I have all three systems. First year with a greenhouse and everything is late! I grew chilli's and basil in the chilli grow, aubergines in the auto pot and quadgrow had Tom's, cumber, physalis, cucamelons, melon and peppers!
Darn you JB! It's warm enough here to grow chilis outside and I have almost an acre so don't need to worry about space/ # of plants/ yield....but I just LOVE gadgets! Oh I'm so tempted to buy Auto Pots even though I don't need them! My finger has come so close to hitting that "buy now" button on their website! I might need to tie my fingers together or wear heavy garden gloves till the temptation passes!
In Australia with our crazy summer heatwaves, self-watering pots/planters, self-watering systems, and even the plain irrigation systems are an absolute must, unless you have a very small garden or the time to spend 2+ hrs every day watering the garden. I initially knew nothing about setting up irrigation, but I was getting exhausted being eaten alive by mosquitoes while trying to spending hours watering all my garden beds and potted plants. So I set up irrigation, including drippers to quite a lot of my potted plants and I've never regretted it. I also have some amazing self-watering planters, similar in setup to your Quadgrows, and they're fantastic (when I remember to check if they need more water and don't forget about them 🫣). Interestingly, we have a brand called Autopot over here, but it's not the same as the one in the UK, although the concept is basically the same. I've always wanted one, but couldn't afford it in years past. Maybe I'll get one as my reward to myself for catching up on all the weeding and starting to actually use my garden for growing vegetables again! 😆
Hi JB. I’m a huge Autopot fan. Currently have 8 of the large pots which I use for tomatoes. Even with this years weather I’ve been overwhelmed with fruit - even had to give some away to a local food bank. One of the main benefits for me is the ability to be away for a couple of days and not worry about the watering. I am going to double my system over the next year and look at how I can increase the water storage capacity. Great video as usual.
I love the Autpots, and have your channel to thank for it when I was deciding what to go for. Thank you for your clear explanations, and discount code! Now I have so many chillies I have no idea how to process them all! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and highs & lows of gardening!
Hahahaha that is a fantastic problem to have!! I've been enjoying branching out from hot sauce a bit - making chilli jam, cowboy candy and next up is a sweet chilli sauce 😁
Really through explanation JB. I have been using my autopots in the greenhouse i have been collecting them for a couple of years and had 6 with chillis/peppers in on one side and 8 with tomatoes in in the other. Chillis have been amazing biggest plants I have ever had. The tomatoes were late in but equally healthy but not a huge harvest, probs down to pants growing season. Had my cherry toms and my Crimson Crush in two sets of quad grows on my south facing patio. Plants got huge and had lots of trusses. Not as meny ripe ones again suvh a pants summer hasnt heloed but enough for my taste. I did find i forgot to check the quad grows weirdly as regulary as the autopot reservoirs maybe becuase i spend way too much time in my greenhouse so am always checking. I used the nutrigrow feed in both aystems. Its great. Considering liquid food is so expensive these days the fact you get feed included with the quad grows is a big pro in my opinion.
Thanks so much for this. Made my choice as a long time chilli growing addict. First time I’ve just grown straight into the polytunnel without normal pots & worst harvest ever 😢….also busy/autistic & want a holiday next year….constantly feel like I can’t leave the allotment without feeling guilty
I have no idea what you mean about cramming too many plants into a too small area! NOPE! 😄What did you feed the "no faff" normal pot with? A 3rd nutrient option or one of the AutoPot/Quadgrow nutrients? Will you do a followup showing the roots of all the 4 ring of fire at the end of the season? Would be really interesting to see. Can't wait to see the roots in my 15 liter pots. I *think* I'll stick with the 15 liter pots unless there's a lot of "empty" media 🤔And the piece of mind was a major reason for me getting 4 AutoPot pots. And I don't think there's a risk for complacency in my case. I grow on my balcony, so I "inspect" the plants almost every day. It is just the ease of use and knowing that the plats most likely get watered better than I could do by hand 😄Not too little, not too much!
Oh that's a great question about the no faff pots you know Rasz. I've been really lax with the feeding, but they've had a bit of tomato focus when I've remembered basically. Not good. Root comparison is a good idea!
Yes I've heard really good things about the quadgrow feed - which is why I wanted to keep it fair and use the autopot feed only. I used that this year and last year too, and kept the A/B quadgrow feed for the quadgrows. I have a feeling if I used the A/B with the autopots it might be an even better harvest. I suppose that's an experiment for next year!
Do you ever use quadgrows Tony? Sorry to hear it. I wonder if the pot size might have been a bit large in the autos if you were using 15L given the terrible year we've had?
This year I'm going to attempt to overwinter a pepper plant to try and get ahead. Wish me luck
Good luck!
I have all three systems. First year with a greenhouse and everything is late! I grew chilli's and basil in the chilli grow, aubergines in the auto pot and quadgrow had Tom's, cumber, physalis, cucamelons, melon and peppers!
Darn you JB! It's warm enough here to grow chilis outside and I have almost an acre so don't need to worry about space/ # of plants/ yield....but I just LOVE gadgets! Oh I'm so tempted to buy Auto Pots even though I don't need them! My finger has come so close to hitting that "buy now" button on their website! I might need to tie my fingers together or wear heavy garden gloves till the temptation passes!
