I have a small greenhouse that I have 2 inground garden bed on each side, inside. I plant a few plants in them every year hoping to extend the season. Typically, I plant a couple of tomato plants or more tropical growing plants thinking that these may be sheltered enough to last through the first couple of frosts and extend the fresh tomato eating season. The problem is that everything needs attention, and the greenhouse is last on the list. This means they don't get watered. Our greenhouse is in the middle of the garden and that means carrying water from the house. I just get too busy, and they survive and actually grow well, but it's hard to have big juicy tomatoes, if they don't get watered.
I have been researching different methods to make the garden easier to manage as we get older... carrying water is not on that list. I started learning about a self-watering container and garden beds and thought "why can't I figure out how to do this in the greenhouse?" I have wanted for a while to put gutters on the greenhouse and channel the water somehow inside water the beds. The problem with that is, there is no room for gutters as the roof doesn't overhang and how will I pipe it into the greenhouse without putting a hole in the wall? This has been a problem I have been thinking on how to do without making it a big job and putting holes in my greenhouse.
Wicking beds are a genius yet simple solution! I adapted this method using what I had on hand. First, I dug out the beds and extended the excavation under the greenhouse wall to connect it to the outside. I cut an old pool liner to fit this space, ensuring it was large enough to lay outside the greenhouse and catch any runoff from the roof. Inside, I lined the entire bed with the liner and stapled it to the frame to prevent weeds from invading and to keep the water contained. To test the setup, I added water and monitored the level to ensure there were no unseen holes in the old liner. Once confirmed, I placed drainage pipes on the liner within the bed. Then, I covered the entire area with a weed barrier to prevent dirt from entering the water space and to keep the layers separate. Finally, I extended the weed barrier outside the greenhouse to prevent external dirt from washing into the water layer. The next step is to add a mulch to help reduce evaporation and plant!
I am excited to get this done as it should help so much with time and effort! I just did a blog with more information on self-watering beds if you want to learn more! You can find it HERE
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