How to Install a Self-Watering Garden

How to Install a Self-Watering Garden | Ask This Old House

Рет қаралды 246,149

6 жыл бұрын

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows a homeowner in Orlando how to plant a low-maintenance vegetable garden using hydroponics.
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Time: 5 hours
Cost: $700
Skill Level: Moderate
Tools List for Installing a Self-Watering Garden:
Rubber Mallet
Torpedo Level
Irrigation punch tool
Shopping List:
Hydroponic garden kit
Weed barrier
Landscape staples
Perlite
Coconut Fiber
32 gallon trash can
Plug in timer
Steps:
1. Vegetables thrive in full sunlight, so choose a sunny location.
2. Lay down a layer of weed barrier with landscape staples.
3. Drive support rods into the ground one foot using the rubber mallet. Ensure they stay plumb with the torpedo level.
4. Drive the support column into the ground over the support rods, sinking it 10” into the ground. Use a bolt to ensure the end of the column isn’t damaged.
5. Slide the lower planter over the support column. Add two spacers, then the support for the next planter.
6. Add the column extension to reach the final height of the system.
7. Before planting in the upper planters, use a scrap piece of pipe to cover the holes.
8. Fill the container _ with perlite and _ with coconut fiber.
9. Add plants to the corners of the planters, covering with coconut fiber.
10. Fill the lower planter with the same mix and plant with larger crops like broccoli.
11. Drop each square planter onto the column, keeping each level at opposing angles.
12. Add a small pot for the irrigation system to the top of the column, then a piece of black tubing, and finally a PVC tee fitting with a hole drilled in it for the spaghetti irrigation line. Hold the spaghetti line in place using the black tubing.
13. Run a main irrigation line between all four planter columns.
14. Drill a hole in the lid of the 32 gallon trash can. Slide the irrigation line into that hole and attach it to the submersible pump. Ensure the power line runs out of the trash can.
15. Attach the line from the pump to the main irrigation line.
16. Use a punch tool to pierce the main irrigation line and attach the spaghetti tubing to that line.
17. Plug the timer into a wall outlet, then plug the pump into that. Set the pump to run a few times a day.
18. Fill the trash can with water and add the nutrients as prescribed by the manufacturer.
Resources:
Roger visited the Orange County Extension Education Center (sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/orange/) in Orlando, Florida to see some inspirational gardens.
Roger installed the VGK-16AGP vertical garden system, manufactured by Verti-Gro (www.vertigro.com/Default.asp)
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Install a Self-Watering Garden | Ask This Old House
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Пікірлер: 115

@SykoLiu 6 жыл бұрын

All these people complaining that this isn’t just a raised garden... Did you really want another video about how to build a wooden rectangle and fill it with dirt? The point of the video is to show something different. No one ever said it was better.

@SuperSpecialty 4 жыл бұрын

I’ve come to enjoy reading the comments on KZfaq. What a diverse array of ideas & beliefs that stimulate the “brain storming” process! Thank you for showing me what “not” to be or behave like.

@JillofAllTrades2 28 күн бұрын

That’s how I learned how to correctly install a waste line in my basement floor for the bathroom I was building. Ten years ago there were about 3 videos on the topic and 2 of them got slammed by licensed plumbers one of whom thanked the KZfaqr for keeping him in business. Lol. I knew them what I was and wasn’t going to do. 👍🏻

@devo076 5 жыл бұрын

This is exactly what I need to do for a garden, I'm glad Roger ran through it all so I know what to do.

@mikeblank7165 4 жыл бұрын

I love this TV show. I love watching Roger. I also get to learn things... Florida has "water". New England has "wadah".

@jasonhill2180 6 жыл бұрын

Nice idea. If this was recently filmed Roger is looking great!

@ShawnBauer 6 жыл бұрын

This is from Season 16 Episode 9 Jan 3, 2015

@dlight9129 4 жыл бұрын

@@ShawnBauer I think he's been sick

@jessie801000 6 жыл бұрын

That is so cool, I had no idea it was that simple. Now I want one.

@ByersLeafguard 6 жыл бұрын

This is an interesting system. It's not most attracitve but the idea of saving space is great.

@guyin916 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video. I want to do something similar, but to hang off of my patio fence. Would be nice to tie into rainwater collection eventually.

@mrundefined30 6 жыл бұрын

This old house contract: Page 1 1.1 You must use the frase "Sound Good" at lease 5 times between each shot.

@pasta0328 6 жыл бұрын

Well Roger, we thank you - ::video cuts off:: What we didn't hear was the rest of that sentence: for all your help, but I'm gonna take this thing down now so I don't get made fun of by my neighbors and family. A normal people garden will do fine.

