DIY Self-Watering Bucket Vegetable Garden
This is how I constructed my first DIY self-watering 5 gallon Bucket vegetable garden.
The container gardening came about after a severe drought where we were only allowed to use grey water for our plants.
Water became a real issue and with the changing climate there was no choice but to try something different. I was a traditional vegetable gardener for many years.
I read a lot about how others were using containers for growing vegetables,fruit trees and flowers. I bought all the items needed and started my very first garden in 5 gallon plastic buckets.
Items Required:
- 5 gallon buckets
- Slotted drain pipes
- 1 inch soft poly pipe
- clean plastic containers
- shade cloth or similar material
- cable ties
Tools Required:
- Small hand saw or power jigsaw
- 2 inch hole saw
- 1/4 inch drill
5 Gallon Self- Watering Bucket Construction.
The lid was cut to size so that it would fit inside the bucket towards the bottom. This would act as a platform to separate the water reservoir from the growing medium.
Drill a 2 inch hole in the center of the lid to allow for the wicking action needed to draw moisture up into the potting mix.
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inserts with 2 inch holes -
drill holes for drainage / air -
plastic container to act as wick -
Drill hole in bucket for overflow
We are now ready to assemble the bits that are required to make our self-watering bucket planter. It is vitally important to make sure that there is a gap between the water sump and the start of the potting mix because it will allow air movement and prevent water logging.
Use whatever you have to create the sump area. You can use pebbles. I chose perforated pipe as it was cheap and easy to use. The only contact between the water and the potting mix should be the drilled plastic milk container.
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Bits needed for bucket -
attach filler pipe -
potting mix and water barrier -
wick filled with mix -
assembling parts -
fill with potting mix
Assembling The Self-Watering Planter
Attach the filler pipe to the side of the bucket with a cable tie at the top. Cut the bottom of the pipe at an angle to make it easier to fill with water.
Place perforated pipe in the bucket and and then put wick with potting mix in into the bucket. Place cut out lid with holes and 2 inch center hole and mix barrier on top of perforated pipe.
The barrier is essential to prevent the potting mix from falling into the water sump. Make sure to drill a drainage / aeration hole in the side of the bucket at 1 inch [25mm] below the mix barrier for aeration.
