Best Way to Grow Bigger Tomato & Pepper Seedlings 🌱 (Upgraded Double Cup Method Hack)
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- Опубликовано: 8 июн 2024
- This upgraded double cup method will help you to grow massive tomato or pepper seedlings indoors, while making it easier to keep them watered. Check out this growing hack which can take your plants to the next level!
00:00 - Why use Double Cups for massive seedlings?
00:50 - Tips for improving DIY Double Cup Method
01:17 - What to expect from Double Cup containers
01:48 - Hack for upgrading Double Cups into wicking cups
03:01 - Moisture Levels: Top watered vs wicking cups
03:28 - Brainstorming: Wicking cup container options
04:30 - Benefits of Wicking Cups vs Double Cups
04:54 - Support Albopepper by checking out my book!
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SUPER CHEAP WICKING CORD
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Utility Rope - 1/4" x 50':
► amzn.to/3OXXnxY
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TRADITIONAL DOUBLE CUP METHODS:
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Using the conventional double cup method can help you to grow large sized tomato or pepper plants. The double cups are nice because they're cheap and reusable. They collect run off water, keeping your grow room nice and neat. And since they are typically 18 ounce cups, this creates a good amount to soil space to support bigger plants (compared to cell trays).
As shown in the video, there are a few commons tips that can improve the system. However, the double cup method is not perfect. The narrow cup base makes it easy for plants to tip over as they grow tall. And as they get bigger, the plants need to be watered very frequently.
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SUPERCHARGED WICKING CUP METHOD:
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I've been using sub-irrigated, self-watering containers for my seedlings for more than a decade. I've come to realize how easy it would be to upgrade the old double cup method into a more advanced wicking cup system. This video show a variety of techniques and options that allow you to have sturdy container bases along with large water reservoirs. This makes watering SO much easier! And this also allows you to crank up your grow light to get even stronger plant growth.
#Albopepper #GrowingTomatoes #GrowingPeppers #SeedStarting #StartingTomatoes #Seedlings #DIY #DoubleCup
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Хобби
Check my site for more details about those large, white wicking containers:
► albopepper.com/albo-stein.php
Utility Rope - 1/4" x 50' (# CommissionsEarned):
► amzn.to/3OXXnxY
I think it’s interesting that wicking for all kinds of plants is finally getting noticed! African Violet growers have been using this wicking method for decades. 🥰 I appreciate anyone who can see outside the box!
That's a great point! Thanks so much for watching!! 🙂
I don't follow many gardening channels, but this is why I follow this one. Always great advice and striving to improve.
Thanks so much for watching! I really appreciate your support. 🙂
Another good idea is to use a clear cup for the plant and a colored cup for the reservoir. This way you can lift the inside cup to see the root system without it being exposed to light all the time.
Yes, that's always very interesting to see what the roots are doing! Thanks for sharing your ideas!!
I recently made a bunch of mini wick planters out of discarded 16 oz water bottles. I'm using them to grow some Roma tomato seedlings at the moment. I top-off the reservoirs with dirty water from my goldfish tank when I do a weekly partial change of it and the sprouts love it!
Sounds cool! It's like a mini aquaponics!! 😁
@@Albopepper that's basically the intention. I started keeping goldfish originally as part of a small aquaponics experiment that didn't quite work out. This is a sort of revival of it, using a different approach. It seems to be working MUCH better this time.
Im definitely going to try this. I know I'm not the only one who wishes you would post more
I hope it works well for you! Thanks for watching. I'm working on more content soon! :-)
It's rare I get to say "holy shit" learning anything new nowadays about gardening but here we go again. Definitely going to try it, thank you!
LOL, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!! :)
I love using water wicks sip buckets as they slow down the chances of pests in the garden like gnats. Great video!
I agree! Thanks for watching and sharing your experience. 😃
Yes please show us more! A whole lot my more please!!!
Please do a video on the system you built at minute 4:19
The video is out. Not sure if you saw it yet: ruclips.net/video/ah9xKtNX20c/видео.html
I'd like to see how you made that setup at the end!
Cool! I'll definitely have to make video showing how it's set up!!
The video is out: ruclips.net/video/ah9xKtNX20c/видео.html
I can confirm it works for cannabis as well :)
Good to know!