@japan-e9j 6 жыл бұрын

Good job

@friendlyhonda3187 6 жыл бұрын

Cool.

@lebronjameslol3521 3 жыл бұрын

I officially protest this video. Roger correctly pronounced hydroponic and feel short changed

@davidsmith2596 6 жыл бұрын

I love the food form my on Garden

@LarryBarry04 6 жыл бұрын

Ok.........

@kumarnatwarsingh1712 6 жыл бұрын

*Neat & Clean Garden* 🔶〰👍

@mishishpee3723 6 жыл бұрын

Okay!

@debrafichtner347 3 жыл бұрын

I love this! Where do I get the containers to hold the plants?

@quartermilereefer8752 6 жыл бұрын

Nice

@jebprendergast101 3 жыл бұрын

“Well Roger, we thank you-“ FÍN

@vrepic7762 6 жыл бұрын

Fresh

@robertsteich7362 6 жыл бұрын

I wish that they would tell us what season and episode these clips are from.

@jameskizziah1685 6 жыл бұрын

Don't the plants in the containers on the bottom look much worse than those at the top getting watered directly? (2:02)

@seededsoul 5 жыл бұрын

James Kizziah Oh man, excellent point. They look like crap! Must be shade from vertical sunlight, and maybe inadequate watering.

@babyjenks1784 4 жыл бұрын

They may have been planted in stages so the lower ones are younger, higher ones are older, that way all your produce isn't ready/ripe at the same time

@JillofAllTrades2 28 күн бұрын

What’s an Australian bottle brush doing in Florida? No wonder his garden his high maintenance. So much for native planting.

@seededsoul 5 жыл бұрын

1:20 “Good way to start the day”

@captainhiltz73 6 жыл бұрын

Now we all know what Roger grows in his basement...

@andystead8788 5 жыл бұрын

tomatoes?

@aaronsimpson8329 5 жыл бұрын

"Herbs"

@JD-ge2id 4 жыл бұрын

@Pyroman / nobody asked...

@peterk814 4 жыл бұрын

Pyroman / you’re so cool,

@JillofAllTrades2 28 күн бұрын

What’s an Australian bottle brush doing in Florida? No wonder his garden his high maintenance. So much for low-maintenance native planting.

@JustinM2025 6 жыл бұрын

I'm here for the "gahden"s 🤣

@dlight9129 4 жыл бұрын

Where do purchase the planters and pipes?

@Chuck59ish 6 жыл бұрын

Never last the year up here in Eastern Canada, we still had frost warnings last week. Maybe inside a greenhouse.

@Chuck59ish 6 жыл бұрын

It would probably work all across the Southern States, MORON.

@mrjack8849 5 жыл бұрын

Of course this wouldn’t work in Canada. Nobody said it would. In Florida where it almost never freezes, this is doable.

@darkone12491 6 жыл бұрын

how would that not blow over in even the lightest of winds?

@andystead8788 5 жыл бұрын

Probably the dirty great steel pipe through the middle of it that's driven into the ground, to blow it over you have to blow the pipe over, that's not going anywhere.

@CharlesLumia 6 жыл бұрын

Looks pretty cool obviously but why not amend the soil? He didn't have a ton of plants so he wouldn't have to do much.

@seriouslyreally5413 6 жыл бұрын

What a high maintenance waste of money! He already had the dedicated garden space in his yard so build the raised beds from that footprint or dig out the in-ground sandy base and replace with a compost rich amended soil and you would have years of low maintenance planting beds. What about safety from kids and pets messing with them, the hydroponics that has to be protected from Florida's hot sun, the evaporation/ concentration monitoring to keep the chemical mix at just the right ratio, due to evaporation, disassembling towers after each tier is harvested to replant the next crop is a waste of time. If you want to grow hydroponically there is a huge array of better designs for easy access planting and harvesting than those tiny pots. I believe the amended soil beds were a cheaper low maintenance option.

@LegoBoy1919 6 жыл бұрын

h baker zz

@lukepotosky7710 6 жыл бұрын

Oh Be Quiet! Rodger's idea is great! I actually did it and it is working great! I almost never have to do anything to maintain it but to fill it up, and I like working with PVC, water and electricity!!!

@mr.turtles7563 5 жыл бұрын

Luke Potosky part of a gardening is to tend it lol 😂

@haroldmccarthy8382 6 жыл бұрын

👍

@millybadison767 6 жыл бұрын

Now with tha gawden u want a gawden that’s going to be a good gawden. And to have a good gawden u gotta know how a gawden works. A gawden works kind of like a gawden u with me? So we’re gonna gawden like nobody’s gawdened before.

