That's what I started to do. I think the barrels will last longer. I may replant in barrels later if I can find some I like. Got to make sure the bung holes don't leak, though.
TexasPrepper2 I’ve seen 55 gallon barrels both ways. If cut from top to bottom it will give more surface area if plants have more shallow roots. But of course can’t use wicking-tub method.
We call em Molasses tubs, my grandparents raised cattle for years. I'm still using some black tubs from 15 years ago. I found they last longer then the blue ones for some reason. Most everyone around here charges $5 for them. When I find them for less I snatch them up.
I use them to harvest and sort pecans. I leave a couple out in my pasture for my donkeys to drink out of too. I also put my salt blocks into one so that they don't end up being a salty spot on the ground ever time it rains.
I'm 74 and I don't like driving around so much anymore, so I just go to one of the big box stores and buy smaller trash cans and use them. They're kind of pricey, but I keep them inside my greenhouse, so they are not in direct sunlight and seem to work pretty well.
my neighbor has over a thousand cows on three different farms and never herd of them. all milkers, Holsteins. .probably because he's all organic milk and raises most of their feed.
I have a question, I'm unclear about. I know when you make the wicking beds you fill up the reservoir. Whe. Starting plants shouldn't you water from the top to get them started? When you water in drip, is that from the top and how often do you refill the reservoir? We're fuzzy on the ins and outs of watering. Can you do a video on that or explain it to me? Tha is, we love your channel here in South Carolina.
mineral tubs and the thicker tubs are scarce in my area so I buy 55 gallon plastic barrels $5 ea, cut them in half to make two round 27 gallon tubs and then make self wicking tubs from those
If you can find them for FIVE BUCKS... that's a DEAL! The barrels should last a lot longer than these tubs. Just make sure they didn't have any chems in them
I couldn’t find any farmers around me that use these 🤷♀️ I went on Amazon and bought my storage tubs, that’s what I used for my squash, zucchini, greenbeans,Lima beans . I got 45lb containers for my potatos lol that’s going to be fun trying to dump those over once they die back but I didn’t do those big ones as wicking just grow tubs. Thanks for the vid
I had 700 feet of berries in the ground a few years ago, before I started planting in containers There are many reasons to plant in containers. I'll be doing a video on it soon. Stick around
You can watch Gardening with Leon On TH-cam. He’s very cognizant of the environment and uses cans, plastic bottles to fill up these containers and 5 gallon buckets. I believe he leaves a number you can call to reach him in Oklahoma. Hope this helps.
@@BIGALTX I'm glad to know that there are safety regulations in place. If California is the only place in America taking extra precautions to ensure that safety, I'll sure take it!
Curious: I noticed you have a water hose on top of your wicking tubs. If you are watering from the bottom (wicking) why do you have that hose? Thank you!
Actually, I have an emitter on top of the tubs. It waters from the top. Sometimes, I will water down the fill tube with a water hose. It really doesn’t matter. Both are designed to just fill up the reservoir at the bottom of the tub.
So why would you not just plant in your soil instead of the time/expense of placing in tubs? Not sure I see any advantage unless your soil is terrible. Dan in RI
Yes, soil is terrible HARD, Red Clay about 1 inch down Also, weeds are so much easier to control Also, I'm getting older, so much easier to garden Also, gophers decimated my blackberry patch ... but can't get into these tubs to kill them Also..... Lots of reasons.
I live in Edna Tx and work with several cattle men at the plant. I get mine given to me because my friends just have too many to keep around. The only one issue I have is that I also get the lids, they are staking up. I found in the past, that if you ask around, you can usually find someone to give you some.
Hi from NYC! Any suggestions on where us NYer's can get them for free? There are no cow around here anymore :( ! How long would you estimate that these tub water vegetable plants during the summer months, a week, a few days...? FYI - I saw a video where some one put a cork on a stick, & inserted into the fill tube. That way they were able to know if the reservoir needed water or was full. It would bounce back up when pushed down.
Down here it’s so hot I am watering each and every day. In New York, you probably would not have to. It just depends on how hot it gets. And yes, I have talked about using the cork on a stick method in the past. Should work.
Thanks boss! BTW, I just want to say how much I appreciate your videos. You methods work really well here in Weatherford Oklahoma, so I get a lot from watching!!
Yes. I could have run my irrigation lines down the fill tubes, but it was much easier to just let it drip from the top. Then... when the bottom reservoir is full, it wicks up to the plants. Same principal, just watering from above. The water sinks down pretty fast to the bottom reservoir
Hello, I follow your way to make some wicking tubs for my fig trees from half of some 55gallon barrels but I need help, from your amazon links I do not know what to select which UV protectant will be work for sealing these tubs, please help, thank you!
