This man is a legend, Leon is the grandfather the world needs. Teach ya how to feed yourself and pass down incredible tricks of the trade learned over a long life of incredible gardening.
I'd like to spend a week with this man. The amount of knowledge you could pick up is priceless. My dad used to tell me to always be quiet and listen to my elders and I would learn a lifetime of knowledge when I was around them. Best thing I ever did was take that advise.
I am disabled♿ and unable to get much of any direct assistance. Interested in making wicking beds i let that dream go but used EVERYTHING I've learned from STUDYING these videos to set up 18G totes on my front porch. THANK YOU, i collected Cans from making meals, plastic jugs of all types & i created a kitchen scraps compost bucket using leaves with my kid's help. I APPRECIATE the strength & COMMON SENSE that ooozes from Leon. Thank you for inspiring me to NOT GIVE UP & take control of what I'm eating!!!
God bless you, heal you and protect you. May none of your beautiful dreams ever have to be abandoned again. Amen 🤲Assalamu alaykum peace be unto you whomever n wherever you are.🤗
You're a god send for those of us who are wheelchair bound and spent our lives loving gardening! I was able to make the wicking tubs from my wheelchair! They're the perfect height for me to be able to plant, care for & harvest - from my chair! A local rancher happily gave me 25 mineral tubs I was able to get a church to pick up & bring to me. The local high school makes potting mix to individual specifications and delivered. The kids were great & so much fun to visit with. They were fascinated with the wicking tub system approach to gardening. I ordered the corrugated perforated pipe from Lowe's and had it shipped to me. My local lumberyard/hardware store was happy to cut my PVC pipe in the lengths I needed plus the angles at the end. I arranged the tubs around the perimeter of my cement patio so I can drive up to each one. I have multiple health issues which prevented me from doing much on any 1 given day so I plugged along but a little over a month later I had 20 wicking tubs planted. That was all last year. This year I added a new method of batch watering. I bought one of the 4 hose water spout attachments. Each has a hose that runs from it I fitted with 4 hose T's I've zip tied to the top of each wicking tube after drilling small holes on either side of them. The last one on each hose of course doesn't need a hose T. Since I live in the hot desert in the summer I have to water 3x a week during the height of summer. It's so easy now. Just turn on the spigot and let it run for a bit. The other thing I had to do was protect my garden plants for the hot burning afternoon sun. That was solved by sticking garden stakes in each bucket and making an angled shade cloth sun screen. These are angled to only shade the sun from 3pm on. No more sunburned plants! This was such an easy project. For Christmas I bought myself one of those composting systems that is a barrel with a handle to rotate. What a joy that is! I even ordered worms online for it! Now I grow enough produce I share with other low income seniors who often don't have the finances to afford fresh produce. I would add I'm also a low income senior and this entire set up cost me about $200 spread across 2 years (buying my garden mix from the school saved me tons of money). What I save on buying fresh produce I reinvest into my garden. I never used to spend time on my patio. It was such a bland ugly place. Now I spend copious amounts of time there surrounded by a lush productive garden. The horticulture class group from the local high school has made several class trips to check out my alternative way to garden. I just added wicking tubs filled with flowers & herbs along my front wheelchair ramp walkway leading to my apt with the same set up - minus the shade cloth since it's already protected by a shade tree from the late afternoon sun. Oh & to keep the birds from devouring all my beautiful produce I used bamboo garden stakes and net tulle - attached to the tops of the stakes using zip ties. Easy peasy, works wonderfully & cost nearly nothing. My next addition if we ever start getting rain again is rain barrels & rain chains! To note I didn't notice any appreciable increase in my water bill once my garden was up & running. On average it's up $3 a month from my pre-garden days. In winter I cover all my tubs with burlap I got free from the same rancher I got the mineral tubs from. My dear Leon - this was all possible because of you. I have no way to thank you enough for the dramatic change you enabled.
Thank you for sharing your story! I have wanted to help seniors in my area to keep gardening but I didn’t know what it could look like until now. Your setup sounds beautiful. Happy gardening!
