This man is a legend, Leon is the grandfather the world needs. Teach ya how to feed yourself and pass down incredible tricks of the trade learned over a long life of incredible gardening.
I'd like to spend a week with this man. The amount of knowledge you could pick up is priceless. My dad used to tell me to always be quiet and listen to my elders and I would learn a lifetime of knowledge when I was around them. Best thing I ever did was take that advise.
I am disabled♿ and unable to get much of any direct assistance. Interested in making wicking beds i let that dream go but used EVERYTHING I've learned from STUDYING these videos to set up 18G totes on my front porch. THANK YOU, i collected Cans from making meals, plastic jugs of all types & i created a kitchen scraps compost bucket using leaves with my kid's help. I APPRECIATE the strength & COMMON SENSE that ooozes from Leon. Thank you for inspiring me to NOT GIVE UP & take control of what I'm eating!!!
God bless you, heal you and protect you. May none of your beautiful dreams ever have to be abandoned again. Amen 🤲Assalamu alaykum peace be unto you whomever n wherever you are.🤗
You're a god send for those of us who are wheelchair bound and spent our lives loving gardening! I was able to make the wicking tubs from my wheelchair! They're the perfect height for me to be able to plant, care for & harvest - from my chair! A local rancher happily gave me 25 mineral tubs I was able to get a church to pick up & bring to me. The local high school makes potting mix to individual specifications and delivered. The kids were great & so much fun to visit with. They were fascinated with the wicking tub system approach to gardening. I ordered the corrugated perforated pipe from Lowe's and had it shipped to me. My local lumberyard/hardware store was happy to cut my PVC pipe in the lengths I needed plus the angles at the end. I arranged the tubs around the perimeter of my cement patio so I can drive up to each one. I have multiple health issues which prevented me from doing much on any 1 given day so I plugged along but a little over a month later I had 20 wicking tubs planted. That was all last year. This year I added a new method of batch watering. I bought one of the 4 hose water spout attachments. Each has a hose that runs from it I fitted with 4 hose T's I've zip tied to the top of each wicking tube after drilling small holes on either side of them. The last one on each hose of course doesn't need a hose T. Since I live in the hot desert in the summer I have to water 3x a week during the height of summer. It's so easy now. Just turn on the spigot and let it run for a bit. The other thing I had to do was protect my garden plants for the hot burning afternoon sun. That was solved by sticking garden stakes in each bucket and making an angled shade cloth sun screen. These are angled to only shade the sun from 3pm on. No more sunburned plants! This was such an easy project. For Christmas I bought myself one of those composting systems that is a barrel with a handle to rotate. What a joy that is! I even ordered worms online for it! Now I grow enough produce I share with other low income seniors who often don't have the finances to afford fresh produce. I would add I'm also a low income senior and this entire set up cost me about $200 spread across 2 years (buying my garden mix from the school saved me tons of money). What I save on buying fresh produce I reinvest into my garden. I never used to spend time on my patio. It was such a bland ugly place. Now I spend copious amounts of time there surrounded by a lush productive garden. The horticulture class group from the local high school has made several class trips to check out my alternative way to garden. I just added wicking tubs filled with flowers & herbs along my front wheelchair ramp walkway leading to my apt with the same set up - minus the shade cloth since it's already protected by a shade tree from the late afternoon sun. Oh & to keep the birds from devouring all my beautiful produce I used bamboo garden stakes and net tulle - attached to the tops of the stakes using zip ties. Easy peasy, works wonderfully & cost nearly nothing. My next addition if we ever start getting rain again is rain barrels & rain chains! To note I didn't notice any appreciable increase in my water bill once my garden was up & running. On average it's up $3 a month from my pre-garden days. In winter I cover all my tubs with burlap I got free from the same rancher I got the mineral tubs from. My dear Leon - this was all possible because of you. I have no way to thank you enough for the dramatic change you enabled.
Thank you for sharing your story! I have wanted to help seniors in my area to keep gardening but I didn’t know what it could look like until now. Your setup sounds beautiful. Happy gardening!
Mr. Leon, your gardening inspiration literally has us building similar versions of the wicking tubs the same weekend. I'm using 18 gal. blue rope tubs from Lowe's and Target, cutting my corrugated pipe to 36" for a semi-circle piece with a supplement piece at 11.5" to run in the middle to the drain hole. As an alternative I cut down a 4"x10' drain sock to 5-6" pieces zip tied to cover the pipe ends instead of the pro landscape fabric. The drain sock option seemed a little more cost effective for me as an alternative to the pro landscape fabric. You're an inspiration Mr. Leon and have me spending way more time in my local garden center than I ever thought I would. Thanks for sharing your experience sir!
My Arkansas raised Papa born 1923 fought as a Marine at Iwo Jima worked as an engineer internationally and lived in Chicagoland most of his life kept his accent and also demonstrated down-to-earth practical living. My gardener daughter found you and said you reminded her of Grandpa. I can see why and she has paid you the highest of compliments. I concur and of course have subscribed
Use Potting Mix, NOT potting soil. About 5 to 6 inches from the top, add the following amendments: Sustain - 1/2 cup, or Organic Tomato-tone (sold at big-box stores) Sea mineral - 1/4 cup Gypsum - 1/8 cup Lime - 1/8 cup Epsom salt - 1/8 cup
Thank you Leon! I live in the high desert and these wicking container keep my love of gardening alive. I can actually grow cucumbers out here! Thank you
Good morning, the title scared me! Just bought the PVC pipes to start buckets using milk jugs in17 gallon tubs from lowes-thought you were changing everything. Thanks so much for all you do for us and God bless.
