By Julie Johns
Northern Rivers, NSW.
I purchased three WaterUps Oasis wicking beds after pricing a DIY option and realising these are quite good value and probably easier to construct.
My husband put together the raised bed component, the first one took longer than the subsequent two but they were not too difficult. He used the paper instructions, and there is also a video you can follow.
I used the video to install the waterproof lining and WaterUps cells, this was quite straightforward, you just need a sharp knife to cut out the hole for the water inlet, it took a bit of work with my blunt Stanley knife!
I used Perlite for the wick component, you just need to fill up the wells in the WaterUps cells. Then filled the beds with layers of cane straw, mushroom compost, rock minerals, organic fertiliser pellets, seaweed solution, cow manure, compost and potting mix.
The water cells are easy to fill from the inlet, I planted out a mixture of veggies from seed and seedlings. I watered minimally from the top until the seedling’s roots took hold and could absorb the water coming up from the cells and also kept the seeds moist. All of the seeds germinated and all of the seedlings survived (rare for me!). It is nice not having to water each day when it is hot if I am busy. We have had some dry spells since I have been using them, the shortest amount of time I have had to top up the water is 2 weeks. I use a piece of dowl to measure how much water is in the cells.
These wicking beds have been a game changer for me; our property is on tank water only, so the water saving has been fantastic during the dry spells, and the veggies are thriving.
I have just purchased two more beds and over winter am going to try installing one of the Sub-irrigation Channels in a neglected swale veggie bed.
I highly recommend these beds for their ease of construction, water-saving, time-saving and amazing veggies!
Note from Permaculture Australia
Julie was asked by Permaculture Australia for this reveiw. Julie is not associated or commission by Waterups in anyway, just a very happy customer.
As a member of Permaculture Australia, Jenny received 20% off WaterUps® products (Australian delivery only)
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Check out – https://www.waterups.com.au/
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