Bunnings raised garden turned into wicking system

[Jamespeter100]

The planted up version. The white is almond blossom that has fallen. 

 

 Started with the Bunnings $29.99 raised garden.

 

Some six packs.

 

A pair tilted.

 The plastic bag the potting mix came in, along with one of the micro fibre  cloths. 

 

Planted up.  Iceberg lettuce.

 A large plastic bag, that’s normally the Dalek cover .

 a previous planter with Iceberg lettuce growing. 

 Bunnings near me had the Iceberg lettuce in punnets and in seed packets.

 Punnets - six in a punnet. 

 

Seeds as well. 

[MitchellMc]

Great project @Jamespeter100! I bet having the wicking system takes the pressure off during those hot summer periods. I'll have to look into something like this myself as I just can't get out there every day and water.

Many thanks for sharing this nifty idea.

Mitchell

[KatieC]

This is great @Jamespeter100! I was just speaking to my friends who have just started growing lettuce in Tasmania and they suggested going with the punnets to start. Would you say it is easier than from seeds?

Katie

[Jamespeter100]

The seedling in punnets would have taken around four weeks to reach this size.  I purchased seeds and scattered them around the just planted lettuce so I can have more seedlings to make another. 

[LilyChek]

@Jamespeter100 

Love your wicking bed.  I have 3 of these raised garden bed.  Will convert them into wicking bed like yours.  May I ask what are these “6 packs”.  Are they simply little “pots” where you sow seeds in?  If so, don’t they have holes in them?  Also, do you need an “overflow” outlet so that excess water can flow out and not flood the bed?  Apologies for the many questions.  Thanks

[EricL]

Hello @LilyChek

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thanks for joining the discussion.

Let me tag @Jamespeter100 to make them aware of your kind words and questions. The six packs I believe are mid-sized seedling trays and they look like they have holes in them. As for the overflow, we'll have to wait for confirmation of where it's located. Please don't forget to post an update on your wicking bed. I'm sure our members would be keen to see it once you've assembled it.

Eric

[Jamespeter100]

@LilyChek 

I took a screen shot, here you can tell the water pools before flowering down the centres of the legs.  A false floor is used to keep the bulk of the potting mix out. I used some micro fibre cloth as the wick. I rather not have the potting mix sittjj in bag in a pool of water.

 the six pack as I call it. Is a punnet with six cells for six lettuce. 

hope that helps. 

 

[LilyChek]

Thank you for your prompt reply.  I shall get mine going soon.

[Rach23]

Hi,

That black loop thing that you have in your first photo. May I ask where you got that from? 
I have a possum issue around my place so thought if I can put some similar arches and put a net over it, I could get around the possum issue.

thanks!

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Rach23,

That appears to be 13mm Poly Pipe that @Jamespeter100 has connected together with 13mm tee fittings.

Mitchell