In Australia with our crazy summer heatwaves, self-watering pots/planters, self-watering systems, and even the plain irrigation systems are an absolute must, unless you have a very small garden or the time to spend 2+ hrs every day watering the garden.
I initially knew nothing about setting up irrigation, but I was getting exhausted being eaten alive by mosquitoes while trying to spending hours watering all my garden beds and potted plants. So I set up irrigation, including drippers to quite a lot of my potted plants and I've never regretted it.
I also have some amazing self-watering planters, similar in setup to your Quadgrows, and they're fantastic (when I remember to check if they need more water and don't forget about them 🫣).
Interestingly, we have a brand called Autopot over here, but it's not the same as the one in the UK, although the concept is basically the same. I've always wanted one, but couldn't afford it in years past. Maybe I'll get one as my reward to myself for catching up on all the weeding and starting to actually use my garden for growing vegetables again! 😆
Great comparison JB, I was given a chilli grow for Christmas and planted aubergines in it, they did very well.
Great comparison video JB. I need to update my autopot system next year and this encourages me to extend it too
Interesting I think I need a self watering system for the greenhouse
Hi JB. I’m a huge Autopot fan. Currently have 8 of the large pots which I use for tomatoes. Even with this years weather I’ve been overwhelmed with fruit - even had to give some away to a local food bank. One of the main benefits for me is the ability to be away for a couple of days and not worry about the watering. I am going to double my system over the next year and look at how I can increase the water storage capacity. Great video as usual.
Love to hear it! I really love them too.
I love the Autpots, and have your channel to thank for it when I was deciding what to go for. Thank you for your clear explanations, and discount code! Now I have so many chillies I have no idea how to process them all! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and highs & lows of gardening!
Hahahaha that is a fantastic problem to have!! I've been enjoying branching out from hot sauce a bit - making chilli jam, cowboy candy and next up is a sweet chilli sauce 😁
Hi JB, brilliant video of self watering systems?with plenty of useful tips and hints. Thanks for sharing and take 😊
Really through explanation JB. I have been using my autopots in the greenhouse i have been collecting them for a couple of years and had 6 with chillis/peppers in on one side and 8 with tomatoes in in the other. Chillis have been amazing biggest plants I have ever had. The tomatoes were late in but equally healthy but not a huge harvest, probs down to pants growing season.
Had my cherry toms and my Crimson Crush in two sets of quad grows on my south facing patio. Plants got huge and had lots of trusses. Not as meny ripe ones again suvh a pants summer hasnt heloed but enough for my taste. I did find i forgot to check the quad grows weirdly as regulary as the autopot reservoirs maybe becuase i spend way too much time in my greenhouse so am always checking. I used the nutrigrow feed in both aystems. Its great. Considering liquid food is so expensive these days the fact you get feed included with the quad grows is a big pro in my opinion.
Great video, lots of information will definitely try a watering system next year
Thanks so much for this. Made my choice as a long time chilli growing addict. First time I’ve just grown straight into the polytunnel without normal pots & worst harvest ever 😢….also busy/autistic & want a holiday next year….constantly feel like I can’t leave the allotment without feeling guilty
yeah being able to fill those systems up and know I can leave the plot for 4 or 5 days even in the height of summer is just wonderful.
@@JBNat cant y cant 🏴100%
Thanks for the video !
I have no idea what you mean about cramming too many plants into a too small area! NOPE! 😄What did you feed the "no faff" normal pot with? A 3rd nutrient option or one of the AutoPot/Quadgrow nutrients? Will you do a followup showing the roots of all the 4 ring of fire at the end of the season? Would be really interesting to see. Can't wait to see the roots in my 15 liter pots. I *think* I'll stick with the 15 liter pots unless there's a lot of "empty" media 🤔And the piece of mind was a major reason for me getting 4 AutoPot pots. And I don't think there's a risk for complacency in my case. I grow on my balcony, so I "inspect" the plants almost every day. It is just the ease of use and knowing that the plats most likely get watered better than I could do by hand 😄Not too little, not too much!
Oh that's a great question about the no faff pots you know Rasz. I've been really lax with the feeding, but they've had a bit of tomato focus when I've remembered basically. Not good. Root comparison is a good idea!
👍👍👍
have you tried the ebb n flow or the flood and drain method? love the auto pots with clay balls in it seems to work well for my tomatoes and peppers
Do you mean with proper hydro, or just with the autopots? I must admit I've never really done anything with Hydro outside of the Letpot.
Would the feed make a difference too JB?
Yes I've heard really good things about the quadgrow feed - which is why I wanted to keep it fair and use the autopot feed only. I used that this year and last year too, and kept the A/B quadgrow feed for the quadgrows. I have a feeling if I used the A/B with the autopots it might be an even better harvest. I suppose that's an experiment for next year!
Had shit results from my autopots this year. really disappointing, but have to say its the first bad year
Do you ever use quadgrows Tony? Sorry to hear it. I wonder if the pot size might have been a bit large in the autos if you were using 15L given the terrible year we've had?
No you are correct forgot I paid that much. £99 for eight.
£60 for eight I think.