Doug no problem riding my coat tails...lol , I'm learning a lot.
I love the Self Watering/Wicking idea and always wanted to try it...Maybe someday on the deck. The closest I have come to that system is the air pruning system its self watering/wicking but only 5 containers (Grow Bags) problem is I have to store this stuff in the fall, I figured I could leave the grow medium in the grow bags, store on the hill, cover then in the spring add some fresh compost.
Here's my end of season cleanup/storage.
End of Season - The NFT rails - are velcroed in place and can be removed in the fall and stored, all the net pots are removed, the strawberries will be planted and mulched in the raised beds for next year the hydroton/growstones are put in a 5 gallon bucket for storage , the net cups are stacked and stored. I just unplug the pump and leave it in the pond.
The Deep Water Culture System is drained, hydroton/grow stones are removed, net cup lids are stacked and stored, tote is placed on the hill and the buckets are flipped, The water pump and air pump and stones are stored inside. The water supply is disconnected and valve is left open.
I may build a platform for the Recirculating Deep Water Culture system.
The Self Watering/Wicking Air Pruning System - is drained, Disconnected from the water supply and the valve is left open, Grow bags are removed and stacked on the hill with grow medium still inside, reservoir is placed on the hill over top of the Grow Bags. Cedar plank is put back on the veggie filter and the 2 6x6 supports are stacked on the hill.
Aquaponics (Veggie Filter) - Clay Pots are removed, grow medium is composted, pots are stacked on the hill and the cedar plank top is placed over the top, I will turn off the pump to the veggie filter and drain.
Aquaponics (Veggie planter) - Clay Pots are removed, grow medium is composted, pots are stacked on the hill. I will turn off the pump and drain by a small valve underneath the planter.
Vertical Towers - Plants are removed from the vertical tower strawberries will be planted in the raised beds and mulched over for next season and the towers will be stored on the hill soil still intact.
Dirt Farming - Soil plants are just cut back, trashed, composted or burnt.
I love the Self Watering/Wicking idea and always wanted to try it...Maybe someday on the deck. The closest I have come to that system is the air pruning system its self watering/wicking but only 5 containers (Grow Bags) problem is I have to store this stuff in the fall, I figured I could leave the grow medium in the grow bags, store on the hill, cover then in the spring add some fresh compost.
Here's my end of season cleanup/storage.
End of Season - The NFT rails - are velcroed in place and can be removed in the fall and stored, all the net pots are removed, the strawberries will be planted and mulched in the raised beds for next year the hydroton/growstones are put in a 5 gallon bucket for storage , the net cups are stacked and stored. I just unplug the pump and leave it in the pond.
The Deep Water Culture System is drained, hydroton/grow stones are removed, net cup lids are stacked and stored, tote is placed on the hill and the buckets are flipped, The water pump and air pump and stones are stored inside. The water supply is disconnected and valve is left open.
I may build a platform for the Recirculating Deep Water Culture system.
The Self Watering/Wicking Air Pruning System - is drained, Disconnected from the water supply and the valve is left open, Grow bags are removed and stacked on the hill with grow medium still inside, reservoir is placed on the hill over top of the Grow Bags. Cedar plank is put back on the veggie filter and the 2 6x6 supports are stacked on the hill.
Aquaponics (Veggie Filter) - Clay Pots are removed, grow medium is composted, pots are stacked on the hill and the cedar plank top is placed over the top, I will turn off the pump to the veggie filter and drain.
Aquaponics (Veggie planter) - Clay Pots are removed, grow medium is composted, pots are stacked on the hill. I will turn off the pump and drain by a small valve underneath the planter.
Vertical Towers - Plants are removed from the vertical tower strawberries will be planted in the raised beds and mulched over for next season and the towers will be stored on the hill soil still intact.
Dirt Farming - Soil plants are just cut back, trashed, composted or burnt.