You simply check your water level using a small wooden dowel like a dipstick. (I use a long shiskabob spear). When the water level drops to about an inch remaining, you mix up your water and nutrients, and using a funnel, pour it down into the pipe. You add proper nutrients EVERY TIME you need to water. My tubs are growing AMAZINGLY.... first time I've tried this awesome growing technique.
Wish I had those mineral tubs around here, used 55gal plastic barrels cut in half last year. Neighbors thought i was crazy, and I did the 4in drain pipe in a circle with the cross pipe worked put great. They understood when I had huge tomatoes and bell pepper plants growing up here in the Pacific NW. The grow bag version looks interesting, may have to set a couple of those up. Thank you Leon !
I rarely subscribe and even more rarely comment on RUclips. I just jumped online to research 5 gallon bucket tomatoes when I saw this gentleman for the first time. Absolute love at first sight. Reminds me of my Paw Paw who is my greatest influence and of whom I, and my son, share last names. I spent a lot of weekends at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's since my parents divorced when I was six and my dad was a true deadbeat. The only good memories I really have from those years were at that their house. As soon as I turned 16 and had I license I used an old paper map to find my way out there after losing contact for the most part after just a couple years. I got to spend a couple good years with them several times a year for maybe two years. I remembered him from growing up and he was still the same, kindest, gentlest, most humble gentleman you'll meet. I could go on and on about him but I'll sum it up, married fifty plus years and loved all the family they built, deeply .. absolutely off the charts in all categories, especially empathy. I'm glad I could spend that time with them. Fast-forward, I'm married 31(together 31, married 21) years with a son. Unfortunately we had to say goodbye 30 years ago. I would learn two decades later that he carried a picture of me in his wallet. My wife got to meet him. He told me he loved me then crossed the bridge a couple hours later. That's the kind of person I wanted to be ever since. I want someone to love(and by that virtue them, me) enough to use my last breath to tell them what they've meant to me. I disagree with the notion that you never really know anyone. I can count on my toes and fingers how many times in 50(in 1 minute) years how many times I've met someone that I feel like I've known for years. This is one of those times. I still keep the last picture of us together on the desk I'm using right now. He had a badass garden plot, nice and square, flat, good dirt. I'm using the space beside my pool fence and three 3x8' raised beds for a few years now. He had the green thumb that only came from experience and I have to research absolutely every step of gardening then somehow carve out the time to actually do the work. I'm still rambling, I know. Really just wanted to say that Leon instantly invoked a lot of outstanding memories for me. Truly overwhelmed. Love deeply, everyone! Also, I learned a ton!!
Amazing stuff. You and your staff have done a lot of research and experimentation to get to where you are today. Thanks for telling and showing us your secrets so we can grow things successfully.
Awesome vid Leon!! My self wicking buckets are doing great this year!! I did have to change my sea minerals I could not get any this year! I bought me some Azomite to replace it and my plants are doing wonderful!! Thanks again Leon God Bless!!
Love this guy I'm going to try to get my cousins together for a roadtrip from OKC to go meet Mr. Leon hopefully this summer. Been busy with all the graduation stuff but need some good seeds and good fertilizer and to shake this man's hand!!!
I live in Dallas and looked up the garden center. It’s north about 90 miles. It said it was permanently closed! Am disappointed, I just found this channel. I pray all is well!
Just an FYI for those thinking of using plywood as a lid...plywood is about $65 for one piece right now, so it may not be cost effective to go that route.
Flex tape works real well on the mineral pots that have cracks. The tape also covers holes u drilled in. I had 1 pot crack after 7 yrs & turned all my mineral pots into wicking beds & had to plug all the holes. Have used it on old pots & even my clay pots. The tape is expensive but cheaper than replacing the pots & your not being wasteful. I also use marine grade silicon caulk that is safe for fish that people use in aquariums & boats. It wasn't harm the plants or leak toxins into your produce that'll b abandoned into your body when you eat. The marine grade silicon is spendy also (what isn't expensive right now!) Got a line on my aquaponics system (I have IBC full of tilapia. The fish water feeds my plants then water goes back into fish tank where the plants nutrients feed the fish. The fish & produce feed me, my Rotties & my chickens). I believe the small tube was 6 oz costing $14 Aqua/ hydroponics uses 90% less water than traditional dirt. I cut 40% of IBC from top & bottom (approx 8" from the middle disregarded). Then I fill w sand. Root vegetables, corn, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, strawberries,,... So real well. For leafy greens will rot so I take a felt bag, fun it w dirt & set it 3-4" down into the sand where it works as wicking bed. Plants grown hydroponically grow faster & produce better yields. W the system setup on timers where it'll fill, empty out, fill (change how often you need it to fill based upon the temp) it's perfect system you can leave & go on vacation. I also covet system w plastic (high tunnel greenhouse). The tilapia tank has to be minimally 65°. The warm water on the plant roots & the fish tank raising the ambient air temp inside the greenhouse will keep plants growing all winter. I was picking last of my watermelon in Nov & picked all my tomatoes, peppers & eggplant just b4 the artic blast flash freeze hit Arkansas just b4 Christmas this yr. I had -9 F -25 real temp. I don't think the issue was the cold, it was the flash freeze. My 265 IBC rainwater collection froze solid. I checked at 0100 & every was good at 0500 frozen. My IBC rain tank inside greenhouse did not freeze. The fish tank heater dropped down to 40° but I didn't lose any fish. Need to improve tank heating system Rambled on enough! Hope that info will b helpful
My Granddaddy had this same Oklahoma accent. Lebm eenches! Oh my heart. I love it. Thank you for all of this great information. I am a single momma with a disabled son, and as much as I want to gardern and grow my own food, I struggle to find enough time to water. I found your video learning about self watering containers. So many helpful tips. Maybe my gardens will be more productive next year!! Love from a fellow Okie.
