great idea thanks

Minnie, do you plant a garden???
I'm only asking because I know you are of an advanced age. :-)

I'm bringing this to the top as an idea for those who are still planting gardens.

Most people think that plant roots grow deeper than they really do. The most functional, well branched portion of tomato roots are quite shallow......2 to 10 inches. Much deeper than that and the roots become unbranched and not particularly important to the plant.

This is true with most plants, by the way, even large trees.

I have done this manytimes, and when you will be away from home and unable to water, this is helpful.. and add to the soil a bit of those moisture holding crystals, and voila,. you have some thriving plants while away..

Carolyn

Beyond doing things like this, I use water from my rain barrels rather than tap water. One year, it's been a while, I experimented by using tap water on half of my garden (half the beans, half the peas, half the melons, etc.) and rain water on the other half. Rain water is definitely the way to go. A big difference in their growth patterns.

Excellent idea!

(I can just see myself scrounging in the neighbors' re-cycle bins on trash day...)

Has anyone tried this idea?

My Grandmother used a similar idea back in the 1960s. She used a nail to poke many holes around a (metal) coffee can. She planted a can near each tomato plant and watered them by filling the cans and letting the water peculate around and down the roots.

Wow! what a very creative idea! I never thought plastic bottles gives a lot of help with this kind of plant! I'll love to try this for my tomato.. Thanks for sharing!

I thought PVC pipe leaches chemicals into the soil? I like the coffee can idea-wouldn't the rust provide iron to a plant?

A rusty metal can (or anything else rusty) won't provide iron in a form that plants can use.

Iwas surprised to see my name on apost back in March no I dont plant a garden which is a crime cause I have a big yard,

Oh. I thought the reason there's nails in the nursery pot when I buy citrus trees is for iron. Guess not !