@blitzburghbilly7813 6 жыл бұрын

SnowmanPB 23 Nooo 1st. YOU HAVE TO (KNOW) HOW TO (SPELL GARDEN) 👈🏽 ..... THEN YOU CAN: GROW A (GARDEN) AND TALK ABOUT A (GARDEN) .....

@henrybrar 6 жыл бұрын

You didn't get it didn't you?

@millybadison767 6 жыл бұрын

BLITZBURGH BILLY - Oh goodness I did spell it wrong.🤭 Gee wiz, would u look at that. Someone might be led to believe that I did it on purpose.🤔 Thank you so much for pointing out my mistakes. I will definitely be more careful in the future.👍🏼 Hope you have a fantastic day.😁

@patmillett8056 6 жыл бұрын

SnowmanPB 23 this "joke" is as old as the house they repair.

@millybadison767 6 жыл бұрын

Pat Millett - Darn...😔 So wait, you’re telling me that the 27 seconds it took me to write that was all for nothing?😕 Bummer, thought I would go down in history for that one.😔 oh well, there’s always tomorrow right? I’m going to bed early tonight, eat a bowl of Wheaties in the morning and I promise I’ll have some better material. Deal? Awesome, have a great night thanks for the constructive criticism. Man, so many helpful people! Love you guys👍🏽

@coreygagner7645 6 жыл бұрын

Would a submersible pump, like they used, work for a rain barrel to increase the water pressure from the hose? Thanks to anyone that can help. I'd like to install some rain barrels but I just do think the water pressure would be enough to go from my house to the garden.

@seededsoul 5 жыл бұрын

Corey Gagner Yes. You can also set the rain barrels on a platform to just below the gutters for gravity-pressure. Also, check your local codes, some places restrict rainwater usage.

@juliof970 5 жыл бұрын

" Derr sounds good."

@degenwow 2 жыл бұрын

area: 8000 square feet. Solution: Raised 13x2 feet vertical garden.

@leegriffin4231 5 жыл бұрын

Okay count = bout a million

@victorseal9047 6 жыл бұрын

What happens to any water leaving the pot at the base........is it left to drain away or is it recirculated ?

@JDeWittDIY 6 жыл бұрын

I didn't see any setup to recirculate it, although you certainly could.

@eeterp32 6 жыл бұрын

just let it run off into your local wetlands!

@cyu601 4 жыл бұрын

He already had an above ground sprinkler system put in though...

@oldtwinsna8347 3 жыл бұрын

Setting up something like this would be incredibly expensive!

@Graveltrucking 6 жыл бұрын

Expensive system you I would rather have a raised bed its cheaper, how long are those Styrofoam planter boxes going to last in the hot sun.

@nyw11 6 жыл бұрын

Or a florida hurricane.

@SykoLiu 6 жыл бұрын

Not everyone is interested in the “optimal” solution. This seems like a fun and unique way to use your garden space and leaves room for other things you might want.

@nyw11 6 жыл бұрын

The best part over a scheduled timer hooked up to your main spigot is that if the hose ruptures, it'll just run the bucket dry, as opposed to wasting thousands of gallons flooding your lawn is a plus.

@Adam-gn4oo 6 жыл бұрын

richard i noticed that you didnt break up the rootball is there any specific reason

@jasonmorehouse3756 6 жыл бұрын

because it's started soilless too, there is no ball to really break, you put it in and the roots will grow out in search of water/food

@Mr05sti 6 жыл бұрын

You forgot to talk about the ph meter you going to need, as well as a tds meter and also that tank cannot be in the sun... also you need a air stone... if this guy did what he said hes going to need to fork out anther 150 to 200 dollars....i would dig a hole for that storage tank to keep the heat off the water if not your gonna cook those roots!

@jasonmorehouse3756 6 жыл бұрын

you don't need all that stuff this way. it's not a recirculating system, so the ph and tds shouldn't change much at all, they are mixing a predetermined fertilizer mix, and it's simply running through the pots a couple times a day for a few minutes, the solution will drain out of the pots and allow the roots to get oxygen. the only thig is, yes that storage tank should be out of the sun, and buried in the ground would be great as it would help keep the solution at an almost constant temp.

@25066000 4 жыл бұрын

Oki....

@ullgeologist 2 жыл бұрын

Gahdins! Gahdins! Gahdins! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@evilmanua 6 жыл бұрын

Oh okay.