First year I’m doing the Leon way of planting in containers! I’m convinced this is the way to go! I have the most beautiful tomato plants❤️❤️ Thanks Mr Leon!
This is my first year making 5 gallon wicking buckets. I used old nylon knee highs over each end of my pipe as I did not have ground cover. I'll check them next year to see if they held up for a full season.
I love all your videos, Leon..and I love that you call us fellow gardeners! I've been a lifelong gardener but have learned so much from you and am planting my first wicking tubs right now. Thank you, Sir! And congratulations on reaching 101,000 subscribers!!
I just heard about your channel today and it was so timely! I was given 12 of the giant white protein lick tubs and planned to use them for gardening. I didn't know how to make them into self-wicking first of all, but more importantly, I didn't know that the white would cause algae to grow. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the rest of us! ❤❤❤
I built my first self wicking beds this year. We have had so much rain I haven’t needed to water one time!!! That was unexpected! But summer in central Texas I’m sure that will change.
Can't rely on just rainfall. You won't get the results without the frequent nutrients. I'm in North Central TX, way too much rain, but I still feed regularly, just adjust a tad between the never ending monsoons. I'm harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers already, but I planted mid March. Plastic covered for two frosty mornings.
I am just now learning to garden. I've been watching RUclips videos and am so grateful I came across this video! You have given me inspiration to give wicking buckets a try. I live in Arizona and our water is very valuable. I think these wicking buckets would help with containing the water so it's not waisting to much. Thank you for this amazing idea!
My addition to this wicking tub would be to drill a one inch drain hole approximately three inches from the ground in your bucket and in your six inch drain tile. Then, insert your one inch plastic drain tube in your bucket’s drain hole and in your six inch drain tile. Your drain tube needs to be inside your drain tile, so the drain tube will not fill up with potting mix. Your drain tube will make sure your bucket will not overflow with water. With a bucket of this size you don’t need a fill tube to bottom water. You can simply top water the potting mix. Every wicking tub needs to accept and shed water. To prevent evaporation, place grass clippings on the top of your potting mix. The grass clipping will reduce soil evaporation, control weeds, and feed the soil.
Genius. I thought the same thing about the tube n asked. I told myself that id put it in the hose not in btw the ends as he said n feed from top to fill reservoir with the goodies put in the soil. Thx 4 yr comment. I know nothing i call tools thingies lol but i appreciate the validation of my limited thoughts regarding riggin stuff n the fact that your kind enough to share your ideas. Bless you bro! Assalamu alaykum peace be unto you 😊
Thank you Mr Leon for wonderful video's been using wicking tubs for a couple years now ever since I discovered your video's awesome results !! God bless you and yours keep'em coming here's to another growing season!!
Hi brother paul. May i ask, what kind of crops have you had the best successes with? Anything you realized along the way tgat you wish u had known. I ask bc im not a farmer n im too poor to make mistakes n no1 told me to start hime gardening would take a lot more than what i imagined.
Leon, have you thought of burying the large black tub in the ground? That would keep the water in the bottom reservoir cooler, and you could put mulch around the top of the black container to hide it. This would conserve space & look a bit more stealthy if people are coming around trying to make problems regarding water usage. It would also make it possible to set up some kind of rain water harvesting, which would fill those black tubs automatically. All you'd have to do is add some fertilizer once in a while to top the nutrients up. This system is genius, absolutely love it! So many ways a person could go with this, depending on their own personal situation. Another amazing video! Thanks so much 🙂
Good advice about algae… I live in desert… I’m devising a container wrap for my grow bins using dollar store aluminum bubble windshield protectors. I’m concerned about the water getting too hot … in addition to making bin wraps, I place my bins under 45% aluminet… I’m praying that this will work and that God will guide me thru this effort
Just a thought, you may want to add 1" by 2" adapter on water pipe top of cover to steady the pipe and be a funnel for those of us that pour rain water into our wicking tub. Great videos, congrats on breaking 100,000, watch all of your orders. I also like the idea on your info sheet about the wooden dowel rods for water level indicators.