Good to see a post from you 👍 👍 oh yeah, side by side- take a “ I guess there is enough moisture in it” next to a wick or controlled flood where there is the benefit of enough water to be beneficial to nutrient transfer ( as apposed to just “ moist enough to not dry out roots ) big difference in growth 👍 absolutely 🍻 be well , man-
Thanks for your great videos! It’s been awhile since I checked your channel out, after first learning from your led grow light reviews.
I always want to see more. Your videos are very helpful. Thanks
Thanks! I'm glad my info is able to help out. I have more ideas lined up so stay tuned! 😉
WOW!! and HOLY CRAP!!! Thanks so much for a clear and concise video. I live in the Arizona desert. This will be a definite doable garden hack. On my way to get some cups...
This guy is a genius ..
I have used the clear inside for many years, then you can peak at root development. Love all your stuff , thanks!
I'm glad you like the content. Thanks so much for watching! 😃
Thank you brother for these great ideas!
Wow! New subscriber here. I just purchased everything needed for a wicking system using gallon jugs inside my five gallon buckets. Now, I’m going to have to try your method as well! Thanks! Wondering how this will work in our scorching hot Tx summer.
Thanks for watching & welcome to my channel! I hope it all works out & that you have a great season. 😀
I got this self watering potting system as a gift ( 100 $), i laught when i saw how simpel the system was and its basicly just what you showed now. Looks great doh :D But thanks!, il use this tip at the growing station :D
Nice to see yet another informative video from you. Thanks again.
Thanks for watching & supporting my channel! :-D
Wow! I love this idea/method! Thank you so much for sharing!
I'm glad you like it! Thanks for watching. 😃
Sweet. New video. Always liked your stuff. Thanks.
You're welcome! Thanks for all of your support. :)
Wow...excellent video! Getting ready to start my seedlings...so glad to find your video. Subscribed. Thanks😊
Welcome to my channel! Thanks so much for watching. 😃
I’m intrigued!!!
I use a few large restaurant bus tubs I found at a yard sale for gardening. They have fairly straight sides & are deeper than most of the sturdiest 1020 bottom trays. Since I often use these for off-sized or tall pots. I plan to order new ones for this double cup method.
They also do double duty for soil mixing, worm bins, harvesting etc...They are damn near indestructible...though I haven't run over one with a truck just yet.
Nice! That sounds like an awesome idea. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I love your posts, you’ve inspired me to grow indoors using spider farmer grow lights . I have corn growing in mason jars with leca. Your SIP totes are something I want to try this year but they aren’t easy on the eye .
Thanks for watching! I'm glad my info is able to help out. 🙂 Yes, the SIP totes work rather well, but a good wooden or metal SIP planter can be designed to look much nicer.
Very helpful video and YES. We need more of this content.thanks
Thanks for watching! I'm wrapping up the next video. Coming soon! 🙂
That’s cool idea with these wonderful ideas. The broad irrigation bed system is nicely done.✅
Thanks so much! I'm glad that you find the ideas useful. 😀
Great idea! I just began transitioning my houseplants to leca and use wicks in that application. I start seedlings in solo cups but never did the double cup, rather placing 6 cups into a plastic shoe box for stability and water management. Now I have to find some suitable containers for cache pots. I love the idea of square for more stability
Thanks for watching and sharing your personal experiences! 😃
Wow... This is GREAT. Thanks for sharing
You're welcome! Thanks for taking time to watch. 🙂
Thank you for these tips.
Absolutely. Thanks for watching! 🙂
Some great ideas! Love it
Thanks for your support! I'm glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Clever idea that I’ll definitely be using! Thank you 👵🏻👩🌾❣️
I'm glad this idea can help you out. Thanks for watching! 🙂
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing 🌱
You're welcome! Thanks for watching. 🙂
Great idea🤩. I’ll be using this method this year ! Thank you 👵🏻👩🌾❣️
You're welcome! I'm glad this is able to help out. 🙂
New subscriber what a brilliant idea, saving time watering to thank you for the tip , have a lovely week, Tracy
Welcome to my channel! I hope this tip can help you out. 🙂
mate i absolutely love this.....cheers
Thanks! I'm glad you like it. 🙂
What a great video! Doesn’t mess about - straight to the useful info. I would REALLY like to see a video on the stack of pots sharing a single reservoir mentioned towards the end of the video. Please? 😊
Thanks for watching! I appreciate your feedback. Good news, I'm currently wrapping up that new video so it won't be long! 😉
I knew all those containers I have saved would come in handy someday!
