This was amazing! You are a good teacher!! I just got 6 of these 55 gallon barrels for $5 each. I wanted them for my garden, cutting them in half. Now I have a new idea and know what I will do with a few of them!! Thank you!
@@milagroslluisma3153 that is definitely a good deal! Sometimes, if you go to car wash places, they will give them away, depending on how many they have laying around. They store soap in them.
@@milagroslluisma3153 A guy here in Houston, had about 50 of them. They had soap in them. He was going out of business and sold them very cheap. No lids though.
Hi from New Zealand this looks great the middle tube though is great I would put smaller holes near the bottom then slightly larger ones near the top to get an even rate of feed
Awesome video. My only change might be the painting. I don’t care what the barrel looks like so long as it functions as intended to grow tasty vegetables and fruits. I’m assuming the paint is mainly for looks? I’d be a little concerned about leeching potential toxins into the soil although I’m sure it’s prob negligible. Anyway, awesome job and it looks killer! If anyone even sold a turnkey barrel setup like that I’d bet it would cost a few hundred dollars. Not bad for a days work especially when DIY is so fun for us tinkerers. I’ll be making one or two of these next season. Thanks for the video!
Thank you so much for watching and leaving a great comment…yes, the paint is for aesthetics only. I’m not sure if it would negatively affect the veggies as it’s on the exterior of the thick barrel…but I understand the concern and caution with not wanting to use it. These are amazing barrels and I now have four. They are full and producing tons of vegetables this season. You will have a great harvest if you create two yourself!👍
You're absolutely correct 😂. It was a time consuming project, but definitely worth the investment of time. They should last for many seasons to come. We are now on the second season and already have an abundance of Kale and Collard greens. Thank you so much for watching 👍
This is the idea I had a little bit ago but I didn’t know how to do all the details. Thank you so much for making this video and finishing my idea. Lol!
Thank you for watching and leaving such a nice comment...we have 3 up and growing with a 4th being added this season...they are amazing and a great use of space👍
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! If you take it slow, I bet that You Can Do It!! These are great garden towers and grow so many veggies in a relatively small space. I currently have 3 in my back yard, with a 4th one going in this summer! 👍
What a great idea. I would suggest using stainless over galvanized. Galvanized can leach lead into your food. And less glue. Perhaps using regular cardboard over the paper because of chemicals. One of the reasons people want to grow is to reduce the chemicals consumed. But I wanna say again. Great idea, I will expand on it. Thank you so much.
Thank you for watching the video. This tower turned out to be such a great way to grow a lot of vegetables in a small space, that we made 3 more of these for even more vegetables. We start each tower with seeds two weeks after each previous one so that we have kale, lettuce, herbs, and strawberries growing all season long.
Thank you so much for leaving such a nice comment. These are great towers for a fraction of the price of one of the commercial garden towers. We love them so much that we now have four of them! I hope that this video encourages you to build one yourself. You Can Do It 👍
I am glad I stumbled into this video. I was not sure what to do with some plastic barrels, but this made me see how I can have so many strawberry plants in my backyard. Thanks a bunch for the details.
Hi Joel. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. We have actually dedicated one entire tower to strawberries! It works great!! Since strawberries grow back every year, we have a permanent space dedicated to their growth that doesn't take up much room at all. Best wishes on turning your unused barrels into years of produce and fruit.
I'm planning on making this for a friend, thanks ! I'm guessing that concrete blocks/good sized cinder blocks would also make a sturdy thing on which the barrel can sit for any one who also has reason to have theirs' elevated. For anyone new to using a sawzall or using them on a curved, tough object like this, I recommend not having your other hand near it ( holding the barrel steady), as it can bounce off the plastic when you're new to handling one etc. . How else to hold er steady ? IDK but maybe have a helper hold it, as far away from you/the saw as they can be, and you be really ready to lift off the trigger if she starts jumping around ! I'm just a female who hasn't handled one a lot ( but I have, on barrels, in other projects) so maybe this isn't necessary or perfect advice for many of you, but it's here for anyone who does need it ! One more idea (!): Maybe try to find a wooden version of the glass bottle, to avoid extra risk or stress of doing ALL those pockets, probably out on asphalt or concrete, trying to make time yet not add broken glass to your day. I'm thinking of various tapered, somewhat cylindrical objects I've seen in up-cycled home decor projects... those wood things people put chunky candles on ( brain cramp !), some types of rolling pins maybe... some types of furniture legs or tapered legs off a bar stool cut to size... . I'm sure glass bottles are the most commonly available thing that's the right size and shape but for anyone with time to wait and look around (and who gets clumsy when tired) maybe these are helpful ideas !