RISE & SHINE MR. LEON... RISE & SHINE! TOP OF THE MORNING TO YOU & THE FAMILY. YOU ALL HAVE THE BLESSED DAY & MUCH LOVE FROM donnalynn ramey TAKE CARE & BE SAFE🙏🏽🧘🏽🙏🏽
You've really grown this you tube channel quickly. It goes to prove that gardening is a hot topic and this pandemic has made the subject "red hot". I really appreciate your vast knowledge. I've been using your wicking tubs three years and they work great.
Wow! I had no idea about white tubs allowing the sun to shine through and causing algae to form. You're the first I've heard to talk about that. Thank you!! Do you have experience with electroculture gardening too? As I'm learning that, I've only heard one person stress the importance of placing the copper rod on the southside of the plant for best results. I find it amazing that when learning, it's imperative to listen to many on the same subject in order to get complete information.
I used the grow bags this year but I put poly in the bottom to five inches at my lowest point and added the corrugated pipe in the bottom and pvc coming up. It has worked wonderfully for both watering and has the most productive tomatoes and peppers ever. I used all the ingredients Mr Leon suggested. This really does work. I will say that I use the bag before watching this video because I was having a difficult time finding the plastic ones.
I’ll add that my bags were on the ground and I honestly believe that I witnessed wicking through the bag from the ground taking place while I was out of town. Something else to consider a possible benefit to using the bags of you are a small time gardener like myself. I put 20 bags out this year for the first time under two 10x20 greenhouse frames. Once the cold gets to us here in NC I’ll put the tops back on to keep them growing
Rayanne...... I was commenting on this page, when I came across yours and all what you just said in your comment is great and amazing. I will like us to be friends if you don't mind? This is my Gmail Raymondgogolf@gmail.com you can text me. sorry for commenting on Public stuff. please the gmail is only for Rayanne thanks. I hope to hear from you soon.....God bless you.🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
Хобби
First time I heard of Leon. Ten minutes later, I already love him! Thank you Mr. Leon for sharing your wisdom!
Me too!
Same! Reminds me of both of my Grandpa’s. Sweet God loving gardener ❤
This man is a legend, Leon is the grandfather the world needs. Teach ya how to feed yourself and pass down incredible tricks of the trade learned over a long life of incredible gardening.
I'd like to spend a week with this man. The amount of knowledge you could pick up is priceless. My dad used to tell me to always be quiet and listen to my elders and I would learn a lifetime of knowledge when I was around them. Best thing I ever did was take that advise.
A week? I'd like to bring a 5th wheel and spend a season or two working his farm with him! 😀
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7:48
I am disabled♿ and unable to get much of any direct assistance. Interested in making wicking beds i let that dream go but used EVERYTHING I've learned from STUDYING these videos to set up 18G totes on my front porch.
THANK YOU, i collected Cans from making meals, plastic jugs of all types & i created a kitchen scraps compost bucket using leaves with my kid's help.
I APPRECIATE the strength & COMMON SENSE that ooozes from Leon. Thank you for inspiring me to NOT GIVE UP & take control of what I'm eating!!!
God bless you, heal you and protect you. May none of your beautiful dreams ever have to be abandoned again. Amen 🤲Assalamu alaykum peace be unto you whomever n wherever you are.🤗
Where do you get the tubs at
@@the60s87 I purchased Sterilite 18g Totes from Wal-Mart
They were cheaper than they currently are for sets of 6 or 8
God bless you!!
I agree.
You're a god send for those of us who are wheelchair bound and spent our lives loving gardening! I was able to make the wicking tubs from my wheelchair! They're the perfect height for me to be able to plant, care for & harvest - from my chair! A local rancher happily gave me 25 mineral tubs I was able to get a church to pick up & bring to me. The local high school makes potting mix to individual specifications and delivered. The kids were great & so much fun to visit with. They were fascinated with the wicking tub system approach to gardening. I ordered the corrugated perforated pipe from Lowe's and had it shipped to me. My local lumberyard/hardware store was happy to cut my PVC pipe in the lengths I needed plus the angles at the end. I arranged the tubs around the perimeter of my cement patio so I can drive up to each one. I have multiple health issues which prevented me from doing much on any 1 given day so I plugged along but a little over a month later I had 20 wicking tubs planted. That was all last year. This year I added a new method of batch watering. I bought one of the 4 hose water spout attachments. Each has a hose that runs from it I fitted with 4 hose T's I've zip tied to the top of each wicking tube after drilling small holes on either side of them. The last one on each hose of course doesn't need a hose T. Since I live in the hot desert in the summer I have to water 3x a week during the height of summer. It's so easy now. Just turn on the spigot and let it run for a bit. The other thing I had to do was protect my garden plants for the hot burning afternoon sun. That was solved by sticking garden stakes in each bucket and making an angled shade cloth sun screen. These are angled to only shade the sun from 3pm on. No more sunburned plants! This was such an easy project. For Christmas I bought myself one of those composting systems that is a barrel with a handle to rotate. What a joy that is! I even ordered worms online for it!
Now I grow enough produce I share with other low income seniors who often don't have the finances to afford fresh produce. I would add I'm also a low income senior and this entire set up cost me about $200 spread across 2 years (buying my garden mix from the school saved me tons of money). What I save on buying fresh produce I reinvest into my garden.