I was thinking exactly the same thing, once I figured out how to make them work! 😉
Earned yourself a subscriber with this video!
Welcome to my channel! I appreciate your support. 🙂
That is quite clever. I've been exploring ways of getting around top watering.
Hopefully this gives you some good options. Thanks for watching! :)
Thank you! Great ideas sir!
Thanks Uncle Dave! 😃
Whoh such great idea
Thanks! :)
Thank you, very ingenious
You're welcome! Thanks for watching. :-D
Wicked idea 💡
Cool! Thanks for watching. 😁
Yes sir, do the video! Thanks
Thanks for watching! The video is here: ruclips.net/video/ah9xKtNX20c/видео.html
Thank you. Love it ❤❤
Awesome! Thanks so much for watching. 😀
Totally awesome 👌
Thanks! 😎
Wow! That’s a very interesting set up… I do use the red solo cup planting idea for my tomatoes…but the wicking water system is next level. TY…and yes, I too would love to see a video for that last set up. I have become a subscriber, and will wait for it with much anticipation. 😊
Thanks so much for sharing your personal experience. Welcome to my channel! 😀
The video is out now: ruclips.net/video/ah9xKtNX20c/видео.html
Great idea...
Thanks! 😀
This is Awesome 👌 Video 📹
Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it. 😃
Thanks for sharing.
Sure thing! Thanks for watching. :)
Very interesting thanks😁♥️
I'm glad you like it. Thanks for watching! 😀
Nice!
Thanks!
Wow, awesome!!!!
Thanks!!! 😀
Great video
Thanks! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing all your experienced tips! ☀️💯🪴
You're welcome. And thanks to you for taking time to watch! 😀
Welcome back!
Thanks. It's good to be back! 😃
This is a great video
Thanks for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)
you went grey since your last vid, LOL.... Thank you!!!
LOL, been that way for quite a while, but normally I have a hat on. It's much more noticeable without the hat. Thanks for watching!
Excellent 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you for sharing this 😊 I subscribed to your channel 🙏
Welcome to my channel! Thanks so much for watching. 😃
@@Albopepper you're welcome 😁 I appreciate you posting.. Many blessings to you and your family 🙏
thank you so much
Sure thing. Thanks for watching!
That’s what I’ve been looking for!… do you have more videos
Thanks for watching! Yes, I have a variety of videos. Feel free to check them out on my channel page. :)
Best idea yet. Seen all of them. Thanks! 🎉❤
I'm glad you like it! Thanks for watching. 😃
You got my gears turning. 👍🇺🇸
Glad to hear that! Thanks for watching. 🙂
Excellent ideas. I hate this part of gardening the most...seedling starting. These techniques will solve many problems.
I'm glad this info will be able to help out. I hope you have a great growing season! 🙂
Super simple super cool, have u seen earth boxes similar wicking concept 💚🙏
Thanks for watching! Yes, I've seen EarthBoxes. I've been testing and using a variety of wicking containers and planters for years. If you like that sorta stuff, be sure to check out my website. Lots of info on SIPs! 🙂
Yes please! Separate video!!!
Thanks for watching! Please watch the latest video, which is already released: ruclips.net/video/ah9xKtNX20c/видео.html 😉
A cotton mop head at the $tree ($1.25) works great for wicking.
Thanks for the tip! 🙂
If growing multiple seedlings, using any wire shelves or grill rack over a dish pan, mixing tub, cat litter box, etc. eliminates some extra modification and lifting of each pot every water refill.
COOL!
Thanks!
Great video! New subscriber here! 🌱🎋
Welcome to my channel! Thanks so much for watching!! 🙂
You're a God. And I've found you.
I appreciate your support. Just a regular guy who loves gardening & sharing ideas! 🙂
@@Albopepper Don’t deny it. 😂
Your brain is not like us humans. No. But, keeping it 💯. I loved your idea/ideas and still going through some more of your work. I’m definitely adding some of the tips you gave. I’m running around the house looking for containers and rope right now 😂😂
That's awesome that the tips were able to inspire you! I learn from others and through trial and error just like everyone else. I try to use the gifts God gave me to help others. We can plant seeds. We can water. But he's the one who makes it grow!
