1st post here. Totally new to gardening. I purchased 2 of the self-watering garden beds at a ridiculously cheap closeout price, and figured I'd take my first steps at growing some vegetables and herbs in them. They are 28 gallon (105L) beds on legs. They measure 44"W x 18"D x 33"H the actual depth of the planting box is a little over a foot. Images hopefully attached properly
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My questions are: There's no overflow hole. This leads me to thinking there's the possibility that after a good rain or overwatering, I could end up drowning the plants. Should I drill a hole at some height along the side (and use a screen on the hole to keep bugs out)?
I put water in the empty planter to see what it would hold, which might influence as to the height of a hole if you think it's necessary.
The plate has 2 sunken, screened sections. It takes about 2 liters (~1/2 gallon) of water to reach the BOTTOM of the screens. From the bottom of the screens to the top of the plate (which is about 2 inches) is an additional 8 liters (~2 gallons). So, basically 2.5 gallons to the top of the screened plate. If I fill the planter to where the red line on the float gauge shows, I'm at about 3" to 4" above the top of that screened plate, which seems to me to be too much water, and might drown the plants, but as it's my first foray into growing veggies, I don't really know!!!!!
I've done some reading on Earth Boxes, and they seem to have drain holes situated just slightly BELOW the plate, to allow there to be an air layer inside the box between the roots and the water. Is this a necessity, as my boxes have absolutely no air hole/overflow drain?
Thoughts? Holes, no holes? Above plate, below plate?
Thanks!
.My questions are: There's no overflow hole. This leads me to thinking there's the possibility that after a good rain or overwatering, I could end up drowning the plants. Should I drill a hole at some height along the side (and use a screen on the hole to keep bugs out)?
I put water in the empty planter to see what it would hold, which might influence as to the height of a hole if you think it's necessary.
The plate has 2 sunken, screened sections. It takes about 2 liters (~1/2 gallon) of water to reach the BOTTOM of the screens. From the bottom of the screens to the top of the plate (which is about 2 inches) is an additional 8 liters (~2 gallons). So, basically 2.5 gallons to the top of the screened plate. If I fill the planter to where the red line on the float gauge shows, I'm at about 3" to 4" above the top of that screened plate, which seems to me to be too much water, and might drown the plants, but as it's my first foray into growing veggies, I don't really know!!!!!
I've done some reading on Earth Boxes, and they seem to have drain holes situated just slightly BELOW the plate, to allow there to be an air layer inside the box between the roots and the water. Is this a necessity, as my boxes have absolutely no air hole/overflow drain?
Thoughts? Holes, no holes? Above plate, below plate?
Thanks!
