Inside Urban Green

Popular Mechanics: Topsy Turvy and EarthBox Comparison

Read about the results of a test comparing the Topsy Turvy and EarthBox in this article from Popular Mechanics. Note the EarthBox description "a second novelty product." It's safe to say that the EarthBox is well beyond being a novelty with knowledgeable consumers but not necessarily with the media.

via www.popularmechanics.com

The Test

Comparison plantings between Topsy Turvy tomatoes, tomatoes grown in a second novelty product called an Earthbox, and a third batch grown in the traditional dirt method popularized over several thousand years of agriculture.

The Verdict

A stormy season toppled the Topsy Turvy, stifling a promising start. Tomatoes planted in the earth survived and thrived.

LEDs Magazine - Plant growth gets the red light from Showa Denko

Are we going to lag behind in this technology too? Read Tom Friedman's "Have a Nice Day" column about Applied Materials and their overseas solar panel factories. There is no doubt that we will be growing vegetables in SIPs (sub-irrigated planters aka "self-watering") under LEDs in the future. The big question is who is going to make them?

via www.ledsmagazine.com

Plant growth gets the red light from Showa Denko

The Japanese LED maker has developed high-performance 660 nm chips that accelerate plant photosynthesis.

Showa Denko K.K., a Japan-based LED maker, has started selling samples of AlGaInP (aluminum gallium indium phosphide) LED chips that emit red light with wavelength of 660 nm. This, says the company, is the optimum light for accelerating the growth of plants.

Red light stimulates plants

Showa Denko has developed a new light-emitting layer and claims to have achieved an output of 11 mW at the drive current of 20 mA, which is believes to the world’s highest level for 660-nm LED chips to date.

In recent years, there has been widespread investigation of the growth of vegetables under conditions where various aspects of the environment are controlled, such as lighting, temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration and nourishment.

Nearly 30 facilities of this kind are already in operation in Japan. They ensure stabilized production regardless of season or location; they allow multiple harvests; and they do not need fungicides or insecticides because of the controlled environment. Read more...

Clay Pot to SIP Conversion

Self-waterer conversion #3, originally uploaded by grrlscout224.

Shhh! Don't tell! It doesn't have a drain hole any more. It's a sub-irrigated planter now (SIP aka self-watering). Click on the photo to see how it was done on Flickr. No need for pretty. It's out of sight. It just needs to wick the water up by capillary action. All dumb drain hole pots should be converted to save water, time and grow healthier plants.

There are many ways to make SIPs, this one and this one are made in the same spirit as the one above. Recycle the materials you have on hand.

Wickinator Self-Watering Window Boxes

Here is a present day sub-irrigation (aka self-watering) product that might be worth it for those not into do-it-yourself projects. Note the similarity to the 1918 self-watering window box in this prior post (bottom photo).

via www.flowerwindowboxes.com

The WICKINATOR (TM) water reservoir is a self-watering system that stores up to 1 gallon or more of extra Window Box Water Reservoirswater at the bottom of your window box to turn it into a self-watering window box. Standing water will drown out roots and result in plant death. The WICKINATOR (TM) works by drawing water from the reservoir up the wicks and into the soil. As the soil dries out and becomes oxygenated, more water is drawn from the watering reservoir to act as an automatic self watering system to keep your soil watered, but not drowning out your roots. It is normal to have to water a window box every 2-4 days. With the WICKINATOR (TM) you will water 3-5 times less frequently allowing your plants to be watered weeks at a time. Turn any of our window boxes into self watering window boxes in minutes.

An EarthBox Predecessor in 1918

via Google Books - House & Garden, February 1918

Does this look and sound familiar? Even though the planter was for sale over 90 years ago it reads much like an ad for an EarthBox, Tomato Success Kit or Garden Patch Grow Box. See the Popular Mechanics photo below. Note the fill tube and reservoir and that they covered their bets by calling it both "self watering" and "sub irrigating."

Google reveals that we haven't really come very far in all this time. Progress moves at glacial speed in the gardening and horticultural world.

All Year Round Flower Box

Pour water into the tube once a week. Perfect air circulation and drainage. No surface watering.

