Balcony planter box and watering system

[GregJ]

I have an apartment that has a balcony.  I want to grow herbs out there.  My problem is I travel a lot.  Is there a semi-foolproof system that will water plants occasionally?

Thanks.

[greygardener]

You'll want a self-watering planter box. They have a water reservoir at the bottom that the plant can draw from without drowning it. Something like this - http://www.vegepod.com.au/home1/features/self-watering/

[aly]

Hey @GregJ, we managed to put together a rather simple automatic watering system for our vegie gardens. We purchased a tap timer, hose, trickle drippers, barbed joiners, clamps and zip ties. We cut the hose to our required lengths and ran it along the perimeter of our garden beds. We drilled holes into the corners of the bed frame and used zip ties to hold the hose in place. We then made some small incisions with a stanely knife along the hose and placed the trickle drippers evenly around the hose, securing them with the clamps or zip ties. We used the barbed joiners to connect each of the garden bed hoses together. This was all connected to the tap timer which we have set to run every morning for a few minutes. We adjust this here and there to match with the weather and how the vegies seem to be travelling.

Here’s some photos of our irrigation system:

Also, the products we used:

http://www.bunnings.com.au/aqua-systems-two-dial-electronic-tap-timer_p3130596

http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-12mm-x-15m-handy-garden-hose_p3110360

http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-veriflow_p3121714

http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-19mm-barbed-tee_p3126120

http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-25mm-poly-ratchet-clamp_p3126992

Hope that helps, good luck!

[Kermit]

Interesting to see the vegepod makers claims about the benefits of "container gardens", particularly in regards to faster growth rates. The water efficiency certainly makes sense, though. Anyone used one before? 

[AHoy]

@GregJ

Late reponse but have a look at these - might be what you are after in terms of self-watering - https://www.bunnings.com.au/vegepod-2-x-1m-raised-garden-kit_p3321636

[Andy_Mann]

@GregJ, these Self watering pots/troughs  could be handy, but if you're away for lengths of time, herbs can become overgrown & weak.