I would say use this one: amzn.to/3JzGq7D But only on the outside of the tub. Not sure if the chems in this would hurt the plant if it was INSIDE the tub
@@BIGALTX Thanks. I planted them in a mix with lots on peat and vermiculite. I’m not doing wicking tubs though. I’ll just have them in 5 gallon pots for a little while until I figure out where to plant them in the ground. I sprinkled a little 3-4-4 fertilizer and some sulfur around the edge of the pot and watered it in. It’s my 1st attempt at blackberries, let alone Prime-ark freedom.
Hey Pal , sorry if this is an over asked question, but my blackberry plants are coming in a few months. I’m planning on using tubs & I’m planning on using some sort of miracle grow potting mix or soil for the media. Is this what you recommend? I’m planning on adding the Lyme & other things to the soil . I was just wondering about the “dirt” part. Any help or direction to the correct video would be appreciated. Keep growing!
I usually use a product called BM7 if you want to look it up If you're growing them in "Wicking Tubs" you'll want something with at least 60% PEAT so it will "wick" the water Any good mix with a high peat content should work. Make sure it's a Potting MIX... not Potting SOIL
Only problem I see is that they are damn useful and I think most farmers don’t part with them. I worked at a botanical garden and we would get small shrubs and trees in #20 pots. Well once they got planted, those pots were excellent trash cans for collecting prunings and clippings.
Lol, ribbing us about eating that yummy blackberry. You’re so cruel! Mine aren’t ripe yet, but I have had a few boysenberries, so good! What would you think of burying these tubs part way in the ground? Also, what happens when the plants get bigger? Will you make some type of staking system? Thanks for sharing all this, I appreciate it!
The fabric "sock" stops all root penetration, allowing the air gap to remain. Seems to be working great. I don't see any difference between them and the regular (Leon's) wicking tubs
After seeing yours I made some for this year with landscaped fabric wrapped around solid pvc pipe (thats what I had and my landscape fabric was to narrow for my tubs) and I wanted air to be "trapped" between the water and the roots. I may not be understanding what an air gap is.
@@dannyderamus3524 I think I get what you're saying. I think as long as the potting mix can't get into the pipe and you've got the drain hole on the side of the tub, you're ok. Are the tubs working out pretty well so far?
Figs do well in containers. Some other varieties may not. If they are "dwarf" they would probably to well in those tubs. Look up the varieties on the internet to see if they do well in containers...
Approximately 20" in diameter and 20" tall. They are around 18 to 20 gallon capacity. Here's how to find them: th-cam.com/video/SlAOl995SaQ/w-d-xo.html
Amazon has these: www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4Z845NT/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_QT9TM8QG9D0BJG001X44?linkCode=ml2&tag=homeadvise-20 But they’re way too expensive. If I was going to spend money for tubs, I would just buy an earthbox. It’s about as cheap as these are.
I am surrounded by ranchers who wont sell them to me. Not kidding. These things worth gold? 😉 I ended up spending lots of money on 7 and 10 gallon planting tubs greenhouses use. I desperately need more tubs but cant pay for them like i did these.
Can also get a 55 gallon food safe barrel & cut it in half.
That's what I started to do. I think the barrels will last longer.
I may replant in barrels later if I can find some I like.
Got to make sure the bung holes don't leak, though.
TexasPrepper2 I’ve seen 55 gallon barrels both ways. If cut from top to bottom it will give more surface area if plants have more shallow roots. But of course can’t use wicking-tub method.
We call em Molasses tubs, my grandparents raised cattle for years. I'm still using some black tubs from 15 years ago. I found they last longer then the blue ones for some reason. Most everyone around here charges $5 for them. When I find them for less I snatch them up.
Good to know the black ones last that long, thanks!
I use them to harvest and sort pecans. I leave a couple out in my pasture for my donkeys to drink out of too. I also put my salt blocks into one so that they don't end up being a salty spot on the ground ever time it rains.
Good ideas!
I'm 74 and I don't like driving around so much anymore, so I just go to one of the big box stores and buy smaller trash cans and use them. They're kind of pricey, but I keep them inside my greenhouse, so they are not in direct sunlight and seem to work pretty well.
Nice... Thanks for the tip!
my neighbor has over a thousand cows on three different farms and never herd of them. all milkers, Holsteins. .probably because he's all organic milk and raises most of their feed.
