--- Living Prepared ---: Soil Moisture Amount Measuring, Container Gardening

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Soil Moisture Amount Measuring, Container Gardening

Container or bucket gardening makes a lot of sense for the small gardener. I intend to continue this method. Growing potatoes in containers are just too easy, you simply plant the potato seeds and forget about them until harvest time. Harvesting is even easier, just dump the container on the ground and pick out the potatoes. No digging and no risk of stabbing the potatoes if using a potato fork like when growing in the ground.

One issue I have experienced, is maintaining the proper amount of moisture in the buckets. In loose or sandy soil water drains through and away from the roots quickly, so proper water maintenance must be measured/monitored throughout the growing cycle.

Another issue for me is the sun. Here in Florida the suns rays are intense and contribute to faster soil moisture evaporation (think of solar ovens!).

I needed a way of verifying the actual soil moisture. What I found is the Dr. Meter moisture meter instrument. Initial testing shows it does work, it’s simple to use and best of all no batteries are needed.

Here’s the meter, it comes with a 7½ inch probe length, long enough to get to the plants roots.

Checking a hanging plant.

Checking my onions in a bucket.

Close up of the meter in the onion bucket.

I drilled a ¼ inch hole about 4 inches from the bottom of the bucket and inserted the probe. This allows checking the moisture near the bottom of the bucket. I’ll probably add several more holes so I can check the moisture at multiple levels.