Great idea. Need larger transplants. I have a critter(s) in the garden that disappear my seedlings.
That's so frustrating! I hope these ideas can help out. 🙂
Where can I purchase the poly derby rope you use in the two 5 gallon system? Thanks for your assistance. I think your design is one of the best.
Looking for suggestions about seed starting lights. I have an older rack around 20” x 48”. After watching your videos I would also consider growing lettuce through the winter. Can you give a few recommendations on led lights. Also curious about the use of a dimmer. Sorry for the ignorance but I am trying to learn my way out.
i like tomatoes and peppers
Me too!!! 🍅😍🌶️
Genius..
Thanks for taking time to watch! 😃
Thank you!!!. Good stuff. Only problem, we dont have Solo cups available though. Been looking for alternatives and also upsizing using spare containers. One question, shoe laces aside, what else do people use as wicks?. Anything made of cotton works best right?.
Thanks so much for watching! The derby rope that I show in the video works really well. Some have suggested hemp rope in addition to cotton. You can just experiment and see what you prefer. 🙂
Another great video! I went to Walmart to get the cups and rope. All of the rope they had was synthetic such as nylon and poly something. I was going to try the softest of those to see if it works. I'm not sure if you say in the video but I was assuming it should be cotton rope.
I had the synthetic in the cart and then I thought of what I could use instead. A mop head, they type with the cotton ropes on them. For the same price as the rope I got the mop head which conveniently has a whole lot of short pieces of cotton rope to use as wicks
I have a link in the description and pinned comment for the cord that I used. It is nylon and it has worked really well for me. I used 5/8" nylon for the 5 gallon bucket & I was able to use the cord again and again.
@@Albopepper Oh good. I didn't see that. I wasn't sure if nylon would wick.
Yeah, I was surprised how well it worked when I first tested it years ago!
@@Albopepperwell I was wrong about the mop strings. They don't work as wicks. So here it is 9:15 p.m. and I'm running to Lowe's for rope more like what you show.
😂 I ended up just buying the rope you prescribed. Works great. We have converted 100 of our 200 starts so far.
Nice and productive video. name and reference of yoyr book please-Thanks
Thanks for watching! You can learn more about my book (Persephone's Quest
for a Green Thumb) here: albopepper.com/persephones-quest-for-a-green-thumb-book-review.php
It was written for middle grade kids, but lots of adults have enjoyed it.
Do you need to cut out an extra hole for drainage?
Absolutely excellent information. Question, are there any limitations to size of containers? , will the wick carry nutrients without getting clogged from the salts? Can medium be coco?
Thanks for watching. Good questions! If you have a nice, water absorbent mix, the containers can get reasonably large. If you increase the size significantly, then you can increase the thickness of the wicking cord. See my 5 gallon bucket video for comparison. The wick has never gotten clogged from salts or nutrients. I've even had plant roots permeating into the cord and it was still wicking for me.
Coco is an excellent component for wicking substrate. Vermiculite is also awesome for absorbing water. Adding a little perlite can be helpful for increasing pore spacing & root aeration. Just avoid a mix that is made primarily from tree bark, because it won't wick.
Can i use old cotton clothes for wicking material
Quick question: I tried this with some existing plants and was surprised how well it works just crudely jamming some 1/8" paracord I had laying around into the soil. I tried it with a bottom reservoir (CD cake box under a 4" square pot growing a Thai pepper) and also with an external reservoir with the cord running over the rim and into a mint plant and a gerbera daisy. Both worked amazingly well. The paracord was woven polypropylene shell with a nylon filament core.
My question is whether you've had a problem with over watering or root rot, re: hot peppers. I've always heard that 'peppers don't like wet feet'. While the soil is not 'muddy' using this method, I'm noticing that the surface is constantly wet to the touch all the time, so the plants never dry out. This is with two short lengths of cord inserted in the drain holes of the pot. So far they seem to be doing well, but it's only been a couple of days. Just wondering if this has been an issue with you.
Also, in terms of the wicking material, it's interesting that you got such great results with that MFP (polypropylene) rope. I've been reading that nylon and/or polyethylene are better wicking materials, but more expensive. Great to know that it's possible to do well with a less expensive option!
