linda Kirby Thanks so much, I can’t wait to try it.
+Fedeleness
It’s an old country boy trick! My brother n law did it and his veggies
were the best in the county even during the drought!! Good luck!!
+Linda Kirby Thanks so much. It will be so much easier to then just fill
the bottles up. Those old country boys sure are amazing!
+Fedeleness
God bless and hope you have an awesome crop. You can put your plant food
in the water too….makes it so much easier to get those big red
tomatoes!!! Let me know how they turn out…email me linkirb@gmail.com.
send pics if you want to brag on them!!! LOLOL
Jim I pxx
tnks for trying to make a positive difference n the garden experience! gd
job like yuh video will try soon’ wen I redo my herb’ garden ..
I use pop bottles in my containers with a store bought tip to fit the end
of the bottle. Fill it up replace the special tip and waters your plant;
especially if you leave for a short vacation. Will do it again. However I
will use your method also. Happy gardening. Thanks for the watering tip. ????
what do you mean by “store bought tip to fit the end of the bottle”?
you sound just like my uncle Joe Same accent too
+evon markus (brown) thanks
I thought ur not supposed to water the plants in the mid day r at night.if
I do that the plants get watered in the mid day & at night!
sweet cheers
Clay pot buried is the original idea…
Your water can get hot And cause a reflection and burn your plants…
nb
Hi Mr. Mojoe! Thanks for the video 🙂 I have some tomato plants in
containers on my patio and just made my watering systems yesterday. The
water drained out so quickly. (Less than 5 mins) The pots are not as deep
as yours. Could this be the reason why? How often do you water? *I’m new at
gardening
Did you ever find out how to keep your plants watered? I’m going through
the same thing and I’m about to go out of town with no one to water them.
That was very use full Thank You ….GOD BLESS YOU
I would like to now exactlly how you made it,I see only you doe the PVS
pipe and the rest not
What’s a godden?
Good idea
saurabh joshi
you don’t need the pipe. just pierce a hole.
man this sounds complicated…. im bout smoke a blunt and re look at this
Can you just duct tape the bottle to the pipe?
like