Very helpful advice! Thank you for taking the time out for all of your great suggestions. I'm sure that your friend will appreciate the garden tower that you build ...very thoughtful and practical gift. Best wishes with your project! 👍
Could you have made this with the self wicking method to keep from having to water often 🤔. I like this 👌. And could this work with determinate potatoes 🥔.
Hi Jason. Thank you for watching the video and leaving a question. A self wicking method could work great! However, I find that by closing the valve at the bottom it keeps everything moist for a few days. I only need to water about 2x's per week...unless it's a very hot week. Not sure about potatoes as it would require digging out the entire container to fetch them. 👍
Thanks so much for all your valuable information. This is the best garden idea I have seen yet. We can't wait to get started on making this. You explain everything so well.
Thank you so much for watching the video and leaving a great comment! We are still using it through the winter growing delicious kale. Best wishes on your project. These towers are great and built to last 👍
Fantastic idea, thanks much for your video, I do have one question, do you have any issues with the kitchen scraps going anaerobic in the tube, the worms would not go near them in that case, thanks again from down under!
Hi Anthony. Thank you so much watching the video and leaving a nice comment. I understand what you mean about worms and lack of air / anaerobic bacteria. I have not noticed that issue with the tower. In fact, I now have 3 towers going strong. It might be because I leave the valve open at the bottom of the compost tube...this might help to allow air flow down the entire tube. These towers are a great idea to save space while having a huge number of veggies growing at once. Hope this information helps👍
Hi, thank you for all the info. This is better finanical option for me than the Leaf™/Green Stalk™ setup., and the pride I'd have, just making my own! Well, except I have to buy a heat gun, etc. But from that point on, at least I will have the tools to make several. The only negative I see, one side of the tank will always be in less sun. I've seen lazy Susan cupboard turntables used. Can you design and make a sample up for us? Apparently, just turning once a week keeps all the plants happy. I'd like the spinner under the barrel, but on top of the stand, of course... LOL. Thank you for your wonderful video. I want one (read several) so much!
Hi Diane. Thank you so much for watching the video and leaving such a nice comment. You will not be disappointed with the results. We are already on our third tower and have them filled with starters. One suggestion on the side that does not receive full sun, plant only those plants that require less sunlight on that side and you should be fine. We have lettuce growing on the shadier side of each Tower. As far as heat gun, we use a Wagner brand heat gun. You can buy them in Amazon for around $40. Just look for one that has high customer rating and you won't be disappointed. Best wishes with your project 👍
Good work man! I am in Australia and hoping to make my first one for the folks down here who have limited space like in apartments (or flats and units as we call them) but have that gardening urge. Thanks for the lesson mate! we say, 'Good on ya!'
I had this idea in my head and was devising a plan. I really like your ideas. Thank you for posting. I like the bottle idea 💡 too! Your a awesome guy, thanks.😊
Hi Aaron. Thank you so much for watching the video and leaving such a great comment! We have three that are in use right now with this season's starters. Best wishes on your project 👍
Best video I've seen so far. Please excuse my stupid question. Q: How are the plants watered? Q: are they only watered via the central compost tube or should I expect to water plants individually as well? BTW, I especially like the glass bottle technique to make the vertical pockets.
Hi Ken! Thank you so much for watching this video and leaving a great comment and question. That is a great question and I actually addressed that in a follow-up video. What I have found that works the best is to close the ball valve at the bottom and give the tower a really good soaking by watering the top surface of the soil at the top of the tower and inside the compost shoot. I then let that sit for a day or two before I open the ball valve back up to collect the excess water. The water that is collected should be a nice dark brown rich in nutrients and I use that to pour back up on top. If you repeat that procedure you should have lush plants in no time at all! 👍
@YouCanDoIt2 1st of all amazing video… I made 20 of these 58 years ago, haven’t used them yet tho.. 1 question, how did you make the platform for it to sit on… this was my only problem I had when I made mine?…Once again great 👍🏿 job
Thank you for watching...you made quite a few of these ☺️...they are awesome. I made mine by welding a stand together of angle iron and metal mesh as the platform. I cut out a hole in the center of the metal mesh platform for the compost tube valve access. You can modify this setup by building it with pressure treated 2x4's...easier to do for most people who don't weld. The purpose is to get it high enough off the ground to put a bucket under the compost valve for the purpose of catching the compost "tea" and recycling it. Hope that this helps 👍
I really appreciate this info man…. That is literally the only thing in my way.. the stand…. I was worried because they get heavy when filled up… the wire mesh metal stand is my best bet 👍🏿….. I was concerned because I’m gonna run some test on it indoors inside a grow tent… then once I dial in all the particulars on growing my greens, I’m gonna build a greenhouse on my property and run all 20 of them…….. Here’s another question. “ Have you had to replace the dirt?” ….. I know growing the same varieties, they all use the same amount of nutrients, which can deplete the nutrients in the dirt… how’s it been working for u my friend? 🤔
@@jboymah 😄I was wondering about that...didn't know these things were around 58 years ago😁...figured it was a typo...thanks for watching, really appreciate it.
