All about wicking beds
Wicking beds are a great way to grow vegetables in any area where rainfall is intermittent or where there is competition from larger plants (like big gum trees) that make it all but impossible to establish a vegetable garden in the ground.
A wicking bed looks similar to any other raised garden bed - the difference is that it is waterproof on the base and up the sides. Much like a pond, except that there is an outflow pipe a little way up the side so it doesn't flood if it rains a lot.
Wicking beds work on the same principle as 'self watering pots', which have a reservoir at the base of the pot. The difference is that wicking beds can be any shape and size you want, especially if you make your own, and they have a larger, more effective reservoir inside. If you make your own, they are a lot cheaper than a self watering pot too! Mosquitoes can also be kept to a minimum as you can ensure there's no access for insects, unlike regular self watering pots.
Because the soil in the bed isn't actually in contact with the surrounding soil, you can grow water loving hungry vegetables in places you wouldn't normally be able to - saving space, and integrating yields into established ornamental gardens. You can even grow good yields on top of concrete! In our garden we have several beds close to a very large gum tree. The tree takes a lot of moisture out of the soil, so only certain plants can thrive. But with the wicking beds we are able to grow heaps of vegetables in the same area!
A wicking bed looks similar to any other raised garden bed - the difference is that it is waterproof on the base and up the sides. Much like a pond, except that there is an outflow pipe a little way up the side so it doesn't flood if it rains a lot.
Wicking beds work on the same principle as 'self watering pots', which have a reservoir at the base of the pot. The difference is that wicking beds can be any shape and size you want, especially if you make your own, and they have a larger, more effective reservoir inside. If you make your own, they are a lot cheaper than a self watering pot too! Mosquitoes can also be kept to a minimum as you can ensure there's no access for insects, unlike regular self watering pots.
Because the soil in the bed isn't actually in contact with the surrounding soil, you can grow water loving hungry vegetables in places you wouldn't normally be able to - saving space, and integrating yields into established ornamental gardens. You can even grow good yields on top of concrete! In our garden we have several beds close to a very large gum tree. The tree takes a lot of moisture out of the soil, so only certain plants can thrive. But with the wicking beds we are able to grow heaps of vegetables in the same area!
Click here to download a pdf with instructions on making your own wicking bed
The pictures here show some of the different wicking beds we have made:
Buy a wicking bed from us
If you don't have the time or materials to make your own bed, we can offer converted IBC wicking beds to give your vegetable growing a boost.
Converted IBC beds
|
IBCs are used to freight 1 cubic metre of liquids around the world on container ships. The plastic tub is surrounded by a sturdy steel cage. Reusing IBCs is a great way to reduce waste.
But it can be daunting to buy a whole IBC because you will need an angle grinder to cut through the steel cage and then you need to cut through the plastic and drill a hole in the right place. To save you that hassle, we can provide ready to use half IBC beds with all fittings. Please note we only use food grade IBCs so you can be assured of no nasty chemical residue in your garden bed. To order - call Cally on 0410 121 272 or email Canberrapermaculturedesign (at) gmail.com Subject to availability. Cost: $195 each
|
Bulkhead fitting (also called a tank fitting) enables beds to be connected together if you require, meaning all beds can be watered from the same pipe. Extra hole is an additional overflow in case of any blockages.
|
