Latest news with #Plantura
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
100 year old plant watering system that means you don't have to water daily
A gardener has shared an ancient watering system that helps her stay on top of her plant care in her garden - and it's an easy DIY hack to follow at home A keen gardener has shared a clever trick for keeping on top of plant care using an ancient technique. In a TikTok video from 2024, Syd Roope showcased her homemade olla, a type of porous clay pot used for slow-release irrigation. Ollas have been around for over 2,000 years, with the first recorded mention in the Fan Sheng-Chih Shu, an ancient agricultural textbook. Syd created her own DIY version using a terracotta pot and saucer, which she buries underground and fills with water. As the soil dries out, the olla releases water, reducing the need for frequent watering. Syd explained: "In the summer when it gets really, really hot, you probably have to water once, maybe twice a day when it gets to be like 110 degrees (43 degrees celsius). "But with this, you bury it underground, and because it's porous, it will leach out water when the soil gets really dry, and the roots will come attached to this so that I don't have to come here and water it every day." The hack impressed fellow gardening enthusiasts, who praised Syd for her ingenuity. Experts at Plantura have shared several benefits to using ollas in your garden, such as the reduced need for regular watering, reports the Express. They've also identified that using ollas results in less weeding since "the topsoil remains drier, weeds germinate less easily". They also suggest it's a savvy method for reducing diseases and pests, noting: "Watering with ollas keeps the plant leaves dry, eliminating moisture-loving fungal diseases such as downy mildew and late blight. Slugs also have a harder time moving over dry soil." The team at Plantura have gone one step further, offering a how-to guide for crafting your own ollas at home, helping you save on costly alternatives. How to make your own olla Glue the large opening of two unglazed clay pots together. No water should be able to escape through the join. Now glue the flat clay shard over one of the drainage holes so that no water can get through. (Alternatively, you can use mortar, silicone, a flat stone or a cork to seal the drainage hole.) Lastly, fill the homemade olla with water (using a funnel if necessary) via the unsealed drainage hole on the opposite side. The saucer serves as a lid for your homemade olla. You can also buy Olla irrigation pots online. These sell from upwards of £10. They can be bought easily online. The self-watering clay pots are particularly effective in very dry climates. That is why Spanish settlers introduced the technique to the Americas in colonial times. The technique has now made a comeback in New Mexico and the American West. Plantura is an online shop where you can buy gardening goods.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Harmful' mistake many people make when watering tomatoes
Nothing quite compares to the flavour of succulent, homegrown tomatoes, which also happen to be more economical than their store-bought counterparts. However, many aspiring gardeners fall into a common trap when nurturing their burgeoning tomato plants. The green-fingered gurus at Haxnicks have issued a caution: "Tomato plants should not be over or under-watered. READ MORE: Location and dates for mobile waste lorries for the start of April READ MORE: Eid ul Fitr events and prayers across Birmingham -all you need to know This is probably the hardest mistake to put right, especially if you are gardening on an allotment, so can't be there 24/7 to cater to your needy tomatoes." Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join Those tending to their tomatoes in their own backyards may find it easier to manage, but inconsistent watering can still lead to disappointing results. The team at Haxnicks further advised: "Both over and underwatering can cause fruit to split, which in turn can allow diseases to take hold." Spotting a tomato plant that's been neglected isn't difficult. If it's underwatered, expect to see dry and brittle leaves; overwatered plants, on the other hand, will likely exhibit soft and soggy leaves or stems, reports the Express. For those with a passion for cultivating tomatoes, remember the golden rule: "water slowly, water deeply" to achieve the most luscious fruits come summertime. It's crucial for tomato growers to avoid drenching their plants. Instead, consider using a drip hose for gradual watering directly to the plants. Moreover, it's wise to aim the water at the base of the plant to reach the roots rather than from above, preventing unnecessary saturation of the plant itself. The experts concluded, "Watering from above can spread disease and pests faster and waste water through evaporation." For those who tend to neglect watering their plants, a solution to prevent dehydration is mulching around the tomato plants. "Without it, plants' roots can rapidly dry out. Mulch also helps to regulate the soil temperature, keeping it constant despite the weather and keeps weeds at bay that would compete with the tomato plants", explained Haxnicks. When deciding on the most suitable type of mulch, a layer of straw, shredded leaves, or compost about 5-10cm (two to four inches) thick should provide adequate insulation for the plants. According to the gardening gurus at Plantura, "tomatoes with mulch grow better and are often healthier because the soil underneath is under less strain". Mulching proves beneficial throughout the growing season, but the initial mulching for tomatoes is ideally done as early as March or April. This assists in maintaining the soil's warmth and readies it for the frost-sensitive roots of the tomatoes. By May, nutrients are then easily accessible for the tomato plants. Once the tomatoes have been moved to their garden bed or pots from indoor containers, the Plantura team suggests adding a bit more plant material to the mulch layer so that the soil remains lightly covered.