Mr. Leon, your gardening inspiration literally has us building similar versions of the wicking tubs the same weekend. I'm using 18 gal. blue rope tubs from Lowe's and Target, cutting my corrugated pipe to 36" for a semi-circle piece with a supplement piece at 11.5" to run in the middle to the drain hole. As an alternative I cut down a 4"x10' drain sock to 5-6" pieces zip tied to cover the pipe ends instead of the pro landscape fabric. The drain sock option seemed a little more cost effective for me as an alternative to the pro landscape fabric. You're an inspiration Mr. Leon and have me spending way more time in my local garden center than I ever thought I would. Thanks for sharing your experience sir!
My Arkansas raised Papa born 1923 fought as a Marine at Iwo Jima worked as an engineer internationally and lived in Chicagoland most of his life kept his accent and also demonstrated down-to-earth practical living. My gardener daughter found you and said you reminded her of Grandpa. I can see why and she has paid you the highest of compliments. I concur and of course have subscribed
Use Potting Mix, NOT potting soil. About 5 to 6 inches from the top, add the following amendments: Sustain - 1/2 cup, or Organic Tomato-tone (sold at big-box stores) Sea mineral - 1/4 cup Gypsum - 1/8 cup Lime - 1/8 cup Epsom salt - 1/8 cup
Thank you Leon! I live in the high desert and these wicking container keep my love of gardening alive. I can actually grow cucumbers out here! Thank you
You simply check your water level using a small wooden dowel like a dipstick. (I use a long shiskabob spear). When the water level drops to about an inch remaining, you mix up your water and nutrients, and using a funnel, pour it down into the pipe. You add proper nutrients EVERY TIME you need to water. My tubs are growing AMAZINGLY.... first time I've tried this awesome growing technique.
I rarely subscribe and even more rarely comment on RU-vid. I just jumped online to research 5 gallon bucket tomatoes when I saw this gentleman for the first time. Absolute love at first sight. Reminds me of my Paw Paw who is my greatest influence and of whom I, and my son, share last names. I spent a lot of weekends at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's since my parents divorced when I was six and my dad was a true deadbeat. The only good memories I really have from those years were at that their house. As soon as I turned 16 and had I license I used an old paper map to find my way out there after losing contact for the most part after just a couple years. I got to spend a couple good years with them several times a year for maybe two years. I remembered him from growing up and he was still the same, kindest, gentlest, most humble gentleman you'll meet. I could go on and on about him but I'll sum it up, married fifty plus years and loved all the family they built, deeply .. absolutely off the charts in all categories, especially empathy. I'm glad I could spend that time with them. Fast-forward, I'm married 31(together 31, married 21) years with a son. Unfortunately we had to say goodbye 30 years ago. I would learn two decades later that he carried a picture of me in his wallet. My wife got to meet him. He told me he loved me then crossed the bridge a couple hours later. That's the kind of person I wanted to be ever since. I want someone to love(and by that virtue them, me) enough to use my last breath to tell them what they've meant to me. I disagree with the notion that you never really know anyone. I can count on my toes and fingers how many times in 50(in 1 minute) years how many times I've met someone that I feel like I've known for years. This is one of those times. I still keep the last picture of us together on the desk I'm using right now. He had a badass garden plot, nice and square, flat, good dirt. I'm using the space beside my pool fence and three 3x8' raised beds for a few years now. He had the green thumb that only came from experience and I have to research absolutely every step of gardening then somehow carve out the time to actually do the work. I'm still rambling, I know. Really just wanted to say that Leon instantly invoked a lot of outstanding memories for me. Truly overwhelmed. Love deeply, everyone! Also, I learned a ton!!
Wish I had those mineral tubs around here, used 55gal plastic barrels cut in half last year. Neighbors thought i was crazy, and I did the 4in drain pipe in a circle with the cross pipe worked put great. They understood when I had huge tomatoes and bell pepper plants growing up here in the Pacific NW. The grow bag version looks interesting, may have to set a couple of those up. Thank you Leon !
Good morning, the title scared me! Just bought the PVC pipes to start buckets using milk jugs in17 gallon tubs from lowes-thought you were changing everything. Thanks so much for all you do for us and God bless.
Just an FYI for those thinking of using plywood as a lid...plywood is about $65 for one piece right now, so it may not be cost effective to go that route.