I never used to spend time on my patio. It was such a bland ugly place. Now I spend copious amounts of time there surrounded by a lush productive garden. The horticulture class group from the local high school has made several class trips to check out my alternative way to garden. I just added wicking tubs filled with flowers & herbs along my front wheelchair ramp walkway leading to my apt with the same set up - minus the shade cloth since it's already protected by a shade tree from the late afternoon sun. Oh & to keep the birds from devouring all my beautiful produce I used bamboo garden stakes and net tulle - attached to the tops of the stakes using zip ties. Easy peasy, works wonderfully & cost nearly nothing. My next addition if we ever start getting rain again is rain barrels & rain chains!
To note I didn't notice any appreciable increase in my water bill once my garden was up & running. On average it's up $3 a month from my pre-garden days. In winter I cover all my tubs with burlap I got free from the same rancher I got the mineral tubs from.
My dear Leon - this was all possible because of you. I have no way to thank you enough for the dramatic change you enabled.
Wow …. that’s some determination 👩🏼🌾
😊
Thank you for sharing your story! I have wanted to help seniors in my area to keep gardening but I didn’t know what it could look like until now. Your setup sounds beautiful. Happy gardening!
You're an inspiration! I love reading your story and I got great tips from you, thank you! ❤
And 9mins into this video- he shared more knowledge than a month worth of other videos
“It doesn’t have to be exact. You’re not gonna get sued or anything!” Mr Leon reminds me of my grandad time and again. Blessings sir!
Mr. Leon, your gardening inspiration literally has us building similar versions of the wicking tubs the same weekend. I'm using 18 gal. blue rope tubs from Lowe's and Target, cutting my corrugated pipe to 36" for a semi-circle piece with a supplement piece at 11.5" to run in the middle to the drain hole. As an alternative I cut down a 4"x10' drain sock to 5-6" pieces zip tied to cover the pipe ends instead of the pro landscape fabric. The drain sock option seemed a little more cost effective for me as an alternative to the pro landscape fabric. You're an inspiration Mr. Leon and have me spending way more time in my local garden center than I ever thought I would. Thanks for sharing your experience sir!
how does the gallon jugs in the tube with dirt how does it work with plant not getting air please respond thanks
I’ve been growing my tomatoes in these tubs for two years now. Never had them grow so good. Thanks for all your help.
I always love watching Leon's videos
always a pleasure seein a new vid from ya leon bless ya !
My Arkansas raised Papa born 1923 fought as a Marine at Iwo Jima worked as an engineer internationally and lived in Chicagoland most of his life kept his accent and also demonstrated down-to-earth practical living. My gardener daughter found you and said you reminded her of Grandpa. I can see why and she has paid you the highest of compliments. I concur and of course have subscribed
And thank you so much for thinking of us out of state with the substitutions!
Use Potting Mix, NOT potting soil.
About 5 to 6 inches from the top, add the following amendments:
Sustain - 1/2 cup, or Organic Tomato-tone (sold at big-box stores)
Sea mineral - 1/4 cup
Gypsum - 1/8 cup
Lime - 1/8 cup
Epsom salt - 1/8 cup
Thank you and best wishes from Ireland 🇮🇪
@@markirish7599, you’re welcome! I’m Irish too! I’m an, O’Leary.
KelliGreen Thumb are these the same fertilizer used to put into the water when watering?
Reminds me of my Grandpa too…Enjoy listening… thank you for your knowledge and explaining.🙏🏾
Thank you Leon! I live in the high desert and these wicking container keep my love of gardening alive. I can actually grow cucumbers out here! Thank you
Good morning, the title scared me! Just bought the PVC pipes to start buckets using milk jugs in17 gallon tubs from lowes-thought you were changing everything. Thanks so much for all you do for us and God bless.
@@Raymondgogolf you are a creep ! I’m so sick of you scammers, change your life and be a good person !!!
May you be washed in the blood of Christ 🙏🏻
I used old nylon curtains to cover the ends of my pipe. Very cheap and works really well.
"Paint that thang"
Thank you Sir.
Leon, you are my hero.
You simply check your water level using a small wooden dowel like a dipstick. (I use a long shiskabob spear). When the water level drops to about an inch remaining, you mix up your water and nutrients, and using a funnel, pour it down into the pipe. You add proper nutrients EVERY TIME you need to water.
My tubs are growing AMAZINGLY.... first time I've tried this awesome growing technique.
Wish I had those mineral tubs around here, used 55gal plastic barrels cut in half last year. Neighbors thought i was crazy, and I did the 4in drain pipe in a circle with the cross pipe worked put great. They understood when I had huge tomatoes and bell pepper plants growing up here in the Pacific NW. The grow bag version looks interesting, may have to set a couple of those up.
Thank you Leon !
I was wondering where they got those tubs. Are they from raising animals?
@@jturtle5318 Yes, some kind of farm animal feed or supplement. I rarely see them on Craigslist and such.
@@jeffsnyder7633 I have heard them called mineral tubs, lick tubs & protein tubs. They are typically used for cattle.
@@jturtle5318 I have heard them called mineral tubs, lick tubs or protein tubs. They are typically used fir cattle.
Search for "muck tub" or "muck bucket".