Probably so... I don't think I've ever seen any labeled "organic"
Around where I live, we get them in black, yellow, blue, green, orange and even red. Love them!
Excellent!!
....and I LOVE Mr Leon! Going to make a Mecca up to see him. Taking the Grand
Us too! We want to go meet him! 👍
We paid more than 3 but soooooo great to meet Mr Leon!!! It is worth it!!
I think Mr Leon told me he has to pay around $5 for them himself.
Or you can always find a food grade barrel (Blue) and use that once you cut it or leave it.
You bet.
I think they would last even longer than these, but they are pretty pricey, and you have to make sure to seal the bung holes well.
I get rope tubs from Lowe's for about $8.00. Not free but they work great.
I've got a couple of those that I haven't used yet.
They seem pretty thick and solid
I have a question, I'm unclear about. I know when you make the wicking beds you fill up the reservoir. Whe. Starting plants shouldn't you water from the top to get them started? When you water in drip, is that from the top and how often do you refill the reservoir? We're fuzzy on the ins and outs of watering. Can you do a video on that or explain it to me? Tha is, we love your channel here in South Carolina.
Walmart usually has them for 4.99
@@sclindah Gardening with Leon video's
. And yes, you do top water for a week and half or so.
Mine from lowes sun dry rotted after one season $200 wasted
I buy mineral tubs like that for my horses. They are great. The horse ones are all green. Bonus.
Yep... I wish I could find some green ones!
I got 10 from a local online auction house. $40 total for the 10.
👍
Yes they are doing great. Need more tubs
👍
mineral tubs and the thicker tubs are scarce in my area so I buy 55 gallon plastic barrels $5 ea, cut them in half to make two round 27 gallon tubs and then make self wicking tubs from those
If you can find them for FIVE BUCKS... that's a DEAL!
The barrels should last a lot longer than these tubs.
Just make sure they didn't have any chems in them
Look on facebook, marketplace & Craigslist. I see them listed often in my area.
Great idea!!
I couldn’t find any farmers around me that use these 🤷♀️ I went on Amazon and bought my storage tubs, that’s what I used for my squash, zucchini, greenbeans,Lima beans . I got 45lb containers for my potatos lol that’s going to be fun trying to dump those over once they die back but I didn’t do those big ones as wicking just grow tubs. Thanks for the vid
So glad to help.
I am seeing a LOT of them as I drive around the county
Lots of folks using this method :)
Do you plant these blackberries in tubs, so they won’t be low to the ground? Have you done them in ground?
I had 700 feet of berries in the ground a few years ago, before I started planting in containers
There are many reasons to plant in containers.
I'll be doing a video on it soon.
Stick around
Do you have a video on how you setup your drip irrigation for these containers
th-cam.com/video/0vHU8_fbZ0k/w-d-xo.html
I love your videos . I can’t hear “New York City” without hearing that old Pace commercial in my head 😀
I thought I was the only one... just about every time I hear NYC I think about that commercial :)
I found 17 gallon containers will that be big enough for blackberries and raspberries? Yours are 20gallons and I'm worried mine are to small.
Probably be ok ... I've seen folks growing them in FIVE gallon buckets!!
By the way, GROW BAGS will wick water so much you will have to water at least every other day to keep your plants from drying out and dying.
Absolutely... that's why I have a "tray" under all mine: th-cam.com/video/6FIxhaGvTfk/w-d-xo.html
Is there any worry of plastic leeching into the soil?
You can watch Gardening with Leon On TH-cam. He’s very cognizant of the environment and uses cans, plastic bottles to fill up these containers and 5 gallon buckets. I believe he leaves a number you can call to reach him in Oklahoma. Hope this helps.
"If California hasn’t put restrictions on it then it must be safe"
Ain't it the truth... ain't it the truth :(
@@BIGALTX I'm glad to know that there are safety regulations in place. If California is the only place in America taking extra precautions to ensure that safety, I'll sure take it!
@Donna * Lovin’ Texas Well, that's at least something that adds a bit of confidence. Thanks!
Chad Ford ~ We have to be good stewards of the earth 🌎, am I right?
Curious: I noticed you have a water hose on top of your wicking tubs. If you are watering from the bottom (wicking) why do you have that hose? Thank you!
Actually, I have an emitter on top of the tubs. It waters from the top. Sometimes, I will water down the fill tube with a water hose.
It really doesn’t matter. Both are designed to just fill up the reservoir at the bottom of the tub.