First year I’m doing the Leon way of planting in containers! I’m convinced this is the way to go! I have the most beautiful tomato plants❤️❤️ Thanks Mr Leon!
Awesome vid Leon!! My self wicking buckets are doing great this year!! I did have to change my sea minerals I could not get any this year! I bought me some Azomite to replace it and my plants are doing wonderful!! Thanks again Leon God Bless!!
Love this guy I'm going to try to get my cousins together for a roadtrip from OKC to go meet Mr. Leon hopefully this summer. Been busy with all the graduation stuff but need some good seeds and good fertilizer and to shake this man's hand!!!
I live in Dallas and looked up the garden center. It’s north about 90 miles. It said it was permanently closed! Am disappointed, I just found this channel. I pray all is well!
Amazing stuff. You and your staff have done a lot of research and experimentation to get to where you are today. Thanks for telling and showing us your secrets so we can grow things successfully.
This is my first year making 5 gallon wicking buckets. I used old nylon knee highs over each end of my pipe as I did not have ground cover. I'll check them next year to see if they held up for a full season.
I am just now learning to garden. I've been watching RU-vid videos and am so grateful I came across this video! You have given me inspiration to give wicking buckets a try. I live in Arizona and our water is very valuable. I think these wicking buckets would help with containing the water so it's not waisting to much. Thank you for this amazing idea!
My Granddaddy had this same Oklahoma accent. Lebm eenches! Oh my heart. I love it. Thank you for all of this great information. I am a single momma with a disabled son, and as much as I want to gardern and grow my own food, I struggle to find enough time to water. I found your video learning about self watering containers. So many helpful tips. Maybe my gardens will be more productive next year!! Love from a fellow Okie.
Flex tape works real well on the mineral pots that have cracks. The tape also covers holes u drilled in. I had 1 pot crack after 7 yrs & turned all my mineral pots into wicking beds & had to plug all the holes. Have used it on old pots & even my clay pots. The tape is expensive but cheaper than replacing the pots & your not being wasteful. I also use marine grade silicon caulk that is safe for fish that people use in aquariums & boats. It wasn't harm the plants or leak toxins into your produce that'll b abandoned into your body when you eat. The marine grade silicon is spendy also (what isn't expensive right now!) Got a line on my aquaponics system (I have IBC full of tilapia. The fish water feeds my plants then water goes back into fish tank where the plants nutrients feed the fish. The fish & produce feed me, my Rotties & my chickens). I believe the small tube was 6 oz costing $14 Aqua/ hydroponics uses 90% less water than traditional dirt. I cut 40% of IBC from top & bottom (approx 8" from the middle disregarded). Then I fill w sand. Root vegetables, corn, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, strawberries,,... So real well. For leafy greens will rot so I take a felt bag, fun it w dirt & set it 3-4" down into the sand where it works as wicking bed. Plants grown hydroponically grow faster & produce better yields. W the system setup on timers where it'll fill, empty out, fill (change how often you need it to fill based upon the temp) it's perfect system you can leave & go on vacation. I also covet system w plastic (high tunnel greenhouse). The tilapia tank has to be minimally 65°. The warm water on the plant roots & the fish tank raising the ambient air temp inside the greenhouse will keep plants growing all winter. I was picking last of my watermelon in Nov & picked all my tomatoes, peppers & eggplant just b4 the artic blast flash freeze hit Arkansas just b4 Christmas this yr. I had -9 F -25 real temp. I don't think the issue was the cold, it was the flash freeze. My 265 IBC rainwater collection froze solid. I checked at 0100 & every was good at 0500 frozen. My IBC rain tank inside greenhouse did not freeze. The fish tank heater dropped down to 40° but I didn't lose any fish. Need to improve tank heating system Rambled on enough! Hope that info will b helpful
I love all your videos, Leon..and I love that you call us fellow gardeners! I've been a lifelong gardener but have learned so much from you and am planting my first wicking tubs right now. Thank you, Sir! And congratulations on reaching 101,000 subscribers!!
I just heard about your channel today and it was so timely! I was given 12 of the giant white protein lick tubs and planned to use them for gardening. I didn't know how to make them into self-wicking first of all, but more importantly, I didn't know that the white would cause algae to grow. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the rest of us! ❤❤❤
Thank you Mr Leon for wonderful video's been using wicking tubs for a couple years now ever since I discovered your video's awesome results !! God bless you and yours keep'em coming here's to another growing season!!