I'm really enjoying these videos and I will try upcycling some wicking tubs on my balcony. you have real passion and are a great teacher.
I rarely subscribe and even more rarely comment on RUclips. I just jumped online to research 5 gallon bucket tomatoes when I saw this gentleman for the first time. Absolute love at first sight. Reminds me of my Paw Paw who is my greatest influence and of whom I, and my son, share last names. I spent a lot of weekends at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's since my parents divorced when I was six and my dad was a true deadbeat. The only good memories I really have from those years were at that their house. As soon as I turned 16 and had I license I used an old paper map to find my way out there after losing contact for the most part after just a couple years. I got to spend a couple good years with them several times a year for maybe two years. I remembered him from growing up and he was still the same, kindest, gentlest, most humble gentleman you'll meet. I could go on and on about him but I'll sum it up, married fifty plus years and loved all the family they built, deeply .. absolutely off the charts in all categories, especially empathy. I'm glad I could spend that time with them. Fast-forward, I'm married 31(together 31, married 21) years with a son. Unfortunately we had to say goodbye 30 years ago. I would learn two decades later that he carried a picture of me in his wallet. My wife got to meet him. He told me he loved me then crossed the bridge a couple hours later. That's the kind of person I wanted to be ever since. I want someone to love(and by that virtue them, me) enough to use my last breath to tell them what they've meant to me. I disagree with the notion that you never really know anyone. I can count on my toes and fingers how many times in 50(in 1 minute) years how many times I've met someone that I feel like I've known for years. This is one of those times. I still keep the last picture of us together on the desk I'm using right now. He had a badass garden plot, nice and square, flat, good dirt. I'm using the space beside my pool fence and three 3x8' raised beds for a few years now. He had the green thumb that only came from experience and I have to research absolutely every step of gardening then somehow carve out the time to actually do the work. I'm still rambling, I know. Really just wanted to say that Leon instantly invoked a lot of outstanding memories for me. Truly overwhelmed.
Love deeply, everyone! Also, I learned a ton!!
Amazing stuff. You and your staff have done a lot of research and experimentation to get to where you are today. Thanks for telling and showing us your secrets so we can grow things successfully.
Awesome vid Leon!! My self wicking buckets are doing great this year!! I did have to change my sea minerals I could not get any this year! I bought me some Azomite to replace it and my plants are doing wonderful!! Thanks again Leon God Bless!!
So good to see and hear you teaching, Leon!
Love this guy I'm going to try to get my cousins together for a roadtrip from OKC to go meet Mr. Leon hopefully this summer. Been busy with all the graduation stuff but need some good seeds and good fertilizer and to shake this man's hand!!!
Call ahead and make sure he’s there. I made that mistake this spring and he wasn’t there. I was pretty disappointed
Good to know thanks
I live in Dallas and looked up the garden center. It’s north about 90 miles. It said it was permanently closed! Am disappointed, I just found this channel. I pray all is well!
Thank you for Jesus he has risen and thank you Leon for sharing.
Thank You sir for your wicking technic last year I had the best harvest ever, your knowledge is priceless
Mr. Leon you always have such good ideas for us!
I’ve come to trust & live the knowledge you share with us!
Just an FYI for those thinking of using plywood as a lid...plywood is about $65 for one piece right now, so it may not be cost effective to go that route.
2 thousand subscribers in 2 days .well done and it won't be long until you have 500k .best wishes from Ireland 🇮🇪
Flex tape works real well on the mineral pots that have cracks. The tape also covers holes u drilled in.
I had 1 pot crack after 7 yrs & turned all my mineral pots into wicking beds & had to plug all the holes. Have used it on old pots & even my clay pots.
The tape is expensive but cheaper than replacing the pots & your not being wasteful.
I also use marine grade silicon caulk that is safe for fish that people use in aquariums & boats. It wasn't harm the plants or leak toxins into your produce that'll b abandoned into your body when you eat. The marine grade silicon is spendy also (what isn't expensive right now!) Got a line on my aquaponics system (I have IBC full of tilapia. The fish water feeds my plants then water goes back into fish tank where the plants nutrients feed the fish. The fish & produce feed me, my Rotties & my chickens). I believe the small tube was 6 oz costing $14
Aqua/ hydroponics uses 90% less water than traditional dirt. I cut 40% of IBC from top & bottom (approx 8" from the middle disregarded). Then I fill w sand. Root vegetables, corn, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, strawberries,,... So real well. For leafy greens will rot so I take a felt bag, fun it w dirt & set it 3-4" down into the sand where it works as wicking bed. Plants grown hydroponically grow faster & produce better yields. W the system setup on timers where it'll fill, empty out, fill (change how often you need it to fill based upon the temp) it's perfect system you can leave & go on vacation.