@cliffcarlo180 6 жыл бұрын

Only thing ya gotta do is quickly take it all down when you hear that Harry Cane is on the way.

@ShawnBauer 6 жыл бұрын

This is from Season 16 Episode 9 Jan 3, 2015

@augustreil 6 жыл бұрын

Cool concept but awful expensive and complicated compared to getting 6 - 2" X 12" X 12' and making 2 - 12" Tall, 6' wide X 12' long raised beds and filling with compost and topsoil. More area and less maintenance, Jmo.

@dave_bed 6 жыл бұрын

so you still have to fill up the water...

@stealthvo5922 5 жыл бұрын

@RefinerSimilitude 6 жыл бұрын

This is a neat idea, but am I missing something? It seems like an investment in money, effort and time when I can buy large bundles of organic swiss chard when I need them. Planting all at once means it all needs to be harvested at once too, so you probably end up giving away what you can't eat in time too. Please, feel free to correct me if you have experience.

@drewsenthused6079 2 жыл бұрын

How long does a styrofoam pot last? like a week?

@farmerjeffmays9858 Жыл бұрын

My Verti-Gro Pots lasted about 10 years

@roccocroce 6 жыл бұрын

polystyrene? Thin hollow garbage metal posts a foot in the ground? Idk about all this.

@mishishpee3723 6 жыл бұрын

I rather have a raised garden bed

@brettvukovich6220 3 жыл бұрын

One major thunderstorm, and it will cease to exist.

@stevend.harrington5017 4 жыл бұрын

Sweet Peas and Cherry Tomato's....

@created2worshyp 6 жыл бұрын

$700??? you guys should look at The Earthbox way, way cheaper and more buck for the money growing vegies.

@adamguymon7096 5 жыл бұрын

6:23 I wish that you weren't using STYROFOAM because it's not very GREEN. I like the idea that you are doing but couldn't you use a more better and safer product?

@scotttovey 5 жыл бұрын

If the containers were made to interlock the way these styrofoam containers are made, they could use different material. You also have to take into consideration weight as well. Styrofoam is fairly lite, so as long as you can match that weight ratio, you'd be fine.

@peppeddu 6 жыл бұрын

Call me picky, but ... the trash can is not food grade plastic. Is it going to chemically react with the fertilizer and nitrogen and produce some nasties that ends up being absorbed by the plants?

@kmokatz 4 жыл бұрын

Yes probably! Good point. This could be a good concept but it was pretty poorly executed. :/

@skimask5049 6 жыл бұрын

ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

@seededsoul 5 жыл бұрын

Skimask alright alright alright alright alright OK now ladies!

@kathymss82 6 жыл бұрын

That is so complicated! I would rather dig my sandy soil and buy a good garden soil at lowes than go through all of that.

@Losttouchjs 4 жыл бұрын

I’ll just go to the grocery store.

@rawbacon 4 жыл бұрын

Pretty much nobody is going to do this because of the cost.

@Polytecamerican 2 жыл бұрын

Who’s here for the accent?

@slopadams5590 6 жыл бұрын

thousands of dollars and hours of labour later you get 30 dollars of free veg. Oh, wait, only if it doesnt blow over

@alderusdmc 5 жыл бұрын

Hang on! I thought vermiculite was asbestos!

@juliof970 5 жыл бұрын

At the end he starts to say, " Well Roger we thank you..." Bam! Cuts him off.

@blukatzen 6 жыл бұрын

WHY would you put 1/2 of the garden in the shade? What a stupid idea this was.

@saulgoodman2018 6 жыл бұрын

$700? Really? I can do it myself for probably less then $100.

@magreger 2 жыл бұрын

Scotty needs to chill out and let Roger finish his sentences without interupring.

@lolitabonita08 6 жыл бұрын

nice video however the water should NEVER ever be with clorox (city water) plus u need to make a test to see the trace elements/minerals ...the best water is rain water...easy and free.

@gregbotlin4446 5 жыл бұрын

Good grief

@michaelkosciesza645 6 жыл бұрын

that does not seem sustainable.

@sikosis999 5 жыл бұрын

what a cheap system >< you could of DIY'd something far more effective and been just about zero maintenence on top of that >

@Dailyvideodrop 4 жыл бұрын

Terrible system, fill that thing 2 or 3 times a week? Wtf

@NiteSaiya 6 жыл бұрын

How did no one tell this dude to shut up? Actually, these shows are known for being transparently, awkwardly scripted, so why do they even still include the awkward random person like this?

@mishishpee3723 6 жыл бұрын

Faux Mustache ikr