So why would you not just plant in your soil instead of the time/expense of placing in tubs? Not sure I see any advantage unless your soil is terrible. Dan in RI
Yes, soil is terrible
HARD, Red Clay about 1 inch down
Also, weeds are so much easier to control
Also, I'm getting older, so much easier to garden
Also, gophers decimated my blackberry patch ... but can't get into these tubs to kill them
Also.....
Lots of reasons.
I get mine from a lady here in Dayton Tx 3 for 10.00
👍😀
I have a prime ark 45 bush I got from Jollisant Farms in PLANTERSVILLE. What is the difference in the Freedom variety?
Probably have some of the same characteristics, but these are THORNLESS!
Yay! 😎👍
I live in Edna Tx and work with several cattle men at the plant. I get mine given to me because my friends just have too many to keep around. The only one issue I have is that I also get the lids, they are staking up. I found in the past, that if you ask around, you can usually find someone to give you some.
That is awesome!
The ones I use don't come with lids :)
If you have any extra , I can meet you in Edna in about a hour and a half , I can't find them anywhere in Brazoria County !
Robbie cuts hers up to use them for markers.. Use Sharpees to write brand and maybe start date.
Good idea.
Glad you think so!
Hi from NYC! Any suggestions on where us NYer's can get them for free? There are no cow around here anymore :( ! How long would you estimate that these tub water vegetable plants during the summer months, a week, a few days...? FYI - I saw a video where some one put a cork on a stick, & inserted into the fill tube. That way they were able to know if the reservoir needed water or was full. It would bounce back up when pushed down.
Down here it’s so hot I am watering each and every day. In New York, you probably would not have to. It just depends on how hot it gets. And yes, I have talked about using the cork on a stick method in the past.
Should work.
I put up a "wanted" poster at the local sale barn for tubs. Still looking for that Amazon link you were going to post! LOL
Just added it. Here it is:
amzn.to/3835oec
Thanks boss! BTW, I just want to say how much I appreciate your videos. You methods work really well here in Weatherford Oklahoma, so I get a lot from watching!!
@@BIGALTX swim tubes are coming up?
thick to thank you very very very much. i’m a stroke survivor of 14 years ago.
Growing in containers is much easier than growing in the soil. I hope you are able to garden in some way.
🙏
They are self wicking but it looks like the black ton running across the too of the row is a drip hose??
Yes.
I could have run my irrigation lines down the fill tubes, but it was much easier to just let it drip from the top.
Then... when the bottom reservoir is full, it wicks up to the plants.
Same principal, just watering from above.
The water sinks down pretty fast to the bottom reservoir
THANK YOU BROTHER ALAN. GOD BLESS YOU AND FAMILY BROTHER IN JESUS NAME.
Thank you so much, Melinda :)
Thank you and good info
I know you grew these just to make blackberry wine.
Naw.... 😀
Glad it was helpful!
thank you for the tip
You bet!
I'm not jealous of your blackberries, but I am excited to watch mine become producers. At least I know how to get them in great tubs!
You can do it!
how many season would those blackberrys last? Ive never tried growing em before.
Probably 10 to 15 years... or more.
@@BIGALTX Thanks you sir always enjoy watch your videos
Alan, just curious. Do you do any watering at all on top of the tubs or only count on rainwater for that! Thanks for the great videos!
I water every day in the summer:
th-cam.com/video/0vHU8_fbZ0k/w-d-xo.html
Hello, I follow your way to make some wicking tubs for my fig trees from half of some 55gallon barrels but I need help, from your amazon links I do not know what to select which UV protectant will be work for sealing these tubs, please help, thank you!
I would say use this one: amzn.to/3JzGq7D
But only on the outside of the tub.
Not sure if the chems in this would hurt the plant if it was INSIDE the tub
Thank you sir for sharing again💯🇺🇸🙏🏻💫😮
You bet. Thanks for watching!
What soil did you use for your blackberries?
I use either 3B or BM7, but any good potting MIX will do (not potting soil)
It needs to be 50 to 60% PEAT or more for wicking to work well
@@BIGALTX Thanks. I planted them in a mix with lots on peat and vermiculite. I’m not doing wicking tubs though. I’ll just have them in 5 gallon pots for a little while until I figure out where to plant them in the ground. I sprinkled a little 3-4-4 fertilizer and some sulfur around the edge of the pot and watered it in. It’s my 1st attempt at blackberries, let alone Prime-ark freedom.
Hey Pal , sorry if this is an over asked question, but my blackberry plants are coming in a few months. I’m planning on using tubs & I’m planning on using some sort of miracle grow potting mix or soil for the media. Is this what you recommend? I’m planning on adding the Lyme & other things to the soil . I was just wondering about the “dirt” part. Any help or direction to the correct video would be appreciated. Keep growing!
