They should be a little taller than the wicking basket, so when all the soil is added to the EarthTainer, the weight will press the shelf down, but not squash the basket.

robypa,

You can be "innovative" in what you use for the wicking basket. It just needs to be approx 4" high by approx 5" in diameter. We get pint containers in the Deli counter at Safeway which are about the same dimensions (Baskin Robbins containers might work as well).

You will need to drill a lot of small holes in the sides and bottom for the water to enter - - but not so big that the potting mix will flow out. One option is to actually drill large holes, but then line the inside of the wicking basket with the landscape fabric.

As Ben said, you need two "spacers" of about 4.25" tall (diameter not important) to support the aeration bench from crushing the fragile wicking basket.

Raybo

Both Ben and Raybo have given you very good information. Although I haven't checked it personally, I saw many plastic food containers at Walmart the other day - that would probably work well. Most notably....some of the larger containers for pimento cheese, and sour cream. Here's the thing....use what is available to you. I've even used a capped off, 4" piece of pvc pipe with holes drilled in it.

EG

My newest wicking basket is a large plastic beverage cup with the bottom cut completely off at the point that would measure 3 3/4" from the top of the cup, then lined with landscape fabric and filled with wet potting mix. No other holes. Works like a charm. You could probably do the same with a 2-litre plastic soda bottle.

Hi Robynpa,

I just used a square glad container instead of a pond basket. It happens to be about 4" tall with 5" sides, is food-safe and costs about 62 cents ($2.48 for a set of 4 at Walmart). I doubled it up in one container but used a single one in subsequent containers. You can cut the hole in the "aeration bench" exactly the same size as in Raybo's design.

Note that the original earthbox (tm) doesn't have a pond basket either. It just has a similar area where water can wick into the soil and has holes small enough to keep the soil in.

below is a pic one one of mine before giving it the potting mix "muffin top":

Below are some with tomatoes:

All great ideas. I've also just cut down and drilled a 4" vegi start pot. Zip tie it in like a pond basket.

structure,

Just remember to drill a lot of holes in it, for the water in the reservoir to keep it saturated. Great ideas here!!!

Raybo

"I can't find the right size pond basket for the SWC on Raybo's site- can I use something else?" RobynPa

Yes, Robyn, you can use many alternatives for pond baskets when setting up the wicking system for a self-watering container.

Check out his older pdf for ideas given by another developer of SWCs (the Earthbox) that predates the EarthTainer by a few years.
Earthbox Construction

Excellent info. I am going to use a sour cream tub that is the perfect size.

Thanks!

Actually, being able to vary the number of holes is a way of potentially addressing the soil moisture issue. I've been using the 4" round starter cups in 18 gallon SWC. Some with many holes, some with few. So far both containers are registering the same on my moisture meter. Raybo, I realize you're an adherent of the volume=moisture level theory, but this would test the orifice size/number=moisture level theory. *shrug*

Googling "self watering containers" will supply tons of ideas.

structure,

The more enlightenment we have here, the better. I just proposed an (un)scientific theory of mine. As a Technical person, I would really like to understand the Science of it!!

Raybo

I agree, but hydrology is about as arcane a technical field as they come. Personally, I haven't a clue what determines moisture level. I will say that the four earthtainers I built to spec with 5" pond baskets are WONDERFUL. Getting mad growth and fruit set. I would (and have) always recommend this as a first choice. However, the various SWC with highly irregular "baskets" are doing OK and were dirt cheap.

I use the small yogurt cups in my 5 gal SWCs. They seem to be the perfect size. They are easier to drill if you do two at a time.

robynpa - That sour cream tub will work great for ya. If you're planning on making multiple earthtainers, you might try drilling different quantities of the same size hole in each one, and monitor each. That will tell you how many holes is just right.

george - I use yogurt cups in my 5 gallon buckets, too. I save all of the margarine tubs, as well.

raybo - I really admire your drive to make improvements to your design, but it really doesn't need fixing. :-) Your kindness has helped so many people (including me) have a better tomato growing experience. BTW...I'm not sure if you have seen the siphon system that is maintaining my 4 different swc's, but it works really well!

EG

Here is a link that might be useful: EG's garden blog

EG,

Thanks for the kind words.

My "nose" is telling me that to provide more even distribution of moisture to the potting mix, that the wicking basket should be 12 inches long by 1 inch in width, with a 4 inch depth, placed in the center of the 'Tainer along the long axis. This would be better than a concentration of moisture in the center of the 'Tainer above the 5" round wicking basket. It would better conform to the aspect ratio of the 31 gallon Rubbermaid itself.

Need to start looking for something to modify to attain these dimensions. Being out here in Silicon Valley surrounded by Google, Intel, Cisco, innovation is in the "Kool-Aid". Or then again - - it might be (big) boys looking for with Erector Sets to play with...

Raybo

I think I stole this idea from another poster.

I use drainage pipe.
http://www.garden.ie/gardeningskills.aspx?id=553
It's cheap, especially when bought in 100' rolls.
Be sure and get the perforated kind.
Comes in various diamteres.
Assuming 5" diameter for this post

It helps to have a mitre saw, or you will be sad.

cut at 1" longer than the height you want your water tank at.
So assuming 5", cut it 6".

get a compass or similar tool and mark a circle
on the tank part where you want the wicking basket to be.
Make it a bit over the inner diameter of the drainage pipe.
You have some wiggle room so don't be too nervous.

get an left cut(if you're right handed) aviation snips and a box cutters.
Like these
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-Aviation-Snip-Offset-2-14-567/dp/B0001IWB2G
a thinner blade is better than the wide ones.

on your circle, starting 1-1.5" outside, cut with the razor about 1/4 the way into the circle
Kind of a pac man shape, with his tongue sticking out.

Use aviation snips to cut the circle out.

with a little practice, you can now screw
the drainage pipe into the hole.

I turned out 30 'tainers in...
I'd dunno, a couple minutes each each this way.

Extra credit:
you have 2 of the same containers per earth'tainer.
do NOT cut the other one to make a tank.
instead
cut 4 more drainage pipes at 5" lengths

put container where you want it to be all season.
drop one in each corner
make the pac man hole /drainage pipe in the second container
put in drainage pipe in second contanier
drop container into first with he 4 5" pipes in each corner.

fill with preferred mix.

done.

and you now have a ~5 gallon larger container for the same price.
packs up nice and small at the end of season, and very quickly too.

Probably cheaper as well.