Major Design Improvement to Our Wicking Beds

In this video I talk about a major design improvement that we have made to our wicking beds.

To learn how to build your own check out our blog on how to design and build your own wicking bed.

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[DrCorvid]

I cut my iron residential oil tank down for a wicking bed plus a raft hydroponic tank; the latter doubles as a reservoir for heating the polytunnel, which is ditched around and mainly wicking naturally in the rain belt :)

[vicoltitus]

Hello,

What do you do when the nutrients in the wicking culture bed are consumed ??? Does the soil change with a new one or is compost or biomass always added ??? How do you ensure plant nutrients for several consecutive growing seasons ??? Do we use organic fertilizers? At how many crop cycles does the soil change from a wicking crop bed ??? Everyone shows how to start a wicking culture bed ... Nobody says how to maintain it and how much it can be used until exhaustion and then changed ... Please, can you answer these questions ???

[TheRainHarvester]

Wicking beds make so much sense! I modified the concept for Texas. I'll try to link my video.

[DirtyGuvnah]

What thickness of poly liner did you use for the wood frame wicking beds? Looking at building some for my back yard for next spring. Thanks!

[BestLife]

Have you ever tried to wick in the ground? Could I dig a trench, line it with plastic, add 4" rocks, then landscape fabric & soil? No overflow, I know but...

[antoniiocaluso]

how is the "top irrigation" done? Drip, or soakers, or....??? thanks! nice vide!

[sydneyspice]

That part about allowing the soil to dry out occasionally rather than being moist all the time makes a lot of sense. That moisture can benefit fungi and other harmful bacteria. ...detrimental to the plant's roots. Love that.

[DeperiviAnimae]

I wonder if you could integrate this theory into ‘in-ground’ beds somehow by digging drainpipe into the ground and then layering the soil overtop in a raised bed. Then earthworms and microbes could still come up as in a traditional raised bed but with the benefits of underground water source. Obviously you would have to water more often as it would drain down as well as wicking up, but then may increase the benefits to the plants. I’ve also seen people incorporate Vermicompost pits into their raised beds as well. Wonder if the worms would find the wicking bed suitable though… lots of ideas. Thank you for this video!

[MarcellaSmithVegan]

I just clicked the 'Subscribe' button, then realized i was already Subscribed, I wish I would get ALL of my subscribed videos, I have the bell icon vibrating, Its disappointing. You would probably get more views too! Great channel

[longarmsupplies]

Thanks Rob, I'm likely going to use this method next year for my sweet potatoes...getting them close to the house for extra heat but not affecting our wood basement.

[thevikingwolfpack]

You have good luck with that solar hot water heater is up on the roof ?

[jrtoy]

What’s the build list for that rotating elbow? Just bulkhead and pvc elbow?

[countrythesoul]

Just started my first 2 wicking beds. Interested in learning more. Love the color of your house!

[eastcoast]

We’ve found you don’t need a inflow pipe, you can just add water in the overflow pipe.

[AlexWise]

Really appreciated the blog article and video Rob!

[blackbeardrrr]

Awesome builds! Can you describe how you built the turnable / adjustable drain mentioned at 6:10?

[ValeriaVincentSancisi]

how do you deal with the rain??? if worried about anaerobic soil

[elizabethwinsor-strumpetqueen]

There are much better videos than this on the subject, I fell a sleep listening to this guy yawn

[ferrierra]

I'm happy I found your video very informative I appreciate your thoughts.

[veronicasteele]

we're starting from scratch and in the planning stages. this video was very helpful. thank you!