Leak-proof and rust-proof. You can move Rare Roses indoors or out and have beautiful Flowers and Plants the year round.

For Windows, Porches, Sun Parlors

Six sizes_artistic in design and beautifully finished in Aluminum or Dark Green

Made of Heavy Galvanized Steel

Self Watering _ Sub Irrigating

Plants and flowers may be kept fresh and healthy all year round with very little attention by a self-watering steel box that has been patented. Moisture and air are directed tot he roots through a series of perforated tubes fed from a reservoir that requires filling only once a week. It is said that the plants cannot be overwatered by this device. A pipe with an opening receives the supply of water and acts as a reserve tank, in addition to carrying air beneath the soil.

Google Books - Popular Mechanics, January, 1924

Central Park on the HIgh Seas

Oaisis of the Seas - (more videos)

Miami Herald photos

Back in the 1970's when I was in the interior plantscaping business, the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta was a modern marvel of our industry. Designed by architect John Portman, it was the first atrium hotel in America.

Many other atrium hotels followed including the iconic Embassy Suites hotels founded by the late Hervey Feldman. Oh, those were the days my friends.The interior plantscaping business has never been the same but that's a story for another post.

Fast forward to today and it appears that the grand atrium hotels are now cruising the high seas, witness this video and article about the "Central Park" atrium on the new cruise behemoth Oasis of the Seas.

From the Miami Herald

Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, is creating a wave of business for Palm Beach County landscaping nurseries hurt by the recession and the dismal housing market.

Startling New Development - Sub-irrigation 1939

Gosh, what will they think of next! Incidentally "nurserymen" in 1939 are now "horticulturists". A long time ago I was a "salesman". "Sub-irrigation" is now erroneously referred to as "self-watering" in the consumer market. "Soiless" means no dirt from the ground.

Get the new book "Soiless Growth of Plants" and learn this new technique which everyone is talking about. Three methods described_Water Culture, Sand Culture, Sub-irrigation. Explains all operations. Tells how to make containers and nutrient solutions from raw materials at small cost_how to grow flowers, vegetables and fruits without soil. A fine hobby and a money-saving investment for city dwellers. A source of new business for gardeners, nurserymen, etc. Only book of its kind. Order today" Soiless Growth of Plants" Sent postpaid for $2.75.

via books.google.com - Popular Mechanics March 1939

U of Delaware Extension: Spider Mite Control Options

Click on the chart for a larger view.

Houseplant season is here and time to be alert to pests, particularly if you moved your plants outside during the summer. Spider mites in particular can be one of the toughest houseplant pests to eradicate.

Mites are very small and difficult to see with the naked eye. Scouting for them with a hand lens is the best preventative. Don't wait until you see their webs. I have had them attack both Chamaedorea elegans (Parlor Palms) and Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig). Again, early detection is the best method of control. In many cases of severe infestation (visible webs), it's best to toss the plants(s).

Above is a good menu of control options. Many of these materials require an applicators license. Always read the label. I use Neem Oil and denatured alcohol as universal indoor pest management materials.

via kentcoopextension.blogspot.com

Can Biotech Food Cure World Hunger?

There is a timely debate going on at the NY Times roomfordebate.blog

It has prompted many interesting comments worth reading (over 50 as of this date). It would also serve the public if we had more open debate about in-ground growing and sub-irrigation planter (SIP) growing. From my observation there is much unspoken resistance to SIP food production that is based on personal belief and ideology rather than technological merit.

With food prices remaining high in developing countries, the United Nations estimates that the number of hungry people around the world could increase by 100 million in 2009 and pass the one billion mark. A summit of world leaders in Rome scheduled for November will set an agenda for ways to reduce hunger and increase investment in agriculture development in poor countries.

What will drive the next Green Revolution? Is genetically modified food an answer to world hunger? Are there other factors that will make a difference in food production? Read more...

2009 EarthBox Garden Photo Series

EarthBox forum member JD has done a great job of documenting a 2009 EarthBox garden. Have a look. 

This is evidently JD's EarthBox photo set on Flickr.  It contains 578 photos of the family garden. What a wonderful collection and a most helpful public service. 

There is more valuable information about growing in Earthboxes (including many more photos) posted to this forum.

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