All About Wicking Garden Beds

Wicking pots, or wicking beds are nothing new, ask any African Violet society member.

They’ve been using wicks in their self -watering pots very successfully for years.

Just imagine though, if you had a veggie or other garden bed that uses this self watering idea.

That would mean your vegetable garden would get watering from below.

Let’s find out .

PLAY: Wicking BedThat was Margaret Mossakowska from www.mosshouse.com.au _26th September_ 2018 

You can build a wicking bed yourself easily enough with recyclable materials.

Here's how Margaret put hers together.

Photo: Margaret Mossakowska

Use wooden crates from a fruit market and scoria if you can’t get vermiculite. 

Margaret sources vermiculite in bulk from pharmaceutical companies that use it as packing material.

Start with a frame, then line it with something like pond liner or even black plastic.

Lay in some aggregate and ag-pipes.

You need to build a 10 – 15 cm layer of this base on top of which you place a coil of ag-pipe connected to an upright pipe which is where you’ll fill with water.

On top of this, place a layer of geo textile fabric,a 10 cm layer of vermiculite then your best garden soil.

The soil shouldn’t be more than 30 cm high otherwise the wicking system won’t work. 

For veggies the soil should be 20 - 30 cm to give them room to grow.

Tip: Don’t forget to put in an overflow valve about half-way up the sides.

One more thing, it takes a week for the wicking system to start working properly after you first fill the reservoir, so don’t forget to water your vegetables everyday until then.

If you have any questions about beds either for me or for Margaret why not email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR P.O. Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.