Sorry for the long post, and thanks so much for all your great information. Take care.
Thanks for sharing your initial feedback and additional questions! I've been growing creeping thyme in the 3.5" wicking pots. Supposedly, thyme doesn't like to be too wet. But the growth has been explosive with no signs of disease or stress. I've been doing my peppers (sweet & hot) in those 32 oz wicking pots for years, and they always do super well. I cram them in really tight. So I might see some edema at times. But I also got edema with top watered plants. Either way, the plants were still healthy and they grew well when transplanted.
With these wicking cups, one thing you can do is to experiment with different potting mix formulations. I've found that adding a little extra perlite can help with aeration for healthier roots.
Also, with plenty of water stored up in the reservoir, you might be able to increase the light for enhanced growth. For these wicking pots to really work at their best, you need to optimize all of the other parameters. The temperature needs to be sufficiently warm. The lights should be properly bright. And you need adequate nutrients. By dialing everything in, the plants can really thrive.
I hope that helps a little!
@@AlbopepperThanks for all these suggestions. I'll definitely use them when I start from scratch. At the moment I'm just experimenting by crudely jamming some wicks in the drainage holes of existing plants, and it's actually working really well. I also set up an external reservoir that can serve several plants ... with this one I just inserted the wick about 6" into the top of the soil, then up and over the rim of the reservoir. My Gerbera daisy usually starts to wilt pretty soon if I don't keep up with it. So far it's doing well with this system in a 1gal fabric pot, and I see at least 2 blossoms coming. Thanks again ... this is going to be great when I use better wicks and a better design.
Yes show us that build.
Just picked up some materials. Gonna show the prototype along with a more simplified version of the build. :)
Great news!
What type of material for wick? Thx!
Thanks for watching! In the description I have an amazon link. When I bought it, it was only $2 shipped! And there was no need add anything else to the order. The cord has been working really well.
I'll add the link to my pinned comment as well.
Problem. Last year I did this with Dixie cups and small nylon rope wick. It worked well but roots grew into the nylon rope and were difficult to remove for transplanting. This year I am trying cotton strips from an old shirt. The cotton can be transplanted with the seedling-it will rot quicker than nylon. I once used a tube sock in a 5 gallon bucket for a wick. After one season I dumped the bucket and the only thing remaining of the sock was the elastic bands in the sock.
Those are some interesting ideas! I've found that by keeping the wick towards the bottom or corner of the cup, it's easier to remove it from the roots. There's minimal root disturbance (as opposed to running the wick all the way up into the inner cup). But a biodegradable wick is also a good option! 🤓
Thanks for the videos. I tried with 5mm cotton cord without soil, and it doesn't seem to get water through the planting cup. Will it take long for this to happen?
Thanks for watching! The 1/4" derby rope shown in the video had already wicked a significant amount of water within the first 12 hours. It's good that you're testing the cord to see how it performs before setting everything up. I would expect results in less than 24 hours. If you don't see good wicking, then you might need to try a different material.
I want to add that this finally worked and ask if an 8mm (1/3") wick would make a difference. thanks
@albopepper
Question: Have tou found any of these wicks to not wick for some reason? Below I am going to give a short-as-possible summary of our results - It was very positive.
We had just a few overall that for an unknown reason did not wick water up.
My theory is a few things; rope that was twisted a little tighter than the rest of the roll at the beginning or end possibly, or maybe pre-soaking the wicks was the key. Some did not get pre-soaked but there's no way to know which ones.
This was going to be my original comment:
Back to comment after trying rhis method for the fiest time all the way up to planting time.
First off: The results were exactly as prescribed!
We started about 150 plants this way. Mostly tomato from seed, most of those were herloom, and maybe three varieties were hybrid.
I used a water container that held probably about 750ml or about 3 US Cups. We used generic brand red cups of the same size shown in the video.
We used the same rope you recommend from the same manufacturer. We did buy it from a different Amazon seller the first time because it had a shorter delivery time quoted but I theb purchased two more packages of rope from the seller in your link, it arrived just as quick i think. We used close to two of the three packs of rope.
We started mid March and it's mid May now. This was too soon for zone 6b with a last frost date of about May 1.
