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Post by Laura_in_FL on Aug 21, 2017 14:49:53 GMT -5
That's a nice score, if the totes are in good shape (meaning as long as they are not brittle). 30 gal totes are big enough to grow very big plants in.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Aug 21, 2017 23:24:11 GMT -5
For those interested in this topic, the Earthbox forum has come back, after a long time off. I think Laura_in_FL is the only one I saw on there from here, but I thought I'd tell you. forum.earthbox.com/index.phpThey don't discuss homemade SIPs, since it is a company supported site, but this is where I learned a lot, about the mediums, fertilizers, etc. It looks like most the old posts are gone, but they re-posted many of the more useful ones, such as in the section on trellis design. Update - now that I look closer, they have an "archive", in which all those old posts can be found. In case there is some strange plant you want to grow in it, somebody may have done it already! However, they tell you there that you can't use a search on it, so it will take some digging!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Aug 22, 2017 10:12:33 GMT -5
Oh, it's cool that the forums are back. I thought they were just going to let them stay dead.
There's some really useful information in there, most of which applies perfectly well to homemade SIPs, too. It's a shame that the old posts aren't searchable, though.
Thanks for letting me know!
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Post by pepperhead212 on Aug 22, 2017 19:45:18 GMT -5
One thing I should mention - I had to change my password, as now it requires upper and lower case letters, and at least one number, which before it didn't have.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Aug 23, 2017 9:37:07 GMT -5
Thanks for letting me know.
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Post by daylilydude on Aug 25, 2017 18:45:21 GMT -5
That's a nice score, if the totes are in good shape (meaning as long as they are not brittle). 30 gal totes are big enough to grow very big plants in. They seem not do be dried out as of yet, and I was explaining to my wife how they work and she bought 2 18 gallon ones from wallyworld. And now i'm getting Tidy Cat boxes from another neighbor and I made a sample one up and was wanting opinions on it??
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Post by september on Aug 26, 2017 14:41:14 GMT -5
I've been watching others make swc's but never tried it myself. I'll be interested in seeing how your cat litter containers do -- I have lots of them!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Aug 27, 2017 11:59:34 GMT -5
I think you need more holes in the wicking chamber (green part) to let the water get into there more readily. Other than that, it looks good.
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Post by daylilydude on Aug 27, 2017 12:45:54 GMT -5
I think you need more holes in the wicking chamber (green part) to let the water get into there more readily. Other than that, it looks good. Laura_in_FL, I have 5 slits that run from almost the top to almost the bottom you just can't see them very clearly in the pic.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Aug 28, 2017 15:35:05 GMT -5
Oh, okay. I still can't see them in the pic, but I trust you. Actually, I was surprised not to see any holes or slits in the pic, because I know you have experience building these types of containers. So I expected you to know how important it is to have lots of holes or slits in the wicking chamber container. And, of course you do have them; I just didn't see them.
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 3, 2017 15:05:47 GMT -5
Built 3 more single cat litter grow buckets this afternoon...
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 7, 2017 4:37:09 GMT -5
Planted 1 with 7 little marvel pea seeds to kinda get an idea of production from a self watering bucket.
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Post by september on Sept 7, 2017 9:13:32 GMT -5
Love the silver spray! That should reflect the sun and help keep them cool!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 7, 2017 15:00:10 GMT -5
It will also keep the UV from deteriorating the plastic (a big issue in the South) as long as the paint layer is intact.
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 8, 2017 4:34:19 GMT -5
september, I wanted white like my 5 gallon buckets, but I ran out and thought there are a few cans of silver... Laura_in_FL, that is what is taking me so long with these... sanding them takes a bit of time that I think really needs to be done... any thoughts on this anyone??
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Post by september on Sept 8, 2017 9:39:53 GMT -5
I like the silver better than white aesthetically, not as glaring on the eyes to me. I wonder too, if the silver additive makes for a better thicker paint layer? Left outdoors, the untreated cat litter pails will start getting brittle edges near the top in a couple of years up here, and I imagine down south, your sun intensity and longer summers will be much harder on the pails. Sanding sounds like a lot of work! But probably worth it if the silver stays on longer.
