You have a few odds and ends in your vegetable garden. Some herbs, perhaps. Maybe more if, like me, you reside in the gardening paradise that is The South. Problem: you can't be bothered dragging the darn hose out just to water a half dozen (or less) plants.
Easy solution: use empty gallon water or milk jugs, or old soda bottles, to create a no-cost, super-low-maintenance watering system.Just take a pin and prick a small hole in the bottom of the jug. Then fill with water, replace the cap, and bury the bottle in the soil next to the plant that needs water.
Take care not to bury it so close or deep that it damages the plants' roots. I've used this bottle watering system with success on my tomato plants and my basil. The only problem I've struck is that a hole that is too small can block up quickly with dirt particles, while a hole that is too big can let all the water run out too fast. So stab with caution!
Veggie gardening guru Patricia Lanza describes this trick in her amazing book
Lasagna Gardening. I really recommend this book for beginner vegetable gardeners, by the way. Talk about your inspirational reading material. Her descriptions of the veggies - how she likes to cook and eat them - are mouth-watering!
Like this easy drip irrigation idea? Want more ideas on how to reuse plastic bottles?
Click here to check out Anna's recent post on the subject.
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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
I fail to see how this is any easier than using, you know, a /garden hose,/ which doesn't require that you cut, clean, prick, or bury anything to use it. Plus, burying plastic containers with holes in them doesn't allow you to spray those damned kids to keep them off your lawn.
ReplyThat's actually a very good method to water your plants when going on vacation and you can't find anyone to water them for you.
Replyhttp://www.webyaa.com/category/gardening