Hi Madison! Thank you so much for watching the video and leaving a nice comment. We actually have four made ourselves. Once they all start growing we will do an update video just to show how incredible these are. Best of wishes building your garden 👍
@@janicegoff3385 Thank you for watching the video…I didn’t think about showing how to water it 😅. These towers are pretty incredible! I have three now that I have constructed and have used them for a few seasons now. I get so many veggies in such a small amount of space. They are pretty efficient without spending much money. 👍
HI Barry. Thank you for watching the video. I am on season 2 of using this tower (I have 3 going now). I have not run into an overabundance of worms...yet😄. I would guess that if the tower became overpopulated, the worms would just crawl out of the sides of the tower and drop to the ground below. I haven't witnessed any escapees, but they might be doing this under the cover of darkness. Thanks again for watching!
Hi Luke! Thanks for watching. I used a spray paint that is for exterior use and suitable for plastic. Best wishes on completing one yourself. I have 3 now and they are always full of veggies.👍
Thanks for the excellent video! Very practical and economical. I'm curious about the worms because I tried a worm farm a few years ago and they kept trying to escape. No matter what I did I couldn't make the worms happy and ended up taking them to the garden. Do you find your worms settle right into that environment? I guess if there were issues you would have mentioned it, but thought I'd ask. Thanks again :)
Hi Pete. I apologize about the delayed response. I must have missed this post. That is an excellent question about the worms. If the soil is too compacted, too wet, or does not contain enough nutrients, your worms will escape. Red wigglers might be the best option for a garden tower, as they tend to be smaller and tolerate soil inconsistencies. I threw a fresh batch of wigglers down the compost tube and they seem to be loving it. I see them as I pull out the radishes and beets. Hope this information helps 👍.
@@YouCanDoIt2 No worries at all! Life got busy and I'm behind on my plans anyway :) I'm getting things together now. I did however manage to get a thriving homemade worm bin together - finally. Red wigglers and about 15% African Nightcrawlers are doing very well. My problem was too much moisture in the soil. I added a lot more ventilation - this leads the soil to dry out more quickly but for me it's a better approach - easier to add moisture in a measured way than to mix moisture-absorbing material and mix it thoroughly, which stresses the worms. Working on my 55 gal drum now :) Thanks for the reply and keep up the good work :) PS the nightcrawlers dwell a little deeper down than the red wigglers, so perhaps adding a few will increase the efficiency as they pick up what wigglers may miss. As long as the temp range is right both species will live happily together.
You don't need the hot water stand stand. Put a drainage tap/drain tube 150-200 mm up from the bottom and fill the base of the drum up to the tap level with 5mm round gravel to hold the water and allow it to wick up. Line the top of the gravel with hessian (burlap) bags then fill the soil above.
Hi. Thank you for watching...the simple answer is Yes!! We added our composting material as we went along. As we had left over veggie peels, fruit peels, egg shells, etc...we added it to the top of the compost tube. As the compost compacted and we watered the tower, rich brown "tea" was produced in the bucket below. We then use that tea to rewater the tower. We already have our plants in it for this season and everything is growing amazingly fast! The compost tube can be emptied by pulling out the screen at the bottom. However, we have yet to have the need to empty it as it compacts and somewhat dissolves due to the amount of worms that are crawling through the tower and consuming the compost. Hope this information helps 👍
Wow… that is very surprising. Where we live, we can get them sometime for free from the commercial car wash places because that is how their soap is transported to them. You may want to check with commercial restaurants or car wash places to see if they’re willing to part with any barrels.
Good questions. These are large BPA free containers. As far as the glue goes, the only spot we used it was at the very bottom with the PVC pipe. Since it's at the bottom I don't see much probability of chemicals leaching up as we filled the base with several inches of rock. The only other thing that would contain a chemical source would be the spray paint that we used. That was sprayed only on the exterior of the tank. So, I don't see much probability of caustic chemicals leaching into the root system of the plants. Much better than many gardeners who use railroad ties dipped in creosote as their garden beds 😂
I dont ha e the equipment for rvis. The bottom hole- I'd draw the circle. Then drill a hole the width of my jigsaw blade. Cut out using the jigsaw. Maybe cut a 18:12 q smaller and file it to size.