Hi brother paul. May i ask, what kind of crops have you had the best successes with? Anything you realized along the way tgat you wish u had known. I ask bc im not a farmer n im too poor to make mistakes n no1 told me to start hime gardening would take a lot more than what i imagined.
Rayanne...... I was commenting on this page, when I came across yours and all what you just said in your comment is great and amazing. I will like us to be friends if you don't mind? This is my Gmail Raymondgogolf@gmail.com you can text me. sorry for commenting on Public stuff. please the gmail is only for Rayanne thanks. I hope to hear from you soon.....God bless you.🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
I built my first self wicking beds this year. We have had so much rain I haven’t needed to water one time!!! That was unexpected! But summer in central Texas I’m sure that will change.
Can't rely on just rainfall. You won't get the results without the frequent nutrients. I'm in North Central TX, way too much rain, but I still feed regularly, just adjust a tad between the never ending monsoons. I'm harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers already, but I planted mid March. Plastic covered for two frosty mornings.
RISE & SHINE MR. LEON... RISE & SHINE! TOP OF THE MORNING TO YOU & THE FAMILY. YOU ALL HAVE THE BLESSED DAY & MUCH LOVE FROM donnalynn ramey TAKE CARE & BE SAFE🙏🏽🧘🏽🙏🏽
I have followed several RU-vid farmers to learn how to best grow backyard crops. I need all the help I can get because I am in zone 10 in Arizona where I have to deal with extreme temperatures regularly. Anyways, none of the other RU-vid farmers have ever suggested high Phosperous and potash for tomatoes. I have wondered about that quite a bit. Now though, to hear you suggest it, I feel like I wasn't wrong in thinking the same way about producing more and larger tomatoes. You've earned my like and subscribe. Thank you, sir.
Leon, you are a treasure. I’m using your alternative wicking system using a 27 gallon rectangular black bin with a yellow lid. I used three 6” perforated pipe crosswise, covered with weed cloth & inserted a pipe inserted between the fabric & side of bin. Its working very well. I didn’t like using the weed cloth. I would like to make my future rectangular bins using your new idea of just covering the ends of the perforated pipes, inserting the watering tube then filling with mix. Where is the best place to insert the watering tube? Do I need to use a watering tube in front of each perforated pipe? I’m concerned the potting mix will clog up between the ends of the covered perforated pipe, the sides of the bin & the single watering tube. Maybe your new process won’t work with a rectangular bin. Thank you for the advice. I’ve learned so much from you. Blessings to you & your family.
My addition to this wicking tub would be to drill a one inch drain hole approximately three inches from the ground in your bucket and in your six inch drain tile. Then, insert your one inch plastic drain tube in your bucket’s drain hole and in your six inch drain tile. Your drain tube needs to be inside your drain tile, so the drain tube will not fill up with potting mix. Your drain tube will make sure your bucket will not overflow with water. With a bucket of this size you don’t need a fill tube to bottom water. You can simply top water the potting mix. Every wicking tub needs to accept and shed water. To prevent evaporation, place grass clippings on the top of your potting mix. The grass clipping will reduce soil evaporation, control weeds, and feed the soil.
Genius. I thought the same thing about the tube n asked. I told myself that id put it in the hose not in btw the ends as he said n feed from top to fill reservoir with the goodies put in the soil. Thx 4 yr comment. I know nothing i call tools thingies lol but i appreciate the validation of my limited thoughts regarding riggin stuff n the fact that your kind enough to share your ideas. Bless you bro! Assalamu alaykum peace be unto you 😊
I like using my yard weeds as mineral fertilizer....I eat the weeds too....anyway, those weeds burl deep down into the soil and bring up all the nutrients your bucket soil needs . After composing them in of course . Good video, enjoyed watching
Just a thought, you may want to add 1" by 2" adapter on water pipe top of cover to steady the pipe and be a funnel for those of us that pour rain water into our wicking tub. Great videos, congrats on breaking 100,000, watch all of your orders. I also like the idea on your info sheet about the wooden dowel rods for water level indicators.