[Aunt Sally]

That's a good saving with their offer.

Please let us know how they perform.  I'd be very interested.

[Grubbypaws]

Thank you Aunt Sally.

I was beginning to feel a little silly that I had spent so much    but gardening is about fun too! 

I will consider them a little 'treat' for myself; I hope that is OK DD.

I cant wait to plant them up with my new spuds     I managed to get Vivaldi, Mayan Gold and Charlotte.

The great thing about being newish to growing veg is that there are so many new things to try 

[Aunt Sally]

I absolutely agree Claire.  Gardening is about fun as well as saving money and you've done both at the same time with that good offer from Harrods. 

If I didn't have a 10 rod allotment I'd be tempted to buy some myself

[Gandan57]

http://www.lbsgardenwarehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=AP40&src=froogle                 

Are these better value for money?

VAT and delivery for the 60L one brings it up from £5.52 to £11.47. 

The 45L Airpots are  £59.95 for 5 - no delivery charge
http://www.internetgardener.co.uk/ProductDetail/5236/Air-Pot-45L-Planters---x-5.aspx

                                                                                                                             

Sorry Aunt Sally but 5 x 60 litre are £33.55 everything included.

[Grubbypaws]

The pots have arrived and been assembled. Just need the seed potatoes to arrive now. Sooo excited, they look great

[arugula]

The air pots were mentioned and shown on the Beechgrove Garden - iplayer episode 7 - this week. They do look very sturdy and well made.

[Grubbypaws]

I doubt that they cost too much to make but yes they are pretty sturdy and will be growing my potatoes for a good few years. Took minutes to put them together and they look pretty cool.

Not for everyone but I now effectively have a whole new but moveable raised bed.

Aunt sally I need education; a  10 rod allotment? How big is a rod? Is this how allotments (I don't have one ... yet) are measured?

[Grubbypaws]

The seed potatoes arrived this morning and are now planted in their air pots. Happiness 

Two pots of Mayan gold, two of Vivaldi and one of Charlotte.

I just managed to finish the job before the storm arrived.

[Barry C]

This is an old topic I know, but the only one I could find on airpots !

How did your experiment go Grubbypaws .... and are you still using your airpots ?

[Grubbypaws]

Hi Barry,

No I dont use them for my potatoes any longer. With all the air holes it was difficult to water the potatoes adequately and the pots were prone to drying out. I now use propylene potato bags. They don’t look nearly as cool but I can water and feed the potatoes much more easily. I hope that this helps 

[Barry C]

Thanks for that, I'm not growing spuds in airpots just tomatoes, peppers and some undecideds !

Have drip irrigation for the airpots so will see how we go, think the drip irrigation is important, but will see 


I know these pots are not cheap, but my hobby is gardening and it's nowhere near as expensive as some hobbies (thinking golf or season ticket to football etc ) so none of us should be shy at having a go, even if it involves
spending a few quid occasionally, indulge our hobby 

[Grubbypaws]

I know these pots are not cheap, but my hobby is gardening and it's nowhere near as expensive as some hobbies (thinking golf or season ticket to football etc ) so none of us should be shy at having a go, even if it involves
spending a few quid occasionally, indulge our hobby 

I couldn’t agree more. Enjoy 

[Aidy]

Yes I have but for a variety of Toms, Peppers and Cukes.

Watering is the main issue, you need to spend time getting it right in order for them to work.

So did they work?
Very much so, the root system at the end of the year was at a guess around 40-50% more than either n the ground or other normal pot, the root system was a mass of the fine roots which I believe takes more nutrients up, also growth was better producing taller plants.
Yield overall was better as n the case of the peppers the plants were bigger than the others as mentioned, I had fruit develop earlier and it last longer, taste to be honest was no different!

Will I use them this year?
Yep but mainly for Toms and Chillies

[Barry C]

Thanks for the info Aidy 

My tomatoes were not as good last year, wasn't particularly happy with the grow bags 

Watering, I have got some drip feeders which I used for watering and they did quite well, but have had my Heath Robinson manual out yesterday and have a cunning plan to improve the efficiency of the old system.
Basically it is gravity fed, so have got a bigger reservoir and moving it to a higher position and re-organising the drip feeders so they are only two off each spur as opposed to several in a line. That will keep me busy over the weekend while waiting for the Rugby