I have another question for you about watering the plants efficiently in the tower. I saw a RUclips video of someone who has made a complete garden out of towers similar to you but I still wonder how to water the plants efficiently, when there is a compost center tube with the drain at the bottom. I understand the benefits and it sounds like such a great idea for the compost and worms but other videos only show how they do the watering. They use 2 unglazed clay flower pots, the bottom one is siliconed shut, then the top pot is inverted and sealed to the bottom one. That way the water is slowly released into the tower. But if the compost portion is in the center how best to water the tower without losing soil washing out the plant holes and how do you know when you've done enough and how often? I know a lot depends on the weather but with the clay pots ion the center you water when they are close to being empty. Sorry for pestering you again but I like to know everything I can before building something I'm unfamiliar with. Thanks, Barry
Hi Barry. Thank you for watching the video and your thoughtful insight on watering. I know there are many ways to build one of these towers. For us, we now have three and absolutely love the functionality. I have not noticed any soil loss with any of these. I think having the screen right above the ball valve is what holds the soil back. The ball valve is usually shut and only open after a heavy rain so that extra water can drain out from the bottom versus pouring out the side pockets. It is a good idea to have a drain so that your lower side pockets aren't extremely moist causing root rot. I have three towers going this season and each one of them are a huge success. I'm sure others have different ways of doing it which might work just as well. I guess it all comes down to which idea you prefer. I wish you the best and happy gardening!
@@YouCanDoIt2 Thanks for responding again. Hope I'm not being a pain ion the neck but What I was wondering is how you actually water the plants with the composting center? Do you just water down from the top, through the center compost pipe, to the side of it ,or try to water each individual plant in their cups or even all of the above?? I want to make this successful and as efficient as possible. The others that only use the center for watering seems great but they won't have the benefit of replenishing the soil like you do. Anyway I hope that was clear and not too weird of a question. Thanks again, Barry
@@barrystraughan Now I understand the question 😃. I water the top of the tower around the sides of the compost tube...if that makes sense. I don't water down the compost tube, or my water would just end up at the bottom. By watering the surface of the top of the tower, the water soaks down through the soil and hits each of the side pockets on the way down. Once the plants get really big, you may have to hit a few of the side pockets as well, just to ensure that they all have adequate water. Hope that helps!
Absolutely would!! Any way to get water down the entire tower and have enough holes for the worms, water, and compost nutrients in and out, would work just fine. The only concern would be to make enough holes around the pipe for proper operation and to make sure that you can find a cap and bottom piece for the pipe so that you can keep the compost in the pipe without falling out. Thanks so much for watching!!!
Yes and No. This is a good idea for 1 year , after that the chemicals that make up the barrel and tubing will leech into your soil. If you're going to use it for more than a year you could use unpainted metal which will also biodegrade however it will lead to minerals into the soil which is a good thing. But the absolute best solution is to use clay, it will last the longest and when it biodegrades long after you are dead it too will be good for your plants.
Hi. Thank you for watching. I was looking into the possibility of doing a hydroponic watering tower. You may have just inspired me to do so! Thank you 😊
The worms are saying " YES we aren't fishing bait no longer"
This was amazing! You are a good teacher!!
I just got 6 of these 55 gallon barrels for $5 each.
I wanted them for my garden, cutting them in half.
Now I have a new idea and know what I will do with a few of them!!
Thank you!
That is so good to hear! You are the reason why I do videos like these!! Best wishes on your project. You Can Do It👍
Where did you get them for $5 each?
@@milagroslluisma3153 that is definitely a good deal! Sometimes, if you go to car wash places, they will give them away, depending on how many they have laying around. They store soap in them.
@@milagroslluisma3153
A guy here in Houston, had about 50 of them. They had soap in them.
He was going out of business and sold them very cheap.
No lids though.
Thank you. I have one of those barrels. I was going to throw it out. Now playing m getting a garden tower without spending $500 on it.
Wow! Very impressive! Well done! 😍 I was about to buy garden tower, now I can make one which exceeds beyond all the commercially available ones.
Hi from New Zealand this looks great the middle tube though is great I would put smaller holes near the bottom then slightly larger ones near the top to get an even rate of feed
Awesome video. My only change might be the painting. I don’t care what the barrel looks like so long as it functions as intended to grow tasty vegetables and fruits. I’m assuming the paint is mainly for looks? I’d be a little concerned about leeching potential toxins into the soil although I’m sure it’s prob negligible. Anyway, awesome job and it looks killer! If anyone even sold a turnkey barrel setup like that I’d bet it would cost a few hundred dollars. Not bad for a days work especially when DIY is so fun for us tinkerers. I’ll be making one or two of these next season. Thanks for the video!
Thank you so much for watching and leaving a great comment…yes, the paint is for aesthetics only. I’m not sure if it would negatively affect the veggies as it’s on the exterior of the thick barrel…but I understand the concern and caution with not wanting to use it. These are amazing barrels and I now have four. They are full and producing tons of vegetables this season. You will have a great harvest if you create two yourself!👍
WOW!! I am so glad I found this! Thank you so much for putting together such a great video! I will be trying this asap :)
The most genius thing I’ve ever see!
