Principles And Construction 12:
The Planters 5

Adding Water and Plants

The soil surface of the filled planter is level with the inlet bucket and the inlet inspection pipe.

We take the cover off the inlet bucket (after making sure the other unconnected end of the inlet pipe is capped, just in case)...

...and start pouring in water. The water flows through the piping into the bottom of the planter...

...and we take off the cover of the inlet inspection pipe to see the level rise.

After pouring in a lot of water, the level is visible. This is the level of the water between the rocks in the bottom of the planter, underneath the level of the soil.

The water also rises in the inlet bucket, of course, but only to the level of its outlet pipe into the planter.

As the water flows under the sand and soil, it settles slightly and cracks.

At the other end of the planter, the water also rises in the inspection pipe for the overflow pipe. When water starts to flow out the overflow pipe into the leach pit outside the house, we cannot add any more.

It is time to plant.

The capacious planter allows quite large plants to be planted.

This is a zucchini flower.

Large plants like this tomato plant are not just timesavers; it is necessary to stock the planter with some large plants so that their roots can quickly reach the water underneath and start using it.

Of course, many smaller plants are added as well. Marigolds help support the tomato plant, and radishes and herbs surround it.

Chives...

...and onions...

...help fill the planter. There are also many seeds planted. The plants are all intermixed. They help support each other, and will continue to yield vegetable through the winter.

Two weeks after the planting, Pat tells me that the seeds have alreadt sprouted and everything is frowing quickly.

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