How to Modify Strawberry Topsy Turvy

.This picture shows the first time i used a Topsy Turvy. It didn't grow any Strawberry's that i could really eat .I started realizing a few things as the growing season went along. The first thing i noticed was  as the season went on the soil on the bottom of the Turvy got really  hard and compacted .Even though i used very good  soil with peat moss and miracle grow to help, it still would get compacted.
 So as i watered it .The water would only  get  down to about half way down the Topsy Turvy  So not all the plants were getting food and water .So i got a idea and this is how it all worked out .

Step 1: Feeding Tube Drawing

This is a drawing of the feeding tube i made to  held feed the strawberries in  a  Topsy  Turvy..

Comments

[handyman1940]

Coolbeanbaby68;
This is one I'm going to do and also tell my next-door neighbor,
as the squirrels have been having a feast on ours.

[coolbeansbaby68]

That's good i'm glad you like the idea....

[coolbeansbaby68]

That's good i'm glad you like the idea....

[azebra5]

Thank you so much for this as I have a mainly square foot garden and am expanding but need all the space saving ideas I can get. Think I'll start adding a units though I'm not sure for what yet. I grow strawberries so now I can share more.
Thank you all for your ideas too. I'm just getting into using a couple of shop tools again and not fond of power tools but guess that drill and saw use is closer with these ideas. Retired but not retired from learning.
Thanks folks.

[coolbeansbaby68]

I'm so excited for this instructable . I just checked the views .I got 2800 views just today alone !!! he he he he he I feel like a little kid in a candy store!! I wish there was a way to tell exactly where all the views come from......

[paulbsa]

Fantastic solution to this problem. We use something like this when we plant fruit trees. Use a 2" PVC tube about 3 feet long, but don't cap the end. Bury it when you plant the tree leaving about a foot sticking out of the ground. To water the tree, just fill up the tube, and the water goes to the roots, not just the surface of the ground. You can cap the end that's out of the ground to keep out debris between watering. Just don't glue it. You want to be able to take it off to water.

[coolbeansbaby68]

Yes i did this when i planted my 2 red maple trees. You are right ..

[CatfishTom]

I have found what I consider the best alternative. Its called "landsacpe fabric". Plant nursuries use it to line the ground before potted plants are placed on it. Also sometimes it can be found at construction sites as a silt water barrier -"After they are finished". Any way, just make a tube of it and tie the bottom with wire so the soil cant escape. Clothes hanger for the top to hang it on somthing and there ya go. As for the water issue, I think thats just the nature of the beast- it needs water every day. If it gets that then mine get wet all the way down.

[NickGriffin]

Great idea..stuff lasts in sun (I know, coz I catch it with the string trimmer all the time if not careful! :-)

[NickGriffin]

Good idea!
However, I found that the "Topsy Turvey" plastic soil container degraded after one year's use. I am keeping the parts to make one out of treated canvas or something sturdier than the plastic stuff they are made from. I am sure part of the problem is that I live in the high desert sort of area...111 or more in Summer and full sun and dry. Plastic Buckets didn't work either...they crumble from the sun exposure. Oh well, I keep trying new ideas...like we all should, eh?

[TinCan]

Mine degraded too, so I wrapped them with white duct tape and now I'm on my third year... Duct tape them while they are still full of soil at the end of the first summer. ~ worked for me ~

[NickGriffin]

Great idea...always a use for duct tape...:-)

[lordzamiel]

Hey Nick, they're not the cheapest, but http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/VESTIL-Plastic-Pail-3CYK7 have worked well for me, the "UV resistant" black plastic buckets from Grainger that have lasted me for years (though I'm in not as extreme conditions, same summer temps, but never too dry,)

[NickGriffin]

Thanks lordzamiel. I will check into them. I had food-grade buckets around-they don't take the UV well!

[coolbeansbaby68]

I think the best advise for this no matter where you live is to used a fabric of some kind that will let the access water out and most importantly all plants need to breath and get oxygen also.......

[NickGriffin]

thanks coolbeansbaby68- Yes drainage and oxygenated roots are important, yes. Plants do well in plastic as long as they can drain. they don't like sunlight on the roots, or overheated roots, hence my comment on white or light coloured duct tape and containers.

Another thing I was going to do an intructable on was putting grommets around the top of a turned inside out and folded at the top Dog Food Bag. I put a heavy screen in the bottom to permit drainage thru holes cut in the Bag "fabric", then hung it from the grommets by rope to the eaves. Worked great, grew Tomatoes fine (used sponges for the tomatoes to keep the soil in and all). However, this only lasted 2 years in the sun.

That stuff (dog food bags) can last-I filled dog food bags with dirt and used them to make a levee of sorts that has lasted over 5 years. The fabric in this use was only in partial sun, however.

[coolbeansbaby68]

Might be a great instructable !!!!

[lordzamiel]

Very well done! I have a few 5-gallon buckets I've made upside-down planters out of and noticed the same issue - time to go back out into the shed and fire up the power tools :)

[coolbeansbaby68]

Thats the fun part of it isn't it ??

[lordzamiel]

You betcha =)

[brianfss]

Great idea
I've got a topsey turvey out in the front yard and I'm going to the garage to build this right now.

[coolbeansbaby68]

awesome take some pics!!

[Phil B]

Good idea.

[coolbeansbaby68]

Thanks Phil