You are the boss. Macho
Awesome
It’s actually a pretty cost effective diy because the man hours would be exorbitant if you you paid for the labor ‼️💯
You're absolutely correct 😂. It was a time consuming project, but definitely worth the investment of time. They should last for many seasons to come. We are now on the second season and already have an abundance of Kale and Collard greens. Thank you so much for watching 👍
This is the idea I had a little bit ago but I didn’t know how to do all the details. Thank you so much for making this video and finishing my idea. Lol!
👍🙌Wow how outstanding thank you so much for showing us this amazing method of gardening, I love it 😊
Thank you for watching and leaving such a nice comment...we have 3 up and growing with a 4th being added this season...they are amazing and a great use of space👍
This is so awesome! It looks quite involved and I'm not sure I can do it but I love it. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! If you take it slow, I bet that You Can Do It!! These are great garden towers and grow so many veggies in a relatively small space. I currently have 3 in my back yard, with a 4th one going in this summer! 👍
What a great idea. I would suggest using stainless over galvanized. Galvanized can leach lead into your food. And less glue. Perhaps using regular cardboard over the paper because of chemicals. One of the reasons people want to grow is to reduce the chemicals consumed.
But I wanna say again. Great idea, I will expand on it. Thank you so much.
Thank you....those are very good points 👍
Galvanizing is *_zinc_* NOT lead. And cardboard is paper.
Thank you!
Thanks this amazing DiY knowledge . It look economical. 😂
Thank you for watching the video. This tower turned out to be such a great way to grow a lot of vegetables in a small space, that we made 3 more of these for even more vegetables. We start each tower with seeds two weeks after each previous one so that we have kale, lettuce, herbs, and strawberries growing all season long.
One of the best videos I have ever seen
Thank you so much for leaving such a nice comment. These are great towers for a fraction of the price of one of the commercial garden towers. We love them so much that we now have four of them! I hope that this video encourages you to build one yourself. You Can Do It 👍
much better then 4" pvc
I am glad I stumbled into this video. I was not sure what to do with some plastic barrels, but this made me see how I can have so many strawberry plants in my backyard. Thanks a bunch for the details.
Hi Joel. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. We have actually dedicated one entire tower to strawberries! It works great!! Since strawberries grow back every year, we have a permanent space dedicated to their growth that doesn't take up much room at all. Best wishes on turning your unused barrels into years of produce and fruit.
I'm in New Zealand and will do the same
Outstanding Presentation! I happily subscribed to your channel after watching this video.
I'm planning on making this for a friend, thanks ! I'm guessing that concrete blocks/good sized cinder blocks would also make a sturdy thing on which the barrel can sit for any one who also has reason to have theirs' elevated. For anyone new to using a sawzall or using them on a curved, tough object like this, I recommend not having your other hand near it ( holding the barrel steady), as it can bounce off the plastic when you're new to handling one etc. . How else to hold er steady ? IDK but maybe have a helper hold it, as far away from you/the saw as they can be, and you be really ready to lift off the trigger if she starts jumping around ! I'm just a female who hasn't handled one a lot ( but I have, on barrels, in other projects) so maybe this isn't necessary or perfect advice for many of you, but it's here for anyone who does need it ! One more idea (!): Maybe try to find a wooden version of the glass bottle, to avoid extra risk or stress of doing ALL those pockets, probably out on asphalt or concrete, trying to make time yet not add broken glass to your day. I'm thinking of various tapered, somewhat cylindrical objects I've seen in up-cycled home decor projects... those wood things people put chunky candles on ( brain cramp !), some types of rolling pins maybe... some types of furniture legs or tapered legs off a bar stool cut to size... . I'm sure glass bottles are the most commonly available thing that's the right size and shape but for anyone with time to wait and look around (and who gets clumsy when tired) maybe these are helpful ideas !
Very helpful advice! Thank you for taking the time out for all of your great suggestions. I'm sure that your friend will appreciate the garden tower that you build ...very thoughtful and practical gift. Best wishes with your project! 👍
Watch several vids and by far this is the most explanatory! Well done!👍🇺🇸🐊
What a fantastic descriptive instruction. Made it so easy to follow. Thank you!!
That's amazing DIY project with quality tower. Thank you so much for detailed explanation - going to make one for my backyard.
Omg - basil gets huge😂
Thanks! This helpful video is a saver! (Brilliant!)
Beautiful. Great job
Well done & thanks for sharing, just what i was looking for
Could you have made this with the self wicking method to keep from having to water often 🤔. I like this 👌. And could this work with determinate potatoes 🥔.
Hi Jason. Thank you for watching the video and leaving a question. A self wicking method could work great! However, I find that by closing the valve at the bottom it keeps everything moist for a few days. I only need to water about 2x's per week...unless it's a very hot week. Not sure about potatoes as it would require digging out the entire container to fetch them. 👍
Wonderful & well explained video. Can't wait to make one!