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 9, 2017 20:27:28 GMT -5
Went ahead and made 8 more 5 gallon single bucket planters and (2) 4 gallon double bucket planters and started working on one of the 18 gallon totes.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 12, 2017 9:23:11 GMT -5
september , I wanted white like my 5 gallon buckets, but I ran out and thought there are a few cans of silver... Laura_in_FL , that is what is taking me so long with these... sanding them takes a bit of time that I think really needs to be done... any thoughts on this anyone?? Sanding is a good plan. I tried painting totes without sanding and had trouble with the paint not adhering well. And that is even though I used a paint that was advertised as adhering to plastic without sanding. However, you may still have the problem of repeated flexing causing the paint to crack. Once the paint cracks, moisture will get underneath and it will start coming off. IIRC, the litter pails are more rigid and shouldn't flex as much as the totes. So once your boxes are painted, try to minimize anything that causes the plastic to bend/flex. When you have to move full boxes, try to use a dolly instead of carrying or dragging them. But maybe since you sanded the boxes you'll get better adherence and flexing won't cause you to lose the paint as quickly as I did? Also, expect to accidentally scrape and chip paint off the edges and lips from time to time...stuff happens. And it usually seems to be along the lips where you need the UV protection most! So, it's good to keep a can of paint for touch ups.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 12, 2017 20:43:08 GMT -5
Another thing to do to help the paint adhere is to wipe it down with acetone, after sanding. I think that's one of the ingredients in the cleaner used for PVC pipe, before gluing.
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 13, 2017 3:58:03 GMT -5
Thank you all, and i'm not sure about you all, but no bigger family that I have to feed and not having to weed... i'll be glad to replace these buckets every couple of years if need be... lol!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 13, 2017 9:24:10 GMT -5
The cost of spray paint is not negligible, especially on a bigger tote. I priced it out and it was actually cheaper to buy a UV-stabilized tote vs. buying a regular tote and spray painting it. But then if you're getting buckets and totes for free, they are still cheaper even with the paint cost. Plus, with painting you can make them all match.
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 16, 2017 15:49:49 GMT -5
Well got out there today and scrounged and made 2 tote type SWC's... Hope they work out??
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 16, 2017 18:33:10 GMT -5
2 more 4 gallon double buckets today too...
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 16, 2017 18:47:37 GMT -5
Here are a few pics of whats growing now... Beets: Rainbow Chard: Collard Greens: More Collards: Peas: Spinach:
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 17, 2017 11:43:43 GMT -5
It's cool enough for spinach where you are? It's still much too hot here. Your fall veggies look great - the chard and collards are really rocking.
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 17, 2017 17:19:14 GMT -5
It's cool enough for spinach where you are? I'm not sure as I have never grown it here, and when I did grow it long ago, it was in the ground and not in a global bucket, but I thought I would let it go and see how it grows... if ya think that's crazy lookie here... Yes, they are tomaters... 2 Big Boy and 1 Kellogg's Breakfast... probably won't see any fruit, but at least I will get an idea of how to work with these buckets.
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 17, 2017 17:27:05 GMT -5
Neighbor has brought me a few more buckets to work with... and I made 1 more (2) bucket 4 gallon planter...
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 20, 2017 10:58:58 GMT -5
Yeah, you're probably too late to get fruit from those tomato plants. But, you never know - you could have a super-late first frost this year. If not, maybe they will get big enough to harvest as green mature fruit to ripen indoors. Or you could fry the greenies up or make a green tomato relish or something. And as you said, you can at least get a feel for growing in the buckets.
Since those are indeterminate tomatoes you're growing, have you worked out what you'll do to support the tomato plants? Cages, stakes...?
Regarding the spinach, in the spring when the daytime highs get to about 85 my spinach starts to wilt and then burn up no matter how much water it has. So, I probably won't sow spinach in the sunny part of the garden for at least another month here, until the temperatures drop to sub-85 highs and low 60s lows. (Currently my daytime highs are in the upper 80s to low 90s and nighttime lows are in the low 70s.) I do have a lot of spinach seed, though. So maybe I will start a few plants in a shaded spot just to see what happens?
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 22, 2017 13:19:31 GMT -5
Laura_in_FL, i'm thinking cages for these... now as far as the spinach, 2 out of the 5 that sprouted didn't make it, so i'm thinking that I may start a few in my seed tray in the house here and just let them grow in here till the temps cool a bit more and then replant them outside... your thoughts??
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Post by daylilydude on Sept 22, 2017 13:21:33 GMT -5
Oh yeah... I do have another question about these... how do you prep them for winter? I will have like 10 or 12 going and not sure how to make them winter ready...
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