I also covet system w plastic (high tunnel greenhouse). The tilapia tank has to be minimally 65°. The warm water on the plant roots & the fish tank raising the ambient air temp inside the greenhouse will keep plants growing all winter. I was picking last of my watermelon in Nov & picked all my tomatoes, peppers & eggplant just b4 the artic blast flash freeze hit Arkansas just b4 Christmas this yr. I had -9 F -25 real temp. I don't think the issue was the cold, it was the flash freeze. My 265 IBC rainwater collection froze solid. I checked at 0100 & every was good at 0500 frozen. My IBC rain tank inside greenhouse did not freeze. The fish tank heater dropped down to 40° but I didn't lose any fish. Need to improve tank heating system
Rambled on enough! Hope that info will b helpful
My Granddaddy had this same Oklahoma accent. Lebm eenches! Oh my heart. I love it. Thank you for all of this great information. I am a single momma with a disabled son, and as much as I want to gardern and grow my own food, I struggle to find enough time to water. I found your video learning about self watering containers. So many helpful tips. Maybe my gardens will be more productive next year!! Love from a fellow Okie.
First year I’m doing the Leon way of planting in containers! I’m convinced this is the way to go! I have the most beautiful tomato plants❤️❤️ Thanks Mr Leon!
Thank you for sharing with us your knowledge and experience, Leon!💜
God bless you and your family!♥️
This is my first year making 5 gallon wicking buckets. I used old nylon knee highs over each end of my pipe as I did not have ground cover. I'll check them next year to see if they held up for a full season.
Did this too last year….seems to still be holding up
5 gallon bucket doesn't hold enough water for when it gets hot
@@markchristensen5206 I'm in Dallas and water once a week. It's been working so far this summer.
I did 5 gallon buckets years ago and found I was constantly watering.
Thank you Mr. Leon. You have helped me to truly take my container garden to the next level!!
I love all your videos, Leon..and I love that you call us fellow gardeners! I've been a lifelong gardener but have learned so much from you and am planting my first wicking tubs right now.
Thank you, Sir! And congratulations on reaching 101,000 subscribers!!
I hope to meet you one day... I'm your neighbor over here in Central Arkansas!
Been telling all my coworkers about these trying to get them to start growing some of there own food. Thank you!!
Every year I plant M&Ms and they never grow, What am I doing wrong ? LOL!
@@ronhobyak9902 That would be so awesome yummy 😋
Ot took me a while 😂
I just heard about your channel today and it was so timely! I was given 12 of the giant white protein lick tubs and planned to use them for gardening. I didn't know how to make them into self-wicking first of all, but more importantly, I didn't know that the white would cause algae to grow. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the rest of us! ❤❤❤
You keep making it easier! Love it!
Thank y'all. Blessings from beautiful Idaho, julie
Congrats on the 100+K!!! Woohoo
Thank you Brother Leon! Looking good!
I built my first self wicking beds this year. We have had so much rain I haven’t needed to water one time!!! That was unexpected! But summer in central Texas I’m sure that will change.
Can't rely on just rainfall. You won't get the results without the frequent nutrients. I'm in North Central TX, way too much rain, but I still feed regularly, just adjust a tad between the never ending monsoons. I'm harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers already, but I planted mid March. Plastic covered for two frosty mornings.
You add the best most informative info, thank you sir!
This is SO awesome! Thakns Mr Leon!
Thank you for helping so many on self wicking tubs amazing . I just need to find me a helper to help me get mine set for the summer.
Thank you Leon! I appreciate all the advice we can get!
Thanks Leon for a very timely video, I am putting my wicking tub together today.
I love this guy!
You’re the man Leon!
Howdy from East Texas!! Good to see you Mr Leon!
Thanks for the great videos
Thanks Leon Another great video
✨God bless you Leon✨ 💖
Thanks Leon great information.
Thanks Leon! The fabric grow pot is going to be a game-changer for me.
Wow!! Thanks Leon for all your amazing info!!!
Thank you Leon. This is so helpful.
love your show,
I am just now learning to garden. I've been watching RUclips videos and am so grateful I came across this video! You have given me inspiration to give wicking buckets a try. I live in Arizona and our water is very valuable. I think these wicking buckets would help with containing the water so it's not waisting to much. Thank you for this amazing idea!
Thank you for all the videos you have made. I have learned so much from you. Gods Blessing on you and your family!
I LOVE HIM. AWESOME!!
Thank you Mr. Leon.
I just found you Leon about two weeks ago. Where have you been all my life I love this thank you.
I'm planning a trip to Arkansas in October. Going to have to see about making a stop by and meet Mr. Leon.
My addition to this wicking tub would be to drill a one inch drain hole approximately three inches from the ground in your bucket and in your six inch drain tile. Then, insert your one inch plastic drain tube in your bucket’s drain hole and in your six inch drain tile. Your drain tube needs to be inside your drain tile, so the drain tube will not fill up with potting mix. Your drain tube will make sure your bucket will not overflow with water. With a bucket of this size you don’t need a fill tube to bottom water. You can simply top water the potting mix. Every wicking tub needs to accept and shed water. To prevent evaporation, place grass clippings on the top of your potting mix. The grass clipping will reduce soil evaporation, control weeds, and feed the soil.
Genius. I thought the same thing about the tube n asked. I told myself that id put it in the hose not in btw the ends as he said n feed from top to fill reservoir with the goodies put in the soil. Thx 4 yr comment. I know nothing i call tools thingies lol but i appreciate the validation of my limited thoughts regarding riggin stuff n the fact that your kind enough to share your ideas. Bless you bro! Assalamu alaykum peace be unto you 😊
Thank you so much for all the information Mr Leon. We appreciate you so very much.
