We had some of our first serious rain last night since I put out my containers. Going outside to check on things this morning, it looks like the drain holes did their job, and prevented water from building up inside the containers. Looking down into the reservoir through the filling bottles, I can see that the water level was at or near the top of the reservoir(at the end of the bottle), but not higher. The soil in the containers is damp, but not soggy. I might set up my third container this afternoon. . . or I might go for a bike ride. Still trying to decide.

I'm not too sure about my upside down tomato plants. I've followed the instructions, but they don't seem to be growing too fast compared to some of my other plants. Most of the time they're indoors in a sunny spot, boosted by a grow light. This combination seems to please my indoor lettuce, as it's growing better than the outdoor lettuce I have in the self watering containers. The upside down tomatoes don't seem to get the same benefit. Their growth is slow. Following the directions, I'm supposed to select the best plant out of each hole, and remove the others. I haven't done this yet, since I'm waiting on a little more growth to get the right ones. I'm not supposed to flip the thing upside down until the plants get four inches high. Looks like I might be waiting a while.

This afternoon I set up another self watering container for a tomato plant I bought about a week ago. I used the same technique to make this container as I did with that smaller pot earlier this month. Instead of using the bottoms of water bottles, I used three 2.5 gallon water jugs for the water reservoir. I cut each one so I could use about two thirds of it in the tomato container. The extra thirds will be used in another container I have yet to make. Once again, I drilled drainage holes into the side of the container near the top level of the reservoir, and filled the space between the water jugs and the container with small pebbles and rocks. This way the water is able to flow through easier, and the holes don't get clogged up with the soil.

After filling the container with organic potting mixes, I planted the tomato and added a cage around it. The cage may or may not work. I couldn't drive it as deep into the container as I would have liked due to the water reservoir at the bottom, but at the moment it seems sturdy enough.
For now I just have the tomato planted in it. I'm probably going to try planting something else in there with it, but I haven't decided what that will be yet.

I made another self watering container almost the same way. This time I only used one water jug, and cut it vertically so the two halves could lay down end to end in the bottom of the container. I transplanted some of my lettuce into it, and I'm going to keep half of it free for planting more lettuce some time in the future. Both containers are up on egg crates. This is for two reasons. One being that the plants will get more sun since they're up closer to the top of the fence. The second being that they're easier to work with if they're elevated. I have one more container to use, and it's size falls between the two containers I already have out. I'll probably put it up on the crates when it's ready, then move the lettuce to the ground. Once filled with soil, plants, and water, these things are very heavy and hard to move.

Blossoms on the tree outside

Lettuce Sprouts

I think I planted too many seeds too close together. Oh well. I'll see if I can spread them out and transplant some of them.

I got my seedlings started for my upside down tomato plant. The whole container is filled with soil. At the top(well, the current top of the container) each of the three holes has three sets of seeds planted. Once they get growing, I'm supposed to select the best plant from each hole, and remove the others. I'm supposed to wait until the plants get four inches high, then flip the whole thing over and hang it upside down. The container has openings for watering after I flip it over(they're on the bottom now). The kit also came with a chain for me to hang it with. I still need to attach a hook to my patio fence for it. I might have to come up with a creative way of keeping it watered if I'm away for a few days. I'll have a normal upright tomato plant growing as a backup. Depending on the condition of the extra tomato plants that don't make the cut to stay in this upside down container, I may also try to transplant them into a different container.

This is the space I have to work with for my patio garden. Inside I have some wire shelves, and already have a grow light attached to one of them for seedlings, as well as an attempt to grow lettuce and other vegetables indoors. I figure if I can get enough light in now, I might be able to do it during the winter too. Outside everything is turning green. It's almost time to get started.

Still running from those marmosets. . .