Everything grew great with really no issue with rhe growing process, the plants just became too big for the cups but thats only because we started too soon to plant them out. We scrambled and potted up to a 1 gallon container for what its worth. Again had we started lster the plants would be the perfect size for sale or planting out. Potting up was because of our pwn error and added a lot of extra work for two people doing this the first time.
Theres a lot more i could eay, all positive, but I will leave it at this.
Thanks again for this video.
Everyone please consider buying his book. I bought the hard cover version and its great.
Thanks for your support and for sharing all of these details regarding your process & results! 😃
I did notice maybe 1 or 2 containers that seemed to not wick as well. On one of them, the cord had a melted end. It was the very end of the rope from the manufacturer. I believe this prevented wicking. They worked best when both ends have been manually cut. And pre-soaking seems like a good idea too.
Thanks so much for sharing your feedback on my book. I'm glad you enjoyed it!!! 😁
@@Albopepper Thanks. Considering we used two rolls of the rope I would say 4 that did not wick well is close to what we had. So your theory on both ends may need a fresh cut is very likely. Maybe we had 6, but to my wife it felt like 26 because she holds on to every last Charlie Brown tomato plant.
So far we have made about $300 in casual sales of the plants from our driveway as we're doing yard and garden chores anyway. Not too shabby. Still have lots of plants we could sell this weekend.
I tried this with a flat ribbon wick into the pot from the top and connected to a 2 liter water bottle with the cap on loose enough to not cut off the capillary action and it worked ok, but I ran into two problems. One, on hot days the wick was so thin it would dry out and stop the capillary action. I think an external wick needs to be enclosed in an opaque tube to prevent this. Two, when it was working the 1/2” ribbon just did not have a very high transfer rate and the plants were struggling. It would take multiple wicks, so at that point I just reverted back to the double bucket method.
Interesting to hear how that approach worked for you. Thanks for sharing! This 1/4" nylon cord has worked really well in the 3.5" containers. For the 5 gallon buckets I was using 5/8" nylon rope and it was able to keep the system watered in the summer heat. I also used a potting mix that was enhanced for water absorption. The details are in the 5 gallon SIP video.
I use aluminum cooking pans Sit them in it and just water when needed
That's one way to do it! Thanks for watching.
@@Albopepper hey always a good show
Is there any information on putting water soluble fertilizer in the water reservoir and it’s capability to wick up and supply nutrients to the the plant
Good question! If you place things like liquid plant food or hydroponic nutrient solutions into the reservoir, they will easily absorb up into the pot as the water is depleted.
@@Albopepper the is for the quick response. I’m interested in the big tray you showed toward the need of the video
Thanks for your interest! The video is nearly ready. 😁
I want to see more.
Glad to hear it! I'm working on the next project right now. 😁
Will fertilizer travel up wic?@@Albopepper
"Are the gears turning yet?"
He said while stroking his chin, while looking at me stroking my chin while the gears are turning. 😅
LOL!! 😆
Onto something with wicking, but not the double-cups for vegetable starts. Too many good inserts for 1020s.
Any issues during transplant? I'm wondering if the cord pulls out of the root ball easily or do you have to cut it? Also is that why you just put a knot at the bottom of the container rather than run the cord up into the pot?
Good questions! You can just tug the cord and tear away the knot from the roots. There will be a little bit of root tearing, but it's just in the one corner. Typically, I try to tease the roots and detangle any that are badly circling. I'll even trim some if they're really long. I've never had issues with my plants after transplanting.
I tied the knot so that the cord won't pull out from the underside of the container. An alternate option is to loop the cord up into the bottom of the pot and that pull it back down so that you have two ends of cord hanging down into the reservoir. This requires a longer cord though. You could run the cord up into the pot as well. It's probably a matter of preference.
Did you try to compare the yields of the double cup with the wick system on the same plant? I think the first one is better.
I don't personally use the double cups, but perhaps you're right. You should run a side-by-side test and let us know which is better! 😃
Compared to tomato seedlings and in the "wick" the moisture content of the soil was excessive and continuous, this creates a problem for the roots of the plant.
On one hand, that make perfect sense. On the other hand, what about hydroponic tomatoes? I know that the tomatoes grown in my SIPs get massive, with huge yields. Last year the one plant produced 99 lbs of fruit. And with a water reservoir, the soil was constantly moist. But the cups are much smaller. The best way to know, would be to do a test.