Lovely and practical way to make it your self plant tower.Thanks a lot
👍❤️ very good job and technic. Very well explained. Love it . The bottles really did the perfect job.
Awesome!
That is just the coolest idea!!!
Thanks so much for all your valuable information. This is the best garden idea I have seen yet. We can't wait to get started on making this. You explain everything so well.
Thank you so much for watching the video and leaving a great comment! We are still using it through the winter growing delicious kale. Best wishes on your project. These towers are great and built to last 👍
Fantastic idea, thanks much for your video, I do have one question, do you have any issues with the kitchen scraps going anaerobic in the tube, the worms would not go near them in that case, thanks again from down under!
Hi Anthony. Thank you so much watching the video and leaving a nice comment. I understand what you mean about worms and lack of air / anaerobic bacteria. I have not noticed that issue with the tower. In fact, I now have 3 towers going strong. It might be because I leave the valve open at the bottom of the compost tube...this might help to allow air flow down the entire tube. These towers are a great idea to save space while having a huge number of veggies growing at once. Hope this information helps👍
Nicely done.
Thank you very much!!!!!
Hi, thank you for all the info. This is better finanical option for me than the Leaf™/Green Stalk™ setup., and the pride I'd have, just making my own! Well, except I have to buy a heat gun, etc. But from that point on, at least I will have the tools to make several. The only negative I see, one side of the tank will always be in less sun. I've seen lazy Susan cupboard turntables used. Can you design and make a sample up for us? Apparently, just turning once a week keeps all the plants happy. I'd like the spinner under the barrel, but on top of the stand, of course... LOL. Thank you for your wonderful video. I want one (read several) so much!
BTW, what kind of heat gun do you recommend?
Hi Diane. Thank you so much for watching the video and leaving such a nice comment. You will not be disappointed with the results. We are already on our third tower and have them filled with starters. One suggestion on the side that does not receive full sun, plant only those plants that require less sunlight on that side and you should be fine. We have lettuce growing on the shadier side of each Tower. As far as heat gun, we use a Wagner brand heat gun. You can buy them in Amazon for around $40. Just look for one that has high customer rating and you won't be disappointed. Best wishes with your project 👍
Good work man! I am in Australia and hoping to make my first one for the folks down here who have limited space like in apartments (or flats and units as we call them) but have that gardening urge. Thanks for the lesson mate! we say, 'Good on ya!'
Thanks so much! I have 3 now and they are amazing for small spaces. Best wishes on making some money selling them👍
Watch out that you don't add too much load on apartment balconies, these things get heavy when wet.
Best and awesome step to step details easy to guide to follow diy.Million thanks!
Thx. Professor. Me your diligent pupil !!
I had this idea in my head and was devising a plan. I really like your ideas. Thank you for posting. I like the bottle idea 💡 too! Your a awesome guy, thanks.😊
Hi Aaron. Thank you so much for watching the video and leaving such a great comment! We have three that are in use right now with this season's starters. Best wishes on your project 👍
Best video I've seen so far. Please excuse my stupid question. Q: How are the plants watered? Q: are they only watered via the central compost tube or should I expect to water plants individually as well? BTW, I especially like the glass bottle technique to make the vertical pockets.
Hi Ken! Thank you so much for watching this video and leaving a great comment and question. That is a great question and I actually addressed that in a follow-up video. What I have found that works the best is to close the ball valve at the bottom and give the tower a really good soaking by watering the top surface of the soil at the top of the tower and inside the compost shoot. I then let that sit for a day or two before I open the ball valve back up to collect the excess water. The water that is collected should be a nice dark brown rich in nutrients and I use that to pour back up on top. If you repeat that procedure you should have lush plants in no time at all! 👍
@@YouCanDoIt2 Thanks. Got it.
I put 2 screens in the base screw on cap 45 degree to each other. The finer mesh insures the drain nozzle does not clog.
That's great advice! Thank you for sharing that.
@YouCanDoIt2 1st of all amazing video… I made 20 of these 58 years ago, haven’t used them yet tho.. 1 question, how did you make the platform for it to sit on… this was my only problem I had when I made mine?…Once again great 👍🏿 job
Thank you for watching...you made quite a few of these ☺️...they are awesome. I made mine by welding a stand together of angle iron and metal mesh as the platform. I cut out a hole in the center of the metal mesh platform for the compost tube valve access. You can modify this setup by building it with pressure treated 2x4's...easier to do for most people who don't weld. The purpose is to get it high enough off the ground to put a bucket under the compost valve for the purpose of catching the compost "tea" and recycling it. Hope that this helps 👍
I meant 5 years ago… not 58 lol😂…Issa typo @YouCanDoIt2
I really appreciate this info man…. That is literally the only thing in my way.. the stand…. I was worried because they get heavy when filled up… the wire mesh metal stand is my best bet 👍🏿….. I was concerned because I’m gonna run some test on it indoors inside a grow tent… then once I dial in all the particulars on growing my greens, I’m gonna build a greenhouse on my property and run all 20 of them…….. Here’s another question. “ Have you had to replace the dirt?” ….. I know growing the same varieties, they all use the same amount of nutrients, which can deplete the nutrients in the dirt… how’s it been working for u my friend? 🤔
@@jboymah 😄I was wondering about that...didn't know these things were around 58 years ago😁...figured it was a typo...thanks for watching, really appreciate it.