Great Video Leon! You inspired me to make a video about making them!
Thank you Leon for sharing. God bless you & your family always
Love this guy. Reminds me of my uncle.
Thanks for making this so much clearer to me❣️❣️❣️❤️😊
Thank you ! I learn d a lot.
You are one of the grandads i never had. Going to use you bottle instead 😊
Thanks Leon 👍
Thank you Mr Leon for wonderful video's been using wicking tubs for a couple years now ever since I discovered your video's awesome results !! God bless you and yours keep'em coming here's to another growing season!!
Hi brother paul. May i ask, what kind of crops have you had the best successes with? Anything you realized along the way tgat you wish u had known. I ask bc im not a farmer n im too poor to make mistakes n no1 told me to start hime gardening would take a lot more than what i imagined.
Leon, have you thought of burying the large black tub in the ground? That would keep the water in the bottom reservoir cooler, and you could put mulch around the top of the black container to hide it. This would conserve space & look a bit more stealthy if people are coming around trying to make problems regarding water usage. It would also make it possible to set up some kind of rain water harvesting, which would fill those black tubs automatically. All you'd have to do is add some fertilizer once in a while to top the nutrients up.
This system is genius, absolutely love it! So many ways a person could go with this, depending on their own personal situation. Another amazing video! Thanks so much 🙂
That was a good ideal' Can you tell me the advantage of using pipes instead of the gallon jugs?
The way things are heading your a breath of fresh air I'm going to try strawberries this year using this .
You can trust an American boy that wears Bib-Overalls, Go Leon, from Indiana.
He wears DRESS bibs - the sides button up!
God bless you Sir!🙏💖🙏
Good advice about algae… I live in desert… I’m devising a container wrap for my grow bins using dollar store aluminum bubble windshield protectors. I’m concerned about the water getting too hot … in addition to making bin wraps, I place my bins under 45% aluminet… I’m praying that this will work and that God will guide me thru this effort
Just in Home Depot, seen a 4' x 100' aluminum sided insulation, very thin, reminds me of windshield block.
Hi Leon. This is my new favorite channel. Hello from the Bluegrass state.
Just a thought, you may want to add 1" by 2" adapter on water pipe top of cover to steady the pipe and be a funnel for those of us that pour rain water into our wicking tub. Great videos, congrats on breaking 100,000, watch all of your orders. I also like the idea on your info sheet about the wooden dowel rods for water level indicators.
This is the first time watching Leon and I thought of using a stick or dowel rod to check the water level.
Great minds think alike.
RISE & SHINE MR. LEON... RISE & SHINE!
TOP OF THE MORNING TO YOU & THE FAMILY. YOU ALL HAVE THE BLESSED DAY & MUCH LOVE FROM donnalynn ramey
TAKE CARE & BE SAFE🙏🏽🧘🏽🙏🏽
No thank you for all your help. God bless. Kansas
I talked to you at guntersville under bridge this after noon going to try your planting method next spring thank you
You are too cute, you remind me of my dad. I'm new to gardening and intimidated by it. Just subscribed, can't wait to learn from your other content
Thank you. Great video
*Sir .. I Love your High Energy* .. and .. *Excellent Content*
*Thank you*
Leon I learned about wicking tubs from another homestead channel an looked you up.
Awesomeness 💯💯
You've really grown this you tube channel quickly. It goes to prove that gardening is a hot topic and this pandemic has made the subject "red hot". I really appreciate your vast knowledge. I've been using your wicking tubs three years and they work great.
Could you & your family adopt me please Leon? Your knowledge is invaluable, thank you for teaching us so much.
Wow! I had no idea about white tubs allowing the sun to shine through and causing algae to form. You're the first I've heard to talk about that. Thank you!! Do you have experience with electroculture gardening too? As I'm learning that, I've only heard one person stress the importance of placing the copper rod on the southside of the plant for best results. I find it amazing that when learning, it's imperative to listen to many on the same subject in order to get complete information.
I am a new garner so thank you for sharing your knowledge it is helping me very much. God bless your family
I used the grow bags this year but I put poly in the bottom to five inches at my lowest point and added the corrugated pipe in the bottom and pvc coming up. It has worked wonderfully for both watering and has the most productive tomatoes and peppers ever. I used all the ingredients Mr Leon suggested. This really does work. I will say that I use the bag before watching this video because I was having a difficult time finding the plastic ones.
I’ll add that my bags were on the ground and I honestly believe that I witnessed wicking through the bag from the ground taking place while I was out of town. Something else to consider a possible benefit to using the bags of you are a small time gardener like myself. I put 20 bags out this year for the first time under two 10x20 greenhouse frames. Once the cold gets to us here in NC I’ll put the tops back on to keep them growing
Wish I could post some pictures for you
Thank you sir for all your knowledge
I enjoy watching you explain the modifications that we can do, it's very helpful for us beginners. Thank you for your time
Rayanne...... I was commenting on this page, when I came across yours and all what you just said in your comment is great and amazing. I will like us to be friends if you don't mind? This is my Gmail Raymondgogolf@gmail.com you can text me. sorry for commenting on Public stuff. please the gmail is only for Rayanne thanks. I hope to hear from you soon.....God bless you.🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