My exisitng greenhouse (8ft by 6ft) houses an Autopot system consisting of 47ltr tank, twinpot and single pot system as well as 2 Wilma Drip 10 pot systems and 2 Wilma Drip 4 pot systems. When I installed the systems the greenhouse looked large, however buy the middle of June I had a jungle growing and was unable to get into the green house.
First Greenhouse - 19 Mar 09
I was growing three tomatoes in each pot (twin pot) and a cucumber in the larger single pot. By early June the tomotoes had grown to the apex of the green house roof, so I gave one of the pots of tomotoes to my neighbour to make some space. That helped short term but early July the weight of the tomatoes and cucmbers (which had grown through the tomatoes) collapsed the tomotoes.
Autopot Tomatoes - July 09
If you look carefuly you can see the Autopot 47ltr water container in the background. The mass of tomatoes makes watering interesting.
Autopot Cucumbers - July 09
Cucumbers have been tidied up and now hanging from green house roof.
Time for a re -think and so maintenance.
Most of my problems with excessive growth was lack of maintenece during April and early May when I was busy working long hours.
Last weekend My wife agreed to another greenhouse and I decided to add autopots (6ft by 8ft green house system). The Autopot system was ordered on Monday13th July 09 and arrived on Friday 17th July.
The system was delivered on a palete with most of the parts inside the 220ltr water butt.
Autopot Green House Kit In Water Butt
The greenhouse (less door) was finished late Sunday (19 July 09).
Being one not willing to wait, I quickly unpacked the water butt and laid out the Autopots in the green house and found my first issue. The 8ft by 6ft green house plan showed 5 twin pots along the sides and two at the back of the green house. The twinpots are 2ft long and the green house only 8ft deep so only 4 twinpots would fet along each side. Time for a re-think.
Revised Autopot Green House Layout
The orginal plan was for the 220ltr water butt to be located outside the green house, but after playing with different layouts, I could fit the water butt inside the green house and it would act as a heat sink in winter helping to keep the greenhouse warmer. So quickly found a 2ft sq paving slab and levelled off the ground. The 200 ltr butt just about fitted through the green house door way.
220 Ltr Water Butt installed in Green House
Before moving on, there is chaff in the water but from drinning the water tap hole, which needs to be removed.
Tags: 220ltr water tank, Green House, twinpot
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