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02/12/08, 07:55 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 2,833
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water troughs used as gardens?
Has anyone tried using a large water trough for a garden? Do you think if I put enough gavel in the bottom for drainage I could do this without putting holes in the bottom?
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02/12/08, 08:30 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,081
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I plan to use one for sweet potatoes this year.
Last year my husband planted potatoes in a variety of back yard containers. The one had drainage, the other didn't. Both did equally well, with no gravel in either.
We'll be trying it again, but the potatoes were small. They were planted in the heat, and probably didn't get enough water. I think they needed irrigated more even though we had a surplus of rainfall.
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02/12/08, 09:50 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: South Central Wisconsin
Posts: 14,801
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NO to the no holes thing. Just one inch of water may take up a 6" of vertical space at the bottom. Another inch and you've got a foot. That water will always be there and not evaporate. One more good shower and you'll have a nice place for a water garden!
Martin
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02/12/08, 11:33 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eastern N.C.
Posts: 8,827
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If theres no place for the water to drain out, and it rains wheres the water supposed to go. No where but up till it runs out the top. Only way it could work with no drain holes is it better not rain. If it don't rain the plants can't survive, if it does they will drown. Put the holes in the bottom and you are on the way to growing plants. Eddie
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02/13/08, 10:39 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: just west of Houston Texas
Posts: 1,569
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The water trough should have a drain plug(or I should say, may have a drain plug.) If so, you can use this to keep water levels down. I am of a quite similar persuasion in that I am unable to put holes in perfectly good containers. If you put some bigger rocks at the bottom(or a screened box-etc), you can fashion a sort of sump to get out extra water.
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02/13/08, 12:30 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,081
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I'm thinking when the plants are fully grown, they use more water than can be fulfilled by rain, unless you get a regular deluge once a week.
Someone I know made their own earth box type planters, with the grate at the bottom, a paper for wicking water off the bottom, and a pvc pipe to refill the bottom. He filled until the pvc pipe backed up. These were good sized rubbermaid tubs he planted in. He related the plants in those tubs, broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, etc., used no less than a gallon of water a day, and sometimes needed two gallons of water a day. That was including regular rainfall, and was done in a year of average precipitation for their area - midwest.
Maybe if you used a set up like the earth box, you would have the drainage your after without putting holes in the tub. I'd have a hard time with that too.
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02/13/08, 07:39 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 2,833
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thanks everyone. I think Im going to give it a try and see how it goes. If we have a summer like last year rain wont be much of a problem. If we get a wet one I guess we could always drill holes if we had to.
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Just because you're offended doesn't mean you're right.
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02/14/08, 02:53 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eastern N.C.
Posts: 8,827
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by pickapeppa
I'm thinking when the plants are fully grown, they use more water than can be fulfilled by rain, unless you get a regular deluge once a week.
Someone I know made their own earth box type planters, with the grate at the bottom, a paper for wicking water off the bottom, and a pvc pipe to refill the bottom. He filled until the pvc pipe backed up. These were good sized rubbermaid tubs he planted in. He related the plants in those tubs, broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, etc., used no less than a gallon of water a day, and sometimes needed two gallons of water a day. That was including regular rainfall, and was done in a year of average precipitation for their area - midwest.
Maybe if you used a set up like the earth box, you would have the drainage your after without putting holes in the tub. I'd have a hard time with that too.
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Thats what I've been doing yesterday and today, making them boxes. I have six made and if they do well, I'll make a few more next year. Eddie
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02/15/08, 08:42 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia
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kiddie pools make great plots also old tires
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02/15/08, 08:51 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 342
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I use one old trough for strawberries and I'm trying to get another to grow...I'm not sure what it is, but it's this plant with fuzzy leaves and purple flowers.
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02/15/08, 09:05 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,604
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by dixiegal62
Has anyone tried using a large water trough for a garden? Do you think if I put enough gavel in the bottom for drainage I could do this without putting holes in the bottom?
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My DB works for a fruneral home. B has mentioned many times that cement valts sometimes get cracked in shipping. They can't use them. H says these would make great raised beds. Don't know if it's worth looking at but H says the funeral home just has to junk them.
No i'm not kidding. 
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02/16/08, 03:30 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 6,501
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I would also say no... It will not work without holes..If it rains much you will have nasty mess-- floating soil and rotten vegation...
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