Thnx
Great job! I really enjoyed this video!❤
THX👍
Great job! . Thank you for sharing this brilliant idea. I am planning to make 4.
Hi Madison! Thank you so much for watching the video and leaving a nice comment. We actually have four made ourselves. Once they all start growing we will do an update video just to show how incredible these are. Best of wishes building your garden 👍
Is it alright to put the african night crawlers into the center pipe?
I wanted to see you water the tower
@@janicegoff3385 Thank you for watching the video…I didn’t think about showing how to water it 😅. These towers are pretty incredible! I have three now that I have constructed and have used them for a few seasons now. I get so many veggies in such a small amount of space. They are pretty efficient without spending much money. 👍
Great video. Won't the worms eventually become too numerous and need to be removed?
HI Barry. Thank you for watching the video. I am on season 2 of using this tower (I have 3 going now). I have not run into an overabundance of worms...yet😄. I would guess that if the tower became overpopulated, the worms would just crawl out of the sides of the tower and drop to the ground below. I haven't witnessed any escapees, but they might be doing this under the cover of darkness. Thanks again for watching!
Do you have to use a specific type of spray paint that’s waterproof/ weatherproof?
Hi Luke! Thanks for watching. I used a spray paint that is for exterior use and suitable for plastic. Best wishes on completing one yourself. I have 3 now and they are always full of veggies.👍
Thanks for the excellent video! Very practical and economical. I'm curious about the worms because I tried a worm farm a few years ago and they kept trying to escape. No matter what I did I couldn't make the worms happy and ended up taking them to the garden. Do you find your worms settle right into that environment? I guess if there were issues you would have mentioned it, but thought I'd ask. Thanks again :)
Hi Pete. I apologize about the delayed response. I must have missed this post. That is an excellent question about the worms. If the soil is too compacted, too wet, or does not contain enough nutrients, your worms will escape. Red wigglers might be the best option for a garden tower, as they tend to be smaller and tolerate soil inconsistencies. I threw a fresh batch of wigglers down the compost tube and they seem to be loving it. I see them as I pull out the radishes and beets. Hope this information helps 👍.
@@YouCanDoIt2 No worries at all! Life got busy and I'm behind on my plans anyway :) I'm getting things together now. I did however manage to get a thriving homemade worm bin together - finally. Red wigglers and about 15% African Nightcrawlers are doing very well. My problem was too much moisture in the soil. I added a lot more ventilation - this leads the soil to dry out more quickly but for me it's a better approach - easier to add moisture in a measured way than to mix moisture-absorbing material and mix it thoroughly, which stresses the worms. Working on my 55 gal drum now :)
Thanks for the reply and keep up the good work :)
PS the nightcrawlers dwell a little deeper down than the red wigglers, so perhaps adding a few will increase the efficiency as they pick up what wigglers may miss. As long as the temp range is right both species will live happily together.
You don't need the hot water stand stand.
Put a drainage tap/drain tube 150-200 mm up from the bottom and fill the base of the drum up to the tap level with 5mm round gravel to hold the water and allow it to wick up. Line the top of the gravel with hessian (burlap) bags then fill the soil above.
I have large laundry baskets with the wholes already in them. Couldn't I start this with these baskets?? Of course finishing the build.
That could be a great idea 💡. I've seen people use those for growing potatoes because they drain nicely.
Did you put the composting material in the whole 4” pipe?
Hi. Thank you for watching...the simple answer is Yes!! We added our composting material as we went along. As we had left over veggie peels, fruit peels, egg shells, etc...we added it to the top of the compost tube. As the compost compacted and we watered the tower, rich brown "tea" was produced in the bucket below. We then use that tea to rewater the tower. We already have our plants in it for this season and everything is growing amazingly fast! The compost tube can be emptied by pulling out the screen at the bottom. However, we have yet to have the need to empty it as it compacts and somewhat dissolves due to the amount of worms that are crawling through the tower and consuming the compost. Hope this information helps 👍
cant find a barrel for under 40 dollars near me lmao. Well, I did find some for 22ish USD, but the minimum order was 40.