I usually use a product called BM7 if you want to look it up
If you're growing them in "Wicking Tubs" you'll want something with at least 60% PEAT so it will "wick" the water
Any good mix with a high peat content should work.
Make sure it's a Potting MIX... not Potting SOIL
I don’t see any of this tubs on amazon or on your channel
Sorry... forgot to link them.
amzn.to/3835oec
@@BIGALTX this link doesn't show the tubs? It's taking me to swim tubes??
Only problem I see is that they are damn useful and I think most farmers don’t part with them. I worked at a botanical garden and we would get small shrubs and trees in #20 pots. Well once they got planted, those pots were excellent trash cans for collecting prunings and clippings.
For many ranchers they are just a nuisance and they are glad to have someone pick them up for them
Can you use less tube in bottles of the tubs
The bottom needs to be about 80% covered by the pipes
Thanks you
Lol, ribbing us about eating that yummy blackberry. You’re so cruel! Mine aren’t ripe yet, but I have had a few boysenberries, so good!
What would you think of burying these tubs part way in the ground? Also, what happens when the plants get bigger? Will you make some type of staking system?
Thanks for sharing all this, I appreciate it!
If you bury the tubs, they can't drain from the overflow hole.
My new Trellis: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html
I noticed you used slotted drain pipe in your hybrid wicking tubs. How does that affect your air gap for root pruning?
The fabric "sock" stops all root penetration, allowing the air gap to remain.
Seems to be working great.
I don't see any difference between them and the regular (Leon's) wicking tubs
After seeing yours I made some for this year with landscaped fabric wrapped around solid pvc pipe (thats what I had and my landscape fabric was to narrow for my tubs) and I wanted air to be "trapped" between the water and the roots. I may not be understanding what an air gap is.
@@dannyderamus3524
I think I get what you're saying.
I think as long as the potting mix can't get into the pipe and you've got the drain hole on the side of the tub, you're ok.
Are the tubs working out pretty well so far?
I got some muck tubs from an online feed store.
Nice score!! 👍😎
I found some blue 20 Gallon tubs at Lowes. Will that be big enough to grow healthy trees or does it need to be bigger? Thanks
Figs do well in containers. Some other varieties may not.
If they are "dwarf" they would probably to well in those tubs.
Look up the varieties on the internet to see if they do well in containers...
Question, what size of tubing did you use for the filler pipe?
I think it's 1 1/4"
Does the corrugated pipes need to perforated or non-perforated?
No, it does not need to be perforated.
@@BIGALTX ... thanks because I already bought the corrugated kind.
Thanks for this video!
Glad it was helpful!
What are the dimensions of your blue tubs?
Approximately 20" in diameter and 20" tall. They are around 18 to 20 gallon capacity.
Here's how to find them: th-cam.com/video/SlAOl995SaQ/w-d-xo.html
Will 18 gallon totes work?
You bet.
I think these are 18 gallon... maybe 20.. not sure.
People who raise sheep, goats etc use these, as well, if not using loose minerals.
True, there are a lot of them out there
Thank you
You're welcome
Hi Mr.Tp2 I haven't seen much from you,just wondering if something is wrong or TH-cam is messing around with your channel.
I've been here all the time... but, I think TH-cam is messing with me... so spread the word.
Wow those tractor supply tubs are $50..!!
Here's 8 of them for $47 and FREE shipping: amzn.to/3sUQbWF
Get black tubs from garden/tree business. Most time it's free cuz big trees grow in them.
your tubs donot come up on amazon
Amazon has these:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4Z845NT/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_QT9TM8QG9D0BJG001X44?linkCode=ml2&tag=homeadvise-20
But they’re way too expensive. If I was going to spend money for tubs, I would just buy an earthbox. It’s about as cheap as these are.
I am surrounded by ranchers who wont sell them to me. Not kidding. These things worth gold? 😉
I ended up spending lots of money on 7 and 10 gallon planting tubs greenhouses use. I desperately need more tubs but cant pay for them like i did these.
Walmart sells 71gal BINS for $5-$6. I don't need the lids for poster frames anymore so I don't take them. Lol.
Yup. Common occurrence around here too. Sometimes like pulling teeth 🦷. LOL. The thrill of the Hunt 😜
See if you can find the food grade blue 55 gal. Drums and cut them in half.....
Yep... Lowes, Tractor Supply, Walmart... several places sell them.
Thanks to all for your comments,
alan
@@PaffordHomestead awesome idea!
Are you on rumble?
No, not yet...