CorseMachin | What Is A Wicking Bed - DIY Wicking Bed Ideas For Gardeners

Wicking beds water plants from below rather than above. They're basically containers with water reservoirs at the base - like a giant self-watering pot. Moisture is drawn up through the soil via a process called capillary action or wicking.

How deep should the soil be in a wicking bed?
What grows best in a wicking bed?
What material is best for wicking water?
Are wicking beds worth it?
Can you use sand in a wicking bed?
Can I use gravel in a wicking bed?
How far will water travel up a wick?
Can you grow carrots in a wicking bed?
Do tomatoes grow well in wicking beds?
How shallow can a wicking bed be?

How deep should the soil be in a wicking bed?

The total depth of the patch may vary depending on what you wish to plant, but, for a wicking vegie bed, the overall depth needs, ideally, to be 600mm. This equates to 300mm for the reservoir/water saturation zone and 300mm for the growing/root zone.

What grows best in a wicking bed?

Lettuces love to be kept moist and are ideal to grow in a wicking bed. Mulch the bed, with about 50-70mm of organic mulch, such as straw. Water the bed well, to start the wicking-action.

What material is best for wicking water?

Cotton is a commonly recommended wicking material, but some warn that natural materials, like cotton, may rot or contract fungus easily. Wicking materials less likely to encounter this problem include nylon and acrylic.

Are wicking beds worth it?

Wicking beds need watering much less often, meaning plants will survive and thrive for days, or even a couple of weeks, even if you go away during in a heatwave. Grow on any surface. Wicking beds are a great solution for spots where eucalypt or other vigorous tree roots might invade the bed.

Can you use sand in a wicking bed?

Wicking beds are like a big sand sponge. The water moves from the bottom to the top, moistening the soil where the vegies are growing, in the process. Then add the washed river sand. This is vital for drainage in the bed.

Can I use gravel in a wicking bed?

Here's what you need:

Note that the gravel filled reservoir should not be more than ¼ the height of the bed (e.g. 10cm in a 40cm deep bed). For wicking to occur through the gravel, make sure the gravel pieces are less than 10 mm in size. You can also use scoria, crushed bricks or sand, or a combination.

How far will water travel up a wick?

Gary Donaldson, in AU, says that they have found that the maximum height you can wick water upwards is 300mm. More wicking materials in the soil, the better.

Can you grow carrots in a wicking bed?

Wicking beds are just great for growing root or tuber type crops; Carrots. Beets. Potato (sweet and English style) Perfect companion to your Aquaponic System.

Do tomatoes grow well in wicking beds?

The warm weather should have our tomato plants growing big and wild! ... Wicking beds are great for ensuring your tomato plants have a steady supply of water over the summer months, but they can be problematic in heavy rain as the roots can stay too wet.

How shallow can a wicking bed be?

For most wicking beds, the Base is situated at ground level. However, if you are building an in-ground wicking bed then the Base would be 120mm below ground to ensure that the overflow pipe can still function.