Weber Kettle Club Forums

I was inspired by @pbe gummi bear and his pepper growing efforts.
I still procrastinated, but I finally got SOMETHING planted, and I made another 'self watering' planter.

Don't worry, all grills used were black and crappy.


Strawberries in the jumbo joe

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2016/04/27/strawberries.md.jpg) (http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/image/KS)


cherry tomatoes in the 22"

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2016/04/27/cherry-tomatos.md.jpg) (http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/image/KP)

Lets see if i can keep them alive...

That's pretty cool keep us updated on their growth.

OH! I didn't want to buy PVC for the waterering pipe, so I walked across the street and chopped down some of the wild bamboo. I felt like surviverman or something. (didn't drink my own piss though)

Bamboo is tough stuff , but how cool to use something natural like that !


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You're not a survivor unless you drink it, dude... All while wearing some kind of loin cloth.


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That's right, I said it, and I don't even know if I spelled loin right. (http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160428/c13668055ede1125a9df5d09ee96071d.jpg)

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 @Troy did you line the bowls with anything ?


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Quote from: Idahawk on April 28, 2016, 07:33:14 AM
@Troy did you line the bowls with anything ?


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Not really. I used some weed block fabric to cover the vents (and top)

There's a tray about halfway down that holds the soil, below that is water reservoir.

(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_3991.jpg)

more to come! OL isn't too keen on them though!

Oh nice, are those just cut down legs? I have a few 22s that I've been wanting to use but I don't want them full height.

Quote from: Troy on April 28, 2016, 10:39:03 PM
Oh nice, are those just cut down legs? I have a few 22s that I've been wanting to use but I don't want them full height.

Yes they are!

Looks Great.  You are going to have a ton of cherry tomatoes!

Quote from: Josh G on April 29, 2016, 08:24:11 AM
Looks Great.  You are going to have a ton of cherry tomatoes!

I hope so!!
It's one of the few healthy snacks that everyone in the house actually enjoys.

This is a nice project but for those of us (me - challenged) need pics of the guts to understand how to build something like this.  Hopefully on the future builds someone can take a few to understand the actual setting up of the planter.

Quote from: Troy on April 27, 2016, 06:22:17 PM
I was inspired by @pbe gummi bear and his pepper growing efforts.
I still procrastinated, but I finally got SOMETHING planted, and I made another 'self watering' planter.

Don't worry, all grills used were black and crappy.


Strawberries in the jumbo joe

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2016/04/27/strawberries.md.jpg) (http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/image/KS)

One of us must be blind, but that looks neither black nor crappy.  Unless there is a big m/f hole in the other side I want it!

rich

Quote from: apt323 on April 29, 2016, 10:05:02 AM
This is a nice project but for those of us (me - challenged) need pics of the guts to understand how to build something like this.  Hopefully on the future builds someone can take a few to understand the actual setting up of the planter.

here's how it works
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2016/04/29/self-watering.gif)


for the layer that keeps the potting mix out of the water, I use one of these
http://amzn.to/1TjQDUs
I don't remember the exact size of the one I bought though.

I also bought a cheap plastic pot that fits perfectly into that ring in the tray.
I cut the bottom off the pot, along with enough material to make the tray fit flush with the kettle's edges.
Drill a few holes in the pot and the tray

make a hole in the side of the kettle at the TOP of the water level (just below the tray)
make a hole in the tray big enough for the watering pipe

cut a whole within that circle on the tray.
set the bottomless pot in the kettle
set the tray on top. Stuff some weedblock material around the edges to make the tray fit better if needed.
Pack the little pot tightly with moist potting mix.
Add water pipe, fill in rest of the kettle with potting mix, keep it moist and packed at the center to make sure the wicking process works.

i've found that it really helps to make the soil into a mound and cover it with the weed block material (or even a trash bag)
This blocks weeds, and helps prevent evaporation of the soil. Plus it makes the soil nice and warm on a sunny day.

I'll probably make another this weekend, I'll try to get specifics and pictures.

Quote from: Red Kettle Rich on April 29, 2016, 10:22:25 AM

Quote from: Troy on April 27, 2016, 06:22:17 PM
I was inspired by @pbe gummi bear and his pepper growing efforts.
I still procrastinated, but I finally got SOMETHING planted, and I made another 'self watering' planter.

Don't worry, all grills used were black and crappy.


