With its self-contained growing space and guaranteed results, the Garden Patch container growing system seems like a dream come true for apartment dwellers who are hungry for some green space of their own.
Then again, it could be the no-knead bread of the gardening world -- does it take too much of gardening out of the garden? Take our survey and see more info about the Garden Patch below.
Apart from a small-space solution, the Garden Patch also sounds like a low-key way for newbie gardeners to get some gardening experience before jumping into a backyard overhaul. There's nothing more disheartening than getting excited about growing your own food only to watch plants shrivel up after producing one or two hard fruits. (We know! We've been there!)
The Garden Patch website promises to take the guesswork out of growing fruits and veggies by regulating the moisture in the soil for you. The water is held in a tank under the planter, where it's gradually absorbed by the roots. A layer of fertilizer called "The Nutrient Patch" releases nutrients into the soil and also acts like mulch to keep the soil-temperature steady.
We're a little suspicious of this "Nutrient Patch," especially since the site doesn't tell us exactly what nutrients and fertilizers are being released into the soil and our food. We wonder if we could use our own fertilizers and compost for a little more control and mental security.
No-knead bread stood up to individual adaptation and ended up helping a whole lot of us over our fear of baking--perhaps the Garden Patch is the same? What do you think?
Related Posts:
Kitchen Gardening 101
How to Make a One-Pot Indoor Herb Garden
How to Grow Your Own Alfalfa Sprouts
(Photo Credit: The Garden Patch)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I'm planning on getting one of these soon. Sitting next to me is the book Incredible vegetables from self watering containers (i recommend checking it out from the library)
The garden patch seems to be a slightly less expensive version of the earth box and garders.com sells some variations as well. You can use your own fertilizer setup in it if you want. Im guessing they don't tell you what is in the nutrient patch since it's like a "secret recipe".
Anyone have one, and if so how is it? The only negative claim i have seen is that it didn't hold up for over a year with them, but other people seem to like it a lot. They have videos on QVC about it as well, how to set it up, plant it all that. I figured 30 bucks isn't bad to try it out, and if it goes will i'll make some of my own self watering containers next season.
Whichever way you go though, growing veggies in a container, a self watering container is key. Along with not having to water everyday, or multiple times a day, the soil never dries out, which will produce better vegetables.
Plus it has a 1 year guarantee, if you don't like it you get your money back, so how can it hurt...
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My big issue with this product is that it isn't very "green." It's made of plastic and as stated above it doesn't hold up for over a year so then it becomes landfill material. The fertilizer and soil aren't organic and if they aren't telling you what is in it then you don't even know what you will be ingesting along with your vegetables. You can find instructions to build your own here http://www.homegrownevolution.com/2007/01/self-watering-containers.html and here http://www.pathtofreedom.com/resources/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=27&Itemid=23. You may still end up using plastic but hopefully you use something you already own.
view http://badhuman.wordpress.com's profile
My mom has 2 Earth Boxes and we love them. One she has had, I believe, over 3 years, she uses her own soil mix and they work wonderfully. We both have muscular dystrophy and it's hard enough for her to manage her herb garden and flowers out front. These boxes are on our back deck and much easier for her to take care of.
I really can't say enough about them, the newer one we use for cherry tomatoes and they just kept growing and growing last year, making us quite happy! The other she uses for different herbs and we haven't had any problems with growing them either. The only part she's needed to replace on the 3 year old one was the cover.
She is considering getting one or two more because they are so easy to maintain. I don't know about the one suggested here, but I can say I'd highly recommend the Earth Box.
view bobcatsteph3's profile
Does anyone know how well these work for growing indoors?
view 22209's profile
I've used similar things before. The self-watering part is the best, since even with a big plant you don't have to water every day. I got mine (without "nutrient patch") from Gardeners Supply. They sell organic fertilizers and such as well.
22209, the big issue indoors is light. For leafy things, like lettuces or herbs, a bright window works OK. For fruiting plants (tomatoes, etc.) you've got to have lots of light, more than you'll probably get in the sunniest window. Grow lights aren't hard to find, but you will need more space. Also the light is a little weird looking, and between that and the fact that you need to have the light on for 16 hours (us. recommended for tomatoes) means that it can be a serious lifestyle and decorating issue!
view RebeccaCT's profile
Thanks, RebeccaCT. These are great points! My wait for more space (and/or outdoor space) continues...
view 22209's profile
I want one! Or four! The only reason that I have never tried to grow my own veggies is that I travel often and can't water my plants every day. I just learned about self-watering containers and plan to buy several in time to plant a few things (late April is the earliest we can plant here in KY). I am also planning to sell my house this summer, and containers are the perfect solution for being able to move my plants to my new house!
view Aimi's profile
Aimi, are you going to go with one of these or are you going to go with another variety from gardners.com or earthbox?
Also if you don't want to wait until the end of the month to start, I live in central indiana, you can start them inside. i'm going to start mine in a few days after i order some special container pepper seeds. plus this way you know when you transplant them that you have a pretty healthy plant started instead of planting seeds and hoping they grow.
Even though i've read a few negative review of these, i'm still going to go for it, and if it doesn't work out i'll get my money back and either build some or get a different kind next year.
i've looked into the supplies for building them and it's not that cheap when you want to make sure everything is safe to grow your food in etc. Plus the fact that it's even harder to build your own and make them look good at the same time, since it's be nice if they don't look like a couple 5 gallon buckets sitting on the deck...
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