Wow… that is very surprising. Where we live, we can get them sometime for free from the commercial car wash places because that is how their soap is transported to them. You may want to check with commercial restaurants or car wash places to see if they’re willing to part with any barrels.
Was everything you used Food Grade or did some of the glue etc. contain harmful chemicals? Can it all be made with food grade material and glues?
Good questions. These are large BPA free containers. As far as the glue goes, the only spot we used it was at the very bottom with the PVC pipe. Since it's at the bottom I don't see much probability of chemicals leaching up as we filled the base with several inches of rock. The only other thing that would contain a chemical source would be the spray paint that we used. That was sprayed only on the exterior of the tank. So, I don't see much probability of caustic chemicals leaching into the root system of the plants. Much better than many gardeners who use railroad ties dipped in creosote as their garden beds 😂
I dont ha e the equipment for rvis. The bottom hole- I'd draw the circle. Then drill a hole the width of my jigsaw blade. Cut out using the jigsaw. Maybe cut a 18:12 q smaller and file it to size.
That's great that you are able to use the tools you own to get the project done 👍
I have another question for you about watering the plants efficiently in the tower. I saw a RUclips video of someone who has made a complete garden out of towers similar to you but I still wonder how to water the plants efficiently, when there is a compost center tube with the drain at the bottom. I understand the benefits and it sounds like such a great idea for the compost and worms but other videos only show how they do the watering. They use 2 unglazed clay flower pots, the bottom one is siliconed shut, then the top pot is inverted and sealed to the bottom one. That way the water is slowly released into the tower.
But if the compost portion is in the center how best to water the tower without losing soil washing out the plant holes and how do you know when you've done enough and how often? I know a lot depends on the weather but with the clay pots ion the center you water when they are close to being empty. Sorry for pestering you again but I like to know everything I can before building something I'm unfamiliar with.
Thanks, Barry
Hi Barry. Thank you for watching the video and your thoughtful insight on watering. I know there are many ways to build one of these towers. For us, we now have three and absolutely love the functionality. I have not noticed any soil loss with any of these. I think having the screen right above the ball valve is what holds the soil back. The ball valve is usually shut and only open after a heavy rain so that extra water can drain out from the bottom versus pouring out the side pockets. It is a good idea to have a drain so that your lower side pockets aren't extremely moist causing root rot. I have three towers going this season and each one of them are a huge success. I'm sure others have different ways of doing it which might work just as well. I guess it all comes down to which idea you prefer. I wish you the best and happy gardening!
@@YouCanDoIt2 Thanks for responding again. Hope I'm not being a pain ion the neck but What I was wondering is how you actually water the plants with the composting center? Do you just water down from the top, through the center compost pipe, to the side of it ,or try to water each individual plant in their cups or even all of the above?? I want to make this successful and as efficient as possible. The others that only use the center for watering seems great but they won't have the benefit of replenishing the soil like you do.
Anyway I hope that was clear and not too weird of a question.
Thanks again, Barry
@@barrystraughan Now I understand the question 😃. I water the top of the tower around the sides of the compost tube...if that makes sense. I don't water down the compost tube, or my water would just end up at the bottom. By watering the surface of the top of the tower, the water soaks down through the soil and hits each of the side pockets on the way down. Once the plants get really big, you may have to hit a few of the side pockets as well, just to ensure that they all have adequate water. Hope that helps!
@@YouCanDoIt2 Yes that's great thanks. Do you water about once a week or more often?
@@barrystraughan About every 3 days depending on the heat.
Would flood irrigation pvc work as well?
Absolutely would!! Any way to get water down the entire tower and have enough holes for the worms, water, and compost nutrients in and out, would work just fine. The only concern would be to make enough holes around the pipe for proper operation and to make sure that you can find a cap and bottom piece for the pipe so that you can keep the compost in the pipe without falling out. Thanks so much for watching!!!
Would the paint not leach into the food? Surely it's toxic.
Tip #1: insert bottle from inside out
Plastic leaching into the soil?
Hi Michael. You are absolutely correct! That's why you need to buy food grade plastic drums so there are no BPA's leaching into the soil.
#2 HDPE is High Density Polyethylene it's the same plastic your milk jugs are made of.
Yes and No.
This is a good idea for 1 year , after that the chemicals that make up the barrel and tubing will leech into your soil.
If you're going to use it for more than a year you could use unpainted metal which will also biodegrade however it will lead to minerals into the soil which is a good thing.
But the absolute best solution is to use clay, it will last the longest and when it biodegrades long after you are dead it too will be good for your plants.
Peace be upon you. Why don’t you make a hydroponic pot with a wick? It is better than your method. Watering without interference.
Hi. Thank you for watching. I was looking into the possibility of doing a hydroponic watering tower. You may have just inspired me to do so! Thank you 😊
Fantastic video. Very well-thought-out design. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.