Strawberries in the jumbo joe

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2016/04/27/strawberries.md.jpg) (http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/image/KS)

One of us must be blind, but that looks neither black nor crappy.  Unless there is a big m/f hole in the other side I want it!

rich

I spraypainted it.

So is this right? Instead of a "wicking basket" (perforated) you used a solid one and cut its bottom out so that reservoir water could soak up and do the capillary function.

Quote from: addicted-to-smoke on April 29, 2016, 10:54:53 AM
So is this right? Instead of a "wicking basket" (perforated) you used a solid one and cut its bottom out so that reservoir water could soak up and do the capillary function.

yes. i still drilled holes in it, just not a shit-ton. maybe like 10 or 15 holes (3/8" i think)

Quote from: Troy on April 29, 2016, 10:46:38 AM

Quote from: Red Kettle Rich on April 29, 2016, 10:22:25 AM

Quote from: Troy on April 27, 2016, 06:22:17 PM
I was inspired by @pbe gummi bear and his pepper growing efforts.
I still procrastinated, but I finally got SOMETHING planted, and I made another 'self watering' planter.

Don't worry, all grills used were black and crappy.


Strawberries in the jumbo joe

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2016/04/27/strawberries.md.jpg) (http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/image/KS)

One of us must be blind, but that looks neither black nor crappy.  Unless there is a big m/f hole in the other side I want it!

rich

I spraypainted it.

I spraypainted kettle bottoms but the paint didn't stand up to the heat.  with luck the strawberries will not be as hard on the paint as the burning charcoal was.     8)

Great project with my two girls , they planted strawberries, jalapeños and chilies
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/cf0fff49b9716f43da66697a6d5605d3.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/9c227c6a02f6eabd9afdd10400f75bc1.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/57e72c0948b36bca8e24d99f8ec7829b.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/8636a62d49cec81bd3eb859a77acc7c5.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/4f7182d8b8f1b7cc1bef96ee1ae0b7ca.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/34b6ac9af0f3904d192acaa9bc9f2875.jpg)



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Well, if the big boys can do it, I guess I can too, and I won't feel bad      8)

Quote from: Troy on April 29, 2016, 10:57:29 AM

Quote from: addicted-to-smoke on April 29, 2016, 10:54:53 AM
So is this right? Instead of a "wicking basket" (perforated) you used a solid one and cut its bottom out so that reservoir water could soak up and do the capillary function.

yes. i still drilled holes in it, just not a shit-ton. maybe like 10 or 15 holes (3/8" i think)

Wait, when did you learn to use the drill?  Did you use the right end?  You only drilled a few holes because you broke the bit?

Quote from: zavod44 on May 10, 2016, 07:50:08 AM

Quote from: Troy on April 29, 2016, 10:57:29 AM

Quote from: addicted-to-smoke on April 29, 2016, 10:54:53 AM
So is this right? Instead of a "wicking basket" (perforated) you used a solid one and cut its bottom out so that reservoir water could soak up and do the capillary function.

yes. i still drilled holes in it, just not a shit-ton. maybe like 10 or 15 holes (3/8" i think)

I broke the bit drilling into the kettle, yes.
I do know how to use the drill. I'm not great with it, but I can get by.


Wait, when did you learn to use the drill?  Did you use the right end?  You only drilled a few holes because you broke the bit?

BOO-YA!   Did you take a drill class at Home Depot   ;)

Cool idea.  There is a trashed kettle just a block away from me that will work just fine for that purpose.  Not worth restoring but would make a great planter.  My wife has plants all over the yard.  She thought it was a great idea.

Quote from: zavod44 on May 10, 2016, 08:10:37 AM
BOO-YA!   Did you take a drill class at Home Depot   ;)

No
Do they offer those?
Seriously...

@Idahawk that blue 18" is KINDA breaking my heart. :P

Yea I think so, I never went to one but they have all kinds of classes at home depot for stuff like that.....is that real blue 18?

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Quote from: Troy on May 11, 2016, 12:20:36 AM
@Idahawk that blue 18" is KINDA breaking my heart. :P

It's a 22" and trust me I would have rehabbed it , if it was worth fixing


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I have my first pepper on !

1- cayenne pepper , I'm planing a whole cook around it
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160517/92bdd2c54c2766f4b487d70b67e4cae4.jpg)


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